HC Deb 27 May 2004 vol 421 cc1699-700
5. Mr. Mark Todd (South Derbyshire) (Lab)

What representations he has received concerning Derbyshire county council's building schools for the future bid. [175993]

The Minister for School Standards (Mr. David Miliband)

We have received two representations relating to the use of private finance initiative credits, and to the announcement of the next waves of investment. In addition, an official from the Department has met representatives of Derbyshire county council.

Mr. Todd

The Government have a good story to tell in support of secondary education in South Derbyshire, particularly for schools such as John Port, to which £5 million was recently allocated for new and replacement buildings. However Derbyshire's building schools for the future programme focuses on the county's former coalfield communities, and in my area on schools in the Swadlincote community—William Allitt, Pingle and Granville—which are working closely with the local education authority on an exciting element of that bid. Will my hon. Friend bear that bid very strongly in mind in the next round?

Mr. Miliband

I am sure that my hon. Friend will want me to rehearse the rise in capital funding in Derbyshire since 1997—from £4 million to £40 million in this financial year. I certainly take very seriously his point about the need in coalfield communities for the sort of investment that he recommends, but, of course, Labour Members are committed to such investment throughout the country, starting in the areas of greatest need.

Mr. Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire) (Con)

In wave 1 of this programme, of the 12 authorities that were successful only one was a shire council. Why?

Mr. Miliband

In fact, there are 14 authorities in wave 1, including two reserves.[Interruption] Actually, 14 plus two reserves makes 16. The numeracy hour beckons for a certain Conservative Front Bencher. Perhaps he is auditioning for the role of shadow Secretary of State; I notice that the current one is not here today.

The simple answer to the question of the hon. Member for West Derbyshire (Mr. McLoughlin) is that wave 1 was conducted on the basis of need; indeed, that is the basis on which all waves of the programme will be prioritised and on which we shall deal with the whole country.

Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover) (Lab)

Can the Minister explain why Derbyshire did not get in on the first round and may I add my support to my hon. Friend the Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) to ensure that Derbyshire is included in the next round? Every single pit in the county is closed, many of the schools are ancient and Shirebrook in particular—as well as Swadlincote—should be high on the list. I hope that the Minister will provide the right answer.

Mr. Miliband

This is obviously an important issue so far as Shirebrook and Swadlincote are concerned and I hope that we will be able to cover all the issues. We had 52 applications for the first wave of the building schools for the future programme, in 2005–06, and we prioritised on the basis of need and of the impact on educational standards. We were able to help only 14, with two reserves, but I shall certainly bear in mind my hon. Friend's comments about Derbyshire's needs.

Mr. Harry Barnes (North-East Derbyshire) (Lab)

Is my hon. Friend aware that, under the previous Government, Derbyshire county council received abysmal funding? This Government have more or less corrected that through the capital investment to which he has referred, but the past is still chained around our necks. On the programme of phased provision, it is important that we get such investment this year, particularly given that we missed it last year. It is especially necessary in areas of deprivation and the first five schools that would be provided for are in North-Eastern Derbyshire.

Mr. Miliband

I know that Derbyshire has submitted three projects to be considered across the life of the programme. I am glad to hear that Shirebrook is one of them. I hope for my hon. Friend's sake that it is in the top priority group that has been submitted by the LEA, not in the other two. I appreciate what he says about the difference that has been made. We want to make sure that there are modern learning facilities for all pupils, because that is vital for their education.