§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he makes, and from what source, of the cost of the backlog of the repairs and maintenance of schools in England.
§ Mr. ForthAn estimate based on the 1986 survey of school buildings suggested that some £2 billion at 1990 prices was required to remedy deficiencies in school buildings. Over £5 billion will have been spent on schools since, including the current financial year, much of it in meeting the deficiencies identified.