HC Deb 07 February 2001 vol 362 cc588-9W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the total capital investment in schools in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne and in the county of Northumberland from 1996 to 1999,(a) in total and (b) by funding stream; and what is his forecast for the next three years. [149214]

Jacqui Smith

The following Table A shows the capital allocations made to Newcastle upon Tyne local education authority, by funding stream, from 1996–97 to 2000–01. Table B shows the capital allocations made to Northumberland local education authority, by funding stream, from 1996–97 to 2000–01. Table C shows the forecast investment for both local education authorities over the next three years.

Nationally, capital investment in school buildings has tripled from £ 683 million a year in 1996–97 to over £ 2 billion in 2000–01. It will be £ 3.2 billion in 2003–04, including grant, credit approvals and Private Finance Initiative credits. There will be central Government investment of £7.8 billion in school buildings in total from 2001–02 to 2003–04.

Table B; Central Government capital investment in schools in Northumberland local education authority
£000
Funding stream 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01
Basic Credit Approvals 2,304 1,325 940 1,280 3,920
Supplementary Credit Approvals 287 297 199 1,090 195
Grant to Voluntary Aided Schools 146 287 259 203 262
Schools Renewal Challenge Fund 275
New Deal for Schools 542 1,985 1,908 6,577
School Security Grant 101 126 130 129
Removal of Outside Toilets 237
Energy Efficiency Initiative 103
Key Stage 1 Class Size Initiative 146 939 132
National Grid for Learning Grant 489 525 1,307
Assistance with Asset Management Plans 66
Seed Challenge Funding 208
Devolved Formula Capital for Schools 2,870
Renewal of School Laboratories 216
Schools Access Initiative Grant 15
Secondary Learning Support Units 102
Early Excellence Centre Grant 22 75 101
Total 3,012 2,552 4,506 6,216 16,034

Table C: Forecast investment in schools
£000
Funding stream 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04
Newcastle upon Tyne local education authority
Basic Credit Approvals 286 1 1
Grant to Voluntary Aided Schools 1,216 1 1
Private Finance Initiative Credits 37,200 1 1
New Deal for Schools Devolved Formula 944 1,270 2,451
New Deal for Schools Condition Funding 682 1,922 2,440
Seed Challenge Funding 193 323 323
Renewal of School Laboratories 170 1 1
Schools Access Initiative 232 1 1
Total 40,923 3,515 5,214
Northumberland local education authority
Basic Credit Approvals 1,855 1 1
Grant to Voluntary Aided Schools 225 1 1
New Deal for Schools Devolved Formula 1,539 2,072 3,973
New Deal for Schools Condition Funding 963 2,769 3,513
Seed Challenge Funding 234 401 401
Renewal of School Laboratories 216 1 1
Secondary Learning Support Units 89 1 1
Schools Access Initiative 349 1 1
Total 5,470 5,242 7,887

Notes:1

Future years' allocations shown in the table are those already announced as being attributable to Newcastle upon Tyne and Northumberland local education authorities.

In addition to the amounts shown, schools in both authorities will also benefit from a share of other programmes where allocations have not yet been made. These include over £1 billion of credit approvals, mainly to provide new pupil places; £440 million of grant to governors of Voluntary Aided schools; £555 million funding through the NDS Modernisation programme and £170 million worth of funding under the Schools Access Initiative.

This funding will be augmented by capital receipts and other contributions from local education authority sources, and the contribution which governors of Voluntary Aided schools make to their building work. In addition, more than £1 billion is available nationally through Private Finance Initiative Credits for projects which will sign in 2002–03 and 2003–04.

Funding specifically ring fenced for the renewal of school laboratories and secondary learning support units is ending in 2001–02. Local authorities will be able to prioritise their other increased funding for this purpose, if they wish.