To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce a system of funding for primary schools in Northern Ireland which is on the same basis as the arrangements in England. [125848]

The system for funding primary schools in Northern Ireland is very similar to that of England in that delegated budgets are determined by means of a formula developed and operated by the Education and Library Board (in England the LEA has this responsibility).The Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 provides for the introduction of a Common Funding Scheme which will include a single common formula for the calculation of the delegated budgets of all schools, except special schools. This will ensure that schools of similar size and characteristics receive similar levels of funding.