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Schools Funding (Cornwall)

I accept that point. The argument is not about bringing that number to zero. It is used as a figure across the country as a guide to the particular problems regarding surpluses. As I have said, it will then be a matter for the local authority to consider as it takes forward the school organisation plans. The hon. Gentleman asked me about the necessity for Cornwall county council to be imaginative and consider things such as federations, sharing of governance and all the other arrangements around the clustering of schools that can lead to school improvement, and to significant savings and efficiencies. I join the hon. Gentleman in asking Cornwall county council—and local authorities up and down the country—to consider those imaginative sorts of governance arrangements, which are primarily about school improvement but can also provide some of the efficiencies needed to maintain schools that otherwise might face closures. I would support that. I thank the hon. Gentleman again for this debate. He made a very important point. There is a more general issue about the reform of the dedicated schools grant, and I urge him to try and influence that.