HC Deb 23 January 1995 vol 253 cc63-4W
Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much of the total Welsh further education access fund each further education college received on behalf of its students in 1992–93, 1993–94 and to date in 1994–95.

Mr. Richards

Details of allocations of access funds to further education institutions in Wales in the years 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95 are given in the following table.

Allocation of access funds
Institution 1992–93 £ 1993–94 £ 1994–95 £
North East Wales Institute1 68,218
Llandrillo Technical College 17,045 24,302 32,304
Welsh College of Horticulture 3,754 3,961 5,274
Coleg Llysfasi College 1,064 1,280 1,705
Carmarthen College of Technology and Art 19,155 19,155 24,955
Pembrokeshire College 9,955 9,955 13,047
Coleg Ceredigion 5,504 6,015 8,010
Welsh Agricultural College1 6,554
Gwent Tertiary College 38,325 40,976 54,566
Gwynedd Technical College2 5,349 7,385 9,835
Coleg Pencraig2 1,408 2,263 3,014
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor 2,471 3,425 4,560
Merthyr Tydfil College 4,536 7,385 9,835
Aberdare College 5,881 5,881 7,217
Bridgend College of Technology 7,033 7,266 9,676
Rhondda College 1,001 1,221 1,626
Ystrad Mynach College 6,725 8,427 11,223
Pontypridd Technical College 7,570 9,112 12,135
Pencoed College 1,408 2,144 2,855
Coleg Powys 5,067 5,067 5,433
Coleg Glan Hafren 10,031 10,031 12,631
Barry College 9,978 9,978 12,571
Swansea College 7,914 7,914 9,636
Gorseinon College 1,720 1,727 2,300
Neath College 5,349 5,349 6,464
Afan College 1,720 1,720 2,221
Coleg Harlech 4,723 4,723 5,512
Deeside College3 11,405 15,188
St. David's RC 6th Form College4 417 555
Yale College4 715 18,916
1 Since 1 April 1993 NEWI and WAC have been incorporated, higher education institutions
2 Amalgamated as Coleg Menai on 1 August 1994
3 Incorporated 1 April 1993 as a result of transfer of some FE provision from NEWI
4 Joined FEFCW funded sector 1 April 1993

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many individual applications were made to the further education access fund in 1992–93, 1993–94 and to date in 1994–95; and which further education colleges those students were attending.

Mr. Richards

Further education colleges in Wales received a total of 2,493 applications for assistance from the access funds in academic year 1992–93. Details of the applications received by each further education college are given in the following table. Similar information for academic years 1993–94 and 1994–95 is not yet available.

Institution Number of students applying for assistance from the access funds in the academic year 1992–93
North East Wales Institute 649
Llandrillo Technical College 184
Welsh College of Horticulture 28
Coleg Llysfasi College 10
Carmarthen College of 85
Technology and Art
Pembrokeshire College 62
Coleg Ceredigion 41
Welsh Agricultural College 48
Gwent Tertiary College 353
Gwynedd Technical College1 88
Coleg Pencraig1 31
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor 19
Merthyr Tydfil College 72
Aberdare College 63
Bridgend College of Technology 57
Rhondda College 14
Ystrad Mynach College 116
Pontypridd Technical College 143
Pencoed College 11
Coleg Powys 52
Coleg Glan Hafren 106
Barry College 72
Swansea College 15
Gorseinon College 18
Neath College 20
Afan College 15
Coleg Harlech 121
Total 2,493
1 Amalgamated as Coleg Menai on 1 August 1994.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what criteria are used to decide if a student is eligible for assistance from the further education access fund.

Mr. Richards

The Further Education Funding Council pays grants to institutions within the further education sector in Wales so that they may provide financial help to students whose access to further education might be inhibited by financial considerations or who, for whatever reason including physical or other disabilities, face financial difficulties.

In order to be eligible for assistance from the access funds, further education students must satisfy the residence requirement, be following full-time—including sandwich—courses of further or adult education and be aged 19 or over. It is for each institution to decide its own criteria and procedures for considering applications and making payments of access funds to eligible students, subject to the terms and conditions specified by the council and any other guidance from the council.