§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of educational buildings now meet the standards recommended in her Department's Building Bulletin 55 "Energy Conservation in Educational Buildings"; what is the estimated cost of bringing the national building stock up to these standards; what would be the estimated saving in fuel costs if all educational buildings now met these standards; what proportion of the 308W improvement costs will be provided from central funds; and when it is hoped to complete the programme.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonDetailed information about the number of educational buildings which now meet the recommendations of Building Bulletin 55 is not available but estimates derived from a recent survey of the school building stock suggest that the proportion is small. On the basis of the information available, it is estimated that to apply to all educational buildings in England and Wales, that are capable of improvement, energy conservation measures which would pay for themselves within 10 years would cost about £84 million and yield an annual saving of up to £16.8 million after the completion of the programme. My Department's share of the resources which the Government plan to earmark for energy conservation up to 1981–82 was announced by my right hon. Friend on 15th December. The speed with which a programme for upgrading all educational buildings can be completed will depend on the rate at which additional resources can be made available after 1981–82. Loan charges for capital expenditure by local authorities under the programme will be taken into account in rate support grant settlements and expenditure by universities will be wholly financed by central Government grant.