School Buildings (Hansard, 19 December 1989)

§ Mr. Barry Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he gives local education authorities in Wales concerning(a) the repair of flat roofs in schools and (b) the use of flat roofs in plans for new school buildings.

§ Mr. Wyn Roberts
Design note 46 entitled "Maintenance and Renewal in Educational Buildings: Flat Roofs" was issued to all local education authorities in England and Wales in 1985. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

§ Mr. Barry Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has received as to which Welsh schools are in need of refurbishment; what is the age of the schools; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Wyn Roberts
Expenditure plans submitted each year by local education authorities provide information about education building needs, including refurbishment of schools, and these are the subject of discussion with the Department. The age of schools is not a reliable indicator of expenditure needs.

§ Mr. Barry Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will commission a survey of the school buildings in Wales concerning their state of repair, energy conservation and age; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Wyn Roberts
In the context of my right hon. Friend's efficiency initiative, local authorities have already prepared reports on energy management and property review, and have further action in hand. The property review requires the setting up of appropriate records in regard to age and condition of buildings, including schools.

§ Mr. Barry Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he has any plans to meet(a) Clwyd local education authority leaders, (b) Clwyd parent—teacher association leaders, (c) teacher union leaders and (d) representatives of school governers to discuss funding for school regions and the problem of water seepage on flat school roofs; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a special allocation to the Clwyd local education authority to enable the authority to deal with the water seepage on flat roofs of Clwyd schools.

§ Mr. Wyn Roberts
No. Allocations of resources within a local education authority's area and responsibility for education buildings are matters for the local education authority.