....as UK contractors also slam decision to divert school repairs cash

The Construction Confederation (CC) has also declared its concern that schools are being allowed to spend more than £500m set aside for building and repairs to pay staff salaries to ease the current funding crisis.

Chief executive Stephen Ratcliffe said: "Sustained public sector investment is vital to the continued growth and well-being of the construction industry.  We have been given repeated assurances by this government that the capital spending programme will be maintained but it now appears that cracks are beginning to appear in those pledges.

"While this decision to divert cash intended for building and repairs is billed as a one-off for one year only, it does set alarm bells ringing that the government is prepared to go back on its word.

"We are very disappointed by this decision and concerned that this may only be the thin end of the wedge," he said. 

"Schools badly need improvements to their buildings and infrastructure and there is a real danger that pupils and teachers will pay a high long-term cost for a short-term quick-fix like this."