Although local authorities have spent millions as part of the Government’s flagship scheme for school buildings, only 15 schools have been opened in the last five years.
Figures obtained by the Conservative Party through the Freedom of Information Act reveal that local councils across England have spent £170 million in consultation fees relating to the bidding process for inclusion in the £50 billion Building Schools for the Future programme.
Shadow children’s secretary Michael Gove said that the final bill could reach £1.5 billion.
Mr Gove said that the programme, since its inception in 2004, had built only 15 schools, falling far short of its goal of rebuilding or renovating every secondary school in England.
He said that in “tough economic times” the government should “get more for less”. However, the government had delivered “hardly any improvements”.
Criticising the mismanagement by the DCSF, Mr Gove said: “Ministers have already increased their costing of BSF by £10 billion due to their failure to deliver the scheme on time. At a time when family budgets are more stretched than ever, we simply cannot afford this level of mismanagement in Ed Balls’ department.”
Schools Secretary Ed Balls said Conservatives were planning to reduce the Building Schools for the Future budget by £4.5 billion over the coming nine years.
