§ Lord Evans of Claughtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of the anomalies arising from the fact that the constitution of the board of governors of a further education college (other than a college of education) does not require the approval of the DES thus leaving it open to a local education authority to establish a board of governors with, for example, half its members nominated by the LEA, which is directly contrary to the advice given in Circular 7/70, and to the principles laid down in relation to schools in the Education Act 1980 introduced by the present Government, and will they arrange for this matter to be considered by the Working Party at present considering the structure of further education.
§ Lord EltonThe Government are aware that there are variations in the constitution of governing bodies of further education colleges. The Education (No. 2) 403WA Act 1968 gave local education authorities discretion to determine the composition of these bodies, other than colleges of education, to meet particular local circumstances. Circular 7/70 suggested that there should normally be about one-third local authority representation with the remainder from industry, commerce, the professions and education (including representatives of the college staff). The circular was however not binding on authorities. The situation for schools is different because local authority representation had hitherto been much greater than at further education colleges; and the Education Act 1980 provided for other interests to be represented.
The only working party at present considering any aspect of the structure of further education is a group of officers from the Department of Education and Science and the local authority associations who are reviewing the articles of government of further education colleges. There are no plans to include consideration of the Secretary of State's powers over college instruments in this group's terms of reference.