§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she plans to take in respect of further education colleges which do not award annual pay increases to silver book contract lecturers. [4415]
§ Margaret HodgeFurther Education colleges are self-governing institutions. The implementation of annual pay awards is a matter for employers and their staff, and is not a matter on which it is appropriate for the Government to intervene. Nevertheless, I can reiterate the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Lifelong Learning on 9 July 2001,Official Report, column 388W, that the additional moneys allocated to FE colleges under the Teaching Pay Initiative are intended to be fairly distributed among all eligible staff.