§ Mr. FranksTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to allow colleges of further education to opt out of local education authority control; and if he is considering legislation to extend the relevant provisions of the Education Act 1988 to include colleges of further education.
Mr. JacksonSections 139 to 155 of the Education Reform Act 1988 provide for the reform of governing bodies of LEA-maintained further education colleges and for substantial delegation to these bodies of responsibility for finance, staff and the pattern of courses. LEAs are free to go beyond this and grant their colleges corporate status, and my right hon. Friend would welcome such a development. To go further and enable colleges of further education to become fully independent of LEA control would require new legislation. My right hon. Friend has no plans for this.