§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the total capital investment in Birmingham's schools in each year since 1992; and what is his forecast for spending in the next three years. [147059]
§ Jacqui SmithBirmingham local education authority has received some £123.674 million of funding from central Government for capital investment in school buildings since 1996–97, as shown in the following Table A. Information prior to 1996–97 is not readily available. Table B shows the forecast investment over the next three years.
Nationally, 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.
In addition to the amounts shown, schools in Birmingham 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 grant through the NDS Modernisation fund 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 more 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 is ending in 2001–02. Local Authorities will be able to prioritise their other increased funding for this purpose, if they wish.
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