§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what changes he intends to make to the arrangements through which validation fees for higher education courses are met from student awards.
§ Mr. FormanFollowing consultation with the higher education sector, I have decided that, for publicly-funded institutions, the costs of external validation by institutions with degree awarding powers for colleges without degree-awarding powers should be met by those colleges from funds made available to them, rather than through fees paid with the student award. This arrangement will enable the charge for validation and related services to be negotiated, within the public funds available, in a way which more closely reflects the range and cost of the services provided. The change will come into effect for the 1993–94 academic year. Appropriate transfers will be made
896W
Number of establishments in London which During the year Failed to post notices Percentage of total checks Failed to keep adequate records of wages paid Percentage of total checks Failed to keep adequate records of hours worked Percentage of total checks Were the subject of criminal prosecution under the wages act Percentage of total checks 1979 955 2.65 589 16.4 2,229 61.9 3 0.08 1980 977 32.7 499 16.7 1,954 65.4 0 0 1981 690 25.2 308 11.3 1,397 51.04 1 0.04 1982 758 33.2 216 9.5 1,278 56.0 0 0 1983 609 27.9 276 12.7 1,367 62.7 0 0 1984 804 28.3 204 7.2 1,311 46.1 0 0 1985 726 33.6 174 8.0 1,178 54.5 0 0 1986 700 24.5 128 4.5 899 31.5 0 0 1987 480 12.7 47 1.3 430 11.4 0 0 1988 540 14.5 32 0.9 269 7.2 0 0 1989 304 11.9 18 0.7 111 4.4 0 0 for this purpose from the planned public expenditure provision for mandatory awards to that for the Higher Education Funding Councils for England and for Wales. These will be reflected in the relevant supply estimates for 1993–94 to be laid before Parliament in due course. The Mandatory Award Regulations will be amended for 1993–94 on account of the change.
The arrangements for meeting the costs of validation fees for mandatory award holders at privately funded institutions will remain unchanged for the time being.