More honesty needed on school funding, says Stephen Williams MP

4.26.57pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 26th Oct 2006

Stephen Williams MP campaigning for more honesty in school funding

Today the Education and Skills Select Committee published its report on the Department for Education and Skills' annual report on expenditure. The Committee questions the transparency of schools' funding decisions, government promises on public sector funding, education funding productivity, and calls for a full debate university research.

Commenting on the report, Liberal Democrat Committee member, and MP for Bristol West, Stephen Williams said:

"This report gives ministers a rap across the knuckles for making it difficult for Parliament to scrutinise education spending.

"The Committee is rightly calling for more openness and honesty about how taxpayers' money in our education system is being spent. Such transparency is vital to Government accountability and surely is not too much to ask.

"The Chancellor is rightfully criticised for his recent foray into education. His dramatic announcement to match state and private school spending looks pie in the sky when you see his tough spending plans for the next few years. Gordon Brown playing fast and loose with the numbers fosters neither reasoned political debate nor proper scrutiny of Government policy.

"The Chancellor's fingerprints are also all over the review of university research. He appears to be deciding what's best for higher education when there has barely been time to consider the ramifications of any fundamental change."

Full report available at: www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmeduski.htm