§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if the proposed reduction in contribution by the governors of voluntary aided schools towards building costs is included in the broadly neutral reallocation of costs between governors, local education authorities and her Department; and if she will make a statement. [24266]
§ John HealeyAs part of our reform of the funding of premises work at Voluntary Aided (VA) schools, we are proposing that the governing bodies of those schools would be liable for capital work to virtually all of the school premises, excluding playing fields. This would replace the current complex set of arrangements for dividing liability between governing bodies and local education authorities (LEAs). The proposed new arrangements would provide greater flexibility in the way in which capital funds can be used, and lead to a substantial streamlining of the related administrative and funding processes.
Our estimate of the financial impact of the proposed changes takes account of the average initial and ongoing costs of providing and maintaining VA school buildings, and of how these costs would fall to the parties involved. Our estimates have demonstrated that most of the proposed increase in the standard rate of grant support—from 85 per cent. to 90 per cent.—would be required to meet the additional premises liabilities which would transfer from LEAs to VA school governing bodies.
Implementation of the reforms is subject to approval under the Regulatory Reform Act 2001. Further information on the proposals, including our overall assessment of cost neutrality, is provided in the Department's Statement which accompanied the proposed draft Regulatory Reform Order. Copies of the relevant documents are available in the House of Commons Library.
§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will place in the Library a copy of the responses received to "Responsibilities for Premises Work at Voluntary Aided Schools"; and if she will provide a list of respondents. [25538]
§ John Healey[holding answer 9 January 2002]: A copy of the Department's statement, together with the proposed draft Regulatory Reform Order, has been placed in the Library. The statement contains, at Annexe A, a list of who 215W was consulted, and indicates those who responded. The statement also contains, at Annexe B, details of the responses to the consultation.