TORIES SIGNAL FUTURE EDUCATION CUTS

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 19th Jun 2002

The Leader of Tory Richmond upon Thames Council has signalled his administration's plans to cut school spending in next year's budget.

In response to repeated questioning from Liberal Democrat Councillors at a Council meeting on Tuesday night (18th June), the Tory Leader refused to rule out reductions in education spending in future years from the level set by the Liberal Democrats.

Richmond upon Thames Council currently spends, under a budget set by the Liberal Democrats, 9.4% more on schools than the Government's standard spending guidelines. Lib Dem Councillor Stephen Knight challenged the Tory Leader to reassure local parents that the Tories would keep funding education at this level. Tory Leader Tony Arbour repeatedly refused to answer this question.

Lib Dem Councillor Stephen Knight said: "Local parents should be very worried about the Tories' plans. It is clear that they have no commitment to continue to fund our excellent local schools at the level set by the Liberal Democrats. We built a world class education system in this borough over many years by investing in our schools. The Liberal Democrats' commitment to local education is as strong as ever and will continue to fight to see that the Tories don't destroy what we built."