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Michael Gove to face free schools row question Free schools are Michael Gove's 'pet project' - Labour
(about 2 hours later)
Labour has been granted an urgent question in Parliament following reports over the weekend of a coalition row over free school funding. Labour has accused the government of wasting money on free schools, calling them "pet political projects".
Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt will be speaking for Labour, with Education Secretary Michael Gove responding for the government. The party was granted an urgent question in Parliament after reports of a coalition row over funding.
The Liberal Democrats say 30,000 local authority school places are being lost as money is diverted to free schools. Shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt said ministers were spending "£400m to fill a black hole".
But Conservative sources respond that more places are being created overall. But Education Secretary Michael Gove said his rival had "more contorted positions on free schools than some Indian sex manuals I could name".
Free schools, of which more than 170 have been created in England, receive direct funding from the Department for Education and are independent of councils.Free schools, of which more than 170 have been created in England, receive direct funding from the Department for Education and are independent of councils.
Set up by parents, teachers, religious groups and academy chains, they have priority for funds over other new schools.Set up by parents, teachers, religious groups and academy chains, they have priority for funds over other new schools.
'Risible' 'Out of control'
Liberal Democrat sources say 30,000 local authority school places are being lost as money is diverted to free schools.
But Conservative sources respond that more places are being created overall.
The Lib Dems supported the creation of free schools, but in recent weeks growing tensions between the coalition parties have become evident.The Lib Dems supported the creation of free schools, but in recent weeks growing tensions between the coalition parties have become evident.
According to sources in Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's office, last December Mr Gove overruled the Lib Dem schools minister David Laws to take £400m from the Basic Need Budget for 2015-17.According to sources in Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's office, last December Mr Gove overruled the Lib Dem schools minister David Laws to take £400m from the Basic Need Budget for 2015-17.
They claim the money was diverted to help cover a projected £800m overspend between 2013 and 2016 in the budget for free schools - a project close to Mr Gove's heart.They claim the money was diverted to help cover a projected £800m overspend between 2013 and 2016 in the budget for free schools - a project close to Mr Gove's heart.
Lib Dem sources accused the education secretary of being a "zealot" and "putting the needs of a handful of their pet projects ahead of the requirements of the other 24,000 schools in the country". Mr Laws was not present for Labour's question in Parliament.
But Mr Gove's allies said the Basic Need Budget would still rise by more than £200m a year in 2015-17 and argued that expansion of free schools would lead to more school places overall. Mr Hunt said: "The coalition - both parts - has raided the schools budget to pay for petty political projects."
The row comes days after emails leaked to the BBC indicated senior Department for Education officials had raised concerns school places may have to be cut if the Lib Dems' free school meals policy for infant children was implemented. He added that free schools had been "underperforming" and that the education department was "spiralling out of control" under Mr Gove's leadership.
A Conservative source at the department said: "This is a pathetic attempt by the Lib Dems to divert attention from their botched school food policy which councils are being forced to fund by cutting money for school places. Mr Gove replied that standards were improving as a result of free schools being set up and said that there was no longer a shortage of places across England.
"They opted for free schools and backed them from the start. For the Lib Dems to attack them now is frankly risible." He added: "He has had more contorted positions on free schools than some Indian sex manuals I could name."
For Labour, Mr Hunt said free schools had "had the Lib Dem stamp of approval from day one". Mr Gove's allies have said the Basic Need Budget will still rise by more than £200m a year in 2015-17 and argued that expansion of free schools would lead to more school places overall.