Local head teachers increasingly tell me of the squeeze their sixth form budgets are feeling.

In coalition government, the Liberal Democrats insisted that the schools budget should be protected. The Department for Education has only been able to do this up to age 16, yet with the participation age rising, requiring young people to be in education or training until they turn 18, sixth forms are finding themselves having to do more with less.

At Prime Minister’s Questions last week, I took these concerns straight to the top and sought a commitment from David Cameron to protect schools funding beyond 2016.

At our conference in Glasgow this month, the Liberal Democrats agreed to do just that: protect education funding in real terms right through from age two to 19, so that early years and sixth form budgets are protected too, while eliminating the structural current budget deficit by 2018.

By contrast, at the Conservative conference in Birmingham, the Prime Minister announced that his party plans to cut income tax for higher-rate tax payers by a further £1,600, and he has since revived his plans to cut inheritance tax for the wealthiest estates. Suddenly it seems that Ed Miliband isn’t the only one to have forgotten about the deficit.

I was disappointed that straight after claiming he could afford tax cuts, David Cameron was not able to give me a commitment to protect schools funding. I don’t agree with making school budgets pay for tax cuts for high-earners and people inheriting large estates.

As we approach the Autumn Statement, I’ll continue to press the government to make a long-term commitment to the education of our children and ensure we create opportunities for everyone.

I have already helped to deliver an extra £5.7 million for Wiltshire schools next year, in a big step towards fairer funding. Acknowledging my campaign on this, Lib Dem Schools Minister David Laws has announced that Wiltshire schools will get an extra £100 per pupil.

More than 2,500 local people have now signed my petition calling on Wiltshire Council to restore one hour of free parking in our town centre car parks. If you agree, add your name at www.duncanhames.org.uk/free_parking.

My next constituency surgery will be at Melksham Town Hall on Saturday, from 10.30am to noon.