Further Education (Hansard, 25 July 1991)

§ Mr. Speller
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what support for non-vocational courses he will give when the proposals of his recent White Paper on further education are brought into effect.

§ Mr. Eggar
The further education funding councils will be resourced to secure adequate provision of a wide range of further education for adults, including courses leading to academic and vocational qualifications and basic skills. We shall also carefully consider standard spending assessments in the light of local education authorities' duty to secure provision of other further education for adults.

§ Mr. Hunter
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, prior to vesting day, colleges of further education and local education authorities can enter into binding agreements that colleges of further education will make no claim to permanent possession of off-site accommodation made available to them by local education authorities.

§ Mr. Eggar
The land, buildings and equipment currently used by colleges which will transfer to the new sector will be vested in those colleges on 1 April 1993. However, my right hon. and learned Friend has decided that, in exceptional circumstances, where the governing body of a college has so agreed with a local education authority, specific assets can remain with the authority after vesting day. My right hon. and learned Friend will need to approve any agreement having this effect.
In addition, it will be possible to carry forward existing shared use agreements relating to particular facilities.

§ Mr. Dunnachie
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if his Department will provide additional funds for extra staff management and training in colleges of further and higher education prior to the inception of independent corporate status; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. Eggar
We recognise the importance of careful preparation by colleges for independence. We are already looking at the needs of colleges, and the means of meeting them. If needs are identified which cannot be met through existing funding, my right hon. and learned Friend will look at them in the context of the overall funds available for his programme in the period in question.

§ Mr. Dunnachie
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from the Association of Colleges for Further and Higher Education on the state of their buildings; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Eggar
The association's response to the recent White Paper, "Education and Training for the 21st Century", refers to the condition of college buildings.

§ Mr. Hunter
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether local education authorities will continue to be financially responsible after vesting day for development programmes already started at colleges of further education but not scheduled to be completed until further education colleges have passed from local education authority control.

§ Mr. Eggar
My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 9 May 1991 at col 563 that, subject to certain conditions, the Further Education Funding Council will take responsibility for servicing debts incurred by local education authorities for new capital spending in colleges of further education and sixth form colleges. The council will service only debts arising from contracts entered into after 1 April 1991 which have a value in excess of £50,000 and which have been approved by my right hon. and learned Friend.