§ Helen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools in Warrington, North have, since 1997, had(a) new classrooms, (b) new dining rooms, (c) new toilet blocks and (d) other new buildings. [103186]
§ Mr. Miliband[holding answer 17 March 2003]We do not hold complete information in the form requested. However, in 1997–98 the Government introduced New Deal for Schools (NDS) as a new additional programme targeted specifically at addressing the backlog of urgent repairs in school buildings that had built up after eighteen years of under-funding under the previous administration. This programme was bid-based and was in addition to other capital funds made available to Warrington local education authority (Cheshire local education authority prior to local government reorganisation in 1998–99). NDS ran through four phases from 1997–98 to 2000–01. Table A shows the schools in the Warrington, North constituency which benefited from investment through the original NDS programme for these purposes. From 2001–02 most capital funding available for building improvements in schools has been allocated to local authorities and schools by needs-related formulae. It is for local authorities and schools to decide how their capital allocations are invested and prioritised between projects, in line with their local asset management planning. Also, from 2000–01 every school has received direct capital allocations to address their highest priorities. In addition, each year authorities have been able to bid for Basic Need funding for the provision of new pupil places. Table B shows all capital funding for school buildings allocated to Warrington local education authority (including voluntary aided schools) since 1998–99.
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Table A: New deal for schools £ Allocations to schools in the Warrington North constituency NDSI 1997–98 St Philip's Westbrook CofE Aided Primary School Construction of extension to existing teaching area LEA-wide grant *971,000 NDSI 1997–98 Warrington St Ann's CofE Primary School External adaptations to form a new SEN room LEA-wide grant NDS3 1999–2000 St Stephen's Catholic Primary School Provision of nursery toilet 1,053 NDS3 1999–2000 Beamont Community Junior School Replacement of dining room Project including two schools *386,100 NDS3 1999–2000 Beamont Community Infant School Replacement of dining room Project including two schools NDS4 2000–01 Woolston Community High School Science and technology block to replace deteriorating mobiles 424,000 * Denotes allocations made to package projects to the local authority, which will be able to advise the value of projects at schools in the Warrington, North constituency which benefited from these allocations.
Table B: Warrington local education authority capital allocations £ million Total 1998–99 3.3 1999–2000 4.2 2000–01 7.9 2001–02 8.1 2002–03 8.3 2003–04 8.8 Grand total 40.6