HC Deb 26 June 2003 vol 407 cc953-4W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions the Audit Commission has held a press conference on the publication of a local government corporate governance report; and if he will list the(a) dates and (b) reports. [121661]

Mr. Raynsford

The Audit Commission has held press conferences in relation to corporate governance inspections on three occasions: twice with regard to Walsall, on 15 January 2002 on the publication of a corporate governance report, and on 11 June 2002 on the publication of an update to that report and a referral to the Secretary of State under section 15 of the Local Government Act 1999; and once with regard to Kingston upon Hull on 29 July 2002, on a referral to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister under the same section.

Higher Education Funding Council for England in each year since 1997. Table 2 shows the proportion of quality-related research funding allocated to HEIs in the North West region for the same period. HEFCE research funding for the north west region has risen from £77 million in 1997/98 to £108 million in 2003/04. The proportion of quality-related funding allocated to this region has fluctuated marginally over the same period, and stands at 10.3 per cent. in 2003/04 compared to 10.6 per cent. in 1997/98.