HC Deb 25 November 1991 vol 199 cc380-1W
Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list all the bids submitted by North Yorkshire local education authority for resources from the voluntary aided schools capital programme and the cash value of these bids in 1987–88 and in each year since then; and if he will list the bids approved and resources allocated in cash terms and at 1987–88 prices.

Mr. Fallon

The information requested is as follows:

schools needing work to remedy accommodation deficiencies or overcrowding; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Fallon

My right hon. and learned Friend has given local education authorities no such advice. They are free to bid for projects at voluntary aided schools needing work to remedy accommodation deficiencies or overcrowding, and many have done so. Decisions on which projects will receive allocations will be announced in December.

Mr. Fatchett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he raised the limit for minor works projects funded by the voluntary aided schools capital programme from £120,000 to £250,000; how he consulted local education authorities about this change; what assessment he has made of local education authorities requirement for resources to fund minor works projects costing over £120,000; how much extra money he intends to distribute to local education authorities for funding minor works; and how much of the voluntary aided schools capital programme for 1991–92 was allocated in respect of projects costing between £120,000 and £250,000.

Mr. Fallon

The limit for minor works projects funded by the voluntary aided schools capital programme is to be raised from £120,000 to £250,000 with effect from 1992–93 as announced in the Department's letter of 30 May to local education authorities inviting bids for 1992–93 capital expenditure. Local authority associations were consulted in March on the proposed change, and were content. Local education authorities' requirements for resources to fund minor works projects costing over £120,000 have been assessed on the basis of previous years' bids. A decision on how much extra money to distribute to local education authorities for minor works will be announced when allocations for all voluntary aided school projects are announced in December. A total of £1.5 million was allocated in respect of new projects costing between £120,000 and £250,000 in 1991–92.