Schools: Repairs and Maintenance

Paul Rowen
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many schools have been refurbished through the Primary Capital Programme; how many of them were found to have asbestos in the course of the refurbishment; and how many had that asbestos removed;

(2) how much has been spent on refurbishing schools through the Primary Capital Programme; how much has been spent dealing with asbestos during such refurbishments; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Coaker
The Primary Capital Programme was rolled out to all local authorities from April 2009, supported by funding allocations of £755 million in 2009-10 and £893 million in 2010-11. In 2008-09, 23 regional “pathfinder” authorities received funding of £149 million and 32 exemplar projects—20 new build and 12 refurbishment—have already been completed. The programme commits to renewing at least half of all primary schools by 2022-23, and national output assumptions are that 5 per cent. of schools in the worst condition will be rebuilt or taken out of commission and 45 per cent. refurbished.

Responsibility for prioritisation and procurement of specific projects rests with individual local authorities and information on those that involve asbestos removal will not be held centrally. Information on spend is not yet available and the Department does not collect data on spend in relation to the removal of asbestos.