What plans his Department has for the rebuilding and refurbishment of secondary schools in Plymouth.

I am pleased to inform the House that Plymouth is one of 12 projects that will be joining the Building Schools for the Future programme today. It is for Plymouth to determine the pattern of school builds in consultation with the Department, Partnerships for Schools and the local community.

I warmly welcome the go-ahead that has been given to £78 million of investment in our schools. Could my hon. Friend tell me what impact he hopes it will have on raising standards at schools such as Stoke Damerel community college, which he visited recently, and Lipson community college, which the Secretary of State has visited within the past year?

First, I congratulate my hon. Friends the Members for Plymouth, Sutton (Linda Gilroy) and for Plymouth, Devonport (Alison Seabeck) on the work they did to campaign for Plymouth to be part of the Building Schools for the Future programme. Schools buildings are important, but to get BSF money authorities have to demonstrate that the new buildings are linked to school improvement and a strategy for change; clearly, standards are an essential part of any school building programme. When I went to Plymouth, I saw that one of the reasons why Plymouth has been successful with its bid is that it has clearly identified that the new school buildings will be a means by which it can continue to improve on the already excellent standards in its area.