HC Deb 27 January 2004 vol 417 cc311-3W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on the University for Industry in(a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and what proportion was spent on (i) administration and (ii) staffing. [149991]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

My Department makes grant funding available annually to Ufi which helps to fund Ufi's infrastructure and operating costs including the costs of operating the learndirect information and advice service. Ufi also receives LSC funding indirectly through the sale of learndirect courses and materials to the national network ("hubs") that Ufi has established to deliver learndirect courses.

In 2002–03, £53.800 million was spent from funding allocated to Ufi directly from my Department. Ufi also received £28 million from the sale of learndirect materials to hubs for learning subsidised with public funds. From this income £12.8 million (15.6 per cent.) was spent on staff related costs and £10.5 million (12.8 per cent.) on other administration costs. We are not able to provide the same information for 2003–04 because the financial year is not complete.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of funding provided to the University for Industry by his Department was taken up by learners in 2002–03 [149993]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

In the academic year 2002/03, £139.5 million was set aside for Ufi/learndirect provision by the LSC from its "Learning Participation" budget. From this budget £116 million (83.1 per cent.) was taken up by learners. (The grant funding made available annually by my Department to Ufi does not cover learner costs. Figures are not available for the financial year 2002–03.)

The LSC is currently conducting an audit of the learning undertaken in academic year 2002/03. This audit is expected to be completed in February 2004. The figures provided here are based on interim and pre-audit data and might be subject to subsequent revision.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of the Learning and Skills Council low priority adult funding budget will go to the University for Industry in each local Learning and Skills Council region in 2004–05. [149994]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

On 4 December 2003 the Secretary of State for Education and Skills wrote to the LSC setting out LSC budgets for 2004–05. In this letter £6,311.616 million was set aside for the "Learning Participation Budget". This budget (which supports the delivery of a number of Departmental priorities and is not a "low priority" budget) funds participation and achievement in learning by young people and adults and supports workforce development.

The LSC will shortly decide how much of this budget to set aside for learndirect provision in England on the basis of 2003–04 performance.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what liaison takes place between local Learning and Skills Councils and the University for Industry; and if he will make a statement. [149995]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

Ufi liaises with the 47 local Learning and Skills Councils to agree targets for the engagement through learndirect of different types of priority learners. This results in contracts between the local Learning and Skills Councils and their local learndirect hubs for the delivery of learndirect provision in their area. In year performance is monitored on a regular basis and a biannual review of hubs is undertaken to optimise the contribution of learndirect to local priorities.

There are also regular strategic reviews between Ufi Regional Directors and local Learning and Skills Councils (and other key local and regional partners) to assess and optimise the contribution of learndirect to the achievement of local skills development priorities.

From August 2004, the LSC will contract nationally with Ufi. Provision will, however, continue to be planned locally and local Learning and Skills Councils will monitor performance.