SIR – Consultation has started on a “Pupil Premium” after an announcement from the coalition Government.

This move could provide substantial extra cash to fight the effects of child poverty, to be spent as schools find most appropriate.

The money could be targeted at, say, pupils receiving free school meals, and will be welcomed in the ward I represent. While proposing similar measures, the Tories had suggested no extra funding.

At the insistence of the Lib Dem partners, funds will not be diverted from elsewhere in the Education Budget This is one of many Lib Dem manifesto promises incorporated into the Coalition Agreement.

Labour’s refusal to agree to such measures, and their desire to take time out and avoid dealing with the mess they had left, meant that discussions with them to form a stable Government never really got off the ground.

Councillor John Hall (Lib Dem, Windhill and Wrose), Pennithorne Avenue, Shipley