§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate how many schools currently have decoration classed as less than satisfactory.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Department does not maintain records of the decorative condition of schools. This is a matter for LEAs and others responsible for the schools.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether all school buildings in England and Wales have yet been brought up to the requirements laid down by the 1981 schools premises regulations and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. RumboldIt is the responsibility of local education authorities to satisfy the requirements of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981. They certify that new school building projects will comply with the regulations when they seek my right hon. Friend's approval. The survey of school buildings, published in 1987, showed that not all existing county and controlled schools met the standards of the regulations. Since that time local authorities have spent substantial sums on improving their school buildings.
Schools in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
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§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much each local education authority will be receiving in the current financial year, and the next two financial years, from the school improvement programme.
§ Mrs. RumboldI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Hyndburn (Mr. Hargreaves) on 21 December 1988 at column 287. Allocations are made on an annual basis. Information for the next two financial years is not therefore available.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all schools in the English and Welsh counties which currently need(a) between £0.5 million and £1 million and (b) over £1.0 million spending on repairs, maintenance or decoration, to bring them into line with the requirements stipulated under the 1981 school premises regulations.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe information requested is not collected centrally for schools in England. Matters relating to Wales are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether there are any schools which still have a problem with asbestos.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Department does not keep records of asbestos problems in individual schools. This is a matter for LEAs and others responsible for the schools.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools currently have a shortage of furniture.
§ Mrs. RumboldThe Department does not keep records of the quantity of furniture in individual schools. This is the responsibility of LEAs and those responsible for schools.