Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLewis Cocking
Main Page: Lewis Cocking (Conservative - Broxbourne)Department Debates - View all Lewis Cocking's debates with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
(3 days, 10 hours ago)
Commons ChamberMy hon. Friend highlights a point that many of us will have heard from our local state schools: the fact that they are in sharing arrangements with private schools to access facilities. They are concerned that, as the cost drivers introduced by the Government and the Budget increase the pressure on those schools, they may lose the free or low-cost access they have.
I had a meeting with a state school in my constituency that said the changes will be damaging because it gets a grant from a private school, which will have to be cut to deal with the impact of VAT. That state school, which is in a genuinely working-class community, will be £200,000 a year worse off under this policy. Does my hon. Friend agree that that is terrible?
I agree that it is terrible, but sadly it is typical of the consequences introduced into the system by the actions of the Government.