22/03/2017 Prime Minister's Questions

which can be used on the front line, but it means public services will be

simpler for the citizens to be dealt with because they are situated on

one place. Questions to the Prime Minister.

I would like to express my condolences to the family and

colleagues of the former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Martin

We do not condone the path he took in the first period of his life.

However, he played an indispensable role in bringing the republican

movement away from violence to peaceful and democratic means and to

building a better Northern Ireland. This morning I had meetings with

ministerial colleagues and others and in addition to my duties in this

has, I shall have further such meetings later today. The Prime

Minister says that there is more money for the National Health

Service, more nurses and more doctors, yet Bassetlaw breast care

unit has been cut back and Bassetlaw children's ward has been closed

overnight. Something clearly does not add up. I and the mothers of the

most seriously ill children who use the children's ward the most

frequently offer to the Prime Minister to work with her to solve

this problem. Is her door at Number Ten open to us? I say to the

honourable gentleman, if we look at what has happened in his area, his

NHS Bassetlaw clinical commissioning groups is receiving a cash increase,

the Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS hospitals foundation trust have over

80 more doctors and nearly 30 more nurses but of course what we see...

He talks of listening to the voice of local people in relation to

health services in the local area. That is exactly what the

sustainability and transformation plans are about. It is about hearing

from local people and local clinicians and putting together the

health provisions that ensure that they meet local needs. Thank you, Mr

Speaker. Telford is a story of trans formation and progress, from the

ironmasters of the first industrial revolution through to a new

revolution in hi-tech manufacturing in Telford today. It has helped

build Britain. As this government delivers on the democratic will of

the British people and triggers Article 50, will my right honourable

friend tell us how Telford will prosper from Brexit and from her

plan for Britain? As I've said before, the referendum result was

not just about membership of the EU, it was about to change the this

country works and to make Britain a country that works for everyone, not

just the privileged few. And that's why the plan for Britain is a plan

to get the right deal for Britain and abroad but also to build a

stronger, fairer Britain for ordinary working families here at

home like those in Telford and I'm pleased that we've already provided

?70 million of funding to the local LEP to proof improve in the search

in Telford. This government is putting the resources and our plans

are Britain will deliver that stronger, fairer economy and a more

united, more outward looking country than ever before. Jeremy Corbyn.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Could I start by echoing the words

of the Prime Minister concerning the death of Martin McGuinness, the

former deputy minister of Northern Ireland. He died this week and our

thoughts go to his family, his wife Bernie and the wider community.

Martin played an immeasurable role in bringing about peace in Northern

Ireland and it is that peace that we all want to see energy for all time,

for all people in Northern Ireland. -- endure. The government is cutting

the schools budget by 6.5% by 2020 and today, we learn the proposed

national funding formula will leave 1000 schools across England facing

additional cuts of a further 7% beyond 2020. Can the Prime Minister

explain to parents why cutting capital gains tax, cutting

inheritance tax, cutting corporation tax, cutting bank levy are all more

important than our children's future? This government is committed

to ensuring that all our children get the education that is right for

them and that all our children have a good school plays. That is what

the Government's plans for education will provide and that is building on

a fine record of the past nearly seven years for Conservatives in

government, when we've seen 1.8 million more children in good or

outstanding schools. We've protected the schools budget and the national

funding formula is a consultation and obviously there will be a number

of views. The consultation closes today and then the Department for

Education will respond to that in due course. The manifesto on which

she fought the last election promised that under a future

Conservative government, the amount of money following your child into

school will be protected. No wonder even be editor of the London Evening

Standard is up in arms about this! Where is he? There he is! Mr

Speaker, the cuts to school funding equates to the loss of two teachers

across all primary schools, six teachers across all secondary

schools. So is the Prime Minister advocating larger class sizes,

shorter school days or unqualified teachers? Which is it? As we said we

would, we have protected the schools budget. We now see more teachers in

our schools, we see more teachers with first-class degrees in our

schools. As I say, we see 1.8 million more children in good or

outstanding schools. That's a result of the policies of this government,

of diversity in education, Free Schools, academies, comprehensives,

faith schools, universities, grammar schools. We believe in diversity in

education and choice for parents. He believes in a one size fits all,

take it or leave it model. She was clearly elected on a pledge not to

cut school funding and that is exactly what's happening. Maybe she

could listen to headteachers in West Sussex, who say they believe savings

will come from, and I quote, staffing reductions, further

increased class sizes, withdrawal of counselling and pastoral services,

modified school hours, reduction in books, IT and equipment. I've got a

heartfelt letter from a primary school teacher by Remain Eileen.

Eileen is one of our many hard working teachers who cares our kids

and she wrote to me to say, teachers are purchasing items such as pens,

pencils, glue sticks and paper out of their own pockets. Fundraising

events have quadrupled as funds are so low that parents are having to

make donations to purchase books. This is disgraceful, says Eileen.

Does the Prime Minister agree with Eileen? We are seeing record levels

of funding going into our schools. We have protected the schools

budget, we protected the pupil premium, but what matters for

parents is the quality of... You shouldn't keep yelling out, what

about Eileen? The Prime Minister is... The Prime Minister is giving

her response to the leader of the is a, including the references to

Eileen. The Prime Minister. What matters for all of us who are

concerned about education in this country is to ensure that the

quality of education that has provided our children is a quality

that enabled them to get on in life and have a better future. That is

what this government is about. It is about ensuring that in this country,

you get an on the basis of merit, not privileged. It is about ensuring

every child, every child... Every child across this country has the

opportunity of a good school plays. That's what we have been delivering

for the past seven years and is what we will deliver into the future and

every single policy that has delivered better education for

children has been opposed by the right honourable gentleman. Mr

Speaker, maybe she could have a word with her friend the Member for the

Cotswolds who said this week, under this new formula all my large

primaries and all my secondaries will actually see a cash cut in

their budgets. And in the budget, the Government found no more money

for the schools budget but it did find ?320 million for her own

special schools, grammar schools vanity project. So there was no

money for Eileen's schools but 320 million for divisive grammar

schools. What kind of priority is that? First of all, what we have

done in relation to the funding formula is addressed an issue that

Labour ignored for all its time in government. Across... Across this

House, there has generally, for many years, been an accepted view that

the current formula for school funding is not fair. I was calling

for a better funding formula over 15 years ago when I was the Shadow

Education Secretary. We've put forward a proposal, we are

consulting on it, the consultation closes today and we will respond to

that consultation. But he talks about the issue of the sort of

system in schools we want. Yes, we want to diversity, different sorts

of schools. We have put money into new school places but I say to the

right honourable gentleman, his Shadow Home Secretary sent her child

to a private school, his shadow Attorney General sent her child to a

private school. He sent... He sent his child to a grammar school. He

went to a grammar school himself. Typical Labour - take the advantage

and pull up the ladder behind you. Mr Speaker... I want a decent, their

opportunity for every child in every school. I want a staircase for all,

not a ladder for the few. She hasn't been very good at convincing the

former Secretary of State for Education, the honourable member for

Loughborough, who wrote last week," all the evidence is clear that

grammar schools damaged social mobility". What evidence has the

Prime Minister got that the former Secretary of State is wrong in that?

The evidence is that the attainment for the poorest children, the

attainment gap in a selective school is virtually zero. That tells us the

quality of the education that they are getting. But what I want is a

diverse education system, where there are genuine opportunities for

all to have the education that is right for them. That's why in the

budget, as well as dealing with the issue of new school places, we've

also put extra money into technical education, for those young they will

for whom the technical education is right. He says he wants

opportunities for all children, he says he wants good school places for

all children. When he should jolly well support the policies we're

putting forward. It is not just the former Education Secretary, it is

also the chair of the education select committee, who says grammar

schools do little for social mobility and are an unnecessary

distraction. Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister and her government

arbitrating a generation of young people by cutting the funding of

every child to adopt -- are betraying. Children will have fewer

teachers, larger classes, fewer subjects to choose from and all the

Prime Minister can do is focus on her grammar school vanity project

that can only ever benefit a few children. Is the Prime Minister

content that this generation, this generation in our schools today,

will see their schools decline, their subject choices diminished,

and their life chances held back by decisions of her government today?

Protected school funding, more teachers in our schools, more

teachers with first-class degrees in our schools, more children in good

or outstanding schools. It's not a vanity project to want every child

in this country to have a good school plays, because that's how

they will get on in life and that's what this party will deliver. But it

shows that there is a difference... Yes. There is a difference between

the right honourable gentleman and meet it up earlier this week, he

recorded a video calling for unity. He called for Labour to think of our

people first, think of our movement first, think of the party first.

That's the difference between him and made it up labour but the party

first, we put the country first. Thank you, Mr Speaker. For searching

Prime Ministers have taken a close personal interest in the

effectiveness of Dover and the channelp ports as gateways and

guardians of the kingdom. Can I ask my right honourable friend to take a

close interest in making sure Kent's ports are ready for Brexit on day 1,

not just for customs but also that the lorry port is on schedule and

that the Thames crossing are in force. And Mr Speaker will you join

with me and the Prime Minister in wishing Dame Vera Lynn a happy 100th

birthday this week? I'm extremely grateful to the honourable

gentleman, but I did do that a couple of days ago. Mr Speaker, I

didn't have the opportunity in this House to do it a couple of days ago.

I'm happy to wish Dame Vera Lynn a very happy 100th birth day. I think

it is right to recognise the service she gave to this country as many

others Z my honourable friend raises an important issue of transport

links in Kent and one which we have discussed on a number of occasions

as I have with other Kent MPs. In addition to the M 20 lorry park I

can assure him that the department for department is fully committed to

delivering a long-term solution as quickly as possible. They're

currently consider the findings of the lower Thames crossing

consultation and highways England will be doing more detailed work on

the A2 and the Home Office will be looking very closely at what

measures need to be in place for Brexit for those coming across the

border into Dover. May I begin extending condolences as

the Prime Minister and the leader of the Labour Party have done to the

family, friends and colleagues of the former Deputy First Minister of

Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness. And we pay tribute to his

contribution towards peace, whilst never forgetting the terrible human

price during the Troubles. Last year, Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister

promised that she would secure a UK-wide agreement between the

governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and her government,

before triggering Article 50 own Brexit. Article -- on Brexit. Since

then, she has delayed, blocked, been intransjet and lectured and

surprise, surprise, she has no agreement. There is no agreement.

Will these be her negotiating tactics with the European Union?

Over the past few months, every effort has been put in at various

levels, at ministerial and official levels to work with all the devolved

administrations, to identify their particular concerns and interests

and to ensure we are able to take those into account throughout the

negotiating process and discussions will continue in the future. What we

want to ensure is that we get the best-possible deal when we leave the

European Union, for all the people of the United Kingdom, including the

people of Scotland. Because at heart we are one people. And Mr Speaker,

viewers will note that the Prime Minister totally glossed over the

fact she has reached no agreement with the devolved governments of the

United Kingdom. Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister says that she wants

Article 50 negotiations to lead to a deal. And she wants people to know

the outcome of that deal before it is approved. So, will the Prime

Minister confirm that in the period for an I greement, the House of

Commons will have a choice -- for an agreement the House of Commons will

have a choice, the House of Lords will have a choice. The European

Parliament will have a choi.s 27 Member States of the European Union

will have a choice. Mr Speaker, if it is right for all of them to have

a choice about Scotland's future, why should the people of Scotland

not have a choice about their own future? This isn't a question about

whether the people of Scotland should have a choice. The people of

Scotland voted - exercised their right to self-determination and

voted in 2014 to remain a part of the United Kingdom. The people of

the United Kingdom last year voted to leave the European Union. We are

respecting both of those votes. He is respecting neither of them. Mr

Speaker, with her strong commitment to defence, would my right

honourable friend agree that we must stem the outflow from our flow

slinking forces? Could I urge her to reconsidering the approximatelicy

she inherited of encouraging service families to get on the housinger why

and on the other hand focussing the Army in areas where there is no

affordable housing and applying the new landlord tax arrangements of

they buy-to-let. Obviously I recognise the passion with with my

honourable friend has raised these issues in relation to the Armed

Forces. He raises an important point but I can assure him we are fully

committed to our goal of an 82,000-strong Army by 2020. He

raises a point about service accommodation. We want to ensure

that people have a greater choice in where they of live, by using private

accommodation, and meeting their aspirations for home-ownership.

That's why we have set up the ?200 million forces help-to-buy scheme

and we're considering to support subsidised housing for service

personnel and the pot of money will not be cut. The Ministry of Defence

is working with the Treasury in relation to the issues he raises and

I'm sure they will keep him updated. Thank you Mr Speaker. The United

Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be 95 years'

old in December N that UK-Scottish economic growth is one-quarter of

that independent Iceland and one-third of independent Ireland.

Now, given the Prime Minister supports Irish independence and the

benefits it has brought its economy and population, why does she owe

pose it for Scotland and will she show Scotland the respect the EU

shows the UK in regards to a referendum. I have to say to the

honourable gentleman that if he is looking at issues around economic

growth and he quoted figures for economic groat. He should pay

attention for the most important market for Scotland. The most

important market for Scotland is the market of the United Kingdom and

this is' why Scotland should remain part of it. -- and that's why. Thank

you, Mr Speaker, last week, with cross-party support my honourable

friend for chipping ham and I set up an all-party group for lime disease

this, debilitating disease is a growing problem across the country

and including my constituency of North Dorset, yet awareness of it

amongst the public and GPs is incredibly low. Will my right

honourable friend ensure that her Government does all that it can to

raise its profile and resolve the problems surrounding both diagnosis

and treatment? Well, my honourable friend raises an important point. I

commend him and my honourable friend the member for chipping ham for the

attention that is now going given in the House to this issue. He is

right, we do need to raise awareness of this issue but we also need to

ensure that diagnosis and treatment is - early diagnosis and treatment

is there because that's the best way of limiting the complications from

this particular disease. The Department of Health is already

taking steps, clinical guidelines are being updated and enhanced by

NICE. NHS England has undertaken robust reviews on diagnosis, testing

and treatment but there is more that we can do and so Public Health

England is holding regular medical training days and conducting

outreach across the medical community to raise awareness and

ensure that that early diagnosis is there.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Yesterday in a Westminster Hall debate a Health

Minister said the issue in hand was above his pay grade. On the basis

that the Prime Minister has the top pay grade, can she give us a clue as

to when we'll see the long-aed waited and very late tobacco-control

plan? I can assure him that we are working on the tobacco control plan

and one will be issued in due course.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Recently a substantial number of Government

ministers took the opportunity to visit Cumbria. . Hear, hear. They

saw for themselves not only its beauty, but also its industrial

strengths and its potential. If the Government's industrial strategy is

to succeed, places such as Cumbria need to be part of that success.

Plot Prime Minister ensure that Cumbria gets the infrastructure

investment which it requires to make sure that it really does fulfil its

potential? I can assure my honourable friend that I and other

ministerial colleagues were delighted to be able it take the

opportunity to visit the beautiful county of Cumbria and we are even

happier now Cumbria has another strong force in the form of the

Conservative MP for Copeland. But he's right, Cumbria and the

north-west has huge industrial potential that's why we are getting

on delivering our investment plans across the country, including in the

north-west. And just some figures, ?556 million allocated to produce

productivity and north is getting ?156 million to tackle congestion

and local interest. But it is our plan for Britain that will deliver

the stronger, fairer economy, and that will deliver the higher-paid,

higher-skilled jobs for people across the whole country.

The Prime Minister is in denial. Today's report from the Institute

for Fiscal Studies confirms that schools are already facing "The

largest cut in spending per pupil over a four-year period since at

least the early 1980s." And that under her new national formula "You

funding is diverted from schools with very high level of

deprivation." Every single school in my constituency will lose an average

of ?584 per pupil. Has she failed at maths or failed to read her own

manifesto? I responded to this point earlier but just to reiterate -

across this House, for many years, there has been a general acceptance

that the current funding formula for schools is unfair. That is why this

Government is looking to find a formula, a fairer formula. There is

a consultation exercise and the Department for Education will

respond to that in due course. We are grasping this issue. Labour did

nothing for 13 years. Can my right honourable friend

confirm that in the forthcoming debate on the restoration and

renewal of Parliament, all members, including ministers, will have a

completely free vote in what is a House matter? And does she

understand that many of us believe that in these times of austerity, we

should not be front-loading billions of pounds worth of expenditure on

ourselves at the expense of schools and hospitals, but that we should

carry on the work and stay in what is the iconic image of the nation?

Well, this Palace of Westminster is world renowned, tss a very important

part of our national heritage. It belongs to the people of the United

Kingdom and of course we have a responsibility to our constituents,

also, to preserve this place as the home of our democracy. It will be

for Parliament to take the final decision on this matter but I can

assure my honourable friend, as it will be a House matter, it will be a

free vote. Thank you Mr Speaker, air and road pollution, caused mainly by

diesel engines brings about 40,000 early deaths in this country, while

causing severe lung diseases, like bronchitis and asthma in our young

people and children. A road in my constituency in Crumlin is the most

polluted road outside of lob dovenl it is an absolute disgrace. Most of

it is caused by HGVs lorries travelling up that road, spewing out

noxious gases on the residents. Will the Prime Minister commit to ensure

that hauliers will start using newer diesel engines and cleaner

technology and cleaner inner joy to ensure that everybody, including our

young people, can enjoy a better quality of life, especially on the

road in my constituency? The honourable gentleman speaks up well

for his constituents. I have to say to him this is an issue that we all

recognise, the problems in relation to air quality. That's why the

Government will be bringing forward further proposals in relation to air

quality. We have seen some changes taking place and we have, of course,

put investment into green transport initiatives and plans to introduce

clean air zones around the country will help to tackle and that in fact

we have been at the forefront of action in Europe in some aspects in

relation to this. I accept there is more to be done. As I say we'll

bring forward further proportional in due course Compensation paid by

Network Rail to train operators for delays, far exceeds the amount that

the passengers who have experienced the delayed are getting because the

process can be come boresome. Will the Prime Minister insist the train

operators ringfence that company, spend it on smart ticketing

automation, so customers can tap on and tap off their train and receive

the amount in their bank account for the delays they have been caused? My

honourable friend does raise an important point. I know it is a

source of much frustration to many rail travellers but I would also

like it thank him for the way in which he and others have spoken up

on behalf of passengers especially on the Thameslink, Southern and

other lines. Now the best way to ensure that the operators do not

profit from unclaimed compensation is for passengers to claim the

compensation that they are entitled to and we are looking and Department

for Transport is looking at how we can ensure that we publicise

compensation schemes, make claims easier and we are rolling out

improved delay repay compensation to allow passengers to claim after a

delay of 15 minutes but the Department for Transport is

continuing to look at this issue and I'm sure will pick up the points he

has raised. Last week the Electoral Commission

issued its largest ever find the Conservative Party for breaking a

vital and crucial election ruled. What did the Prime Minister, the

Cabinet and her assistants know about this activity, who was

responsible for designing and signing off all of this and does she

agree with me that this is at best wilful negligence and at worst pure

electoral fraud? The honourable gentleman is asking me to respond to

what is a party matter but I can assure him that the Conservative

Party debt campaign in 2015 across the country for the return of a

Conservative government and we should be clear that such

campaigning would be part of the party's national return, not

candidates' local return, as the Electoral Commission itself has

said. We accepted in April 2016, the party accepted Ray Poar 2016, it had

made an administrative error on its national spending. -- accepted in

April 2016. It brought back to the attention of the commission to amend

its national return. National spending is a question for the

national party, not for individual members. The Electoral Commission

has looked into these issues, as it has for the Liberal Democrat party

and the Labour Party, it has issued fines to all three parties and those

fines will be paid. The international trade committee has

been taking evidence from the chambers of commerce this morning

about exports. Given the Prime Minister's commitment to a global

Britain, would she agree with me that we can maintain good relations

with our European friends as we leave the EU and build on our

long-standing relationships with our Commonwealth friends across the

world to trade our way to greater prosperity? I say to him, obviously

one of the four pillars are planned for Britain is that global Britain,

and more outward looking Britain. He is right, it's not just a question

of ensuring you get the right relationship with Europe when we

leave the EU, we do want to continue to have a partnership, to be able to

trade freely across Europe and for companies in European member states,

EU member states, to trade with us. But we do want to enhance and

improve the arrangements we have portrayed in other parts of the

world, including members of the Commonwealth. Last week, through no

fault of our own, Amy and her young daughter became homeless. After

months of looking for a flat, she finally went to Merton council, who

told her they could only offer her temporary accommodation in

Birmingham, 140 miles away from her job, from her daughter's school and

from the friends and family who make it possible for her to be a working

single mum. Can I ask the Prime Minister, in one of the richest

cities in the world, where Russian oligarchs and Chinese banks own

scores of properties and leave them empty, how can it be right that a

London born working family like Amy have not a room to live? Well, the

issue, obviously, of housing in the London Borough of Merton is one that

the honourable lady and I worked on many years ago when we were on the

housing committee of the London Borough of Merton together and I

recognise that she has raised a concern for her constituent.

Obviously, I won't comment on the individual case. What I will say is

what's important is that overall, the Government is dealing with the

issue of homelessness, we are rich we are building more homes, we are

giving more support to people to get into their own homes. -- we are

ensuring we are building more homes. That will take time and as we ensure

we maintain the record that we have in providing housing support in all

types of housing across this country. As the Prime Minister

already said, it must be right that the same pupils with the same

characteristics attract the same amount of money and that is an

unfairness that was not challenged for 13 years under the Labour

government. Yes, there needed to be changes to the current draft formula

but I hope that she will commit to confirm -- to fulfilling our

manifesto promise of making school funding fairer and I think she will

agree with me that if the Labour Party had carried on in office,

their spending plans would have led to what has happened in Greece and

Spain where not just hundreds, but tens of thousands of teachers, have

had to be fired. My right honourable friend is right. As I said earlier,

this is an issue in terms of the funding formula for schools that was

docked for too long and certainly doctored by the last Labour

government. We have started to address it. -- docked. We have put

forward a proposal, we will look at the consultation responses on that

and respond in due course but she is absolutely right about the Labour

Party. The Labour Party's education policies would mean fewer

opportunities in schools and their economic policy would mean less

funding for schools. Last week, her government confirmed that an

assessment of the economic impact of the failure to strike in EU deal

before exited top is it not the case that in triggering Article 50 last

week, she is the military equivalent of Lord Cardigan, the military

commander responsible for the child of light Brigade, and we all love

how that ended? In triggering Article 50 next week, what I'm doing

is responding to the wishes of the British people. Does the Prime

Minister agree that we urgently need to find a solution to the impacts of

the national living wage on sleeping shifts in the care sector? This,

together with HMRC policies that are insisting on a payment of six-years'

backpay plus penalties, may have a devastating impact on this vitally

important sector. He has raised a very important point and obviously,

through the national living wage, we are giving Britain a pay rise,

making sure pay is fair, in social care and all sectors. But on the

specific pointy has raised, this is an issue we are addressing, we are

looking at it very carefully, including in the context of the

funding pressures on social care. We are working to ensure it affects low

paid workers in a fair and proportionate manner. As the

Chancellor announced in the budget, ?2 billion of extra money is going

into the social care sector but the very specific issue my honourable

friend has raised is being carefully looked at by the Treasury. Despite

austerity, shocking pay increases were awarded to the board of

Liverpool CCG, where a lady deputy chair is paid over ?100,000 after a

43% increase. -- a lay deputy checked it would the Minister agree

to investigate this and the lack of scrutiny within the wider Liverpool

health economy, whilst ensuring that no murders take place while this is

investigated? I understand that the Health Secretary has asked NHS

England to investigate the remuneration of nonexecutive

directors at Liverpool CCG and I'm sure he will keep updated about

this. We want to make the NHS even more efficient so every penny

possible can be spent on front line patient care and we are seeing

results, I'm pleased to say, because we now see a financial position that

has improved by 1.3 billion compared to this time last year with 44 fewer

trust endeavours it but, as I say, NHS England is investigating the

issue she has raised. The Prime Minister will be aware that the Jo

Cox commission on loneliness is calling us all to action to

highlight and tackle loneliness. In Northumberland, a small charity of

which I'm a patron is taking up this challenge with female military

veterans who are suffering from severe isolation issues. With the

Prime Minister meet with me and some of these extraordinary women to

learn how our government can help? Can I commend the work that is being

done by that organisation in my honourable friend's constituency. It

sounds like a valuable project doing valuable work and state for defence

will be happy to meet her. Tomorrow the schools minister has been good

enough to meet Erdington Headteachers from a constituency

rich in talent but one of the poorest in the country in a city,

Birmingham, where 96% of schools will lose a total of ?20 million

under the government's fair funding formula, yet Surrey gained 17

million, Southwark gains ten million and Windsor and Maidenhead gained

300,000. How can that possibly be fair? I note that the schools

minister will be meeting the honourable gentleman and head

teachers to discuss this issue. What the fair funding formula is looking

at is trying to ensure that the unfair funding which has existed up

till now is actually dealt with, and there are some very, very stark

differences. There are schools in London, for example, that gets

almost twice the funding of schools in other parts of the country. We

need to ensure that we are addressing the unfairness in the

funding formula but, as I said earlier, there was a consultation

exercise and the department will respond in due course.