§ Mr. Bryan DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what grant his Department has paid to the Further Education Development Association; on what date this grant was made; what consultation with local authorities preceded payment; and what statutory provisions govern such payment. [41806]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordEach year my right hon. Friend makes a determination of the amount of revenue support grant payable in the forthcoming financial year to bodies specified in regulations made under section 76(4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. In the Local Government Finance Report 1995–96, approved by this House on 1 February, the amount of £71,656 was determined as payable in 1995–96 to the staff college. This amount was in accordance with the expressed wishes of the local authority associations, which my right hon. Friend consulted before determining the sum concerned. My Department makes payments of revenue support grant in 12 monthly instalments. From 7 April 1995, the Further Education Development Agency became the sole trustee of the staff college and in this capacity has been paid revenue support grant of £41,797 to date in 1995–96.