I do, and I will be addressing that in this speech. But the point must be made that, at the end of the day, it is the Government's budget, and the Government needs to take decisions on these matters, and these are intensely political matters, I have to say. To lead is to decide, and I say this to all Ministers in this place this afternoon: we expect a budget to be brought forward later this term that recognises the importance of education and recognises the central place of schools in what we're seeking to do. I see the chief whip is in her place, and she's been very generous to me recently, so I don't wish to abuse that generosity, but I fear I might, when I say to her that a budget that is published that does not give fair play to education and to schools is not a budget that will enjoy support from these backbenches. We need to ensure that the budget, when it is brought forward, is one that recognises the importance of a sufficiently funded education system.

The second point I wish to make is about the complexity of the system, and Suzy Davies has, in many ways, addressed this. Let me say this—during the budget discussions that took place last year, as people will remember, I was the local government Minister. I supported the additional funding being provided to education at that time, and I supported it in the form of a grant to try to ensure that this funding actually reaches the classroom and doesn't simply stop at the local county hall.

I'm grateful to the committee for demonstrating clearly that there is far too much complexity in the system, and that schools do not therefore receive the funds that we would expect them to receive. If the system were to be reformed, then there would not be any need to do these things in such a way, but my fear is that in an unreformed system, the clear priority of teaching staff, children and young people, who have the right to expect better of us, will not see the benefit, even where those difficult decisions on funding are taken.

I would ask the Minister to consider not simply the arguments over additional funding, but also what is found in this report about the complexity of the system. I would be absolutely clear in my mind that it is right and proper that we do debate and discuss hypothecation of education funding, that we ring-fence funds for schools to ensure that all local authorities are compelled to spend the funds that are voted for education through this place on education and that they reach the classroom.

I would also ask the Minister to consider funding schools through the consortia or another system of regional funding. This would cut the complexity and the bureaucracy, and increase the capacity of locally based organisations to provide an education system. But we have to ensure, again, that we address the complexity and the bureaucracy within the system. If we're unable to do this, then I fear that we will have to consider the direct funding of schools. This is not something I've ever argued for in the past, but it is now something that I believe we may need to consider if we're unable to reform the system in any other way. It is more important to me that teachers, that young people, that children in this country have the education they deserve than we sacrifice their education on the altar of our principles, and we have to take that decision. We can't simply wish money into that classroom; we have to vote it into that classroom, and then we have to vote through the changes that make that money reach that classroom. We can't say that we want to see that, making an easy, popular speech on a Wednesday afternoon, if we are not then prepared to take the tough decisions next Monday morning to make sure that funding reaches that teacher, that pupil, that student in that classroom. And so I say to people, 'Don't simply accept this report this afternoon unless you've got the courage of your convictions to make the case for that funding reaching that classroom.'

I'll conclude, Presiding Officer—I know I'm testing you again this afternoon—with the point I made at questions earlier. I have a personal commitment that I know the Minister shares to additional learning needs, and when we worked together in the education department to deliver a reformed system for additional learning needs, we also ensured that the resources were there in order to deliver that. But we also know that we need those resources ring-fenced as well, and I hope that when the budget is brought forward we will have a place for additional learning needs ring-fenced within that budget, so we don't simply reform the system, but we provide the education for children and young people with additional learning needs that they deserve, throughout the whole of this country. Thank you.