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| Lib Dems warn of education cuts | Lib Dems warn of education cuts |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is warning that England's schools are heading for a "funding squeeze". | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg is warning that England's schools are heading for a "funding squeeze". |
| In a speech later, he will say Labour's slogan of "education, education, education" will be replaced by one of "cuts, cuts, cuts". | |
| He says education spending will be frozen in the rest of this parliament and that many schools will face real funding cuts this year. | He says education spending will be frozen in the rest of this parliament and that many schools will face real funding cuts this year. |
| Schools minister Jim Knight accused Mr Clegg of "misleading nonsense". | |
| In a speech at the Institute for Public Policy Research, Mr Clegg will say education is a key priority for the Liberal Democrats. | In a speech at the Institute for Public Policy Research, Mr Clegg will say education is a key priority for the Liberal Democrats. |
| He will pledge to halt what he says are reductions in school budgets and reaffirm the party's commitment to put an extra £2bn a year into the education budget. | He will pledge to halt what he says are reductions in school budgets and reaffirm the party's commitment to put an extra £2bn a year into the education budget. |
| "For many schools, Blair's 'Education, Education, Education', is about to become Brown's 'Cuts, cuts, cuts'," he will say. | "For many schools, Blair's 'Education, Education, Education', is about to become Brown's 'Cuts, cuts, cuts'," he will say. |
| 'Challenging pupils' | 'Challenging pupils' |
| A survey by the Liberal Democrats of local authorities has found that of the 50 which responded, one in three was facing real cuts in funding per pupil this year. | A survey by the Liberal Democrats of local authorities has found that of the 50 which responded, one in three was facing real cuts in funding per pupil this year. |
| The party says that proportion will receive below-inflation increases in funding per pupil. | The party says that proportion will receive below-inflation increases in funding per pupil. |
| A key plank of the party's approach to education would be to match funding to need. Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds would attract extra funding which would go directly to schools. | A key plank of the party's approach to education would be to match funding to need. Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds would attract extra funding which would go directly to schools. |
| "This extra money would follow the pupil to whichever school he or she attends," he will say in his speech. | "This extra money would follow the pupil to whichever school he or she attends," he will say in his speech. |
| "It would be a powerful incentive for schools in more advantaged areas to take on more challenging pupils. And it would also be a huge financial boost to schools with large numbers of such pupils." | "It would be a powerful incentive for schools in more advantaged areas to take on more challenging pupils. And it would also be a huge financial boost to schools with large numbers of such pupils." |
| Mr Knight said: "This is typically inaccurate and misleading nonsense from the Lib-Dems. | |
| "Local authorities have received an average per pupil funding increase of 4.6% this year, and schools in turn are guaranteed a minimum increase of 2.1% per pupil." | "Local authorities have received an average per pupil funding increase of 4.6% this year, and schools in turn are guaranteed a minimum increase of 2.1% per pupil." |
| The current rate of inflation on the government's preferred measure is 3%. Teachers are having a 2.45% pay rise imposed and salaries account for much of schools' costs. | The current rate of inflation on the government's preferred measure is 3%. Teachers are having a 2.45% pay rise imposed and salaries account for much of schools' costs. |
| Mr Knight said: "Funding for every single local authority, school and pupil will continue to rise in each of the next three years, so that per pupil spending will reach £6,600 in 2010 and will have doubled in real terms since 1997." | Mr Knight said: "Funding for every single local authority, school and pupil will continue to rise in each of the next three years, so that per pupil spending will reach £6,600 in 2010 and will have doubled in real terms since 1997." |