§ 1. Rob Marris (Wolverhampton, South-West) (Lab)What assessment he has made of the effects of Government capital investment in schools in Wolverhampton, South-West since 1997. [158467]
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Gordon Brown)Since 1997, Government support for capital investment in school buildings in Wolverhampton alone has been £43 million. In England as a whole investment has risen from £700 million to reach £5.1 billion. Because over the next 15 years we are committed to ensuring that all secondary schools in Wolverhampton are upgraded, we will announce our capital investment programme soon.
At the start of this Question Time, it may help the House to know that the Treasury will publish Lord Penrose's report into Equitable Life on Monday. We will publish the report in full and my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary will make a statement to the House.
§ Rob MarrisI thank my right hon. Friend for that answer, and for providing schools in Wolverhampton with £43 million of capital investment over the past six years. Coincidentally, I also had the first question at the most recent Treasury questions. On that occasion, the Chancellor announced the date of this year's Budget. Will he firmly assure me that, in his Budget, he will maintain capital investment in schools in Wolverhampton, and that he is not planning massive cuts to overall spending?
§ Mr. BrownI am grateful to my hon. Friend, although every reply that I give him is very expensive. I assure him that we plan to expand our programme of capital investment over the next spending round. It would be disastrous for the country and for education if we cut capital investment in our schools. If the education budget were to be cut, there would be cuts in further and adult education, in Sure Start, in nursery education and in universities. That is the Opposition's programme.