News from East Midlands Labour

School building plans in East Midlands would face Tory axe

Phil Hope MP, Labour’s Regional Minister for the East Midlands, has today warned that secondary schools in the East Midlands may no longer be rebuilt or refurbished if Conservative spending plans were to go ahead.

The Labour Government has pledged to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school across the East Midlands area as part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. But the Conservatives have proposed cutting £4.5 billion from the programme – putting at risk one in seven future school building projects.

Although the cuts would not affect the 17 schools already involved in BSF, the remaining 232 secondary schools due to be rebuilt in future stages of the scheme would be affected. One in seven of these 232 schools in the East Midlands due to be rebuilt in future years would no longer by rebuilt.

Phil Hope, Labour’s Regional Minister for the East Midlands has pledged to fight the proposed Conservative cuts and has challenged local Tories to join him in standing up for the East Midlands and opposing the proposals.

Phil said:

“Local parents and teachers will be shocked by this news. All secondary schools will be rebuilt or refurbished under Labour’s plans, but if the Tories get their way 33 schools in the East Midlands would not be rebuilt. And until the Conservatives confirm where their plans will fall, every future secondary school rebuilding project is at risk.

“Building Schools for the Future promised to rebuild or fully refurbish every secondary school, but this promise can only come true under Labour. The Government has announced plans to get local authorities involved in BSF as quickly as possible so they can get on with rebuilding their schools, but the Tories would put the whole scheme in jeopardy.

Labour’s Schools Minister, Jim Knight added:

“I’m disappointed that the Tories have said they would target their cuts at schools in areas like the East Midlands. I will be working with Phil Hope MP to campaign against the Tory plans and ensure that under this Government every secondary school in the East Midlands is rebuilt or refurbished as part of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

“BSF is not just about having new or refurbished buildings, but making sure children and teachers have modern, first class teaching and learning facilities and creating an environment in which learning can thrive.”

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• New figures reveal Car Srappage Scheme's success in the East Midlands - 15 January 2010
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