Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Fabricant Excerpts

Monday 22nd April 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Laws]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that the last Government left us a funding formula for schools that allocates money across the country in an unfair and irrational way. That is why we intend to introduce a national funding formula, and in the meantime we are funding £20 million more to Staffordshire through the pupil premium.

[Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Robin Walker (Worcester) (Con)]

rose—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. The question covered Staffordshire, but not Worcestershire. We can let in Mr Fabricant.

[Michael Fabricant]

As you well know, Mr Speaker, Lichfield was, I like to think, the original capital of Staffordshire, and it was certainly the capital of Mercia and was the first place—even before Canterbury—to have an archbishop, but we digress. I am very relieved to hear that the funding formula, which is so unfair, will be addressed, but we heard that long ago from the Labour party when it was in government, so can my right hon. Friend the Minister give some indication of when it will actually happen?

[Mr Laws]

I will not comment on the earlier parts of the hon. Gentleman’s question, but what I can tell him is that this issue is at the top of not only my in-tray but that of the Secretary of State.