HC Deb 16 February 1982 vol 18 cc132-3
9. Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether colleges of further education will have sufficient spare capacity for extra students arising from the new training initiative; and whether he will make a statement.

The Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science (Mr. William Shelton)

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the spare capacity available to local education authorities generally, together with other suitable premises which might be provided with Manpower Services Commission funds, will enable expansion to take place on the scale proposed.

Mr. Carlisle

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Is it not wrong that some colleges of further education have to cut back this year when they will have to expand the following year to accommodate the new training initiative? Should there not be greater flexibility between the budgets of the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Employment to avoid that inconsistency?

Mr. Shelton

I know of my hon. Friend's interest in the matter. In July last year my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made an additional £60 million available, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made available a further £35 million last December to pupils who stay on. How the money is used is a matter for the local education authority.

Mr. Kinnock

Will the Under-Secretary confirm that unemployed young people who do not take advantage of the youth training scheme next year will be paid nothing, and that young people this year who, in trying to obtain educational qualifications, have to attend an institution for more than 21 hours a week also will get nothing? Will he explain to those young people, who get nothing if they stay in education and training this year and will get nothing if they refuse to stay in education and training next year, the inconsistency in the Government's policy?

Mr. Shelton

I accept that at present there are certain anomolies. However, I am delighted to tell the hon. Gentleman that there is an increase of about 10 per cent. in the number who are staying on in full-time education. I also remind him that the parents of children in full-time education receive the child benefit allowance.

Mr. R. C. Mitchell

When does the Under-Secretary propose to start consultations with technical colleges about the part that they are expected to play in the new training initiative?

Mr. Shelton

Consultations are going on all the time. Officials from the Department, in conjunction with officials from the Manpower Services Commission, are on a number of different steering groups considering how this can best be organised. Consultations are going on all the time at every level.