HC Deb 03 April 1996 vol 275 cc272-4W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which further education colleges in Scotland will have their grant in aid reduced in 1996–97; by how much; for what reasons; and which of these will be required to educate more students than the current year. [24038]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson

The information is set out in the table.

College Variation from 1995–96 grant £
Ayr -84,300
Barony -22,500
Bell -265,200
Clackmannan -14,100
Clydebank -291,300
Coatbridge -188,400
Dumfries and Galloway -135,900
Dundee -525,100
Falkirk -60,600
Fife -371,900
Glasgow College of Building and Printing -241,600
Glasgow College of Food Technology -168,700
Glasgow College of Nautical Studies -191,100
Glenrothes -136,700
Inverness -314,400
Jewel and Esk Valley -369,800
Lews Castle -103,200
Oatridge -94,400
Stevenson -131,900
Thurso -133,000
West Lothian -241,300

Grant levels of these colleges are reducing as a result of the implementation of a new funding formula, which rewards colleges which have been most successful in reducing unit costs and attracting and retaining students. No specific targets for student growth have been set for these colleges.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what efficiency savings have been required of the further education colleges in each year since incorporation; and what is the total amount of money saved since incorporation. [24039]

Mr. Robertson

Colleges were expected to achieve an efficiency saving of 3 per cent. 1993–94 and 1994–95 and 4 per cent. in 1995–96. Because financial information pre and post incorporation cannot be meaningfully compared, it is not possible to quantify the amounts of money saved. Between 1993–94 and 1994–95 colleges delivered efficiency gains of 4 per cent. on student activity which was 6 per cent. higher.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research has been conducted by his Department in Scotland on the consequences of incorporation of further education colleges. [24040]

Mr. Robertson

A research study into the operation of further education college boards of management, funded by the Scottish Office, was published in June 1995. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the number of(a) administrative and (b) management staff employed at colleges (i) on the date of incorporation and (ii) at present. [24041]

Mr. Robertson

Information on the number of administrative and management staff employed at colleges on the date of incorporation is not held centrally. The total full-time equivalent number of support staff, on a disaggregated basis, in academic year 1994–95, the latest for which information is available, was 4,517.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many lecturing staff were employed in further education colleges(a) at the date of incorporation and (b) at present; and how many were (i) full time and (ii) part time. [24031]

Mr. Robertson

The information is set out in the table.

Number
October 1992 5,562
Full-time 4,960
Part-time 6,850
Full-time equivalent
Academic year 1994–95
Full-time 5,606
Part-time 7,448
Full-time equivalent 6,903

Information on staff numbers at 1 April 1993 is not held centrally. The October 1992 figure is the information collated prior to incorporation. Academic staff numbers are now collated on an academic year basis.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which colleges of further education were in deficit at the end of the last financial year; by how much; and which colleges his Department assesses to be in deficit in the current financial year. [24032]

Mr. Robertson

At 31 March 1995 the audited accounts showed that the deficit on total reserves, after making provision for the future cost of pension enhancements given for early retirement, for the following colleges was as shown in the table.

College £000
Aberdeen -565
Anniesland -153
Central College of Commerce -59
Clydebank -305
Coatbridge -239
Falkirk -346
James Watt -309
John Wheatley -56
Langside -134
Moray -543
North Glasgow -1,129
Stevenson -593

College £000
Thurso -101
West Lothian -96

Information regarding financial outturns at 31 March 1996 is not yet available.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy that no(a) closures and (b) amalgamations of further education colleges will occur in the next financial year. [24033]

Mr. Robertson

My right hon. Friend has presently no plans to close or amalgamate colleges.