Public services protected

23 April 2009

Commenting on the Chancellor's Budget announcement with regard to schools, Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers' union in the UK, said:

"I welcome the fact that the Chancellor has clearly resisted the exhortations of the opponents of public services to use the recession as an opportunity to raid funding for schools and hospitals.

"It is clear that the Government recognises that the education service will develop the ambition, skills, expertise and drive essential for economic reconstruction. The additional funding to secure a place for all young people who want one in post 16 education exemplifies this and will be welcomed by schools and colleges.

"I am disappointed that the Chancellor has continued to focus on efficiency savings and has not taken the opportunity to undertake a rigorous review of whether the millions of pounds of public money spent in education on organisations such as the TDA, NCSL and National Strategies represent good value for money. This is where efficiency savings should be focused, not on further reductions to an already depleted civil service."