Blair trumpets education legacy

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The Prime Minister claimed that Labour's multi-billion pound programme to renovate England's crumbling classrooms showed he had lived up to his famous promise to prioritise "education, education, and education".

A survey of local authorities in England found that since 1997, 1,106 new schools, 27,000 new or improved classrooms and 2,300 new or refurbished school kitchens had been built.

In the 450 most recently built schools, new indoor toilets had been provided, so no children have to use outside loos any more, the report said.

And sports facilities had been improved or provided for the first time in 2,450 schools in England.

Writing an introduction to the report, Mr Blair said: "The programme of renewal is truly historic. It compares to the legacy of the Victorians and the post-war generation. Generations of young people will benefit. Twenty years of under-investment is being steadily reversed."

He continued: "Before 1997, schools and colleges suffered decades of under-investment. Buildings were decaying. Thousands of young people endured shabby facilities, temporary classrooms, leaking roofs or outside toilets.

"New buildings were desperately needed, but the funding simply wasn't there."

Mr Blair said the Government's "step change in investment" meant the education capital budget is now six times what it was when he came to power.

"'Education, education, education' was how I described my priorities at the outset of this Government," Mr Blair said. "A decade on, this report shows we meant it."