Education Buildings (Hansard, 20 November 1996)

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much capital expenditure local authorities have been permitted to make on education buildings in Scotland(a) in real and (b) constant prices; and how much has been spent in (i) real and (ii) constant prices in each year since 1979. [4443]

§ Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
The information requested is given in the tables.

Capital allocations for educational building from 1979–80

£000's

Year At out-turn prices At 1995–96 prices

1979–80 53,605 137,371

1980–81 56,678 122,757

1981–82 62,213 122,861

1982–83 53,669 98,940

1983–84 45,755 80,611

1984–85 40,310 67,621

1985–86 50,275 79,955

1986–87 47,480 73,299

1987–88 53,175 77,941

1988–89 61,315 84,235

1989–90 65,555 84,181

1990–91 62,619 74,465

1991–92 73,291 81,909

1992–93 85,647 91,853

1993–94 78,489 81,826

1994–95 72,989 74,755

1995–96 69,258 69,258

1. Within the total capital allocations made to authorities, allocations applying to specific programmes are advisory and do not restrict to that figure.

2. The total allocations for educational building include elements for further education from 1979–80 to 1992–93, and community education from 1985–86 onwards.

3. These figures include supplementary allocations where appropriate.

4. As from 1996–97 authorities are given a single allocation covering all their non-housing capital programmes. An advisory for educational building is not separately identified.

593W

Capital expenditure for educational building from 1979–80

£000s

Year At out-turn prices At 1995–96 prices

1979–80 52,926 135,631

1980–81 55,799 120,853

1981–82 64,283 126,949

1982–83 58,159 107,217

1983–84 52,825 93,067

1984–85 51,429 86,273

1985–86 57,522 91,480

1986–87 55,150 85,140

1987–88 59,414 87,085

1988–89 74,102 101,802

1989–90 81,593 104,776

1990–91 78,284 93,093

1991–92 82,046 91,693

1992–93 100,860 108,168

1993–94 104,609 109,056

1994–95 121,942 124,892

1995–96 Not yet available Not yet available

1. Compiled from local authority financial returns.

2. The figures include expenditure on further education from 1979–80 to 1992–93, and community education from 1985–86.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what assessment he has made of the number of schools in a seriously sub-standard condition in Scotland and of the amount of money needed to repair them; [4444]
(2) what research he has conducted into the physical condition of schools in Scotland; and what conclusions were reached; [4448]
(3) how many replacement schools are currently being constructed in Scotland; and where. [4449]

§ Mr. Robertson
The overall management of school buildings is a matter for individual education authorities. Detailed information on the physical condition of schools, or on the progress of individual school building projects, is not held centrally.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent on school buildings in Scotland under the private finance initiative. [4445]

§ Mr. Robertson
There has been no such expenditure to date.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which school building projects in Scotland are currently being considered for financing through the private finance initiative. [4446]

§ Mr. Robertson
My right hon. Friend is aware that the following authorities are actively considering the following school building projects through the private finance initiative.Falkirk council: refurbishment of Bo'ness academy; refurbishment of a group of schools including Graeme, Woodlands and Larbert high schools; Stirling council: replacement of Balfron high school; Aberdeenshire council: construction of new Garioch academy; East Renfrewshire council: the extension of St. Ninian's high school; construction of new primary school in Newton Mearns.
594W
However, he does not collect systematically information from local authorities about school building projects which they may be exploring under the private finance initiative. Authorities are likely therefore to have a number of other projects at earlier stages of consideration.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from(a) the finance industry and (b) the construction industry about the usefulness of the private finance initiative for school building; and what those representations were. [4447]

§ Mr. Robertson
Scottish Office Ministers have had frequent contacts with members of the construction and financial services industries concerning progress with the private finance initiative since its launch in 1992. We welcome constructive ideas from the private sector and encourage local authorities to explore the option of the initiative for suitable projects in all areas of public service for which they have responsibility.

Capital allocations for educational building from 1979–80
£000's
Year	At out-turn prices	At 1995–96 prices
1979–80	53,605	137,371
1980–81	56,678	122,757
1981–82	62,213	122,861
1982–83	53,669	98,940
1983–84	45,755	80,611
1984–85	40,310	67,621
1985–86	50,275	79,955
1986–87	47,480	73,299
1987–88	53,175	77,941
1988–89	61,315	84,235
1989–90	65,555	84,181
1990–91	62,619	74,465
1991–92	73,291	81,909
1992–93	85,647	91,853
1993–94	78,489	81,826
1994–95	72,989	74,755
1995–96	69,258	69,258

Capital expenditure for educational building from 1979–80
£000s
Year	At out-turn prices	At 1995–96 prices
1979–80	52,926	135,631
1980–81	55,799	120,853
1981–82	64,283	126,949
1982–83	58,159	107,217
1983–84	52,825	93,067
1984–85	51,429	86,273
1985–86	57,522	91,480
1986–87	55,150	85,140
1987–88	59,414	87,085
1988–89	74,102	101,802
1989–90	81,593	104,776
1990–91	78,284	93,093
1991–92	82,046	91,693
1992–93	100,860	108,168
1993–94	104,609	109,056
1994–95	121,942	124,892
1995–96	Not yet available	Not yet available