HC Deb 09 April 2003 vol 403 cc293-4W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the successful capital bids under the Private Finance Initiative; and if he will explain the rationale behind the decisions on successful bids. [107374]

Mr. Miliband

[holding answer 4 April 2003]I refer my hon. Friend to the Departmental Press Notice 2003/0055 issued on 31 March 2003, which set out those LEAs prioritised for support. These projects were prioritised against the criteria issued to all LEAs in September 2002, a copy of which is available via www.teachemet.gov.uk.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to hold a further round of bids for PFI Capital expenditure for(a) rebuilding and (b) redeveloping schools. [108113]

Mr. Miliband

I announced in a written statement on 26 February proposals for a new approach to capital investment in school buildings from 2005-06, including the use of private finance initiative (PFI) credits. The document '"Building Schools for the Future" gives further details of these proposals, which are the subject of a consultation until 31 May.

The Government commit themselves in "Building Schools for the Future" to a programme of rebuilding and renewal to ensure that secondary education in every part of England has facilities of 21st-Century standard. The aim of this programme will be to deliver this goal successfully for every secondary pupil within 10 to 15 years from 2005–06, subject to public spending decisions. We propose to allocate PFI credits from 2005–06 as part of this wider, strategic targeting of groups of schools. I also announced on 31 March, as part of the allocation of PFI credits for 2004–05, four Building Schools for the Future pathfinder projects in Bradford, Bristol, Greenwich and Sheffield—worth £290 million in total. These will test new procurement and delivery methods.