HC Deb 13 July 1993 vol 228 cc819-20
6. Mr. Tyler

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will review the distinction between local education authority budgets and further education funding; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Boswell

The Government will keep under review the spending needs of local education authorities and of the Further Education Funding Council in the light of their respective statutory responsibilities.

Mr. Tyler

Does the Minister accept that, since 1979, funding per student has been reduced by 22 per cent., according to Library figures? In those circumstances, does he accept that community colleges that are caught between the two stools of further education funding and local authorities' restricted budgets face a budgetary crisis?

Mr. Boswell

I should prefer to study the hon. Gentleman's figures at leisure—and I will do so. I am surprised that he did not acknowledge the huge expansion that we are carrying out in further education, to increase the number of students participating by 25 per cent. over the next three years, and to provide in the coming year £750 per full-time student place in further education.

The hon. Gentleman's point about the interface between further education and local authority provision is made from time to time. This is the first year and, broadly speaking, it has gone well. There have been one or two problems, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there is no black hole of funding and no reduction in the responsibilities of the parties involved.

Mr. Anthony Coombs

Given the huge planned increase in the numbers in further education during the next few years, is my hon. Friend aware of the great welcome that the principals of further education colleges have given to their greater freedom, from April of this year, to manage their own affairs? Will he ensure that the Educational Assets Board gives further education insitutions enough control over their assets, especially when there are disputes between further education colleges and district councils—there was such a case in Kidderminster in my constituency—to ensure that they can fulfil their responsibilities?

Mr. Boswell

My hon. Friend is right: there has been a positive response in general to the changes that we have made in the structure of the further education sector and to the indpendence that we have given to the various corporations. My hon. Friend will not expect me to comment on cases involving the Educational Assets Board, which is responsible for dividing assets, but I will draw his remarks to its attention.