FIRST, on Brexit: my approach has always been to respect the outcome of the referendum (52% leave in Taunton Deane), and to work for the best outcome for the most people, in particular business.

I supported the Government at every opportunity to do this, by voting for the deal, but not enough MPs did and so the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement were rejected three times. That is why the Prime Minister continues to seek a new, better deal with the EU.

In the meantime good news for education. Having met with teachers across the constituency to understand the pressures they are facing I have spent several years making the case to Government for increased funding.

I have done this by means of a petition for fairer funding, questions in the Commons Chamber, high level meetings with Education Ministers and Treasury.

This came to fruition when, in last week’s Spending Round, the Chancellor announced a £14bn package for education meaning that 182 secondary schools in the SW will receive a minimum of £5,000 per pupil next year; and 604 SW primary schools will receive a minimum of £3,750 per pupil; plus a much needed £13.2m for SW further education colleges, (like our excellent Richard Huish) by 2020-21.

I have written to every school about this and arranged a meeting with the Education Minister to find out exactly what this means for Taunton Deane.

In addition the £4.5bn requirement for teachers’ pensions will now come from outside the education budget, meaning every penny of extra funding will go straight to schools to deliver the best educational outcomes for our children.

Success too for my campaign for increased funding for adult social care and I look forward to Somerset receiving its share of the £1bn package announced by the Chancellor.

There is also an option (subject to consultation) of adding an extra 2% to Council Tax for adult social which would raise an additional £5m for Somerset.

With Somerset facing the challenges of an increasingly elderly population, the extra funding announced is much needed and I am pleased that David Fothergill, Leader of Somerset County Council has joined with me in welcoming this.

REBECCA POW
MP for Taunton Deane