§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received during the past three months on the question of charging structures for adult education; whether the letter sent out to hon. Members by the Department of Education and Science represents Welsh Office policy on the issue; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe Department has received 132 representations during the past three months about future funding arrangements for adult education. The letter which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science sent to hon. Members on 24 September 1991, with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales' agreement, sets out the Government's policy for adult education in England and Wales.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy not to pursue the issue of paying for adult education, in any manner that discriminates against non-vocational courses in the financial structure of adult education.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsOur policy on adult education does not discriminate against non-vocational courses. Our proposals will place a duty on the new Further Education funding council for Wales to support courses of the kind listed in chapter 3 of volume 2 of the White Paper "Education and Training for the 21st Century". Local education authorities will continue to have a duty to provide for recreational and leisure courses for adults and they will continue to receive support for this purpose through revenue support grant. The Government intend that local authorities should have the freedom to decide how to respond to the demand for adult education in their area, as they do at the moment, and to set out the level of fees which students are charged.