§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on his planned 1983 changes to the remit of the Scottish Community Education Council;
(2) if he will make a statement on the future role and level of grant of the Scottish Community Education Council.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe council was set up in 1982 with the remit of advising the Secretary of State on all matters concerned with community education and promoting the development of community education.
After six years it is appropriate to review this remit, and I have concluded that there will be less need in future for the exercise of the council's advisory function. On the other hand, there is scope for developing its function as a resource centre, with the aim of recovering a higher proportion of production costs from income other than grant.
The new council which takes office in April will oversee this redirection of effort and deal with the practical implications. I have accordingly decided to make available to the council grant at last year's rate for the period 1 April to 30 June (£141,600) so that it can assess the position. Future levels of grant will be determined in the light of the council's needs, having regard to its new remit and its corporate plan.