§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what regulations apply to further education councils in respect of the funding of colleges.
§ Mr. BoswellUnder the terms of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, the Further Education Funding Council for England has a duty to secure the provision for the population of its area of sufficient facilities for the full-time further education of 16-to-18 year olds. It also has a statutory duty to secure the provision of adequate facilities for part-time further education of those over 16, and full-time further education of those over 18, and to have regard to the requirements of persons with learning difficulties.
Under the Act, the council may give financial support to the governing body of any institution within the further education sector in respect of the provision of facilities for further education. The Secretary of State may make grants to the council subject to such terms and conditions as she may determine.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what procedure is set down for colleges when trying to appeal against a decision of the Further Education Funding Council;
(2) what criteria the Further Education Funding Council follows in deciding the amount of funding for each college;
(3) what is the average percentage, per pupil, of funding given to colleges in the West Midlands area;
(4) if the Further Education Funding Council takes into account inflation, (a) for the college itself and (b) in respect of its effect on the parents, students and local community when deciding what percentage of the cost of study to fund.
§ Mr. BoswellDetails of the allocation of funding to colleges are matters for the Further Education Funding Council. I am therefore asking the council's chief executive to write to the hon. Member.