HC Deb 05 August 1976 vol 916 cc1001-3W
Mr. Brotherton

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when the amendments to the Further Education Regulations 1975 governing his Department's proposed grant of £400,000 to the TUC for Education and training will be laid before the House;

(2) whether a grant for training and education purposes to the TUC similar to that offered in 1976–77 will be made in 1977–78;

(3) when lie expects to hear from the TUC following his offer of £400,000 for education and training purposes;

(4) what steps will be taken to ensure that his Department's £400,000 grant to the TUC for expenditure on trades union education and training will not be used for expenses connected with the function of trades union officers;

(5) what accounts the TUC will be required to furnish to his Department in connection with any sums that trades unions may spend from his £400,000 grant for education and training;

(6) what conditions he proposes attaching to the grant of £400,000 to the TUC for education and training purposes.

Mr. Mulley

Amendments to the Further Education Regulations 1975 to

Mr. Gerry Fowler

Following is the available information for 1973–74; overseas students are included.

allow my Department to make payments to the Trades Union Congress as part of the grant in the financial year 1976–77 towards approved expenditure on trade union education and training will be laid before the House on 5th August 1976.

The General Secretary of the TUC acknowledged an offer of grant on 29th July and the formal conditions under which grant will be paid are shortly to be put to the TUC. These conditions will define the type of course for which grant may be paid and it is envisaged that only the following categories of expenditure will be eligible for reimbursement:

  1. (a) fees paid by the TUC to local education authorities and responsible bodies in respect of employees who attend courses of trade union studies;
  2. (b) course development in trade union studies and necessary research by the TUC Training College;
  3. (c) the provision of courses in trade union studies, including courses for teachers in these studies, at the TUC Training College and, under the auspices of the TUC Education Service, elsewhere;
  4. (d) the provision by independent unions of residential courses in trade union studies.

Grant to the TUC will be paid on a submission of certificates signed by the Finance Officer of the TUC, indicating the nature of the expenditure incurred. At the end of the financial year, the TUC will he required to provide an audited account of receipts and payments.

The question of a grant to the TUC for a similar purpose in the financial year 1977–78 would be a matter for consideration between the TUC, the Department of Employment and my Department in the light of experience gained in the current financial year.