---

Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation

Members of the House who are regulars at Children, Schools and Families questions will know that it is my habit to offer meetings with the Minister for Schools and Learners to discuss any difficult issues. He tells me that he was already planning such a meeting to discuss pupil place planning with the hon. Lady, and I will ensure that that is expedited to ensure that she and he do not miss their chance. To conclude, to be fair to him, the shadow Chief Secretary told us this last Wednesday: "Unlike Labour, we have protected the whole of the NHS budget and the overseas aid budget." When I asked, "What about schools?" he said, "We have not ring-fenced the schools budget; we have ring-fenced the NHS budget and the overseas aid budget." The fact that the schools budget is not ring-fenced means that it is a prime target now, so if the Conservatives get their way, we might see cuts in teachers and teaching assistants, larger class sizes, and fewer children's centres and apprenticeships. We will not take that drastic road of cutting front-line spending and family benefits. That would be reckless and unfair, and it would lead to higher debt, more unemployment and—if history is a guide—another Tory hike in VAT. We will cut the deficit steadily and put growth and jobs first; we will match public spending restraint with fair tax increases; and we will protect the police, the NHS, and Sure Start, college and schools budgets so that every child can succeed, and I commend this Budget to the House.