HC Deb 19 November 2003 vol 413 c1001W
Mr. Liddell-Grainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what discussions and consultations education authorities were required to carry out on education villages; [138879]

(2) how many schools have bid for capital funding for education villages in the South West; [138953]

(3) what the estimated total cost for education village bids is for the next two financial years; [138954]

(4) how many bids have been received for village education centres; [139043]

(5) whether the bids for (a) capital projects, (b) education improvements and (c) education villages are publicly available. [138872]

Mr. Miliband

Although we are unfamiliar with the term education village, we understand that this expression has been used at some local meetings in Somerset when discussing the local education authority's (LEA) proposal for Building Schools for the Future (BSF).

My written statements of 26 February and 26 June 2003 explain the aims of BSF, which is a programme of rebuilding and renewal to ensure that secondary education in every part of England has facilities of 21st century standard within 10 to 15 years (subject to future spending decisions), from 2005–06, when over £2 billion will be made available for investment.

We asked LEAs to consult widely on their proposals for BSF, as set out in guidance for LEAs, a copy of which I have placed in the House of Commons Library. The closing date for submission of proposals for the first wave was 31 October.

The Department does not make capital bids publicly available, because the bidding processes involve an exchange of information which is given in confidence. Whilst we are not aware of a bidding programme specifically aimed at education improvements, all capital investment is designed to raise educational standards in schools.

Although Somerset is the only LEA to be using the term education village in this context, we have received 53 BSF proposals (including the one for Somerset) for consideration for the first wave of investment. Three of these are from the South West.