HC Deb 02 November 1993 vol 231 cc135-6
1. Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he will approve in full Manchester's bid for capital expenditure on schools for 1994–95; and if he will make a statement.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Mr. Eric Forth)

Manchester's capital bid will be decided on its merits. We shall announce our decision on all the local education authority bids in December.

Mr. Bradley

I hope the Minister has read the brilliant documentation of disrepair in Manchester schools in my constituency. I know that he is having a meeting with a delegation from Manchester city council next month, and I hope that he will work positively with its members to ensure that resources are made available for remodelling, repair and rebuilding of Manchester's schools, particularly Parrswood high school and St. Paul's school in my constituency. Will he ensure that all Manchester's children receive a quality education in quality schools and buildings?

Mr. Forth

I am looking most carefully at Manchester's bid, as I look at all education authority bids. Manchester has done remarkably well over the last few years, and I do not wish to embarrass other local education authorities who might be envious of just how well it has done. I remain conscious of the needs of Manchester and other local education authorities. We will not only listen carefully to what the delegation has to say, but do our best to meet all reasonable requests from Manchester and other places.

Mr. Thurnham

Does my hon. Friend agree that Manchester council would have more money to spend on its schools if it ran its affairs generally in a more efficient fashion? Have not the local government ombudsman and the Audit Commisssion identified numerous areas where money is wasted? For instance, 60 lecturers have been told to stay at home while the council spends £1 million on their salaries.

Mr. Forth

I am not sure that I can take those precise factors into account when considering Manchester's capital bid; however, I expect Manchester and all the other local education authorities to take full advantage of the Chancellor's generosity in allowing them to use all capital receipts this year, without let or hindrance. I hope that they will do that, and direct a good deal of the money towards educational needs.

Mr. Eastham

Will the Minister give some consideration to the serious position of schools in Manchester? In north Manchester—which constitutes about one fifth of my constituency, Blackley—each of 18 schools needs expenditure of more than £100,000. Is the Minister prepared to spend the money, or else find himself having to replace those schools with new buildings in four or five years' time?

Mr. Forth

I hope that the hon. Gentleman is directing such questions to Manchester local education authority —in the light of what my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) has said, in the light of what I have said about capital receipts and in the light of the fact that the LEAs have enormous discretion in prioritising their own work. I hope that the hon. Gentleman is quizzing the LEA; it is to the LEA that he should look.