HC Deb 30 June 1999 vol 334 cc224-5W
Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 1999,Official Report, column 100, concerning the costs of education and training for 16 to 19 year olds, if he will harmonise the funding per student of sixth form colleges and local education authority-maintained school sixth forms. [88780]

Mr. Mudie

At present, it is the responsibility of Local Authorities to allocate funds to schools, and of the Further Education Funding Council to allocate funds to other sixth-form providers.

Today the Government issued a White Paper "Learning to Succeed", setting out plans for a Learning and Skills Council which will in future fund Further Education colleges. A parallel consultation paper has been published today inviting views on options for the funding of school sixth forms in the light of the new arrangements. I refer my hon. Friend to these documents, which have been placed in the Library this afternoon, and to the statement made to the House this afternoon by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 1999,Official Report, column 100, about A level funding, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions about the average level of funding of students at sixth-form colleges; and if he will make a statement. [88575]

Mr. Mudie

There are regular discussions between the Secretaries of State for Education and Employment and Environment, Transport and the Regions on many issues. The DETR was naturally involved in discussions leading up to the publication today of our White Paper "Learning to Succeed", and a parallel consultation paper on options for future arrangements for school sixth-form funding.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has had with sixth form teachers and principals about the review of post-16 educational training; and if he will make a statement. [88585]

Mr. Mudie

A number of sixth-form colleges responded to our consultation on the post-16 review as well as representative organisations of colleges and teaching unions. I have also recently met the National Union of Teachers. The Government today issued a White Paper setting out its plans for post-16 education and training.

Mr. Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received regarding the pay levels of teaching staff in sixth form colleges. [88434]

Mr. Mudie

We have recently met representatives of the Sixth Form Colleges Employers Forum and the National Joint Council for Sixth Form Colleges to discuss issues about the pay and conditions of sixth form college lecturers. We have received a number of letters from hon. Members about this issue. We have replied to those representations, noting that we are providing very substantial extra funds for further education—£725 million over the next two years. Colleges are responsible for the pay and conditions of their staff. Nevertheless, we take every opportunity to encourage unions and employers to work together to determine a sensible way forward under the improved circumstances we have created.

Mr. Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will take steps to harmonise pay levels of teaching staff in sixth form colleges and staff teaching the same age group in schools with sixth forms. [88433]

Mr. Mudie

Sixth Form Colleges are independent, and we do not wish to interfere with that independence. We are providing very substantial extra funds for further education—£725 million over the next two years. This will offer colleges more room to manoeuvre when setting pay levels.

The Government today issued a White Paper "Learning to Succeed", setting out plans for a Learning and Skills Council which will in future fund further education colleges. A parallel consultation paper was published inviting views on options for the funding of school sixth forms in the light of the new arrangements.