HC Deb 06 February 1991 vol 185 cc161-2W
Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the education committees of the relevant Welsh counties regarding the tapering provisions of top-up funding from local education authority budgets to the institutions listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 30 January 1991 at columns514–15.

Sir Wyn Roberts

Top-up funding has been discussed by the Wales Advisory Body, which I chair and which includes members from each of the local education authorities. The WAB is the body responsible for advising my right hon. Friend on matters concerning local authority higher education.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the principals and directors of the institutions listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 30 January 1991 at columns514–15, regarding future staffing levels and redundancy policies for academic and non-academic staff.

Sir Wyn Roberts

The staffing of these institutions is a matter for the institutions themselves and their maintaining LEAs.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the principals and directors of the institutions listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 30 January 1991 at columns514–15, regarding the future of further education courses currently provided at those institutions.

Sir Wyn Roberts

After 1 April 1992 the provision of further education courses will remain the responsibility of LEAs. They will be able to contract with the independent higher education institutions for the provision of further education courses in those institutions.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the principals and directors of the institutions listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 30 January 1991 at columns514–15, regarding the restoration of vocational higher education courses closed in the present and last financial year.

Sir Wyn Roberts

Since July 1990 the approval of my right hon. Friend for the provision of higher education courses, other than courses of initial teacher training, has not been required.

Mr. Morgan

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many(a) academic and (b) non-academic staff are employed at the institutions listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. Jones) on 30 January 1991 at columns 514–15; and if he will make a statement on future staffing levels at the institutions after 1 April 1992.

Sir Wyn Roberts

In 1988–89 the number of full-time equivalent teaching staff at each of the five institutions which are to be incorporated was as follows:

Number
Polytechnic of Wales 372.5
Cardiff Institute of Higher Education 404.3
Gwent College of Higher Education 233.6
Normal College, Bangor 42.2
West Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education 223.1

Details of non-teaching are not held centrally.

Future staffing levels will be entirely the responsibility of the governing bodies of the incorporated institutions.