§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information is available from asset management plans on school building condition needs. [20401]
§ Mr. TimmsToday we are publishing information on school condition needs, based on data supplied earlier this year by local education authorities from their asset management plans. At current price levels, these plans indicate that nearly £7 billion is needed for capital works fully to maintain and repair school buildings. This is a significant level of need that has been recognised by the Government in their huge investment programme to improve school building accommodation. A total of £7.5 billion has already been made available for investment in school buildings since 1997, and a further £6.3 billion is planned over the next two financial years—the highest investment levels for 50 years. In 2003–04, funding from central Government for capital investment in schools will reach £3.5 billion, compared with only £683 million in 1996–97.
By successfully introducing asset management plans, this Government have provided LEAs with a rigorous framework for identifying and prioritising accommodation needs across schools. This has 1202W highlighted the size of the problem we inherited in 1997, resulting from nearly two decades of under-investment in school buildings.
A copy of the publication has today been placed in the Library.