9.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: March 2025 9.2 This government introduced the Condition Data Collection (CDC), the first ever comprehensive survey of the school estate and one of the largest data collection programmes of its kind in Europe. CDC2 is now in train to provide updated data on the estate. 9.3 The department’s capital funding programmes are already targeted on need. For example, School Condition Allocations provided to large responsible bodies annually, take account of the relative condition of their schools, based on consistent data from its survey programme. The department’s bid-based programmes robustly assess applications based on the published criteria. Unlike previous programmes, like Building Schools for the Future, the School Rebuilding Programme prioritises projects based on evidence of need rather than other factors. The department’s funding methodology also takes account of the different types and size of responsible body in the sector, so that funding can be aggregated into larger pots which can be more efficiently prioritised across groups of schools, with funding then concentrated on larger projects where required. 9.4 The department provides extensive guidance on effective estate management, as well as advice on specific issues such as managing asbestos safely. In June 2023, the department published the Estate Management Competency Framework. This sets out the skills and knowledge needed to manage school estates at all levels, from operational staff through to leadership. The Capital Advisers Programme (CAP) offers bespoke recommendations from experienced technical advisers and aims to help responsible bodies achieve safe, well-maintained buildings through effective practice and efficient use of funding. The department published an evaluation report on the first stage of the Capital Advisers Programme and are expanding the number of trusts included in 2023-24. This is being kept under close review, with potential scope to expand further in 2024-25. 9.5 The department keeps its approach to capital funding, guidance and support for improving the condition of the school estate under review. Representative data from the on-going Condition Data Collection 2 should be available in 2024 to further inform capital funding policy and any changes to the allocation methodology for the 2025-26 financial year.