School Funding Reform

Graham Stuart Excerpts
Tuesday 19th July 2011

(12 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. A great many right hon. and hon. Members are seeking to catch my eye, but I remind the House that there is another statement to follow and a series of very heavily subscribed debates to take place under the auspices of the Backbench Business Committee, as a consequence of which there is a premium on brevity from Back and Front Bench alike.

Graham Stuart Portrait Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con)
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I welcome the statement from the Secretary of State. Too many areas, particularly rural areas, have suffered from grossly inequitable funding for too long. I welcome what the Secretary of State said because rural areas have additional costs, which are not met by current funding. Can he assure the House that we will not falter in moving to fairer funding and we will put real need ahead of political convenience in bringing forward a national funding formula in due course?

Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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My hon. Friend is absolutely correct.