Health and Education

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 6:45 pm on 30 November 2004.

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Photo of Charles Clarke Charles Clarke Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills 6:45, 30 November 2004

Yes, I can, and in two ways. First, every school will benefit, whatever its situation and whatever the PFI project. By next year, the amount will be £25,500 in a typical 250-pupil primary school, or in a typical 1,000-pupil secondary, there will be £87,250 in devolved capital for what the school has to do. Beyond that, whatever the particular programmes, such as the PFI in Norfolk to which the hon. Gentleman referred, and despite the difficulties, the commitment will remain precisely as it has been in the past.

The central point that I am making is that the financial commitment to the proposal is overwhelming. The building schools for the future programme that we have set out today is a transformation of education in this country that will enable improvements in every community in every part of the country.

Both on investment and on reform, there is a straightforward, clear choice between the Opposition and the Government. The choice on money is whether more money should go into education, as we propose, or whether money should be taken out of education, as the Opposition propose. The shadow Chancellor made it clear that spending outside schools, which means under-fives, skills, universities and all those other areas, will be frozen at 2005–06 levels. That was his clear commitment, which means real terms cuts in every other area.

The Opposition's proposed pupil passport would mean at least £1 billion going from state schools to private schools. In contrast, this party will continue to increase spending by at least 6 per cent. per year. from 2005–06 to 2007–08 and provide high-quality, flexible, affordable child care for all parents. That is one dividing line: more money from us; less money from the Opposition.

The second dividing line is opportunity for all, which we offer, versus selection for the few, which the Opposition offer. We require the strict application of the admissions code of practice for all schools and no extension to selection by ability. As the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale confirmed in an exchange a few moments ago, under the Opposition, every school would be able to decide its own admissions, opening the door to five-plus and 11-plus selection. Above and beyond that, the hon. Gentleman, speaking in March this year to the Secondary Heads Association, said that he wanted to get rid of catchment areas for schools. Again, there is a direct choice: opportunity for all, which we offer; selection for the few, which the Opposition offer.

The same dividing lines arise on standards. We say, "High ambitions for every school and pupil"; the Opposition say, "No ambitions for schools and pupils." Targets have been established, and schools are responsible for local target setting to encourage all young people to achieve the top grades. The Opposition would scrap the targets and limit the number of children who can achieve the top grades by introducing quotas.