How much has been allocated to schools in the Chatham and Aylesford Constituency from the new deal for schools programme. [157912]

The funding allocated between 1997–98 and 2000–01 to schools in the Chatham and Aylesford Constituency from the new deal for schools programme was £10.6 million. That included allocations made to Kent and Medway local education authorities for total packages that include schools in the constituency. For the next three years, Kent has so far been allocated £56.6 million and Medway £10.6 million under the new deal for schools programme.

If my hon. Friend believes that that reply warrants gratitude and thanks from me, she is right. However, that is not the complete picture. The capital grant to which she referred is £1.5 million for St. Mark's school in Eccles, which has waited years for a new school. The money came from the new deal; the Conservative party and the Liberal Democrat party voted against it. On Monday, I attended a ground-breaking ceremony for Chatham South school, which has waited 20 years for a new school hall. However, it will get not only a new school hall, but six classrooms, a studio and—

Order. The hon. Gentleman should try for an Adjournment Debate on the subject.

I do not ask for gratitude, but for the money to continue to contribute to raising school standards. Departmental research clearly shows that the money that we are putting in to schools has an impact not only through repairing roofs, building new schools and replacing temporary classrooms but through giving teachers and children the environment that they need in which to learn and to continue to raise standards.