§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his Department's role in the teaching company scheme; and if he will set out the expenditure on the programme for the current year.
§ Mr. Leigh[holding answer 26 November 1992]: My Department is a major source of funding for the teaching company scheme and has £5.6 million available for the scheme in this financial year. The other sponsors are the Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC), Department of Economic Development Northern Ireland (DED/NI), MAFF, the Economic and Social Research Council (ERSC) and the Department of the Environment (DOE). Total public funding for the teaching company scheme in 1992–93 is budgeted at approximately £14 million. My Department, in collaboration with the other sponsors, decides strategic policy for the scheme and monitors its operation and administration by the teaching company directorate. In addition, my Department is involved in the process of appraising individual teaching company programme proposals prior to approval for grant funding via SERC.