The Schools Minister Charles Clarke has given details of allocations of funds for the year 1999-2000, amounting to �575m, to be be targeted at maintaining and upgrading buildings and creating 45,000 new places.

"This funding will go a long way to provide decent conditions for pupils and teachers to learn and teach in ... and will begin to tackle the school repairs backlog which has built up over the past 20 years," the minister said.

The total spending allocation for repairs in 1999-2000 will be �1.35bn, with �1.5bn and �1.8bn for the following years, plus other funds for the voluntary aided sector.

The regional breakdown includes over �13m for schools in Essex and Hampshire, �10m in Liverpool and �9m for Oxfordshire. The smallest allocations are �2,000 for the Isles of Scilly and �16,000 for Rutland.

In London, Kensington and Chelsea are promised �40,000 while schools in Newham have been allocated over �5m. Richmond upon Thames will receive over �3m in contrast to �128,000 for Lambeth.

The allocations are intended to reflect need, with the figures taking into account the requirements for repairs and new buildings, the number of schools and the need to accommodate more pupils in areas with a growing school population.

Allocation by local authority, totals in thousands: