---

School Funding Reform

May I say to the Secretary of State that ““modern, fair and just”” is a description that we all aspire to for educational funding, but is he not missing off his list—and adding—the danger, ““highly centralised””? For many of us who believe in a good education system in our country, there is a real fear when the Department takes so much responsibility into the centre. Also, will he stop members of his party from criticising, in a very unfair way, Tim Byles, who is a fine public servant and did a very good job with Building Schools for the Future? It does no one any good to revile fine public servants of his character.