§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many further education colleges currently use franchising arrangements to secure increased student numbers. [44694]
§ Dr. HowellsIt is estimated that, in the 1997–98 teaching year, 292 out of 444 further education colleges are delivering some of their provision through franchising arrangements.
§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current average class size in further education colleges. [44690]
§ Dr. HowellsData on this are not collected on a systematic basis by the Department. Information from the Further Education Funding Council Inspectorate suggests that the average number of students on the class register in FE colleges in England in 1996–97 was 14.
141W
§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the increase in the number of further education students by the year 2002. [44691]
§ Dr. HowellsSuch an estimate cannot be made until the completion of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the national increase over the years 1993–94 to 1997–98 in numbers and percentage terms of further education(a) full-time students, (b) part-time students, (c) full-time lecturers, (d) fractional lecturers and (e) part-time lecturers. [44692]
§ Dr. HowellsThe information is not available in respect of all the years mentioned. Figures for 1993–94 are not comparable. For students the figures (on a "whole year" basis) are available only up to 1996–97.
Increase in students 1994–95 to 1995–96 and 1994–95 to 1996–97 Full-time Part-time Increase 1995–96 1996–97 1995–96 1996–97 Numbers +111,600 +156,000 +352,300 +698,900 Percentage +12.6 +17.6 +16.4 +32.5 For lecturers figures are available only up to 1995–96.
Increase in lecturers 1994–95 to 1995–96 Increase Full-time lecturers Part-time lectures1 Numbers -1,000 +8,300 Percentage -1.9 +10.7 1Includes fractional lecturers
§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will publish his response to the Education and Employment Committee's Sixth report of session 1997–98 on Further Education (HC 264). [44794]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Government will respond to this report within two months of its publication.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many colleges have been subject to financial clawback by the Further Education Funding Council as a result of inaccuracies in their individual student record systems during each of the last three years. [45048]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 11 June 1998]: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.