On Monday in Parliament, Richard questioned the Education Minister on the pressing need for the government to provide more support for both parents and pupils in North East Bedfordshire. The full question and the Minister's answer can be watched here.
Speaking after the his question, Richard Fuller, MP for North East Bedfordshire, said:
While I welcomed the continual the funding the department has provided for my constituency, I highlighted particular issues with Raynsford Academy and ongoing problems in the villages of Langford and Sharnbrook on parents getting a school place for their children . However with population growth in the constituency running at 5 times the national average, it is imperative that across the whole of North East Bedfordshire the government fulfils its commitment to 'infrastructure first' to ensure that access to school places, GP surgeries and other essential services are in place before further housing growth puts even greater strain on the current limited resources.
Earlier this year, the government announced that Central Bedfordshire Council will receive £12.7 million to provide new school places needed for 2023. This takes their total funding allocated between 2011 and 2023 to £105.3 million and Bedford Borough will receive over £7.2 million to provide new school places needed for 2023. This takes their total funding allocated between 2011 and 2023 to £61.1 million. North East Bedfordshire covers both local authority areas.
