Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jim Cunningham and David Laws

Monday 16th June 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

12. What provision has been made to fund the furnishing of new school buildings built under the Priority School Building programme.

[The Minister for Schools (Mr David Laws)]

The Priority School Building programme provides funding for fixed furniture and equipment. Where a school is increasing in size, the PSBP also provides funding for loose furniture and equipment, such as tables and chairs.

[Mr Cunningham]

A school in my constituency, Ernesford Grange community academy, has just had a new school building built under the PSBP. However, the Education Funding Agency has informed it that there is no funding to cover furniture for the new building. That is presenting a serious problem for the school—and, I am sure, for many other schools. Will the Government try to find funding to help buy desks and chairs for the new builds, or meet me to discuss the situation?

[Mr Laws]

Of course I will look into the issue or meet the hon. Gentleman. Where funding is needed to fix furniture and equipment, we provide that centrally. The hon. Gentleman has three PSBP projects in his constituency. All of them are going to be receiving some funding for fixed equipment—over £1 million in total. Where there is existing equipment that can sensibly be reused in the new buildings, we ask schools to do that, but if the hon. Gentleman thinks that is posing problems, I will be happy to look into the detailed circumstances.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

T2. Will the Minister tell us how many schools are being built as a result of his programme, and how many have had their conditions improved?

[The Minister for Schools (Mr David Laws)]

Yes, I can tell the hon. Gentleman that we are building, rebuilding and upgrading more than 900 schools during the course of this Parliament. We have also recently announced a Priority School Building programme to rebuild many of the schools that are in the worst condition, including many that were not even on the list for Building Schools for the Future.