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Schools (Repairs)
Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many of the schools requiring substantial repairs are expected to have had
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these repairs completed by 1 April; and what financial resources will be needed to complete such repairs between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2004. [43023]
John Healey: In 1996–97, when this Government came to office, capital spending on school buildings was £683 million. This has risen to £2.2 billion for 2001–02, and will rise further to an annual rate of £3.5 billion by 2003–04. Between April 2002 and April 2004, over £6.4 billion will be available for investment in school buildings. Local education authorities and schools can use this greatly increased funding to address the backlog of repairs that had built up over years of under funding by the previous Administration. They can also start to modernise the schools estate to meet the teaching and learning needs of the 21st century.
The Department has an investment strategy target of having addressed the most urgent repairs in 7,000 schools by 2004. Investment decisions are best made at the local level, and the bulk of the funding we provide is allocated to local education authorities and to schools by formula to enable them to address the priority needs of their school buildings. The funding that is available from 2001–02 until 2003–04 includes £1.25 billion of NDS devolved formula capital which goes directly to all maintained schools in England to enable them to invest in their buildings. To reduce the bureaucratic burden, we are not at present requesting details of this investment, but the funding we are making available will enable this target to be met.
Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on how many of the schools requiring rebuilding or re-modelling work will have (a) commenced and (b) been completed by 1 April; and what financial resources will be needed to complete this work between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2004. [43022]
John Healey: In 1996–97, when this Government came to office, capital spending on school buildings was £683 million. This has risen to £2.2 billion for 2001–02, and will rise further to an annual rate of £3.5 billion by 2003–04. Between April 2002 and April 2004, over £6.4 billion will be available for investment in school buildings. Local education authorities and schools are able to use this greatly increased funding to address the backlog of repairs that had built up over years of under- funding by the previous Administration. They can also start to modernise the schools estate to meet the teaching and learning needs of the 21st century.
The Department has an investment strategy target of having replacement or refurbishment completed or under way in 650 schools by 2004. Investment decisions are best made at the local level, and the bulk of the funding we provide is allocated to local education authorities and to schools by formula to enable them to address the priority needs of their school buildings. To reduce the bureaucratic burden, we are not at present requesting details of this investment, but the funding we are making available will enable this target to be met.
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HOME DEPARTMENT
Miscarriages of Justice
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been released in each of the past 10 years as a result of miscarriages of justice who have had their original convictions quashed (a) on appeal and (b) otherwise. [38364]
Mr. Keith Bradley [holding answer 5 March 2002]: The information requested is not readily available. However, the table sets out the outcome of appeals heard by the full Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) in each of the last 10 years:
| Allowed | Dismissed | Number of re-trials ordered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 299 | 370 | 12 |
| 1993 | 402 | 524 | 20 |
| 1994 | 351 | 577 | 51 |
| 1995 | 253 | 521 | 52 |
| 1996 | 250 | 469 | 53 |
| 1997(8) | 236 | 367 | 33 |
| 1998 | 290 | 403 | 73 |
| 1999 | 171 | 380 | 70 |
| 2000 | 150 | 333 | 72 |
| 2001 | 135 | 313 | n/a |
(8) From 1997, figures relate to applications rather than appellants.
It is not possible to tell from these figures exactly how many prisoners were released from prison in each of the last 10 years as a result of their convictions being quashed. This is because not all of those who have successfully appealed against conviction will be in custody at the time their convictions are overturned; the outcome of the re-trials ordered is not available; and the table does not take any account of summary convictions quashed by the Crown court, or of convictions quashed by the House of Lords (figures for which are not available). In addition, the table's figures for appeal outcomes from 1997 onward are for the number of applications heard (each of which could have involved more than one appellant). As to (b), it is only appellate courts which have the power to quash a conviction.
Air Conditioning
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which consultant was used to advise on the installation of air conditioning during the recent refurbishment of 50 Queen Anne's Gate; [41160]
- (2) what measures were taken to ensure that the consultant advising on the installation of air conditioning during the recent refurbishment of 50 Queen Anne's Gate was aware of the Government's policy on the use of hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants in air-conditioning; and if he will make a statement on the measures taken by the consultant to source practical and safe alternatives to hydrofluorocarbon-based air-conditioning; [41161]
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(3) whether an installer capable of installing not-in-kind air conditioning was invited to quote for the recent refurbishment contract for 50 Queen Anne's Gate. [41159]
Angela Eagle: The air conditioning central chiller plant in 50 Queen Anne's Gate was replaced last year, because the old plant contained Chlorofluorocarbons, which were banned from 31 December 2000. This project did not form part of a larger refurbishment.
The procurement of the replacement chillers was handled using the standard procurement procedures for works contracts below the value of £3.6 million. Consultant engineers, Torpy Management (now known as Halcrow) and the Facilities Management Contractors, Johnson Controls, were asked to select five firms established in this particular field to tender. Another firm chaired by the right hon. Member for Suffolk Coastal (Mr. Gummer) offering an innovative environmentally friendly solution approached our consultants. This firm was seriously considered, but was not invited to tender, because our consultants considered that the alternative offered would have increased the cost and project risk unacceptably. The building work required in an occupied building would have been more extensive. In making this decision, the consultants took advice from the then Property Advisers to the Civil Estate (now part of the Office of Government Commerce) and experts within their own organisation.
The consultants were aware of the Home Office's Greening Operations Policy, which advised that environmentally friendly alternatives to Hydrofluorocarbons should be used where feasible. It was their view that a safe, technically feasible and cost-effective environmentally preferable solution did not exist in this particular case, taking into account that the building is in need of a major overall refurbishment and the Department's plans to relocate to 2 Marsham Street in three to four years' time. However, the firms that were asked to tender were invited to offer environmentally innovative solutions—none did so and the contract was awarded in October 2000 to a firm using a standard environmentally compliant refrigerant containing Hydrofluorocarbons.
Cannabis
Mr. Bell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to hear from his Advisory Committee in relation to proposals to reclassify cannabis as a Class C drug; and if he will make a statement. [40198]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I have now received the advice of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which I am currently considering.
Holocaust Memorial Day
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government
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have to include the Armenian massacres by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 in the remembrance commemorated by National Holocaust Memorial Day. [39951]
Angela Eagle: The Government recognise the strength of feeling in the Armenian community about the massacres of 1915–16. It was an appalling episode in twentieth century history, condemned by the British Government of the day and now.
The Government continue to extend its sympathies to the descendants of the victims, along with an assurance that the massacres will never be forgotten.
The Government believe that Holocaust Memorial Day should focus on learning the lessons of the Holocaust and other more recent atrocities that raise similar issues.
A particular focus on events around the period 1939–45 and thereafter should not be seen as failing to acknowledge, sympathise with and respect the deep concerns about earlier events like the massacre of Armenians in 1915–16.
Indeed, the particular focus of Holocaust Memorial Day does not prevent recollection by the Armenian community in the United Kingdom of the appalling events of 1915–16. Others may also seek to highlight other atrocities.
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