§ Mr. Geoffrey RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what proportion of the education capital expenditure authorised for schools maintained by local education authorities is attributable to the need to replace and/or refurbish premises which are no longer fit for their purpose in the current planning period;
(2) what additional capital expenditure has been authorised in 1990–91 and 1991–92 in order that local 432W education authorities may provide maintained schools with the accommodation and equipment required to introduce the national curriculum effectively.
§ Mr. FallonOf the £472 million of annual capital guidelines distributed to local education authorities in respect of capital expenditure at county and voluntary controlled schools in 1991–92, £109 million was distributed by formula specifically to contribute towards new replacement and refurbishment work in schools, and a substantial proportion of the balance will also cover such work. Of the £83 million available for grants for capital building work in voluntary aided and special agreement schools in 1991–92 £7.8 million is for new major improvement and replacement work, and a substantial proportion of the balance will likewise go towards such work.
The substantial increases in the amount available for distribution as capital allocations and annual capital guidelines in the last two years will assist local education authorities to provide maintained schools with the accommodation and equipment they require to introduce the national curriculum effectively.