OFFICERS have given assurances that the Government’s promise to invest £57m in Darlington’s schools is unlikely to be broken.

Officers told councillors at the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee that while there was never a cast-iron guarantee with funding, political support from both the Government and the opposition for Building Schools for the Future was strong.

George McQueen, the children’s services department officer responsible for leading the successful Darlington Borough Council bid, also told members that the considerable publicity surrounding the successful bid meant funding was unlikely to be withdrawn.

The assurances came in response to questions from Councillor Tony Richmond, who said: “We know in economic terms this year’s going to be a very difficult one. Are we assured of a cast-iron guarantee that we have the money?”

Mr McQueen said: “You have lived in this world long enough and I have lived in this world long enough to know there’s no such thing as a cast-iron guarentee.

“The Partnerships for School and Darlignton Borough Council made a public announcement about this. The Conservative Party and the Labour Party have both acknowledged their support for the Building Schools for the Future programme.

“My glass is more than half-full.”

The successful bid was announced in December last year.

The money will pay for rebuilding or extensive refurbishment of Longfield and Branksome schools in Darlington and Hurworth School Maths and Computing College, in Hurworth.

Work is expected to start in 2011 and be completed by 2012.