§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the per capita funding for further education students for each year from 1978–79 to 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [17395]
§ Dr. HowellsIt is not possible to give figures since 1978–79 on a comparable basis. The following figures are the average funding per full-time equivalent student in further education in England (in £ cash rounded to the nearest £10) since the establishment of the Further Education sector:
- 1993–94: 3,080
- 1994–95: 3,040
- 1995–96: 2,920
- 1996–97: 2,860
These figures are based on an improved method of calculating full-time equivalent students.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of changes in unit costs of further education since 1978–79 and of their overall effect on funding requirements. [17396]
§ Dr. HowellsIt is not possible to assess unit costs on a consistent basis going back as far as 1978–79. One of the objectives of the additional funding announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 12 November is to limit the pressure on unit costs to the costs arising from inflation.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of New Deal education and training on current facilities and infrastructure in colleges of further education; and if he will make a statement. [17401]
§ Dr. HowellsFurther Education colleges will have the opportunity to bid for well over £100 million of new deal funds for next year.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the projected required funding for further education over the next three years. [17399]
§ Dr. HowellsMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced additional funding for further education in 1998–99 on 12 November. Decisions on funding for financial year 1999–2000 and beyond will be announced next summer in the light of the Government's comprehensive spending review.
§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received concerning the projected required funding for further education over the next three years. [17400]
§ Dr. HowellsMy right hon. Friend has received representations on further education from a number of colleges, national representatives bodies and members of the public.
§ Ms HodgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will identify the college which is described in the Further Education Funding Council's annual report as having lost up to £335,000 on a business310W venture from which there was no benefit to the students of the college; and what action has been taken to prevent such a circumstances happening elsewhere; [17822]
(2) if he will identify the college which is described in the Further Education Funds Council's annual report as having spent £440,000 on provision which may not be eligible for Further Education Funding Council funding; and when the auditors will have determined whether the council's funding has been correctly applied. [17824]
§ Dr. HowellsI have asked the Chief Executive of the Further Education Funding Council to write to my hon. Friend concerning this matter.