§ Mr. CatonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost was of outstanding repairs to school buildings identified by the 2003 Asset Management Survey; and when he will publish the full results of that survey. [171241]
§ Mr. MilibandThe data supplied to the Department by English local education authorities and derived from their condition assessments of school buildings show maintenance requirements of approximately £8,000 million. This figure includes outstanding repairs and work needed over a five year period from the dates of the assessments. The Department has been working with authorities to resolve data quality issues and will shortly publish analysis of the data.
Central government capital support for investment in school buildings has increased from under £700 million in 1996–97 to £4.5 billion this year and will rise further to over £5 billion by 2005–06. Progress is being made year-by-year in improving the quality of the school building stock.