CC to press education minister on school funding issue

The Construction Confederation (CC) is to hold a meeting with education secretary Charles Clarke at the beginning of June.

One of topics to be discussed at the scheduled meeting in Westminster will be the recent announcement by the minister which allowed schools to tap into building capital funds to help pay teachers.

Also on the agenda will be funding for vocational and academic courses, skills gaps and apprenticeships.

"Naturally we are concerned by the capital funding issue and this will be high on our agenda at the meeting," said a CC spokesman. "Although we have been assured by the government this is a one off, there is a real concern this is the thin end of the wedge."