A GOVERNMENT minister will look into the policy of reusing old furniture in new school buildings after an MP said it was posing serious problems for one in Binley.
Ernesford Grange was given funding for a new building under a government scheme but not for any of the furniture inside. City MP Jim Cunningham raised the case in Westminster last week.
The Observer first revealed schools would be forced to use old furniture back in February 2013, two months before builders set to work on the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP).
Six in Coventry, including Ernesford Grange, will get new buildings but the government will only fund fixed furniture and equipment for them.
Mr Cunningham said: “A school in my constituency has just had a new school building built under the PSBP.
“However, the Education Funding Agency has informed it that there is no funding to cover furniture for the new building.
“That is presenting a serious problem for the school and, I am sure, for many other schools.”
Minister David Laws said schools should reuse existing equipment but added he would meet the Coventry South MP to hear more.
And he said he would look at the case if it was felt the situation was posing problems.
