HELP WITH SCHOOL CLOTHING COSTS

Early day motion 1743, tabled 15 October 2002 by Alan Meale (Labour). Signed by 41 members.

That this House congratulates the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux on its production of the 'Help with school clothing costs' report which examined all local education authority provision of assistance with school uniform costs in school year 2001-02 and gave information about local school uniform policies; is concerned that their survey found that almost one third of local education authorities provide no help towards the costs of uniforms and that nine local education authorities have abolished or reduced their level of provision since the year 2000, with only 28 per cent. of local education authorities offering grants to children of both primary and secondary school age; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to introduce a statutory duty on local education authorities to meet the minimum standards in relation to school clothing grants and to order them to earmark appropriate funding within their education standard spending assessments.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 8, Labour/Co-operative 4, UUP 1.