asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the expenditure in 1977, 1978 and in the current year to date on the construction of school buildings in England and Wales, excluding new projects.

The Department's records identify expenditure by financial years. For the year 1977–78, expenditure was £237·9 million and, for 1978–79, £208·3 million. Expenditure figures for 1979–80 are not available at present.