BLACK QUIZZES FIRST MINISTER ON SWANSEA'S SCHOOL REPAIR BACKLOG

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Sep 2007

Peter at bishop Gore School

The Swansea-based Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member, Peter Black, has quizzed the First Minster on the £147 million backlog of school repairs and improvement needed in Swansea.

The Schools Asset Management Review commissioned by the Liberal Democrat led Administration on Swansea Council has revealed that it will cost almost £150 million to make all local schools fit for purpose. In First Minister's Questions today, Mr. Black asked the First Minister whether additional money would be available from his government to help tackle the backlog of school repairs left behind by the previous Labour Administration.

"As expected the First Minister would not be drawn on making a commitment to additional money in the chamber, however he did say that the door was open to the Council to apply for grants on the basis of the needs identified in their asset management plan," said Mr. Black. "What was disappointing was his attempt to pass the buck back to the Council and in particular his failure to accept any element of responsibility for this mess on behalf of the Labour Party."

"It is unbelievable that the First Minister can suggest that this is a problem that has been caused in the past three and half years. It is clear that this dilapidation is the product of thirty plus years of neglect. Swansea has received twenty million pounds from the Assembly Government over the last few years all of which has been spent on school buildings. Despite that the problem remains as big as ever. This is not an issue that can be resolved by the Council alone. They need additional funding from the Labour Assembly Government and I will be pressing Ministers to look favourably on any bids they receive for more cash."