Written question asked by Paul Rowen (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 19 November 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 24 November 2009. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 November 2009 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Question: (2) how much has been spent on refurbishing schools through the Building Schools for the Future programme; how much has been spent dealing with asbestos during such refurbishments; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Of the 129 schools where work under Building Schools for the Future (BSF) is complete, 30 have included refurbishment. In a further 21, the work was confined to ICT renewal. Asbestos surveys may or may not have been required, depending on the age of the buildings. The total capital funding provided for these schools under BSF is £429 million, including £66 million for ICT. Information on the number of refurbished schools that contained asbestos or the amounts spent on asbestos removal is not held centrally. Overall the BSF programme is expected to comprise approximately 35 per cent. major refurbishment, 15 per cent. minor refurbishment and 50 per cent. new build in terms of floor area. Major refurbishments carried out under the Building Schools for the Future programme normally include removal of all asbestos in areas likely to be disturbed by the work. Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that are likely to deteriorate are identified by an asbestos survey for each refurbishment and normally removed.Asbestos is also removed when buildings are demolished. For minor refurbishment work, an asbestos survey is done and ACMs are either removed or managed in place, depending on their condition.

Secondary information