§ Mr. FryTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what account he proposes to take in implementing his plans for the future funding of further education of the particular status of the national leathersellers centre at Nene college, Northampton with particular reference to the type of course provided and the type of students catered for; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what safeguards are proposed on future funding through the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council to ensure that courses offered by the leathersellers centre at Nene college can continue, even though not all of them are designated advanced.
Mr. JacksonAssuming the Education Reform Bill becomes law during the current Session of Parliament, Nene college will, under the Bill's provisions, become a free-standing corporate body and transfer from local 397W authority control to the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council sector. The PCFC will be in funds to support all higher education courses at Nene college currently funded through the advanced further education pool. The Government have said that they will be open to local education authorities, as part of their continuing responsibility for non-advanced further education, to contract for the continued provision of FE courses at PCFC institutions. Authorities' continuing responsibility for such courses will be recognised in the assessment of grant-related expenditure for rate support grant purposes.