§ Mrs. MayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much funding was provided under the voluntary rationing scheme in the last financial year; how many grants were made; when funding ceased to be available; and if he will make a statement on funding for the scheme for this year. [83130]
§ Mr. Charles Clarke[holding answer 4 May 1999]: Funding of £11.1 million was provided under the Voluntary Rationing Scheme (VRS) in 1998–99. This expenditure supported 1,036 VRS repair projects and 739 VRS capital projects. Funding for VRS repair grant was available to Voluntary Aided schools throughout 1998–99. However, due to an unusually high demand in the early part of the year, funding for VRS capital work was not provided between 27 August 1998 and 31 March 1999.
The Voluntary Rationing Scheme is one of a number of largely demand led elements in the overall provision of grant to governing bodies for building work at Voluntary Aided schools. The amount available in any year depends on the total demand for grant for all types of capital and repair work at these schools. Funding for VRS capital will be monitored closely throughout 1999–2000 and schools 312W will be informed if any changes are necessary. The VRS repair arrangements have been subsumed into new and streamlined funding procedures which came into effect on 1 April 1999, after full consultation with the Churches.
In 1999–2000, the total budget for the provision of grant towards the governors' liabilities for building work at Voluntary Aided schools is £121 million. This compares with an amount of £103 million at the time the original budget was set for 1998–99. Of the £121 million available for 1999–2000 some £17 million has provisionally been set aside for demand led elements such as the Voluntary Rationing Scheme.