My Department has already recognised this and has been working specifically on the technical support issue since January and will offer advice to schools during the Autumn term.

It is a very unusual sector and the one thing I would ask of them is to understand that for most of them one-third of their films are being financed by the taxpayer and that carries huge accountability and responsibility.

By creating useful job descriptions and making clear what qualifications should be expected, the Department aims to help improve schools' ability to recruit the right people.

There is a shortage of teachers but the January 2001 schools census showed that teacher numbers were at their highest level than at any time since 1984 - and 11,000 higher than 1997.

I want to give producers more financial security.

The need for improved technical support in schools has expanded as the Government and schools have increased their investment in information and communications technologies.

What politicians want to create is irreversible change because when you leave office someone changes it back again.