§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to ensure prompt payment of tuition fees by local authorities to higher education institutions, and whether they will list the twelve local authorities with the worst records for prompt payment of tuition fees.
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education (Baroness Blatch)The Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations place local education authorities (LEAs) in England and Wales under a statutory duty to pay most tuition fees in three instalments on specified dates or within one month of the receipt by the LEA of a valid request for payment, whichever is the later. My right honourable friend wrote last September to the chairmen of all LEAs to remind them of the problems caused by the late payment of fees. The Department for Education does not monitor the performance of LEAs in this respect. It is, however, pursuing complaints about late payments against a number of LEAs, including complaints about the late payment of fees made by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom.