HC Deb 13 January 1998 vol 304 cc179-80W
Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what will be the total level of his Department"s budget, in 1995–96 prices, for further education in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99; what such figurers would be for (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99 on the basis of the estimates of the gross domestic product deflator contained in the November 1996 Budget; and if he will make a statement. [22109]

Dr. Howells

The total level of the Department"s budget for further education in 1997–98 at 1995–96 prices is £2.973 billion. Planned provision for 1998–99 at 1995–96 prices is £2.870 billion. Comparable figures using the GDP deflators contained in the November 1996 Budget are £3.001 billion and £2.920 billion respectively.

Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact on per capita funding levels in further education of the measures contained in his announcement of 12 November. [22111]

Dr. Howells

Part of the additional funding available to the further education sector is to restrict the squeeze on unit costs in the 1998–99 teaching year to no more than the rate of inflation.

Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the expenditure per student on capital projects within the further education sector for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [22113]

Dr. Howells

This information is not yet available.

Figures for individual colleges' capital expenditure in 1996–97 will not be available until January 1998 as the information is taken from colleges' audited accounts which are received by Further Education Funding Council on 30 November 1997. Figures for capital expenditure in subsequent years will follow a similar timetable.

Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the additional administrative responsibilities placed on current facilities and infrastructure in colleges in further education by recent schemes announced by Her Majesty's Government; what provision he has made for additional administrative responsibilities; and if he will make a statement. [22108]

Dr. Howells

It will be for Further Education colleges to assess the additional administrative responsibilities and costs when bidding for funds made available through these schemes.

Mr. Charles Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what studies he has commissioned on the relative costs of providing further education in urban and rural areas. [22667]

Dr. Howells

None. The Further Education Funding Council has recently consulted on a funding methodology for colleges in 1998–99 in order to reflect the need to widen participation in further education in all areas, whether rural or urban.