House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 20 Apr 2004 (pt 21)

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Temporary Classrooms

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many temporary or demountable classrooms in the Colchester Parliamentary constituency have been replaced with permanent accommodation since May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [165328]

Alan Johnson: The Department does not hold data on the replacement of temporary classrooms since 1997. This Government has increased its support for capital investment in schools from under £700 million in 1996–97 to £3.8 billion this year and this will increase further to over £5 billion by 2005–06. The bulk of schools capital is now allocated by formula to Authorities and schools so that they can address their local priorities, including the replacement of decayed temporary accommodation, on which we have set a high priority. Prioritisation of need is through asset management planning, which should be an open, rigorous and consultative process, based on a survey of the needs of all schools. Modern, high-quality mobile or demountable classrooms provide a good environment for teaching and learning where there is short-term need. They might, for instance, be needed to cope with a short-term increase in pupil numbers, or where extensive remodelling or rebuilding of permanent accommodation means providing temporary accommodation on the school site, rather than transporting children elsewhere.

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Pupil Referral Units

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average length of attendance at pupil referral units was in each of the last three years. [165475]

Alan Johnson: The data requested is not collected centrally.

School Refurbishment

Mr Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding his Department (a) has spent in 2003–04 and (b) is planning to spend in (i) 2004–05 and (ii) 2005–06 on rebuilding and refurbishing property in (A) secondary schools and (B) further education colleges. [165351]

Alan Johnson: The majority of the Department's school capital investment is allocated to schools and Local Education Authorities (LEAs) by formula, and they decide how best to invest it in line with their asset management plans. We do not stipulate how LEAs should split this investment between primary and secondary schools and we do not, therefore, have detailed information about all capital investment spent on secondary schools. This information should be held locally. The total capital investment available for all schools amounted to £3.8 billion in 2003–04, and we have indicated that this will rise to £4.5 billion and £5.1 billion in 2004–05 and 2005–06 respectively.

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All of the Department's post-16 learning and skills sector capital investment is allocated to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). In 2003–04 the LSC's total capital funding allocation was £327.5 million, and we have indicated that this will rise to £379.5 million and £408.5 million in 2004–05 and 2005–06 respectively. This comprises capital funding for the further education and Adult and Community Learning sectors. It includes funding to develop the Information and Learning Technology infrastructure; to develop Centres of Vocational Excellence; and to support the Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities programme. The Department does not provide a specific budget to the LSC for rebuilding and refurbishing property in further education colleges. It is for the LSC to determine for itself the right level of capital investment in further education colleges. Mr. Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member on this matter. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House library.

Devon Schools

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many places there were in Devon Local Education Authority (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) grammar schools in each of the last seven years. [165016]

Alan Johnson: The available information shown in the table relates to the number of pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools and grammar schools rather than total number of school places.
Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools⁽¹⁴⁾: Number (headcount) of Pupils Position as at January each year: Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Local Education Authorities

Devon
Maintained secondary
Plymouth
Maintained secondary
Torbay
Maintained secondary

Maintained Primary Total secondary of which grammar schools Maintained Primary Total secondary of which grammar schools Maintained Primary Total secondary of which grammar schools

1997⁽¹⁵⁾ 84,938 62,047 5,619 — — — — — —

1998⁽¹⁵⁾ 88,639 62,991 5,693 — — — — — —

1999 56,454 37,592 727 21,887 18,254 2,481 10,254 8,467 2,607

2000 56,374 38,816 731 21,510 18,645 2,597 10,288 8,552 2,654

2001 56,503 39,832 732 21,285 18,829 2,645 10,328 8,708 2,697

2002 56,159 40,872 745 20,968 18,982 2,679 10,399 8,863 2,738

2003 55,679 41,696 741 20,431 19,008 2,709 10,325 9,024 2,722

Source:
Annual Schools' Census
⁽¹⁴⁾ Includes middle schools as deemed.
⁽¹⁵⁾ Before Local Government Reorganisation.

	Devon Maintained secondary	Plymouth Maintained secondary	Torbay Maintained secondary
	Maintained Primary	Total secondary	of which grammar schools	Maintained Primary	Total secondary	of which grammar schools	Maintained Primary	Total secondary	of which grammar schools
1997⁽¹⁵⁾	84,938	62,047	5,619	—	—	—	—	—	—
1998⁽¹⁵⁾	88,639	62,991	5,693	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999	56,454	37,592	727	21,887	18,254	2,481	10,254	8,467	2,607
2000	56,374	38,816	731	21,510	18,645	2,597	10,288	8,552	2,654
2001	56,503	39,832	732	21,285	18,829	2,645	10,328	8,708	2,697
2002	56,159	40,872	745	20,968	18,982	2,679	10,399	8,863	2,738
2003	55,679	41,696	741	20,431	19,008	2,709	10,325	9,024	2,722

Public Bodies

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) resource budget, (b) administration costs and (c) staff numbers were for 2003 of the (i) School Teachers' Review Body and (ii) Music and Dance Scheme Advisory Group. [165122]

Alan Johnson: The School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) does not have a specific budget. Its costs are borne within the overall total budget for the Office of Manpower Economics. The estimated resource budget for the work of the STRB in 2003–04, including members' costs and consultancy and survey work was about £840,00 and this includes Secretariat

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administration costs, including pay, of £384,000. The STRB is supported by a Secretariat of 7.8 people within the Office of Manpower Economics.

The Music and Dance Scheme Advisory Group (MDSAG) does not have a resource budget. The

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Group's members are unpaid and only receive expenses for attendance at meetings. These amounted to some £6,000 in 2003–04. The MDSAG is serviced by two officials from the Department of Education and Skills as part of their duties in administering the Music and Dance Scheme.