HC Deb 17 July 1997 vol 298 cc301-2W
Mr. Brady

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what mechanism will be used to allocate funds for capital investment to(a) local education authority schools and (b) grant-maintained schools; [7254]

(2) what proportion of capital investment in schools will go to (a) local education authority schools and (b) grant-maintained schools in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99; [7255]

(3) how much money will be made available for capital investment in (a) local education authority schools and (b) grant-maintained schools in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99. [7256]

Mr. Byers

Under plans originally announced by the previous Administration last December, central government support for schools capital investment in 1997–98 has been set at £396 million for local authority county and controlled schools, £145 million for grant-maintained schools, and £104.2 million for voluntary aided schools. Their plans for 1998–99 were £363 million for local authority county and controlled schools, £141 million for grant-maintained schools, and £102 million for voluntary aided schools.

Taking account of estimated local authority capital receipts and revenue and governors' contributions to voluntary aided schools, we would expect some £672 million to be devoted to projects at county and voluntary controlled schools, £145 million in grant-maintained schools and £117 million in voluntary aided schools in 1997–98, and on the same basis some £656 million in county and voluntary controlled schools, £141 million in grant-maintained schools and £115 million for voluntary aided schools in 1998–99.

As to the allocation mechanism, in the financial year 1997–98, it is for the relevant local authority to determine capital programmes in county and voluntary controlled schools, and for the Funding Agency for Schools to allocate capital to grant-maintained schools. For voluntary aided schools, the Department pays grant of up to 85 per cent. on capital and repair projects.

On 2 July, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that a further £83 million will be made available for schools capital work in 1997–98, and £250 million for 1998–99. Guidance on the allocation will be issued shortly.