§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how agreements between the LSC and each college will be reached for the three year development plan; who will advise whether the targets set are realistic for an individual FE college; and what support will be offered to those FE colleges who receive less funding as a result of failing to attain their targets. [86888]
§ Margaret Hodge[holding answer 16 December 2002]: From September 2003, colleges will agree a three year development plan, including challenging improvement targets, with the LSC. The LSC will agree targets with each college, drawing on benchmarking data and an assessment of individual capacity to improve. The LSC will consult with colleges at the end of January on the structure of the new development plans, and the detail of how targets would be agreed and how performance will be measured. Guidance on the new arrangements will be published in May 2003.
The LSC will give practical help for colleges to support them in improving their performance and offer financial support where this is needed from the special investment and intervention fund.