HC Deb 10 December 1985 vol 88 cc567-8W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if moneys granted to the University Grants Committee under the medical subhead are not spent in the financial year in respect of which they were granted, may be spent for other purposes; and how he monitors the use of these resources after allocation.

Mr. Chris Patten

From the current financial year the medical subhead forms part of one major capital subhead for the universities. Moneys allocated for major medical projects are therefore interchangeable with moneys for major non-medical projects. If funds for major capital projects are not spent, part of the underspend can normally be transferred forward to the next financial year under the end-year flexibility arrangements for capital works. Any remaining provision is either returned to the Exchequer or, with Treasury approval, vired to other subheads within the universities' vote. Detailed control of expenditure is a matter for the University Grants Committee, but outturn figures by university are published each year in theOfficial Report—most recently on 22 October 1985, at columns 111–18.

Mrs. Renée

Short asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much has been allocated to the University Grants Committee under the medical subhead; upon what conditions these moneys are granted; and for what purposes they may be allocated by the University Grants Committee.

Mr. Chris Patten

The allocation to the University Grants Committee for the medical subhead A2(2) in the financial year 1985–86 was £12.87 million plus £0.66 million carried forward from the 1984–85 financial year. These moneys are provided to cover the construction and furnishing of teaching facilities for medical and dental schools in teaching hospitals or where the cost is shared with the National Health Service. The money can be used only for projects where the university share is estimated to cost £1 million or more. The selection of individual projects and the control of expenditure are undertaken by the University Grants Committee.