To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what conditions apply to the award of £10.7 million to Stoke-on-Trent under the primary capital programme. (240300)

To access the funding earmarked for the delivery of the Primary Capital Programme, Stoke-on-Trent was asked to develop a Primary Strategy for Change, setting out how the programme will support national and local priorities. Following assessment against the guidance issued on 6 December the authority has been notified that its strategy has been approved with modification. This means that it was judged to be generally sound but further information/reassurance is required on how the programme will transform school standards. This includes;

The approach on suitability and accessibility issues in schools

The plans for schools not reaching floor targets

The relationship between the design of schools and

The rote of technology in raising standards

The need for a proactive approach in driving through change in governance arrangements where there is very poor performance.

The Department has committed to working with Stoke-on-Trent to resolve these issues quickly, prior to resubmission by the end of March 2009.