I rise to present a petition asking for fairer funding for Devon pupils, on behalf of the residents of my constituency. This petition, signed by a number of my constituents, and a similar petition signed by a further 900 of them, expresses concern about the funding situation in which our schools find themselves. It states:

The petition of residents of the constituency of Newton Abbot,

Declares that each pupil in Devon received £290 less than the national average; further that Conservatives in Devon believe this is not right; and further that the recent Government consultation was flawed and did not improve the situation.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to increase the funding for the young people of Devon.

And the petitioners remain, etc.

[P002067]