Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations he has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer ahead of the fiscal event announced for 31 October 2022 on (a) his Department's capital funding, (b) the adequacy of funding for capital projects, including maintenance, in England's schools, (c) the adequacy of funding for capital projects, including maintenance, in England's further education colleges, (d) the adequacy of funding for capital projects, including maintenance, in England's universities and (e) the adequacy of funding for capital projects, including maintenance, for nurseries and other settings where childcare and early years education is provided; and if he will make a statement.

The Department engages regularly with HM Treasury and other relevant Departments on a number of matters, including capital investment across the education sector to improve the condition of the estate. This includes official level and ministerial level engagement where appropriate. The 2021 Spending Review announced a total of £19.4 billion of capital funding to support the education sector between 2022/23 and 2024/25, including £6 billion this financial year.

Well-maintained, safe school buildings are a priority for the Government. The Department has allocated over £13 billion in capital funding since 2015, for improving the condition of the school estate, including maintained nurseries. In addition, the School Rebuilding Programme will transform 500 schools over the next decade, prioritising schools in poor condition, or with potential safety issues.

Through the Further Education (FE) Capital Transformation Programme, the Department is investing £1.5 billion between 2020 and 2026 to address poor condition and upgrade the FE college estate. We have also provided the Office for Students with £450 million of Strategic Priorities Grant capital funding to distribute to higher education providers for financial years 2022/23 to 2024/25.