Derby Tertiary College, Wilmorton (Hansard, 14 February 1995)

Lord Lucas

Following the publication of the FEFC's report on the college and its recommendations last November, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education received a number of representations from present and former governors and others connected with the college. After considering these most carefully she is satisfied that mismanagement took place for which the governing body bears a collective responsibility.

My right honourable friend intends therefore to exercise her power under Section 57 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 to remove the remaining members of the governing body. She is excepting two governors from this action, whom she judges were not responsible for the mismanagement that took place. My right honourable friend intends to appoint seven new governors both as replacements and in order to restore a quorum to the governing body. She hopes that all those connected with the college can now put these events behind them and work together in the interests of its students.

My right honourable friend is very grateful to the Further Education Funding Council for investigating the circumstances at the college and for the action it is taking to disseminate the lessons to be learnt from this episode. A copy of the official response to the funding council is being placed in the Library. It is clear that these difficulties are not typical of the further education sector as a whole. It is using its new freedoms responsibly and has already made impressive progress.

My right honourable friend hopes that she will not be required to exercise her powers again, but she will not hesitate to do so if she considers it warranted.