§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of Slate for Education and Science what reasons account for the £12 million shortfall between planned and actual spending on capital building work in voluntary aided and special agreement schools in 1990–91; and whether he expects this shortfall to be repeated in 1991–92.
§ Mr. FallonThe underspend of £12 million on total planned expenditure of £87 million 1990–91 resulted from the failure on the part of voluntary bodies and LEAs to spend up to the level allocated on a significant number of building projects. This resulted in an underspend of grant of some £10 million, which did, however, enable the Department to meet more requests for grant for external repairs to voluntary-aided schools therefore exceeding budget provision by some £7 million.
We hope to avoid a shortfall in 1991–92 by introducing the design list procedure whereby many of the named major projects have had preliminary plans approved and are therefore expected to progress according to schedule. None the less, the Department will be asking authorities to confirm current year expenditure plans in September so that any spare resources can be identified and reallocated.