§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the Government's financial plans for the further education sector over the next few years. [31318]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonInformation on the plans for the provision for further education colleges and agencies is given in the departmental report of March 1995, "Serving Scotland's Needs"—Cm 2814—as follows:
- 1995–96: £251 million
- 1996–97: £249 million
- 1997–98: £243 million
The figures for 1996–97 and 1997–98 are provisional and subject to review in the annual public expenditure surveys.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what capping measures have been imposed on certain types of courses in further education colleges; and for what reason. [31319]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonFollowing a period of rapid expansion of higher education level courses in further education colleges, my right hon. Friend decided to consolidate the number of new full-time entrants to higher education courses in 1995–96 at the level achieved in each college during 1994–95. There are a number of specific exceptions and colleges are free to develop new programmes and to decide the number of students to recruit for particular programmes within the consolidated ceiling. No restrictions are applied to part-time higher education students or to students taking non-advanced courses.
The consolidation is required on grounds of affordability and is broadly consistent with the approach over recent years within the higher education institutions.