Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to respond to the letter of 9 November 2023 from the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South constituency sent on behalf of a constituent.
Answered by Anthony Browne
A response to your letter was sent on 26 February.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an estimate of the number of (a) elements of school estates currently in use and (b) open schools containing at least one such element which were constructed using the block and beam method of concrete construction in (i) each local authority area and (ii) England.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education
Academy trusts, local authorities, and voluntary-aided school bodies are responsible for collecting and recording information about their buildings and ensuring they are safe, well-maintained and comply with relevant regulations. The department supports schools and colleges on how this should be done in the Good Estate Management for Schools guidance, which is available on GOV.UK.
Departmental officials have regular discussions with relevant professional bodies and leading material specialists to ensure that they are aware of any emerging evidence regarding the safety of construction materials used in the education estate. The department does not hold a central register of construction types used in the education estate.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had reason to revise her (a) assessment of the safety of the block and beam method, (b) assessment of the safe operating life of the block and beam method and (c) advice to schools where the block and beam method was used as part of the construction method for any part of the building since 25 October 2022.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education
Academy trusts, local authorities, and voluntary-aided school bodies are responsible for collecting and recording information about their buildings and ensuring they are safe, well-maintained and comply with relevant regulations. The department supports schools and colleges on how this should be done in the Good Estate Management for Schools guidance, which is available on GOV.UK.
Departmental officials have regular discussions with relevant professional bodies and leading material specialists to ensure that they are aware of any emerging evidence regarding the safety of construction materials used in the education estate. The department does not hold a central register of construction types used in the education estate.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether guidance is available to schools on the management of (a) buildings and (b) building elements made from block and beam concrete.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education
Academy trusts, local authorities, and voluntary-aided school bodies are responsible for collecting and recording information about their buildings and ensuring they are safe, well-maintained and comply with relevant regulations. The department supports schools and colleges on how this should be done in the Good Estate Management for Schools guidance, which is available on GOV.UK.
Departmental officials have regular discussions with relevant professional bodies and leading material specialists to ensure that they are aware of any emerging evidence regarding the safety of construction materials used in the education estate. The department does not hold a central register of construction types used in the education estate.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the cost to the public purse was of delivering government leaflets entitled Childcare Choices: Get the help that fits your family via (a) Royal Mail and (b) other delivery companies.
Answered by David Johnston
Childcare Choices is an ongoing campaign and costings will be published in the usual way in the department’s annual reports and accounts.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department has spent on (a) producing and (b) delivering leaflets to households entitled Help for Households, Get help that fits your family, Childcare Choices.
Answered by David Johnston
Childcare Choices is an ongoing campaign and costings will be published in the usual way in the department’s annual reports and accounts.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the cost to the public purse was of advertising the upcoming extension to funded childcare hours.
Answered by David Johnston
Childcare Choices is an ongoing campaign and costings will be published in the usual way in the department’s annual reports and accounts.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the safety of school buildings in Somerset; and what recent steps she has taken to help ensure the safety of those buildings.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education
It is the responsibility of those running schools, such as academy trusts and local authorities, to ensure their schools are safe and well-maintained. The department has allocated over £15 billion since 2015 for keeping schools safe and operational, including £1.8 billion committed this financial year. This funding is informed by consistent data on the school estate. In addition, the School Rebuilding Programme will transform buildings at over 500 schools across England.
When the department is made aware of a significant issue with a building that cannot be managed locally, the department provides additional support on a case-by-case basis.
Departmental officials have regular discussions with relevant professional bodies and leading material specialists to ensure that they are aware of any emerging evidence regarding the safety of construction materials used in the education estate.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the safety of school buildings in Northumberland; and what recent steps she has taken to help ensure the safety of those buildings.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education
It is the responsibility of those running schools, such as academy trusts and local authorities, to ensure their schools are safe and well-maintained. The department has allocated over £15 billion since 2015 for keeping schools safe and operational, including £1.8 billion committed this financial year. This funding is informed by consistent data on the school estate. In addition, the School Rebuilding Programme will transform buildings at over 500 schools across England.
When the department is made aware of a significant issue with a building that cannot be managed locally, the department provides additional support on a case-by-case basis.
Departmental officials have regular discussions with relevant professional bodies and leading material specialists to ensure that they are aware of any emerging evidence regarding the safety of construction materials used in the education estate.
Asked by: Bridget Phillipson (Labour - Houghton and Sunderland South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her planned timetable is for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete remedial works to be completed (a) overall and (b) by school.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Shadow Secretary of State for Education
The government is funding the removal of RAAC present in school and colleges either through grants, or through the School Rebuilding Programme. A list of education settings with confirmed RAAC and the funding route to remove RAAC was published on 8 February and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-management-information.
The longer-term requirements of each school or college will vary depending on the extent of the issue, as well as the nature and design of the buildings. Permanently removing RAAC may involve the refurbishment of existing buildings, such as replacing the roof or rebuilding affected buildings.
Schools joining the School Rebuilding Programme are prioritised for delivery according to the condition need of their buildings, readiness to proceed and efficiency of delivery. For schools and colleges receiving grants, the department will work with the responsible bodies to support them through the grants process as they undertake the buildings works to remove RAAC permanently. The department is working with responsible bodies to take forward this work as quickly as possible.