Rayleigh Tory MP Mark Francois launched an attack on the Government's funding of education during a debate in Westminster Hall.
Mr Francois said that under the new grant formula, Essex County Council faced an education funding gap of more than £7million.
He quoted extensively from Echo articles earlier this month which highlighted the county's problems.
He said: "The Government's increase in education spending should be put into the context of the increased costs schools are having to bear this year."
These included higher National Insurance, increased pay scales and rising contributions to teachers' pensions.
Money allocated from the Government was not enough and it was unfair for council tax payers to foot the bill for the extra cash.
"Headteachers faced extremely hard choices as a result of the Government's policies," he said.
After the debate, Mr Francois said: "I was grateful to the Evening Echo for highlighting the situation.
"Next year the schools' reserves may well be gone, and we have to ask what is going to happen then."
Published Wednesday, April 30, 2003
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