Further and Higher Education (Hansard, 28 June 1994)

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 25 February,Official Report, column 502, what is his current policy on the holdback of grants from the Further Education Funding Council; and whether the grant will be paid to the council to allow it discretion over payments to the individual colleges when they have satisfied its conditions.

§ Mr. Boswell
My right hon. Friend's policy on this matter is unchanged. He will reach a decision in due course.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has to prevent colleges of further and higher education from withholding(a) pay increases, (b) references, (c) in-service training and (d) special benefits to those seeking early retirement and other means of pressure on to staff who refuse to sign the College Employers' Forum contract; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Boswell
It is for each college to decide what action it will take in respect of the introduction of new contracts.