§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what priorities she attaches to staff development in colleges, and what assessment she has made of disparities of funding in this area, region by region.
§ Mr. BoswellMy right hon. Friend attaches great importance to staff development in colleges. The new Further Education Development Agency will have a major role in improving management training and development for college staff. It is, of course, for colleges to determine the level of resources they allocate to staff development in the light of their individual circumstances. The funding of FE colleges is a matter for the Further Education Funding council.
A preliminary review of occupations in the further education sector and closely related areas is being undertaken during the first half of 1995. The outcome of the review will help inform decisions on possible future lead body arrangements and the development of national vocational qualifications for college staff.