Government pledges Music Manifesto windfall.

The Music Manifesto will turn its attention to how the next generation of music literate kids can be assimilated into the industry, following last week's massive #332m Government windfall to educate schoolchildren.

The Manifesto, developed in 2004 by the DfES and DCMS in collaboration with music industry groups such as British Music Rights, is geared to provide more opportunities for young people to develop their music interests and skills.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls last Wednesday, pledged #82m a year for the next three years to be spent on free music tuition for primary school children. A further #40m is also being allocated to buy new musical instruments and another #40m towards the national singing campaign.

A spokeswoman for the Music Manifesto describes the move as "absolutely phenomenal" and demonstrates a real long-term commitment from the Government to the Manifesto Report No. 2, which was released at the end of 2006 with 69 key recommendations, including making access to music available for every child.

"This is a real affirmation of the Music Manifesto," she says. "It's a massive amount of money and will have such an effect on schools."

She adds that music making will be available to all school children and that there will be more variety of instruments and teaching.

With the extra money now available for kids from four years old to school ...