Commenting upon the latest statistical bulletin issued by the Welsh Assembly Government that compares education budgets between Wales and England, NUT Cymru have called upon the Government to take urgent immediate action to rectify the problem. Wales Secretary David Evans said:

"We fully expected that the figures when released would show that the difference in per pupil funding when you compare budgets in Wales against those in England would have increased. And it comes as no surprise to see that the funding gap has widened from £496 per pupil to £527, a change of 6.25%.

"This presents real difficulties for schools in Wales. Whilst we were pleased to note that the First Minister has pledged to close the gap, Carwyn Jones’ promise of an additional 1% above the education block grant starting in 2011 is clearly too little and will be too late.

"The focus of the NUT Funding Campaign has been on the inequalities that our children face in respect of their education provision. Announcing that there will be a funding review is not going to assist those pupils in the short term. The financing of schools in Wales is in a perilous state and the WAG cannot and must not delay. The latest figures dictate that an interim funding measure must be implemented immediately. The Ministers have at long last recognised that there is a significant issue. They must also recognise that significant proposals are required now to address the need of the current generation passing through our schools."