HC Deb 14 March 2002 vol 381 cc1219-20W
Sir Sydney Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of the schools requiring substantial repairs are expected to have had these repairs completed by 1 April; and what financial resources will be needed to complete such repairs between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2004. [43023]

John Healey

In 1996–97, when this Government came to office, capital spending on school buildings was £683 million. This has risen to £2.2 billion for 2001–02, and will rise further to an annual rate of £3.5 billion by 2003–04. Between April 2002 and April 2004, over £6.4 billion will be available for investment in school buildings. Local education authorities and schools can use this greatly increased funding to address the backlog of repairs that had built up over years of under funding by the previous Administration. They can also start to modernise the schools estate to meet the teaching and learning needs of the 21st century.

The Department has an investment strategy target of having addressed the most urgent repairs in 7,000 schools by 2004. Investment decisions are best made at the local level, and the bulk of the funding we provide is allocated to local education authorities and to schools by formula to enable them to address the priority needs of their school buildings. The funding that is available from 2001–02 until 2003–04 includes £1.25 billion of NDS devolved formula capital which goes directly to all maintained schools in England to enable them to invest in their buildings. To reduce the bureaucratic burden, we are not at present requesting details of this investment, but the funding we are making available will enable this target to be met.

Sir Sydney Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on how many of the schools requiring rebuilding or re-modelling work will have(a) commenced and (b) been completed by 1 April; and what financial resources will be needed to complete this work between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2004. [43022]

John Healey

In 1996–97, when this Government came to office, capital spending on school buildings was £683 million. This has risen to £2.2 billion for 2001–02, and will rise further to an annual rate of £3.5 billion by 2003–04. Between April 2002 and April 2004, over £6.4 billion will be available for investment in school buildings. Local education authorities and schools are able to use this greatly increased funding to address the backlog of repairs that had built up over years of under-funding by the previous Administration. They can also start to modernise the schools estate to meet the teaching and learning needs of the 21st century.

The Department has an investment strategy target of having replacement or refurbishment completed or under way in 650 schools by 2004. Investment decisions are best made at the local level, and the bulk of the funding we provide is allocated to local education authorities and to schools by formula to enable them to address the priority needs of their school buildings. To reduce the bureaucratic burden, we are not at present requesting details of this investment, but the funding we are making available will enable this target to be met.