In the emergency Budget last week, Chancellor George Osborne indicatedthat the Department for Education would be partially protected from cutswhen financial plans for the next four years are set out in October.
Education Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed that cash for freeschools and academies will take precedence in the spending review,triggering concerns that money for education could be prioritised aboveother children's services.
Ali argued that ringfencing particular areas of spending is aninefficient way of making cuts, given that no service works inisolation.
She added that ringfencing schools spending could damage jointworking.
"I think it's more sensible to look at things in the round," sheexplained. "The best way of making efficiencies is by having a sensiblediscussion about how you reconfigure services.
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