§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the funding available for individual students at further education colleges on similar courses when sourced by(a) the Further Education Funding Council and (b) New Deal programmes. [121688]
§ Mr. WicksCurrently the Further Education Funding Council and Employment Service funding systems are not directly comparable. We intend that all post-16 funding should be on a more comparable basis in future. We are currently consulting on a common funding system across the Learning and Skills Council and Employment Service.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many further education corporations have not yet cleared their 1998–99 accounts following external audit. [121687]
§ Mr. WicksMatters concerning external audits and college accounts are dealt with by the Further Education Funding Council (FEFC). I have asked the Chief Executive to reply to the hon. Member direct.