To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what capital budget for rebuilding colleges has been allocated for (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement. (255281)

In “Our Statement of Priorities—Better skills, Better jobs, Better Lives”, published in November 2007, it was stated that we will invest £2.3 billion between 2008-09 and 2010-11 to ensure that colleges have world-class buildings.

The original annual capital grant allocations to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) were set out as follows:

These figures include the total LSC capital budget which includes funding for both 16 to 19-year-olds and adults.

However, as announced in the last pre-Budget report, investment of £110 million for 2009-10 has been brought forward into 2008-09, and a further £110 million for 2010-11 has been brought forward into 2009-10. This is in support of this Government’s actions to help beat the current global economic downturn.

The revised annual capital grant allocations to the LSC are subsequently as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans he has to bring forward capital expenditure on colleges to the year 2009-10; and if he will make a statement. (255282)

As announced in the last pre-Budget report, investment of £110 million for 2009-10 has been brought forward into 2008-09, and a further £110 million for 2010-11 has been brought forward into 2009-10.

This accelerated funding will be spent to bring forward building works, benefiting learners and regenerating communities, and will help us beat the current global economic downturn.