Further Education (Hansard, 1 March 1999)

§ Mrs. Ewing
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the costs for(a) line management time, (b) teaching time spent on commercial activities, (c) non-summable teaching time, (d) in-service training, (e) costs for premises not used for summable teaching activity and (f) administration staff costs not related to summable teaching staff activity are included in the staff cost per weighted sum shown on pages 44 and 45 of the Further Education in Scotland 1997 report; [71955]
(2) if the costs for (a) teaching non-staff costs related to non-summable teaching activity, commercial activity and line management, (b) other premises costs for premises not used for summable teaching activity and (c) other administration costs not related to summable 549W teaching activity are included in the non-staff cost per weighted sum shown on pages 44 and 45 of the Further Education in Scotland 1997 report. [71956]

§ Mrs. Liddell
The unit cost tables on pages 44 and 45 of the Further Education in Scotland 1997 Report include only costs relating to college activity which is fundable by The Scottish Office. No costs relating to non-SUMmable activity are therefore included in either the staff or non-staff costs per weighted SUM shown on those pages.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

§ Mrs. Ewing
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in what year funding in respect of bursaries was classed as income for further and higher education colleges. [71937]

§ Mrs. Liddell
The incorporated further education colleges in Scotland assumed responsibility for bursaries from 1 April 1996. Since that date annual grant in aid allocations have been made by the Secretary of State to the colleges for bursary purposes.
From 1 July 1999 the Secretary of State's powers to fund further education colleges will pass to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

§ Mrs. Ewing
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that Unit Costs Data Form BMU submissions by incorporated colleges are(a) accurate and (b) submitted on a comparable basis; [71935]
(2) if he will make a statement on the (a) internal and (b) external auditing arrangements for the Unit Cost Data Form BMU submitted by incorporated colleges. [71936]

§ Mrs. Liddell
The Scottish Office provides detailed guidance to colleges regarding completion of the Unit Cost Data Forms BMU, in order to ensure accuracy and comparability. Although the forms are not themselves audited the figures are reconciled with colleges' audited annual accounts.
From 1 July 1999 the responsibility for issue or analysis of such forms will pass to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

§ Mrs. Ewing
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the public funds available to further and higher education colleges as income. [71938]

§ Mrs. Liddell
The public funds available to colleges of further and higher education as income include grant in aid allocations made by the Secretary of State, tuition fees paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, contractual income form the Employment Service (including in respect of New Deal activity), the local enterprise network (for Skillseekers and other training) and the Secretary of State (for Project 2000 nurse training) and other grant income which may include European Regional or Social Funds, local authority grants and research grants.
From 1 July 1999 these will be matters for the Scottish Parliament, apart from the grant in aid allocations which from that date will become the responsibility of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

§ Mrs. Ewing
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the amount each further and higher education college has acquired from his550W Department's budget in terms of (a) recurrent grant in aid, (b) bursaries, and (c) restructuring and capital costs in each year since incorporation in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms at 1998–99 prices. [72039]

§ Mrs. Liddell
In view of the volume of information requested I shall write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House of Commons.
From 1 July 1999 the Secretary of State's powers to fund further education colleges will pass to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.

§ Mrs. Ewing
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what(a) guidelines and (b) penalties apply to spending by incorporated colleges of grant allocation on (i) non-teaching staff, facilities and equipment and (ii) teaching staff, facilities and equipment. [71934]

§ Mrs. Liddell
The Financial Memorandum between the Secretary of State and the Boards of Management of the Colleges of Further Education, dated February 1996, sets out the guidelines and penalties which apply to spending by incorporated colleges of all grant in aid allocations. The Secretary of State may require the repayment, in whole or in part, of sums paid by him if any condition subject to which sums were paid is not complied with.
From 1 July 1999 the Secretary of State's powers to fund further education colleges will pass to the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.