§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the(a) financial and (b) operating (i) deficits and (ii) surpluses for each Northern Ireland further education college in each of the last five years. [144217]
§ Jane KennedyNorthern Ireland Further Education Colleges became incorporated bodies on the 1 April 1998. The 2002–03 figures are the fifth set of accounts for colleges as incorporated bodies and cover a 12 month period from 1 August 2002–31 July 2003
The annual accounts are prepared in accordance with the statement of recommended practice (SORP): Accounting for Further and Higher Education. The form and content of the annual college accounts are set out in the Accounts Direction for the Governing Bodies of Further Education Colleges in August 1998 and updated subsequently in August 2002.
The operating surplus/(deficit) and historic surplus/(deficit) results for each individual further education college over the last five years has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the financial recovery plans of Northern Ireland's further education colleges. [144218]
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§ Jane KennedySince Incorporation on 1 April 1998, six further education colleges have developed financial recovery plans:
- Castlereagh College of Further and Higher Education
- East Antrim Institute of Further and Higher Education
- Limavady College of Further and Higher Education
- Lisburn Institute of Further and Higher Education
- North West Institute of Further and Higher Education
- Omagh College of Further and Higher Education.
North East Institute of Further and Higher Education is currently developing a financial recovery plan.
The position of these colleges for the 2002–03 financial year is as follows:
£000 Colleges Total income Total expenditure Operating Surplus (deficit) Historic cost surplus (deficit) General reserve Castlereagh 8,064 7,277 787 908 324 East Antrim 10,267 10,302 (35) 192 607 Limavady 5,800 5,266 534 580 1,732 Lisburn 8,532 8,391 141 395 188 North East 14,432 15,004 (572) (151) (590) North West 25,438 24,730 708 971 (745) Omagh 6,582 6,220 362 523 1202 In April 2003 the Department for Employment and Learning issued a document entitled "Guidance on Colleges in Recovery" to the FE sector. This document, which is based on best practice, sets out comprehensive guidance about the operation of the financial recovery process.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the review of Northern Ireland's further education colleges will be published; and if he will make a statement. [144219]
§ Jane KennedyThe review by the Department for Employment and Learning of its strategy for statutory further education in Northern Ireland is nearing completion. It is intended that the review will be published for consultation early in 2004.