HC Deb 20 January 1994 vol 235 cc726-7W
Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made that Walsall council has the necessary financial means to undertake capital works in schools.

Mr. Forth

Walsall and all other local education authorities are invited to submit bids for annual capital guidelines, which are then distributed on the basis of our published criteria. Walsall's ACGs reflect the extent to which its bids meet the criteria. In addition to the ACGs—which through basic credit approvals set the level of authorities' borrowing for capital purposes—and any supplementary credit approvals issued, Walsall can also use a proportion of any capital receipts realised, and transfers from revenue budgets, to fund its capital programmes.