After a really busy two weeks in Parliament, we are now back
in Recess for the Conference season, which will allow me to spend more time out
and about visiting local people, businesses and organisations.
During the last two weeks I have spoken in Parliament on a
number of issues, handed a petition in to Number Ten on a single use plastic
bottle return scheme, and voted through the EU Withdrawal Bill at 2nd
reading.
Right at the end of last week I was also really pleased to
see the Government come forward with its announcement on fairer funding for
schools. In the run up to June’s General Election this was a major issue. Some
local candidates sadly used this issue to scare-monger on the supposed cuts
that the Government would be making to schools, despite there being a clear
manifesto commitment from the Conservative Party that no school would be worse
off.
I am pleased to see, a few months down the line, that the
Government has delivered on our manifesto commitment and provided increases in
funding for schools across the board. Under this new funding formula there will
be an increase the basic funding that every pupil in every school will attract;
a minimum per pupil funding level so that, under the national funding formula,
all secondary schools will attract at least £4,800 per pupil, and all primary
schools will attract at least £3,500 by 2019-20; provide for a minimum cash
increase in respect of every school of 1% by 2019-20; and provide up to 3%
gains per pupil in 2018-19 and a further 3% in 2019-20 for under-funded
schools.
This is really good news for schools in our constituency and
indeed across Cornwall. The average increase in our constituency will be 2.7%
with some of our smallest most rural schools receiving well into double figure
increases in their per pupil funding.
This is an issue I have been campaigning on since I was elected.
Just last week, I questioned the Secretary of State in the House of Commons on
the importance of recognising the rural nature of some of our schools and their
communities and that this should be a significant factor in any funding
arrangements.
I am therefore pleased to see in this announcement that for
the smallest, most remote schools, the Government will distribute a further £26
million in dedicated sparsity funding. It is key that the Government
understands the different needs of rural communities to urban communities and
considers the costs of delivering services in relation to this. Nowhere is this
more important than in the education of our children.
There is still much more to do though, and I look forward to
continuing to work with my colleagues to deliver better and fairer funding for
Mid-Cornwall in key areas such as education, local government and policing in
the years to come.
My team and I are here to serve the whole constituency and
work hard to make a real difference to the lives of everyone needing support.
The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm (no
appointment necessary). If there is an issue you would like my assistance on
then please, either visit the office or contact me on either 01726 829379 or
office@stevedouble.org.uk.
