TAUNTON MP Jeremy Browne has uncovered new Government figures showing that the under funding of Somerset's schools is getting even worse.

The questions from Mr Browne in Parliament to Ministers at the Department for Education and Skills show the average Somerset school pupil receives £350 less in Government funding a year than the average for England overall - Somerset £3,780, England overall £4,130.

That means the typical school pupil in England has 9.3% more money spent on his or her education than the typical school pupil in Somerset.

Mr Browne said the funding gap had risen every year from £190 in 1997, when Labour got into power.

He said: "The Government has consistently under funded the education of children in Somerset's schools.

"Instead of tackling this shortfall the Government has widened the funding gap.

"Every pupil in a Somerset state school is getting £350 less this year from the Government for his or her education than the overall average for England.

"I want every young person in Somerset to have the maximum opportunity to realise his or her full potential.

"It is wrong that Somerset gets such a bad schools funding settlement and teachers in the county have to manage with far less money than elsewhere in England.

"I have written to the Education Secretary calling for a fair deal for Somerset's pupils and I will continue to campaign for proper funding for local schools."