§ Brian CotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been allocated for(a) new school building and (b) school building repairs and improvement in north Somerset for each year since May 1997. [5876]
§ Mr. TimmsA total of £1.1 million has been allocated since May 1997 specifically for new school building in north Somerset, based on the demand for new pupil places as assessed by north Somerset local education authority. The authority has been allocated a further £30.7 million for school building repair and improvement work, making a total capital allocation of £31.8 million. The following table shows the breakdown of the total amount allocated for each year since May 1997. Additional allocations for 2002–03 and 2003–04 will be made later this year.
£000 Financial year New pupil places Repair and improvement Total capital 1997–98 80 4,216 4,296 1998–99 468 4,412 4,880 1999–2000 — 3,499 3,499 2000–01 553 7,172 7,725 2001–02 — 4,542 4,542 2002–03 — 2,843 2,843 2003–04 — 4,068 4,068 Total 1,101 30,752 31,853
§ Brian CotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the condition of school buildings in North Somerset; and if she will make a statement. [5877]
§ Mr. TimmsInformation on the condition of school buildings should be currently available from the Local Education Authority.
Authorities' condition data, supplied to support the Department for Education and Skills' arrangements for appraisal of Asset Management Plans, are being validated with a view to publishing national benchmarking data later this year.