§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions she has had on improving pay and conditions for further education lecturers. [24934]
§ Margaret HodgeThe Secretary of State and her ministerial colleagues have had a number of meetings in recent months with representatives of the Association of Colleges (AoC), NATFHE, the lecturers' union, and Unison, the public service union.
Discussion at these meetings covered a wide range of issues about the further education sector, including the teaching pay initiative and the funding made available to colleges to support lecturers' continuing professional development. These measures recognise the importance of attracting new staff to the profession and rewarding and retaining excellent teachers.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what budget has been allocated via the teaching pay initiative to(a) sixth form colleges and (b) general further education colleges for the financial years (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003–04; what criteria were used in allocating this budget; and if she will make it her policy to consolidate these budgets for future financial years. [23830]
§ Margaret HodgeThe budget for the Teaching Pay Initiative (TPI) is shown in the following table:
£ million 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 Sixth form colleges 11 15 18 General FE colleges 54 90 117 Total 65 105 135 In 2001–02 each sixth form college and general FE college has received a share of the TPI budget for the
725Wrelevant category that has been calculated in proportion to its main funding allocation from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Colleges have also been given indicative TPI allocations for 2002–03 and 2003–04 that provide 25 per cent. more funding in 2002–03 than in 2001–02 and a further 25 per cent. in 2003–04. These provide guaranteed minimum funding levels and precise amounts will be agreed with each college by the LSC.
It is for individual colleges, as independent organisations, to decide whether to consolidate TPI awards into pensionable pay. The three-year funding commitment that has already been made is designed partly
Number of schools in England at January each year, 1997 to 2001 Primary1 Secondary1 Nursery2 Special3> Pupil referral units Independent4 1997 18,392 3,569 546 1,239 309 2,271 1998 18,312 3,567 535 1,229 309 2,242 1999 18,234 3,560 522 1,209 298 2,229 2000 18,158 3,550 516 1,197 295 2,202 2001 18,069 3,481 508 1,175 308 2,203 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Includes two Direct Grant Nursery schools. 3 Includes Maintained and Non-Maintained Special Schools. 4 Includes City Technology Colleges. Source:
Annual Schools' Census returns completed on the third Thursday of January each year.