David Rutley (Macclesfield) (Con)

- Hansard -

I rise to present a petition on fair funding for all schools that has been signed by more than 1,500 residents of Cheshire East, including more than 900 from the Macclesfield constituency. It also includes signatures from residents living in the constituency of the Minister for Vulnerable Children and Families, my hon. Friend the Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Edward Timpson); because his ministerial role prevents him from presenting a petition, he has asked me to do this on his behalf. I am pleased to see him on the Front Bench.

The petition states that the petitioners

request that the House of Commons urges the Government to review its proposed national funding formula for schools in order to ensure that all children have access to a properly funded education, and therefore invest in the future of our country.

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of Cheshire East,

Declares that the Government should review its proposed national funding formula for schools; further that Cheshire East schools are set to see their funding budgets cut by the new proposal; further that, with rising statutory employer and staffing costs, along with increasing pupil numbers, Cheshire East schools will need to receive increased funding to cover their basic costs; further that under the new proposal, a child in Cheshire East is worth significantly less than the average child in England; and believes that this funding proposal is unfair.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to review its proposed national funding formula for schools in order to ensure that all children have access to a properly funded education, and therefore invest in the future of our country.

And the petitioners remain, etc.]

[P002040]