Products sector concerned over plans to use school building funds to pay for teachers.....

The Construction Products Association (CPA) has admitted today (Thursday) its extreme concern at the Secretary of State's decision to raid school capital maintenance budgets to fund the crisis in revenue funding.

Economic director Allan Wilén said: "The Association has previously warned that the introduction of a more flexible funding regime for local authorities would tempt many councils to divert funds from much needed maintenance and improvement works.

"However, we did not expect the Secretary of State to lead the raid by instructing schools and LEAs to defer such improvements to meet the shortfall in schools budgets for teachers' salaries.

Wilén believes the announcement undermines the government's commitment to bring the nation's schools up to the standard demanded for 21st century learning and to tackle the £7bn repair backlog by delaying much needed investment in new school facilities. 

"Of particular concern is the government's apparent willingness to abandon its long term investment strategy in favour of the stop-go crisis management of the past that contributed to the current poor condition of so many school buildings," he said. 

"Postponing maintenance projects will only add to the eventual repair bill as buildings continue to deteriorate. It will also damage confidence among construction product manufacturers and suppliers making them more cautious in investing in the plant and staff training needed to meet the government's stated long term objectives."