§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the payments made by the Welsh Office for capital works at grant-maintained schools and occasions when such payments have not been paid at the appropriate stages or on the completion of the work. [38429]
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§ Mr. RichardsA list of all grant payments made by the Welsh Office to grant-maintained schools for capital works will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible. There have been no occasions where grant payments have not been made at appropriate stages or on completion of work where the Department was satisfied that grant should be released.
§ Mr. GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he make will a statement about the administrative processes involving grant maintained schools and the Welsh Office in paying building contractors for the work carried out at grant maintained schools. [38430]
§ Mr. RichardsBuilding contractors are paid by grant-maintained schools following the issue of an architect's certificate which states the value of work undertaken. Where the work is being funded by the school's formula-based capital grant, the school applies to the Welsh Office for the grant prior to the commencement of work. Where the building work being carried out forms part of a "named" project under the grant-maintained schools capital building programme, the Welsh Office pays grant to the school against certified claims form supported by the architect's certificate.
As a precaution against overpayment of the total grant payable, and to ensure that the work is satisfactorily completed, grant payments on named projects are stopped once the level of grant reached 97.5 per cent. of the total approved grant, pending settlement at final cost stage. As soon as possible after completion of the work, schools are required to submit final cost documentation to the Welsh Office and following scrutiny and approval of the documentation, the final instalment of grant is released to the school.