LOCAL Government Minister Chris Leslie will be pressed on controversial plans to change the funding formula for Worcestershire's cash-strapped schools.

Worcester MP Mike Foster has arranged for a delegation from the county council to visit Westminster on Tuesday, September 10.

Mr Foster, a Parliamentary aide in the Education Department, was asked to fix up the meeting by Tory county councillor Adrian Hardman.

Councillors and officials want to press Mr Leslie on recently published proposals to change the "unfair" way cash is allocated to local schools.

They have been campaigning for 10 years for a new formula to be introduced.

But only one of the four options being considered by the Government would result in more cash for Worcestershire schools.

The remaining three would have led to last year's £368.7m budget being cut.

"I am delighted to have secured this meeting," said Mr Foster.

"I strongly believe that a cross-party approach will have a better chance of succeeding, and that is why I responded so positively to Coun Hardman's request.

Four options

"We now have four options for change identified in the consultation document and, I hope, a real sense of the need for Worcestershire to speak with one voice.

"With millions of pounds at stake - one option increases cash budgets by 33.9m - we need to put over a strong and united case to win the best deal for our schools."

Bromsgrove Tory MP Julie Kirkbride put Education Secretary Estelle Morris on the spot over the funding changes in a Commons debate.

"Can the Secretary of State, as a Member of Parliament for Birmingham, explain why every year in her patch all the children in secondary schools get in excess of £500 more per pupil than those in my patch?" asked Miss Kirkbride.

"Under the proposed SSA formula, that situation will get even more extreme. Why is that?"

Ms Morris replied: "I understand the importance of the SSA formula in areas such as Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire.

"The consultation is out, with four options for people to comment on. In due course, we shall receive their representations and arrive at a decision."