What recent representations in respect of equal pay for staff he has received from Haywood engineering specialist college.

This year we have received two letters from Haywood engineering specialist college on this matter and a further two letters from my hon. Friend herself. In addition, I have met her to discuss this matter. As I stated in my last letter to her, I am hopeful that it will be concluded in a positive way. The Stoke-on-Trent schools forum supports the position of the school, but a conclusion cannot be reached until the new chief executive takes up his post in the new year.

I thank my hon. Friend for all the help that he has given us to get Building Schools for the Future funding in Stoke-on-Trent. In respect particularly of the Haywood high school specialist college, will he ensure that Stoke-on-Trent city council provides the resources needed to meet the equal pay claims from support staff, on the basis that the college adopted foundation status notwithstanding Government guidance that, in respect of such claims, foundation schools are to be treated

"on a comparable basis to staff in community schools"?

This has gone on far too long. Will he do everything he can to ensure that Stoke-on-Trent council attends to the matter?

I congratulate my hon. Friend, who has worked tirelessly on the problem affecting Haywood engineering specialist college. I know that it is a source of great concern to her. I reassure her that I intend to come to Stoke in the near future to see her in her Constituency, and meet her and my hon. Friends in the rest of the area to talk about several issues. By that time, I hope that the problem, which has gone on for far too long, will be resolved to the satisfaction of the staff at the school. I hope that when the new chief executive comes along, the progress that we all want will be made. I hope that all schools in Stoke benefit from BSF investment.