§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish tables showing(a) the number of new buildings, (b) the amount spent on new buildings, (c) the amount spent on repairs and maintenance and (d) the amount spent on building renovation by his Department in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. EggarThe Department's own expenditure in respect of buildings is limited to those which are occupied by departmental staff. The information is given in the table.
exemption from parts 1 and 2 of the RIBA examination in architecture, following the de-designation of such courses by the Secretary of State.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthA circular letter sent by the Department in August to local education authorities and higher education institutions asked them to inform their affected students of the following arrangements for support in 1990–91:
- (a) courses leading to a first degree or comparable qualification giving exemption from part 1 of the RIBA examination continue to be designated for mandatory student awards from LEAs;
- (b) separate courses leading to further qualifications giving exemption from part 2 cannot for legal reasons remain designated but eligible students will instead receive equivalent bursaries under a temporary scheme.
Funds and detailed guidance have been provided for the institutions administering the scheme, and most eligible students should have received their bursaries. The Department publicised the arrangements again in September, and has continued to explain them in response to any individual inquiries from students or others. A further circular letter was issued last month on the handling of any outstanding cases.