§ Mr. BellottiTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the reason for the length of the period of notice given to county councils in August 1990 in respect of changes to the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations; if he will make it his policy in future to give longer notice; what assessment he has made of the impact of these changes; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alan HowarthIt is my right hon. and learned Friend's policy to give as much notice as practicable to local education authorities of the content of the annual Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations for which he intends to seek Parliament's approval.
Local education authorities were informed of the main rates of student grant and the parental contribution scales proposed for academic year 1990–91 by an official circular letter in January 1990. Further letters and announcements between then and August notified them of the supplementary grant rates, revised arrangements for EC students and for the termly payment of tuition fees, and other mainly technical changes. The current regulations were made by SI 1990 No. 1628 on 7 August 1990 and came into force on 1 September 1990.
As usual, there had been extensive consultation with the local authority associations and others, from October 1989 onwards, about various planned changes. Most authorities should therefore have had early warning of these. The Department continues to keep awards arrangements under regular review, in consultation with the local authority associations and others.