§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans her Department has to build new(a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in Lancashire. [48601]
§ John HealeyIt is not the role of the Department to decide when and where to build new schools. Local Education Authorities (LEAs) have a duty to ensure that there are sufficient school places available for children in their area. To help identify where additional places are needed, LEAs are required to produce annually a locally agreed School Organisation Plan which sets the context for the provision of school places over a five year period. Where Authorities can demonstrate a need for additional places, they can apply for capital funding support from the Department in the form of a basic need allocation. Since 2000–01, Lancashire LEA has received basic need allocations in respect of 587 secondary school places. It is, however, for the LEA to decide how best to use these allocations in line with the locally agreed priorities identified in its Asset Management Plan. Any proposal to establish a new school would be made and decided locally.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new schools have been built in each of the local authorities of England in each of the last five years. [48608]
§ John HealeyWe do not hold information in the form requested. Much capital funding support is allocated to local education authorities and schools on a formulaic basis. Records of how it is utilised for specific projects are held locally.