HL Deb 21 February 2005 vol 669 cc146-7WA
Lord Kilclooney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they have for the future development of Comber High School; what is the timetable for any development; what is the budget for any developments; and whether any contract has been let. [HL1136]

Baroness Amos

In March 2001, the then Minister for Education, Martin McGuinness, announced a replacement school for Comber High School as part of a public/private partnership (PPP) cluster with Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College.

I understand from the chief executive of the South Eastern Education and Library Board that Hochtief was nominated as preferred bidder for this project on 27 January 2005.

Negotiations are ongoing with Hochtief with a view to signing a contract at the end of April 2005. If that target date is achieved the new school in Comber should be opened in September 2006.

The capital value of the PPP project as a whole is £32 million with Comber High School representing £9.5 million.