A Labour minister has rejected a direct plea for emergency funding from a local MP to address Haringey’s £1,000+ per pupil funding deficit.

The refusal came in a Parliamentary debate secured by Lynne Featherstone MP dedicated entirely to Haringey school funding where she outlined in detail the extent of the funding deficit and the impact on local schooling. The Hornsey & Wood Green MP asked the Government to make a crisis payment for 2010/11 so local schools did not have to wait for the result of the long awaited school funding review, not due to be implemented until 2011

Key figures to come out in the debate are that over the term of the current funding arrangement (2008-11) Haringey has lost out on over £120m of funding compared to neighbouring Hackney, equivalent to almost £110K a day.

The Government representative also turned down a request for Haringey to be directly represented on the body looking at the funding formula.

It was confirmed that Haringey is the 5th most deprived borough and yet receives only the 15th highest per pupil funding in the capital.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“I am bitterly disappointed that the Labour Government continues to ignore this blatant injustice – even ignoring pleas from their own councillors.

“Our teachers do a wonderful job, but they could do so much more if our school children received the funding they deserve.

“This is not about politics, but simple fairness. I will continue to fight until our schools get their fair share.”

Note: you can watch the debate at http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=4948