§ Ms WardTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of his policy on inner-city education on schools in Watford; and if he will make a statement. [78543]
§ Ms Estelle MorrisThe programme announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 22 March 1999,Official Report, columns 21–22 to raise standards in inner cities applies in the first instance in six target areas only. The lessons learnt during the "Excellence in Cities" programme will in time benefit all schools. Watford schools already benefit from our national policies to raise standards and from the significant additional investment which the Government are making in the education system.