§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement about the current558W financial situation at Gwent Tertiary College; and how many members of staff are to be made compulsorily redundant. [57901]
§ Mr. HainGwent Tertiary College's provisional financial statements for the year ended 31 July 1998 record an operating cost deficit of £946,000 and an historic cost surplus of £157,000 with a turnover of £34 million. The forecast for the current year is an operating cost deficit of £961,000 and an historic cost surplus of £243,000 with a turnover of £31.1 million. The College has no plans to make members of staff compulsorily redundant.
§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the impact which the current situation at Gwent Tertiary College has had on the quality of education provided for full-time and part-time students. [57902]
§ Mr. HainThe Further Education Funding Council for Wales is responsible for assessing the quality of education provided by Gwent Tertiary College. During the Council's first assessment cycle (1993–1997) provision in 14 programme areas was at or above the quality threshold. Areas assessed as below the quality threshold—Catering, Construction, General Education, Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy, and Independent Living Skills—are scheduled for reassessment in the current cycle. All the areas assessed in the current cycle thus far—Business and Management, Computing, Secretarial Studies and Office Technology, Art and Design, and Performing Arts—have been awarded grades at or above the quality threshold.