HC Deb 18 December 1989 vol 164 cc42-4W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will detail the annual revenue allocations to the Brighton city technology college between 1989–90 and 1995–96 and itemise the headings under which expenditure can and will be made;

(2) if he will give the details of the annual allocation for books and equipment for Brighton city technology college.

Mrs. Rumbold

Recurrent grant will be paid from the date of opening of the Brighton city technology college and will be comparable to spending on maintained schools in similar areas. Recurrent grant will cover all the school's normal running costs, including books and equipment.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the teacher-pupil ratio established for Brighton city technology college.

Mrs. Rumbold

The teacher-pupil ratio in city technology colleges will be comparable to the ratio in maintained schools in similar areas. As yet, no firm teacher-pupil ratio has been determined for the Brighton city technology college.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the proposed uses of the £2.5 million capital sum allocated to Brighton city technology college for 1989–90 and 1990–91; and if he will itemise future capital allocation to the school until 1995–96.

Mrs. Rumbold

To date the only capital payments for the establishment of the Brighton city technology college have been incurred on the purchase of the Woodingdean site. A detailed feasibility study is currently being undertaken which will give a clearer idea as to the capital requirements of the college.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide details of the anticipated regime of inspections, auditor assessment and value for money scrutinies to verify the proper expenditure of public funds on Brighton's city technology college.

Mrs. Rumbold

The accounts of the Brighton City Technology College Trust will be fully audited as a condition of the funding agreement which my right hon. Friend intends to sign with the sponsors of the college. The agreement will define the terms under which grant will be made.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide details of the likely annual expenditure by Brighton city technology college on new buildings, building repairs and building maintenance between 1989 and 1995–96.

Mrs. Rumbold

A detailed feasibility study is currently being carried out on the establishment of the Brighton city technology college. The study will give a clearer idea on expenditure needs and cashflow requirements.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what criteria expenditure of public funds on Brighton city technology college was assessed as a higher priority than an increase to East Sussex county council education allocation for capital spending on new buildings, classroom replacement, repairs and maintenance and new equipment.

Mrs. Rumbold

The CTC programme dos not compete for funds with LEA capital allocations. It is funded from resources that would not otherwise be available to education. It is an investment we are prepared to make because the best practice developed at CTCs will permeate the whole education service. The programme has also generated an unprecedented response from industry; already over £43 million has been given.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps have been taken by his Department to ensure that(a) Greenleaf Planters Ltd., (b) South Weald Properties Ltd. and (c) other private sector investors in the Brighton city technology college will be able to meet the percentage of the private sector investment that the Government currently expect them to find.

Mrs. Rumbold

As a prelude to the funding agreement I intend to sign with all principal sponsors of city technology colleges, there has been an exchange of letters with the sponsors of the Brighton CTC setting out their commitments and the conditions under which their sponsorship has been accepted.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the dates and locations of meetings between his departmental officials, representatives of the Michael Faraday Trust, Brighton Steiner school and East Sussex county council officials.

Mrs. Rumbold

There has been no single meeting including all the parties listed by the hon. Member. However, the chairman of the CTC Trust and representatives of the sponsors for the Brighton CTC met elected members and officials of East Sussex county council in July in London. In addition officials of my Department have had a number of routine meetings with representatives of the sponsors and the Michael Faraday Trust, in London and Brighton.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when officials from his Department first made contact with the Michael Faraday Trust and representatives of the Brighton Steiner school to discuss locating a city technology college in Woodingdean, Brighton.

Mrs. Rumbold

The first meeting of officials and sponsors wishing to establish a city technology college in Brighton was held on 19 May. Since then, the sponsors have set up the Michael Faraday Trust.

Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when sanction was first given and by whom for the authorisation of public expenditure commitments for the setting up of the Brighton city technology college.

Mrs. Rumbold

My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Education and Science authorised negotiations to begin on the setting up of the Brighton CTC in May this year.