HC Deb 24 November 1999 vol 339 cc138-40W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will state for each financial year to 2001–02, how much of the money announced for capital expenditure on schools(a) amounts to additional spending above the level included in expenditure plans announced before May 1997 and (b) is included in the additional expenditure announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011). [98644]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 22 November 1999]: Since May 1997, we have announced for England £1.085 billion for the New Deal for Schools programme; £90 million for class size reduction and heating systems and outside toilet replacements; and an additional £660 million in PH credits. All of those amounts are additional to the £19 billion increase in UK education spending announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR). As well as those increases, the Chancellor's Pre-Budget Statement this month announced a further £143 million for PFI credits and New Deal for Schools funding in England.

The total expenditure on schools buildings in the three year CSR period is £5.5 billion, following the additional funds announced in the Chancellor's Pre-Budget Statement. This breaks down as follows: £1.3 billion in 1999–2000, £1.6 billion in 2000–01 and £1.9 billion in 2001–02, plus an estimate of additional contributions from local education authorities and school governors. In 1996–97, planned central Government expenditure in the main schools capital programme was £661 million (as set out in the Department's Report in March 1996, Cm 3210).

Capital spend per pupil has increased from £348 in 1994–98 to an estimated £780 in 1998–02.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list separately for each financial year covered by the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011) for all capital expenditure on schools(a) the amounts to be spent in the form of cash grants to local education authorities and schools, (b) the amounts to be spent in the form of credit approvals and (c) amounts to be spent by other means. [98653]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 22 November 1999]: In 1999–2000, the Department expects to allocate £454 million in credit approvals out of the £713 million for the main schools capital programme. The remaining £259 million will be given out as grant, including that for Voluntary Aided and Grant Maintained Schools. The main schools capital programme will total £963 million in 2000–01 and £1.3 billion in 2001–02. The proportion of credit approvals for those two years has not yet been finalised. In addition to the main programme, the Department will be providing grant funding of over £200 million in each of the three years for the National Grid for learning, class sizes reduction, Sure Start and specialist schools. The Department will also be providing funding under the New Deal for Schools of £250 million in 1999–2000, £293 million in 2000–01 and £250 million in 2001–02; and PFI credits of £350 million in 1999–2000, £350 million in 2000–01 and £450 million in 2001–02.

From April 2000, the Department will be providing nearly £200 million each year to schools in the form of formula grant. Schools will also have the opportunity to bid for £30 million of seed challenge funding for innovative investment programmes.

We expect the Department's funding to be enhanced by partnership contributions from local education authorities and school governors of £800 million over the CSR period.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funds allocated from the windfall tax levy to the New Deal for Schools were counted as part of the additional expenditure on education announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm. 4011). [99424]

Mr. Blunkett

[holding answer 23 November 1999]: None. The £1.085 billion for the New Deal for Schools announced in July 1997 is additional to the £19 billion increase in UK education spending announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review. A further £43 million for the New Deal for Schools was announced by the Chancellor in the Pre-Budget statement on 9 November, together with the extension of the PH credits by £100 million.