HC Deb 29 April 1991 vol 190 cc71-2W
Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the provisions of the Education Reform Act in respect of opting-out are to be made applicable to colleges of further education.

Mr. Eggar

No. As my right hon. and learned Friend made clear in his statement to the House on 21 March 1991,Official Report, columns 432–48, the Government propose to introduce new legislation to take all further education colleges out of local authority control.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what limit he sets in the extent of delegated powers relevant to the running of such an institution that may be delegated to the governing body of a further education college by the relevant local education authority;

(2) if he will list the powers which may be delegated to a governing body under local management of schools to colleges.

Mr. Eggar

The local education authority, in consultation with the governing body, is responsible for determining, in accordance with the scheme of delegation drawn up by the local education authority under section 139 of the Education Reform Act 1988, the general educational character of a college and its place in the local education system. The governing body is responsible, in accordance with the scheme, for the general direction of the college.

The powers which may be delegated to college governing bodies are listed in paragraph 4.11 of DES circular 9/88 "Education Reform Act 1988: Local Management of Further and Higher Education Colleges: Planning and Delegation Schemes and Articles of Government", a copy of which is held in the Library.

Mr. Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the limit of the extent of control over capital building and revenue maintenance programmes that can be assumed by a further education college.

Mr. Fallon

Control of the major capital building programme currently rests with local education authorities. Responsibility for minor capital works, structural repairs and maintenance can be split between local education authorities and their colleges, according to the scheme of delegation. Responsibility for minor repairs and maintenance rests with the colleges.