HC Deb 25 April 1990 vol 171 cc215-6W
Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give, on a county-by-county basis, the funds allocated by the Government to meet the costs of(a) repair and (b) maintenance of the fabric of schools in the public sector in Wales.

Mr. Roberts

[holding answer 24 April 1990]: The information is not available in the form requested. Allocations of credit approval to local authorities are formula-based. Capital allocations since 1984–85 are unhypothecated between services. The public expenditure provisions for education capital at an all-Wales level are shown in the table:

Constant 1988–89 prices
Year Number
1984–85 37
1985–86 37
1986–87 38
1987–88 44
1988–89 46
1989–90 48

For 1990–91 I have already announced credit approval for local authority education purposes of some £50.1 million with an assumed gross capital expenditure of £53.7 million. Because of changes in the capital control system effective from April 1990 these figures are not directly comparable with those in the table.

Dr. Kim Howells

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give, on a county-by-county basis, the most recent assessment of the costs of(a) repairing and (b) maintaining the fabric of schools in the public sector in Wales.

Mr. Roberts

[holding answer 24 April 1990]: Responsibility for the repair and maintenance of schools rests with the local education authorities, and the Department has no comprehensive information in the form requested.

In the context of my efficiency initiative, local authorities have established a property management group and this is addressing the condition of the local authority estate, including educational establishments. A report on property management has been prepared which recommends the setting up of appropriate records in regard to the age and condition of buildings including schools.

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