Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Ian Cawsey (Labour). It was answered by Ed Balls (Labour) on Monday, 15 June 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

School Buildings (Expenditure)

Question: What arrangements he has made to bring forward spending on school buildings to 2009-10.

Answer: A total of £939 million in school capital funding allocations to schools and to 121 local authorities is being brought forward from 2010-11 to 2009-10 to be spent on school buildings, information and communications technology and other capital items, and to get contracts for local small businesses. It is very disappointing that 27 local authorities chose not to take up that offer, which could have meant a further £183 million in contracts for small businesses in those areas.

Secondary information