HC Deb 27 November 2001 vol 375 cc773-4W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many(a) local education authorities and (b) individual schools and colleges have applied for PPP/PFI funding in the past three years. [17135]

John Healey

There have been two application rounds since November 1998. In the first round, the Department received a total of 66 applications from 60 local education authorities (with six authorities applying for funding for two separate projects). In the second round, a further 46 applications were received from 46 local education authorities, 23 of which had also applied in the first round.

Local authorities receive the benefit of PH Credits through Revenue Support Grant. All applications to the Department are therefore submitted by local authorities, even if they relate to individual schools.

Further education colleges can apply to the Learning and Skills Council for a contribution to the cost of capital projects, including PPP/PFI projects. Higher education colleges do not need to apply for specific PPP/PFI funding because they have discretion over the use of their total resources.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of capital spending on education will come from PPP/PFI sources(a) in 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) estimated for the next five years. [17136]

John Healey

The table shows the proportion of central Government investment in school buildings from PPP/PFI sources for 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04. For 2004–05 and beyond, the amount of schools capital that will be available, and the proportion of PPP/PFI funding within it, will depend on the outcome of the Spending Review in 2002.

Total schools capital available (£ million) PFI/PPP funding (£ million) PFI/PPP funding as percentage of total
2001–02 2,200 467 21.2
2002–03 2,800 750 26.8
2003–04 3,500 850 24.3

Note:

For 2001–02, £467 million of PFI/PPP funding is made up of £450 million of PFI credits and £17 million of PPP funding from the New Deal for Schools programme. We are not providing specific PPP funding from schools capital in 2002–03 or 2003–04, but it is open to local education authorities and others to use the capital funding we allocate to them for PPP projects.