§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education when she was consulted by the Further Education Funding Council on its decision to have the right not to disclose its deliberations; and what plans she has to review the council's provisions on the disclosure of information. [22680]
§ Mr. BoswellSince its establishment, the Further Education Funding Council has published a bulletin after each council meeting, each committee with delegated authority and each regional committee meeting. The council has proposed to make the minutes and agendas of those meetings available in future. My right hon. Friend has no plans to review these procedures.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions she has had with the Further Education Funding Council on the setting up of an independent panel to oversee the council; and if she will make a statement. [22684]
§ Mr. BoswellMy right hon. Friend is aware that the Further Education Funding Council is consulting on the possibility of establishing an independent panel to 597W consider allegations of maladministration. This is a matter for the council.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the decision of the Further Education Funding Council not to disclose general advice given to her Department with particular reference to its implications for open govnerment. [22678]
§ Mr. BoswellThe Further Education Funding Council's policy is to make publicly available the substance of advice to my right hon. Friend except where my right hon. Friend has asked that advice should remain confidential.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the policy of the Further Education Funding Council not to publish individual items of expenditure below £20,000 in its annual report; and which other educational bodies observe this limit. [22686]
§ Mr. BoswellNeither the FEFC, nor any of the non-departmental public bodies which the Department sponsors, is required by statute to publish details of individual items of expenditure. The FEFC's decision to publish details of contracts with values of over £20,000 demonstrates the council's openness and willingness to make information available to the public.
Each of the other educational non-departmental public bodies decides its own policy in this area. Practice varies, but none has adopted the FEFC's approach.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what criteria apply in terms of registrable financial interests in respect of the work of the Further Education Funding Council. [22587]
§ Mr. BoswellThe Further Education Funding Council is consulting on a code of individual conduct of council members, including a register of financial interests. The council intends to make the register publicly available. This is a matter for the council.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to introduce legislation for the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration to act as the ombudsman for the Further Education Funding Council. [22685]
§ Mr. BoswellNone.