§ Mr. RaynsfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding arrangements his Department proposes to put in place to enable adult returner students to take up courses and learning programmes in further education colleges.
§ Mr. FormanThe Further and Higher Education Act 1992 places a duty upon the Further Education Funding Council to secure the provision of further education for adults of a type set out in schedule 2 to the Act; and upon local education authorities to secure provision of all other kinds of further education for adults. These duties may be carried out in further education colleges or other institutions providing for adults. The funding of the Council and of LEAs will take account of these statutory duties.
LEAs have the power to make discretionary awards to those on further education courses. Access funds have also been made available to allow FE colleges to provide financial help to full-time students aged 19 or over.