To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many school premises he estimates will be (a) rebuilt and (b) refurbished using funds from the primary capital programme in each of the next five years; (113757)

This Government are committed to improving school buildings so that they are suitable for teaching and learning needs in the 21st century. We are supporting record levels of investment in schools: £5.9 billion this year, rising to £8 billion a year by 2010-11. This compares with investment of under £700 million in 1996-97.

This funding is being used to rebuild or refurbish school premises. The option chosen is a local decision, which should be based on a rigorous options appraisal, including the suitability and condition of existing school buildings, value for money, whole-life costs and sustainability.

The primary capital programme starts in 2008-09, and will support investment of £150 million in that year and £500 million in each of the following two years. Subject to future public spending decisions, we expect the programme to continue for around 15 years. The decision whether to rebuild or refurbish a school is best taken locally on the basis of a proper options appraisal.

However, we have said that our long-term objective is to improve at least half of all primary schools. Our planning assumptions are that this will include replacing or taking out of use 5 per cent. of school buildings in the worst physical condition nationally, and replacing or taking out of use the 20 per cent. of the worst condition buildings in our most deprived communities. With strategic and joined-up planning and funding, we hope to exceed this over the life of the programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding is available for (a) rebuilding and (b) refurbishing (i) primary and (ii) secondary school premises in each of the next five years. (113759)

In 2007-08, the final year in the current spending review period, £6.4 billion will be available for capital improvements in primary and secondary schools. In the next spending review period, £6.6 billion will be available in 2008-09, £6.9 billion in 2009-10, and £8 billion in 2010-11. No allocations have been agreed for further years. There is no breakdown of these figures between (a) rebuilding and (b) refurbishing, or between (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools, as expenditure decisions will be made individually by each local authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which construction companies have been (a) considered and (b) selected as principal partners in the Building Schools for the Future programme. (113860)

The following construction companies have been considered, as part of consortiums shortlisted for Building Schools for the Future (BSF) projects: Amey, Carillion, Skanska, Mill, HBG, Taylor Woodrow, Kier, Mott MacDonald, Alfred McAlpine, VT, Costain, Kajima, Bouygues, Sir Robert McAlpine, Balfour Beatty, Bovis Lend Lease, Bowmore Kirkland, Vinci, Galliford Try, Amec, Miller, Bilfinger Berger, Laing, Laing O’Rourke, Apollo, Wilmott Dixon and Wates.

The following construction companies are part of consortiums which have been selected as preferred bidders or which have signed contracts for BSF projects: Amey, Costain, Skanska, Bovis Lend Lease, Taylor Woodrow, Sir Robert McAlpine, Balfour Beatty, Miller, HBG, Laing O’Rourke, Mott MacDonald, Bouygues and Apollo.