Written question asked by Mark Hendrick (Labour) on Tuesday, 12 January 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 14 January 2010. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Monday, 18 January 2010 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Schools: Preston

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent repairing schools in Preston in each year since 1997.

Answer: Repairs which bring schools back to their original state constitute a revenue expense, and are paid out of revenue funding. Repairs which amount to capital improvement, such as better insulation, are payable from capital allocations. The Department does not maintain records of revenue funding spent on repairs, as distinct from other revenue costs such as salaries, as this is decided locally.School capital allocations are not made directly to Preston, but to Lancashire county council, and the Department maintains no central records of the amounts prioritised by Lancashire to Preston. Allocations by the Department to Lancashire during the period 1997-98 to 2009-10 amount to £1,010 million.

Secondary information