LIBERAL DEMOCRATS FIGHT TO PROTECT LOCAL SCHOOLS AS TORIES PLAN £12m CUT (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS FIGHT TO PROTECT LOCAL SCHOOLS AS TORIES PLAN £12m CUT

April 12, 2005 8:22 AM

Liberal Democrat prospective MP Sue Stebbing has condemned Conservative plans which would slash school budgets in Swindon by £12 million.

A new analysis of Conservative education policies reveals that over £3 billion would have to be cut from schools' budgets - that's £6 million for every Parliamentary constituency in England. This money would be needed to fulfil Michael Howard's pledge to subsidise children at private schools.

Commenting, Dr Stebbing said:

"I am deeply worried about what these plans would mean for Swindon. We don't get our fair share of resources as it is and these ideas can only make matters worse.

"I am sure that many Conservative supporters locally will not be happy with such damaging proposals. I challenge my Conservative opponent to explain why he thinks it is a good idea to divert millions of pounds from our local schools to subsidise pupils in the private sector."

Note: Under Conservative proposals, taxpayers would subsidise pupils who do not go to state schools, but are currently in the private sector. There are currently 599,630 pupils (full-time equivalents) attending private schools in England. If private schools were to set their fees at £5,500 in order to qualify for the 100% subsidy proposed by the Conservatives, the cost to the taxpayer would be £3.3 billion (599,630 x £5,500 = £3,297,965,000). This is £6,234,338 per parliamentary constituency in England (£3,297,965,000 / 529). These pupils are not currently paid for by the taxpayer.