HC Deb 21 October 2003 vol 411 cc500-1W
Paul Holmes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many further education colleges have had their three-year development plans returned by their local learning and skills council with(a) an upward financial revision, (b) a downward financial revision and (c) no change; and if he will make a statement. [132856]

Alan Johnson

Discussions between local learning and skills councils and further education colleges and other providers about three-year development plans are on-going. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) expect this process to be completed by the end of October. I have therefore asked the chief executive of the LSC to write to the hon. Member as soon as the planning dialogue is complete, providing the information requested and to place a copy of his reply in the House Library.

The introduction of three-year development plans allows colleges and other providers to plan on a more secure and predictable basis. Colleges and providers will set out their plans for improving the customer focus of their provision; raising standards of teaching and learning; and improving the capability of the workforce. Resources will be allocated by the LSC based on a provider's success in meeting its targets. This provides clear incentives for colleges to improve their performance.

Paul Holmes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what specific funding his Department has provided to the Learning and Skills Council for further education colleges to meet targets set in relation to(a) the attainment of Level 3 qualifications and (b) meeting employers' needs; and if he will make a statement. [132857]

Alan Johnson

It is for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to determine for itself the right level of investment in the programmes and initiatives that it delivers. The Department does not provide specific funding to the LSC for further education colleges to meet targets set in relation to(a) the attainment of Level 3 qualifications, or (b) meeting employers' needs. The Department expects the LSC to use the funds allocated to it for learning participation and capital to allocate funds to colleges to help them meet these and other targets. Assumed learning participation funding for further education allocated to the Learning and Skills Council is £4,278 million in 2003–04; £4,625 million in 2004–05; and £4,987 million in 2005–06. Capital funding allocated by the Department to the LSC will rise by over 60 per cent. in real terms to over £400 million by 2005–06. compared with 2002–03. This will help providers to develop new, and enhance existing, vocational provision that is focused on meeting the skills needs of employers.

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