§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools in the Bolton area were damaged by(a) vandalism and (b) arson during each of the last five years; what was the cost to the education authority of this damage; and if he will make a statement. [92287]
688W
§ Ms Estelle MorrisMost schools in Bolton have been subject to some form of vandalism such as broken windows and guttering over the last three years. Some 50 arson attacks have been reported over the last five years with some schools being subjected to more than one incident.
Bolton LEA have provided the available information on the cost to the Authority of vandalism and arson attacks:
£ Year Vandalism Arson 1998–99 32,518 275,000 1997–98 46,748 239,000 1996–97 45,820 829,000 1995–96 1— 74,000 1994–95 1— 53,000 1 not available Since 1997–98 the Government has made funding available to support measures to improve security in schools, including measures to reduce the incidence of crime against schools. In the last three years Bolton LEA has had over £370,000 of support from Government grant and the LEA's own contributions for expenditure on school security measures. This is in addition to the continuing revenue and capital spending by the LEA and school on school security. The decisions about detailed arrangements for the distribution of the grant and for assessing needs in individual schools will be for the LEA, on the basis of risk assessments undertaken in individual schools. This should reflect priorities in school and LEA security strategies.