HC Deb 24 April 1996 vol 276 cc206-7W
Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what(a) was the gross public spending for each year since 1990–91, in 1995–96 prices and (b) is the projected expenditure for each year to 1997–98, in 1995–96 prices, of (i) grant-maintained schools, (ii) city training colleges, (iii) further education corporations, (iv) higher education corporations, (v) careers service companies and (vi) training and enterprise councils. [25978]

Mr. Paice

[holding answer 22 April 1996]: The figures requested are set out in the following table:

Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what(a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) minutes of meetings, (d) agendas of meetings and (e) registers of members' interests are published by (i) city technology colleges, (ii) further

Annual reports1 Annual accounts2 Minutes of meetings3 Agendas of meetings4 Registers of members' interests5
Grant-maintained schools 1Yes 1Yes 1Yes 1Yes 2Yes
City technology colleges 3Yes 3Yes No No 4No
Further education corporations 7No 5Yes 6Yes 6Yes 7No
Higher education corporations 8Yes 9Yes 8Yes 8Yes 8Yes
1 Statutory requirements under the instrument and articles of government.
2 Requirement of funding agency via the rainbow pack—condition of grant.
3 All are required to prepare an annual report and accounts. Fourteen of the 15 are limited companies, and lodge their report and accounts at Companies House.
4 Many are in the process of preparing registers.
5 A condition of funding that they are publicly available.
6 Required by statutory instrument.
7 Often produced and made available on a voluntary basis.
8 Per committee of University Chairmen best practice guide.
9 Per financial memorandum.

Dr. Wright

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if (i) grant-maintained schools, (ii) city technology colleges, (iii) further education corporations and (iv) higher education corporations are subject to(a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit

Investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner (a) Scrutiny by the Audit Commission (b) Scrutiny by the National Audit Office (c) Statutory provision for open government (d) Performance indicators (e) Provisions under the Citizen's Charter (f)
Grant-maintained schools No No Yes No No No
City technology colleges No No Yes No Yes No
Further education corporations No No Yes No Yes 1No
Higher education corporations No No Yes No No No
1 As a condition of grant, colleges must have their own equivalent charters.