Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Joan Walley (Labour). It was answered on Monday, 30 November 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Haywood Engineering Specialist College

Question: I thank my hon. Friend for all the help that he has given us to get Building Schools for the Future funding in Stoke-on-Trent. In respect particularly of the Haywood high school specialist college, will he ensure that Stoke-on-Trent city council provides the resources needed to meet the equal pay claims from support staff, on the basis that the college adopted foundation status notwithstanding Government guidance that, in respect of such claims, foundation schools are to be treated""on a comparable basis to staff in community schools"?" This has gone on far too long. Will he do everything he can to ensure that Stoke-on-Trent council attends to the matter?

Answer: I congratulate my hon. Friend, who has worked tirelessly on the problem affecting Haywood engineering specialist college. I know that it is a source of great concern to her. I reassure her that I intend to come to Stoke in the near future to see her in her constituency, and meet her and my hon. Friends in the rest of the area to talk about several issues. By that time, I hope that the problem, which has gone on for far too long, will be resolved to the satisfaction of the staff at the school. I hope that when the new chief executive comes along, the progress that we all want will be made. I hope that all schools in Stoke benefit from BSF investment.

Secondary information