HC Deb 10 May 2001 vol 368 cc270-1W
Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much it cost to replace a demountable classroom for the Bayston Hill Music and Arts Centre in Shrewsbury; and if he will make a statement. [160518]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 9 May 2001]: £71,991 was allocated to this project under the third phase of the New Deal for Schools programme in 1999–2000. This was the total estimated cost of the project. Shropshire local education authority will be able to advise the final cost of the project.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much it cost to provide additional classrooms at(a) Sundorne infants, (b) Greenfields primary and (c) Springfield infants schools in Shrewsbury and if he will make a statement. [160517]

Ms Estelle Morris

[holding answer 9 May 2001]: The Government have allocated £80,000 and £88,000 respectively to Greenfields primary and Springfield infants schools, to provide additional accommodation as part of the infant class size initiative. Although capital funding has not been provided for an additional infant classroom at Sundorne infants, I understand that remodelling of existing accommodation has enabled the school to extend its nursery unit. The cost of that work, some £34,000, was supported by the school and the local education authority.

The Government pledged to limit infant classes to 30. We have already delivered that pledge early for the vast majority of infants, including those in the Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency. This has been achieved with the help of substantial funding made available under the class size initiative—allocations to Shropshire LEA alone amount to some £3.5 million.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list which schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham will benefit from the special Educational Needs Standards Fund; and if he will make a statement. [160515]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 9 May 2001]: We have made £82 million of supported expenditure available through the special educational needs standards fund in the current year (2001–02). This compares to £55 million in 2000£01. The allocation for this year for Shropshire LEA is £370,016.

The fund can be used for a range of activities including training for staff in special educational needs, improvements in speech and language therapy provision for children with communication difficulties, the provision of information and advice to parents, and the greater inclusion of children with special educational needs in the mainstream.

Information is not collected on how money is distributed by LEAs between schools. It is for individual LEAs to decide how they will use their grant but we expect them to work in partnership with their schools when deciding their special educational needs priorities.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham that have received new computer suites since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [160509]

Mr. Wills

[holding answer 9 May 2001]: The Department does not hold information on the number of new computer suites in schools. However, since 1998 the average number of pupils per computer in primary and secondary schools in England has improved from 17.6: 1 to 12.6: 1, and from 8.7: 1 to 7.9: 1, respectively. Shropshire LEA estimates that £663,770 of national grid for learning funding has been allocated to schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham through the standards fund since 1997.