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Press Release

Statement on pre-Budget report and nursery single funding formula

9 December 2009

Philip Parkin, General Secretary of Voice: the union for education professionals, has commented on today's Pre-Budget Report and reports that new rules on nursery funding will be delayed from April 2010 to April 2011.

On the Pre-Budget Report, Philip Parkin said: "We welcome the promised packages of financial support and above-inflation funding for schools in these difficult times. However, we are concerned about possible cuts in training and university funding and the effect this will have on adult learners and this country's world-class research.

"Our teaching, childcare and support staff members will also be worried about proposals to 'cap' public sector pay and for public sector workers to contribute more to their pensions. This will effectively cut their incomes.

"It seems that hard-working, dedicated public sector professionals and adult learners trying to improve their skills are going to have to pay the price for bankers' greed and politicians' incompetence. Educators and learners should not become the victims of a recession that is not of their making.

"It would be morally wrong to make cuts in training and public sector pay and pensions while pouring even more public money into banks that contributed to the current economic crisis and yet continue to pay bonuses to already highly-paid staff. If banks can afford to pay bonuses, they should repay the taxpayers' money they've been given so that money can be used to benefit the future of the country."

Commenting on the single funding formula, Philip Parkin said: "The plans to introduce a single funding formula for nurseries by April 2010 were rushed, and so a delay of one year will allow time for meaningful thought and consultations to take place before implementation. The Government needs to sit down with the public and private sectors and sort this out for the sake of children in nurseries and those who look after them.

"As the Government becomes pre-occupied with the General Election and electioneering, it will become less concerned with carrying out promises previously made and we will see more delays to difficult issues that can be conveniently put aside until after the Election."



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Voice: the union for education professionals

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