Training and Further Education

HC Deb 17 May 1993 vol 225 cc9-10

9. Mr. Simon Coombs

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what are the latest figures for Government spending on training and further education in Wales.

Sir Wyn Roberts

The resources available for training and further education in Wales in 1993–94 total almost £290 million. A further £6.2 million for learning for work, business start-up and training and enterprise council challenge was announced in the Budget on 16 March.

Mr. Coombs

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that comprehensive and carefully researched answer. What progress has been made in meeting the youth training guarantee?

Sir Wyn Roberts

Meeting the youth training guarantee is a high priority and resources have been made available for that. Last September, 1,550 young people were awaiting placements under that scheme. I am glad to tell the House that, as of April, the number had dropped to 260.

Mr. Rowlands

Will the Minister answer the parliamentary question that I have tabled three times during the past six weeks: will TEC budgets for 1993–94 be increased or decreased? Will there be an increase, as there should be, or will there be a cut of 8 to 10 per cent., as most of the TEC's believe will happen?

Sir Wyn Roberts

I have already explained to the hon. Gentleman that we will not announce the individual TEC budgets because the TECs are in negotiation with training providers. We shall make the budgets known in about October, when those negotiations have been completed. We are providing £146.7 million for training and enterprise support this year and the TECs come within that budget. I assure the hon. Gentleman, as I have done before in reply to another of his questions, that the TECs will be well provided for.

Mr. Richards

Can my right hon. Friend confirm that there will be a real improvement in the capital budgets of further education colleges, following many years of neglect by local education authorities under the control of the Labour party? I refer especially to Llandrillo college in my constituency, which has had to use Portakabins for many years.

Sir Wyn Roberts

I am aware of the deficiencies in our further education colleges, including Llandrillo. I am delighted to say that we are making £13.9 million of capital available for the improvement of further education colleges—following, as my hon. Friend said, years of neglect by Labour local education authorities.