§ Mr. Bill WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has completed his examination of the case for a Scottish further education unit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythConsideration of the case has now been completed and my right hon. Friend and I have decided to reconstitute the curriculum advice and support team—CAST—as a Scottish further education unit with effect from 1 April 1991. The new unit will continue to be located at Jordanhill college, but will have a wider remit than CAST to enable it to provide better support to further education colleges in implementing the Government's recent reforms of college management. It will also be well placed to meet new needs such as those arising from the completion of the single European market when greater labour mobility will have implications for vocational education and training.
In addition to core funding of £294,000 for 1991–92, a further £150,000 will be made available from 1 April 1991. From 1 April 1992 an additional £150,000 will be made available by the transfer of a proportion of the in-service training funding currently made to the Jordanhill college by the Scottish Office education department. I expect the new unit to liaise closely with the Scottish school of further education, Jordanhill college, and others active in further education in Scotland to meet our needs for a highly skilled work force.