Labour Lets Down Local Primary Schools - Teather

10.30.33am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 8th Feb 2005

Local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather has today expressed dismay at the news that Brent's Primary schools are missing out on vital funding.

Brent Council will this year record an 8% underspend on what the Government recommends is spent on education, equivalent to £47,800 off the budget of a 200-pupil primary school.

Local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather said:

"These figures are shameful both for the Government and the Council. Tony Blair's talk of 'Education, Education, Education' will ring hollow to parents across Brent.

"I have warned Government Ministers for over a year about the problems that schools in Brent face, it seems however that they have turned their backs on local children.

"Many local headteachers have told me of the dire financial situations that schools face. It is frustrating for so many of them that they are not being allowed to offer the kind of quality education they want to give to our children. One primary school headteacher has told me that he cannot offer his pupils hot meals at lunchtime because of the funding crisis.

"The Council and the Government must deliver on their promises for the sake of primary school education in Brent."