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		The MiP files: How much is spent on you?

Updated 03 December 2002, 11.41

We wanted to know what really goes on in Parliament - the place which runs most of Britain.

So we recruited a man on the inside to provide us with exclusive info and secret goss every Tuesday.

You can also ask him questions and get him to track down your MP. Go to the bottom of the page for how.

How much money do you reckon is spent on paying for you to go to school?

Your parents pay taxes from their wages - and some of this goes towards things like buildings, teachers' wages, library books and new desks.

The total bill, which is decided by the government, comes to billions of pounds.

And now one of the schools ministers, David Miliband, has revealed how much that works out per pupil in England.

On average, he said, �3,850 is spent on each of you at school this year.

Gordon Brown was fiddling with his tie, shifting in his seat and playing with his hair.

All round, he looked a wee bit twitchy as he sat in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

The reason? He had to admit that he'd got his sums wrong.

The chancellor works out how much money to spend on things like schools and hospitals.

In April he'd worked out that he needed to borrow �11 billion to help pay for the government's plans.

Now he's realised he's a bit short - about nine billion pounds short!

Things haven't been going as well in the economy as he'd hoped.

Mr Brown said he could get it all back on track - but he must be kicking himself over the mistake.

Who would you want if they let you choose your teachers?

Top names in a poll of kids last week were your MiP's favourite footballer, David Beckham, and R'n'B star Nelly.

But it was bad news for the prime minister.

Less than four per cent said they'd like Tony Blair to be their teacher!

A group of kids visited Tony Blair in Downing Street on Thursday.

They were there to present him with their Childrens Farm Welfare Charter, which is a list of things they think should happen to make life better for farm animals.

It's all part of the RSPCA's Freedom Food campaign.

Mr Blair also met famous sportsmen and women at Downing Street last week.

He was seen chatting to people like ex-Man Utd football star Mark Hughes and England and West Ham player Trevor Sinclair.

"Is it not time that we stopped treating fireworks like a toy that children can play with when the nights are getting dark - and saw them as the fairly dangerous explosives that they are?"
Helen Jackson, MP for Sheffield Hillsborough, demands action on fireworks

Each week our MiP will give you the chance to have your MP identified.

Just send us your name and postcode using the boxes at the bottom and he'll do the rest.

This week, Helen, 11, from Slough, gets her MP identified.

Name:
Fiona Mactaggart
Age:
49

Where are you from?
London
Party:
Labour
School nickname:
Lump
Greatest achievement:
Successfully making changes to laws on immigration, nationality and asylum to protect people's rights.
Inspiration:
Pastor Niemoller, a clergyman during the Nazi regime in Germany
Last movie I saw:
Bend it like Beckham (again)
Football team:
None
Politician I admire:
Estelle Morris, Labour MP and former schools minister.
Were you interested in politics as a child?
Yes
Why does politics matter?
It's the best and most just way to get a better world.
What one thing would you change tomorrow?
I'd end violence against women.

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Send us your details if you'd like us to hunt out your MP! We'll put a new one up each week.

More Info

Photos of the top MPs

How does Parliament work?

Past Stories

MiP file: The Queen comes into town

The MiP files: Why Blair listens to Foo Fighters!

The MiP files: Threat to cod and chips!

Web Links

UK Parliament site for kids

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Full UK Section

Also in The MiP files now:

	MiP Files: The prime minister's crucial week
	MiP file: Tory leader faces off with PM
	MiP files: A new leader for the Tories?


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