Richard Ottaway MP: Press releasses

23 August 2004

OTTAWAY: DfES MINISTER CONFIRMS FUNDING WAS FOR KESTON PRIMARY

Richard Ottaway, Conservative MP for Croydon South, has slammed Croydon Council for using the DfES funding allocated to Keston Primary School to prop up its own financial position.

"In a recent letter to the DfES I raised the question of the £800,000 allocated to
Keston Primary for modernisation works but 'borrowed' by the Council Finance
Department for non-educational funding. It is quite clear from the Minister's
response that this funding was allocated for the school but has been taken by the Council to pay for other things."

"This is an absolutely scandalous situation. This funding was given by the
Government to pay for the removal of very old temporary classrooms in line with
the school amalgamation improvements promised by Croydon LEA."

"This type of behaviour which clearly breaches the promises made by Croydon
LEA betrays the trust of parents and staff and is an absolute disgrace. I call on
Croydon Council to address this issue at once and give Keston Primary its
funding so that it can get on with the improvements which were promised."

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