Commenting on the announcement of new Free Schools, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Education, Dan Rogerson said:

"Labour left many areas facing a chronic shortage of school places and the Coalition Government is doing the right thing in dealing with this legacy. We've already invested an extra £600m inEnglandto relieve the pressure on school places and it's important that Free Schools do their bit as well. That's why Free Schools must be predominantly located in local areas that desperately need new places.

"Free Schools were in the Coalition Agreement and we are working to ensure they are fair schools. Thanks to Liberal Democrats, Free School Trusts cannot make a profit and are expected to admit the same proportion of children on Free School Meals as the area where they are based.

"It is important that the Free Schools announced today now build up links with local communities and work alongside existing schools. We will continue to closely scrutinise Free Schools to make sure they improve education for all children, not just a privileged few."