Baroness Linforth

We are improving infrastructure and strengthening resilience across the education estate through our Education Estates Strategy.

The strategy includes a new £710 million Renewal and Retrofit Programme to improve condition and climate resilience, investing almost £3 billion per year by 2034/35 in capital maintenance and improvement of schools and colleges. The department is also investing almost £20 billion in the School Rebuilding Programme through to 2034/35, delivering climate‑resilient buildings at over 750 schools.

We have recently launched a new construction framework and updated design standards, setting our requirements for all new and refurbished school buildings delivered by the department. These standards promote integrated environmental design and cover overheating risk assessments, cross-ventilation, indoor air quality and the use of cooling through ground-source heat pumps.

We are improving infrastructure and strengthening resilience across the education estate through our Education Estates Strategy.

The strategy includes a new £710 million Renewal and Retrofit Programme to improve condition and climate resilience, investing almost £3 billion per year by 2034/35 in capital maintenance and improvement of schools and colleges. The department is also investing almost £20 billion in the School Rebuilding Programme through to 2034/35, delivering climate‑resilient buildings at over 750 schools.

We have recently launched a new construction framework and updated design standards, setting our requirements for all new and refurbished school buildings delivered by the department. These standards promote integrated environmental design and cover overheating risk assessments, cross-ventilation, indoor air quality and the use of cooling through ground-source heat pumps.

We are improving infrastructure and strengthening resilience across the education estate through our Education Estates Strategy.

The strategy includes a new £710 million Renewal and Retrofit Programme to improve condition and climate resilience, investing almost £3 billion per year by 2034/35 in capital maintenance and improvement of schools and colleges. The department is also investing almost £20 billion in the School Rebuilding Programme through to 2034/35, delivering climate‑resilient buildings at over 750 schools.

We have recently launched a new construction framework and updated design standards, setting our requirements for all new and refurbished school buildings delivered by the department. These standards promote integrated environmental design and cover overheating risk assessments, cross-ventilation, indoor air quality and the use of cooling through ground-source heat pumps.

The department recognises that good ventilation and air quality are essential for maintaining a healthy learning environment and we regularly review the scientific evidence on ventilation and air quality in schools. The department supported the School Air Quality Monitoring for Health and Education project and has seen the value in the data that has been published.

Guidance published by the department on ventilation and indoor air quality in education and childcare settings is available on GOV.UK. In addition, the department has recently launched a new construction framework and updated design standards, setting out requirements for all new and refurbished school buildings delivered by the department. These standards cover air quality and ventilation, reflecting industry standards and best practice.

The procurement of COVID-19 vaccinations is based on the policy decisions made by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. These are informed by scientific advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The Department cannot advise which brand of vaccine will form part of any future COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

The availability and purchasing of vaccines provided through the private market is a matter for suppliers and those offering private vaccination services directly. The Department is unable to advise which vaccine suppliers will be in stock with private vaccination services.