To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new schools commissioned by the local authority have been built since 2001. (82458)

Information on the number of schools commissioned by Coventry local education authority that have been built since 2001 is not held by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applications he is considering from local authorities to build new community schools. (82459)

The Secretary of State does not normally consider individual proposals for new schools. Proposals for additional secondary schools in a competition under the Education Act 2002 would fall to be decided by the Secretary of State, but there have been no such competitions. Following consultation and the publication of a notice followed by a representation period, proposals would normally be decided under local decision-making arrangements. The Department has been informed that currently 24 proposals for new community schools are outstanding. These are all for merged schools following reorganisation.

Local authorities receive support for capital investment through our main capital programmes. Investment decisions are largely taken locally.

Under the Education and Inspections Bill currently before Parliament, there will normally be a competition for all new schools, and the publication of proposals for new community schools from most authorities will require the consent of the Secretary of State. The proposals will be decided by the local authority or the schools adjudicator.