HC Deb 16 March 2004 vol 419 cc236-7W
Jim Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his Department is doing to ensure that the timescales for Private Finance Initiative school developments allow time for consideration of community use of sports facilities. [160938]

Mr. Miliband

PFI contracts are usually between the local authority and a private contractor. It is therefore for the authority to ensure that negotiations include the use of sports facilities by community groups. My Department does not have a direct role in the negotiations themselves. The authority's Outline Business Case, which requires approval by the Treasury-chaired Project Review Group, must include a timetable which allows sufficient time for the consideration of key issues such as the community use of facilities. Projects which involve community use are encouraged; not only does the community benefit, but the annual fee payable by the local authority may be reduced, in recognition of the revenue that is generated by the facilities.

PFI projects provide high quality teaching accommodation along with excellent sports facilities which are a significant asset to the local community.

Jim Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the success of extended schools in opening up schools sports facilities for use by the general public; and if he will make a statement. [160929]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

The roll out of extended schools across the country began in 2003, so no specific assessment has yet been made. We are, however, funding the development of full service extended schools, which will offer a prescribed core set of services for pupils, families and the wider community, including sports and arts facilities. By 2006 every LEA in England will be given funding to create at least one school. The development of these schools will be evaluated, and among the main aims of the study will be to assess the impact on indicators such as sport, health and youth crime.

Jim Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will take steps to ensure that, in pricing access to educational establishments' sports and leisure facilities, local education authorities budget for long-term costs, including replacement costs. [161213]

Mr. Miliband

The pricing of access to sports facilities at educational establishments is a matter for local decision.

Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been invested in sports halls in schools in Chorley in each year since 1996, broken down by school.[161560]

Mr. Miliband

The Department does not hold information on how much has been spent on sports halls. Schools premises investment decisions are based on local education authority asset management planning processes and this information should therefore be available locally.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the effects on schools of changes in the level of investment in school sports in Buckingham since 1997. [161562]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

The Government are investing more than £1 billion in England to transform physical education (PE), school sport and club links. The funding will help deliver an ambitious Public Service Agreement target, shared with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to increase the percentage of 5–16 year olds who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75 per cent. by 2006.

Spearheading delivery are School Sport Partnerships, which provide for groups of schools to work together to increase sports opportunities for all young people. Latest research, published by the Departments on 4 March shows that 68 per cent. of pupils in schools that have been in a Partnership for three years, are taking up the two hour entitlement, rising to 90 per cent. at Key Stage 3. Data are currently being collected from remaining Partnerships and will be published in April. Disaggregated results will be available at that time.

Significant funding is also being provided to specifically enhance PE and school sport facilities, with £2,599,000 being allocated from the New Opportunities Fund to schools in the Buckinghamshire LEA area.