Further Education (Hansard, 3 December 1997)

§ Mr. Öpik
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the average weekly income of(a) students in further education as part of the New Deal and (b) students in further education. [17398]

§ Dr. Howells
Young people in the full-time education and training option within the New Deal for 18–24 year olds will receive an allowance equivalent to their usual benefits. No figures are centrally available in respect of other students in further education.

§ Mr. Öpik
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the impact on student numbers in further education by 1999–2000 of the funding announced on 12 November. [17397]

§ Dr. Howells
The additional funding announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is for 1998–99 241W and provides for an additional 20,000 full-time equivalents which could equate to between 70,000 to 80,000 actual students. Decisions on funding for financial year 1999–2000 and beyond will be announced next summer in the light of the Government's comprehensive spending review.

§ Mr. Öpik
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of the funding for further education he announced on 12 November. [17394]

§ Dr. Howells
The additional funding, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, for further education in England next year provides for the resumption of growth on a financially sound basis. The funding provides for an additional 20,000 full-time equivalent students, with the efficiency squeeze on the sector restricted to the costs arising from inflation.

§ Mr. Öpik
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what potential additional sources of income for the further education sector he has assessed; and if he will make a statement; [17403]
(2) if he will make a statement on the sources of the additional funding for further education for the year 1998–99. [17413]

§ Dr. Howells
On 12 November my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced additional funding for the Further Education sector next year totalling £83 million. This includes an extra £20 million from employers in respect of employer-led provision. Colleges will also have the opportunity to bid for well over £100 million worth of the New Deal education and training budget next year and, in 1998 and 1999, for some £140 million available from Objective 4 of the European Social Fund to help prepare workers for industrial change.