05/11/2009

Robin Walker, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Worcester this week attended the F40 conference, campaigning for fairer funding on behalf of the worst funded local authorities. He joined fellow Worcestershire Parliamentary Candidates, Harriet Baldwin (West Worcestershire) and Mark Garnier (Wyre Forest) to hear from education experts, campaign organisers and local government representatives about the campaign. Worcestershire is currently the 10th worst funded authority for education.

The meeting heard from a government minister and shadow spokesmen from both major opposition parties about their plans to address the issue and heard that a consultation is underway to revise the current funding formula. Experts called for a simpler formula with smaller gaps between the best and worst funded authorities.

Robin welcomed the commitment of the F40 campaign to remove sharp gaps in funding across neighbouring areas and asked a question at the panel event about the enormous £739 gap in per pupil funding between Worcestershire and neighbouring Birmingham.

After the meeting Robin said
       
"The F40 campaign has achieved some notable successes, most importantly getting recognition for the fact that some authorities which might appear to be better off, have pockets of deprivation which require extra funding. This has resulted in a £1.6 million benefit to Worcestershire which I heartily welcome. Worcester is just such an area and we need to keep reminding the government of that. However this is only a small step in the right direction."

"It is a scandal that after twelve years of a Labour government that promised to address this issue, the gap between the best and worst funded authorities is wider than ever. I was delighted to join my fellow candidates and an officer representative of the County council in following the full discussion and making sure Worcestershire was well represented at the F40 meeting. I will continue to make sure Conservatives remain at the forefront of this campaign."

 

 There is more information about the F40 campaign and the conference here:

http://www.f40.org.uk/