Statutory Scrutiny (Hansard, 18 December 2000)

Tony Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (i) further education trusts, (ii) foundation schools and (iii) city technology colleges were in existence on 1 April; and if they are(a) statutorily required to publish annual reports, (b) statutorily required to publish annual accounts,

	Question	FE sector	Foundation schools	City Technology Colleges
A	Statutorily required to publish annual reports?	FE sector do not have to publish an annual report just examination results.	Yes	14 of the 15 CTCs are limited companies and as such are required to prepare and publish an annual report. The remaining CTC has no legal status, an annual report is prepared but not published.
B	Statutorily required to publish annual accounts?	Yes. Requirement of instrument of government.	Yes	14 of the 15 CTCs are limited companies and as such are required to prepare and publish their annual accounts. The remaining CTC has no legal status, an annual account is prepared but not published.
C	Subject to the jurisdiction of the parliamentary or local government ombudsman?	No. The funding councils are subject to the parliamentary ombudsman. Complaints about individual colleges can be made to either the funding council or the Secretary of State.	Yes	No, the commissioner would only be able to test whether CTCs were in his jurisdiction if a complaint were made to him.
D	Subject to audit by the National Audit Office?	No, but the NAO have the right to inspect accounts (section 53 of the FHE Act 1992).	Yes	No, the NAO have inspection rights but do not audit.
E	Subject to audit by the National Audit Office?	No	Yes	No
F	Statutory requirement to admit the public to committee meetings?	No. It is up to the governing body to decide who can attend a governing body or committee meeting. Members of the public do not have a statutory right to attend such meetings.	No. It is up to the governing body to decide who can attend a governing body or committee meeting. Members of the public do not have a statutory right to attend such meetings.	No
G	Statutory requirement to hold public meetings?	No	Yes, at least one a year.	No, but they are required to hold an Annual Governors meeting with parents.
H	Statutory requirement to publish the agendas of meetings?	Yes. (Instrument of Government)	Yes	No
I	Statutory requirement to publish the minutes of meetings?	Yes. (Instrument of Government)	Yes	No

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(c) subject to the jurisdiction of the parliamentary or local government ombudsman, (d) subject to audit by the National Audit Office, (e) subject to audit by the Audit Commission, (f) statutorily required to admit the public to committee meetings, (g) statutorily required to hold public meetings, (h) statutorily required to publish the agendas of meetings, (i) statutorily required to publish the minutes of meetings, (j) statutorily required to publish the papers or documents for meetings, (k) statutorily required to keep and make publicly available a register of members' interests, (l) statutorily required to consult and report to local authorities in their areas on their plans and policies and (m) statutorily subject to scrutiny by local authorities in their areas of operation. [142398]