MP delighted to hear funding found for school internet
18th March 2010
Geoffrey Cox has welcomed the decision of Devon County Council to set aside £2million for local Devon schools to fund 80% of their broadband costs for 2010/2011.
Geoffrey Cox, MP for Torridge & West Devon has welcomed the decision of Devon County Council to set aside £2million for local Devon schools to fund 80% of their broadband costs for 2010/2011.
The MP, who met with many head teachers in the rural primary schools of his constituency, has been campaigning on behalf of schools since last November to highlight the serious financial situation they found themselves in after hearing that they would suddenly have to pay for the cost of broadband out of their own capital. The cost came about as a result in changes to funding allowances, which meant that schools would no longer receive a grant from the local authority, and would have to foot bills of between £4,000 and £8,000.
Many Devon schools are already financially over-stretched and simply could not see how they would afford to pay for the vital service without making cuts in staffing, or face serious budget deficits.
Geoffrey Cox said "I am delighted Devon County Council has been able to set aside this money for our schools for 2010-2011; without it we would have seen many head teachers having to make even harder decisions on where to make cuts in order to pay for this vital service".
He continued "I have written to Government calling for more flexibility in how schools are allowed to spend their Harnessing Technology Grant, which currently only allows schools to pay for capital expenses such as new computers, but not revenue expenses such as broadband. It is a ludicrous situation that the government fails to recognise, and it is something that affects our small rural schools most of all. For the time being the County Council has stepped in, but this is not a long-term solution. I will continue to do whatever I can to fight for a fairer deal for Devon school children, who also currently receive £410 less in government funding than the average English pupil; however I suspect it may take a change of administration before we see positive change".
