HC Deb 08 November 2001 vol 374 cc424-5W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to bring further education lecturers' pay into line with that of teachers; and if she will make a statement. [12964]

John Healey

It is for each college to agree annual pay rises and conditions of employment with its staff in the context of the overall resources available to them. We are, however, aware of the funding gap between schools and FE and have pledged to bring up levels of funding and allow upwards convergence over time.

This year alone, an additional £527 million is available for FE, a 12 per cent. real terms increase on last year. Funding will increase again next year by a further 3 per cent. This compares with the period between 1993–94 and 1996–97 when FE funding per FTE student fell by 12 per cent. in real terms.

As part of the planned increases, we are investing more than £300 million in the Teaching Pay Initiative during the next three years to allow colleges, including sixth form colleges, to reward high quality teaching. This is separate from any general pay rise a teacher may receive.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to discourage the practice of employing lecturers on a part-time basis in further education colleges; and if she will make a statement. [12965]

John Healey

None. The recruitment and terms and conditions of staff in general further education and sixth form colleges are matters for college corporations and management to determine in consultation with the relevant unions.

It is only right that colleges have the flexibility to determine the number of full-time and part-time staff they employ in line with local needs and circumstances.

Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research she has evaluated into the effects of part-time lecturers' employment on support offered to students at further education colleges; and if she will make a statement. [12963]

John Healey

Approximately two thirds of college lecturers work part-time. The Further Education National Training Organisation report "An analysis of the part-time lecturing staff in further education colleges in England and Wales (July 2000)" states that 25 per cent. of part-time staff offer extra-curricular assistance to students. In his last report, for 1999–2000, the Further Education Funding Council's Chief Inspector reported that 66 per cent. of colleges have good or outstanding support for students in place. He went on to say that "this aspect of cross-college provision continues to attract a higher proportion of grades 1 and 2 than any other". From the available evidence, colleges in general continue to provide effective student support while employing staff on both part-time and full-time contracts.