It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

On 2 October, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a value for money audit of all EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) spending in the Civil Service. The audit will dovetail with the public sector productivity review, aiming at delivering a leaner, more efficient government. The audit forms part of our drive to improve productivity across the public sector by driving down waste and improving performance. The findings and actions of the audit will be announced by the Chancellor in the autumn.

The Salix Energy Efficiency Fund (SEEF) is a bid-based capital funding programme that launched in 2016 and closed in March 2021 to provide interest free loans to academies and sixth form colleges to undertake capital works to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) funded the programme and Salix Finance administered the application round and the project approvals on behalf of BEIS. The loan payment and repayments are implemented and managed by the Department for Education.

The tables attached show, by constituency and local authority, the number of schools and other education providers that applied to SEEF during the five financial years the fund operated, how many of those were awarded funding, and how many were not awarded funding.

In summary, 1,054 applications in total were made to SEEF, 666 applications were funded, and 388 were not awarded funding.

978 establishments applied for funding through SEEF, 646 were awarded funding, and 332 were not awarded funding.

The Salix Energy Efficiency Fund (SEEF) is a bid-based capital funding programme that launched in 2016 and closed in March 2021 to provide interest free loans to academies and sixth form colleges to undertake capital works to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) funded the programme and Salix Finance administered the application round and the project approvals on behalf of BEIS. The loan payment and repayments are implemented and managed by the Department for Education.

The tables attached show, by constituency and local authority, the number of schools and other education providers that applied to SEEF during the five financial years the fund operated, how many of those were awarded funding, and how many were not awarded funding.

In summary, 1,054 applications in total were made to SEEF, 666 applications were funded, and 388 were not awarded funding.

978 establishments applied for funding through SEEF, 646 were awarded funding, and 332 were not awarded funding.

The Salix Energy Efficiency Fund (SEEF) is a bid-based capital funding programme that launched in 2016 and closed in March 2021 to provide interest free loans to academies and sixth form colleges to undertake capital works to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) funded the programme and Salix Finance administered the application round and the project approvals on behalf of BEIS. The loan payment and repayments are implemented and managed by the Department for Education.

The tables attached show, by constituency and local authority, the number of schools and other education providers that applied to SEEF during the five financial years the fund operated, how many of those were awarded funding, and how many were not awarded funding.

In summary, 1,054 applications in total were made to SEEF, 666 applications were funded, and 388 were not awarded funding.

978 establishments applied for funding through SEEF, 646 were awarded funding, and 332 were not awarded funding.

The Government has allocated £9.5 billion in condition funding since 2015 to maintain and improve the school estate, including an extra £560 million this financial year. As much of the funding is provided to responsible bodies, such as local authorities, large academy trusts and voluntary aided school bodies, to invest in condition priorities based on local need, we are not able to provide a breakdown of spend on energy efficiency. On top of capital allocations to the school system, the Priority School Building Programme is rebuilding or refurbishing school buildings in the worst condition across the country, covering over 500 schools. In June, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, announced a new, transformative 10-year school rebuilding programme. This will replace school buildings that are ageing or in poor condition with modern, energy-efficient designs that will help to meet the government’s net zero target. We are working to improve schools’ capability and efficiency in managing their estates, and have published guidance on good estate management, which includes energy efficiency measures and a checklist that schools can use to help them take action. We are also working in partnership with the Construction Innovation Hub (funded by UK Research and Innovation) to develop a model of sustainable future school buildings using modern methods of construction. More broadly, we are working with colleagues across government on carbon reduction and energy efficiency, and are considering how future capital programmes can contribute further.

On 1 October, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) announced a £1 billion Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund. The scheme is being provided via Salix Finance and schools are eligible to apply for grant funding for capital energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation projects. This is a grant scheme, hence there is no payback criteria set on this funding.

The application round for the Salix Energy Efficiency Fund for academies is due to reopen in mid-October 2020. BEIS is responsible for this programme, and future funding is subject to the Spending Review. Academies that are eligible for the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) can also apply through the annual CIF round for an interest free energy efficiency Salix loan for all or part of the CIF project funding if an element of the project will provide revenue savings for energy efficiency works.

DECC funds the Salix energy efficiency loan scheme in England, with funding decisions on individual energy efficiency projects made by Salix Finance Ltd in accordance with objective criteria.

According to Salix Finance Ltd, Essex County Council has not made an application at any time to the scheme.

Salix publishes an annually updated list of organisations in receipt of funding on its website at:

www.salixfinance.co.uk/about-us/successes

Information provided by Salix Finance Ltd is that, from the start of the scheme in 2004 to 31 March 2014, 83 local authorities applied for and received funding for energy efficiency projects that include LED lighting.

DECC funds the Salix energy efficiency loan scheme in England, with funding decisions on individual energy efficiency projects made by Salix Finance Ltd in accordance with objective criteria.

According to Salix Finance Ltd, Essex County Council has not made an application at any time to the scheme.

Salix publishes an annually updated list of organisations in receipt of funding on its website at:

www.salixfinance.co.uk/about-us/successes

Information provided by Salix Finance Ltd is that, from the start of the scheme in 2004 to 31 March 2014, 83 local authorities applied for and received funding for energy efficiency projects that include LED lighting.