05/02/2012 Sunday Politics North East and Cumbria

Stop throwing snowballs and concentrate. Next leg has lost

another... Poll ratings are in single figures. A third of flight

sacked Heathrow were cancelled and that was before it started snowing.

Transport secretary is here. The Government that is about to

consult on gay marriage, a member of their Church of England call

head-to-head. Our regular panel of the best and

brightest are back treating throughout the programme. In the

North East, the general secretary its is told to tackle schools. Will

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 1759 seconds

Their education secretary warned that Cumbria of's schools are in

need of investment. We meet a Maryport teacher to hear how the

problem affects children. With me, is John Stephenson and Simon panic.

Our young people being put off university by the cost? That may be

the case. People from the North East is down by 11 %. Some

universities have been affected more than others. Applications at

Sunderland have fallen by 16 %. Newcastle had a less dramatic fall.

Some have seen a rise. These students are at Whitby

Community College and both are ambitious. I wanted something in

art and design. I want to going to events management. With those

ambitions, universities should beckon. The face tuition fees of up

to �9,000 a year. Has that put them off? I do not have to put it up --

appeared off until I am learning. I wanted the university experience as

well as what comes with it. It will not put me off. A I am from a low-

income family. I have no more financial support. I need to take a

year out to make a dent in the fees. If a cannot get the money, I will

not be going. I cannot afford to do it otherwise. This is the president

of students' union at Cumbria University. What is you take? You

can read admissions figures in different ways. It is worrying that

they are down but this was predicted. It will be concerning

two students. It will put some off. The figures do not suggest it is a

huge drop. You can be accused of scaremongering. A I do not think

that is the case. Students are taking a more investment decision

where to go. The effects are not felt yet. They will be felt in the

future. In the future, there will be students who have not always

thought they would call to university. What do you think of

universities having either a drop or a rise? For it is worrying that

the North East has had a drop as a halt. Students... You want brainy

people? Yes. If those people do not study here, they need not stay. It

is worrying that students are making their way into education and

may not do in the future. These figures can be interpreted in

different ways. It looks like there is a call at some stage. We must be

careful about the statistics. Last year, when they were a lot of

applicants, if you go back to 2009, it is broadly the same. Deraa

career choices here. There must be other people -- choices. Would you

will come fewer people going to university? You have to get the

balance right. Those who want to go all, they should off. We must make

sure there are trainee courses for engineers and technicians. We are

making sure we have a skilled workforce for industry so we can be

successful economically. Labour where as bad for scaremongering.

There has not been a big drop-off. What is worrying is the numbers

applying from the North East has dropped by more than average. I

think it is part of a wider issue of skills in this region. If we

have also seen a larger than average fall for mature students.

There wasn't a big collapse. have heard and I would agree with

this that it is the first set of figures that we have jumped on. It

is right that we will have to see how this pans out over time.

Nevertheless, it is a worry that it has affected the North East more

than other regions. Cumbria got an increase but it cut its fees. Is

there a danger that people will go there and end up on a course that

it is not as good? That suggests there is a choice. Universities

might be tempted to Lord fees to get those students. Students will

tap the courses they want to go on and will make their own judgment.

It is interesting that Cumbria are had high fees but got more

applications. We are moving more to a market situation. People have

found this change difficult and that may be why. It is difficult

for universities because there is a figure at which this is economic

and there is a figure below which it is not economic. It is a

delicate balancing act which all institutions had to make. Time will

tell. Schools in Cumbria are in dire need of investment. This is

according to Jamie Reed. Those frustrations are shared by some

headteachers. The EC since the Building Schools for the Future

team, there has been no money to replace outdated schools. Councils

may still have to take out loans to pay for it.

Netherhall School in Maryport, built in the 1950s. It is still

standing but the buildings need updated. It is the kind of building

that needs attention as it gets older. We have replaced the heating

system recently, roofs. There ongoing issues that go with a

building of the siege. It missed out on funding when the collision

cancelled Labour's building schools for the future. It was not just

about the condition of the building. It is about suitability of the

learning environment. It is important for the west coast of

Cumbria. It is important our students are able to get access to

cutting-edge science facilities at set-up. The situation is getting

attention in Westminster. We are in desperate need for some --

investments. It was tragic when that was taken away by the

Government but they need for investment grows. They need is

greater now you than it has ever been. This is a sort of thing Ed

head teacher would love to see. The rich and draws central academy in

Carlisle. It is the envy of the area. In this modern age, our young

people see environments for all sorts of activities and the one

school is not in the same league. They will know they are treated as

second-class citizens. He the Government will announce who is

benefiting from the replacement for Bill Building Schools for the

Future. There is the billion pounds to spend on 300 schools in the

worst condition. They will have to sign 27 here PFI contracts to get

cash. You become cynical because we're talking 3 billion for this

programme. It is permission to borrow 3 billion. It is not a grant.

The local council says the previous scheme was not perfect but they're

hoping to get money this time. Expectations were far beyond the

ability to produce the benefits of schools on that list. The

Government came along with some money. Hopley, more of our schools

will be on that list. Government is being blamed for

coming up with a replacement. The rules will be tighter and the money

far less plentiful than in the past. This is said to be approaching

crisis point. The Building Schools for the Future was not as good as

people thought it was. There were only 42 schools finished. You must

remember we had the recession and the leader party were going to cut

spending themselves. We have 15.8 billion set aside for expenditure.

There is money available. It is tighter. It is unfair that some

pupils are being taught in state- of-the-art buildings and those in

Mary Park -- Maryport are not. must be careful when we talk about

buildings. Education quality is more important. Is that you do?

Having been around some of the new buildings in Durham, you can see

the difference. It inspires young people and inspires them to raise

the aspirations which is a biggish to in the North East. Some cannot

afford to do that. It is unfortunate that there are schools

across this region that to run a terrible condition. I would like to

see schools being funded on the basis of need. I do not see that.

What basis is that on? There are suspicions that funding is being

top sliced away from organisations like Durham County Council.

Academy's programmes started under the Labour government. We have

extended it and I think that is right. I think these comments are

bizarre. I am confused about the government's ideas. Isn't this

borrowing money against the future? A lot depends on how the PFI is

dealt with. We have learned from the last government that we must

ensure we get value for money. days are gone when architects

design spectacular buildings. not sure we have had fancy

architect-designed buildings. Not only have we lost BSF, we have lost

half of the capital for schools. In the case of some schools in poor

condition, to prioritise them, we can do a bet. What can you do in 60

seconds? We will offer you the whole political week.

Britain's biggest rail union has protested outside stations. The

applause a report which will cost their members' jobs.? Hospitals

will be taken over. They will be run by another trust. Have you been

stopped in the street light verse? Is it time to tighten up the rules?

I found aggressive techniques. Extending the bones of the

Yorkshire... And North Tyneside N P is promising to do her best in

taking up her new role as the first ambassador for or Northumberland.

Let us talk about a hospital. Your local hospital has been taken over

by a trust. I think it is good news. Northumbria has a track record of

good management. It has been a long time in coming. The Government has

come up with a bail-out fund. Will that help? Undoubtedly. I am

delighted. My colleagues have campaigned for it. It is welcome

news. We saw Newcastle wanting to stop chuggers. Would you support a

ban? The issue in Newcastle is that there are other places where those

people cannot fault because they are run privately run shopping

centres. They are all forced into the same place. I have sympathy for

the council to try to come up with a solution which is fair not just

on charities, but on the public. do support more regulation. --? In

a crowded environment, how do they get money for? If the public come

to the Council of to say something should be done, it is the job of

elected representatives to represent the public nor one likes

to have lot of new regulation, but they may be is a better way. We do

not seem to have the same problem in Carlisle. Around Westminster, it

is not something we see. I will gratefully accept donations. Thanks