[lancsdave]

About time too !!


Government poised for school uniform crackdown

The government is preparing to take measures to prevent schools forming exclusive deals with retailers over school uniforms that allow shops to exploit their monopoly position with high prices.

A recent survey by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) showed that on average parents were overcharged by £45 million per year under the price fixing conditions.

The Department for Education and the OFT are now preparing to act over fears that expensive uniforms are deterring some parents from trying to enrol their children in particular schools.

Action may even include prosecuting schools that continue with uncompetitive price-fixing deals.

Education minister Jim Knight said: "I want every child to be able to go to the school of their choice and unfair and expensive uniform policies can prevent this.

"Schools should set affordable uniform policies that do not seek to make additional money through expensive and exclusive contracts," he added.