§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will outline the method of economic or financial evaluation used, inter alia, by her Department in deciding whether a sub-standard pre-1903 primary school building should be improved or replaced by a new building;
(2) what is the average expectation of life of a building which her Department calculates in relation to decisions on improving pre-1903 primary schools, as compared with decisions on providing replacement new schools.
§ Mrs. ThatcherEach case is treated on its merits in consultation with the local education authority. A remodelled school has to comply with the Standards for Schools Premises Regulations. The decision whether to remodel or replace takes account of the present state of the buildings, the cost of bringing them up to standard and the cost of starting afresh; a number of other factors may also be relevant.