HC Deb 02 February 2004 vol 417 cc656-8W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to ask the Higher Education Funding Council for England to increase directly funded higher education provision in further education colleges; and if he will make a statement. [151498]

Alan Johnson

I have no plans to ask the Higher Education Funding Council for England to increase directly funded higher education provision in further education colleges. As we said in the White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education", it is important that higher education provision in further education colleges is of the high quality we expect from higher education. We believe that structured partnerships between colleges and universities—franchise or consortium arrangements with colleges funded through partner higher education institutions—will be the primary vehicle to meet these aims and deliver the best benefits for learners.

There are some instances of niche provision where direct funding of higher education in further education colleges is more appropriate and this will continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Common Inspection Framework will take account of higher education provision in further education colleges; and if he will make a statement. [151500]

Alan Johnson

The Common Inspection Framework does not cover higher education provision in further education colleges and there are no plans for it to do so. The quality of higher education provided through further education colleges is subject to review by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) acting on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, which has a statutory responsibility to assure the quality of provision it funds. The QAA assesses quality at subject level in further education colleges under the `Academic Review' element of its quality assurance regime.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the(a) Quality Assurance Agency and (b) Higher Education Funding Council for England regarding successor arrangements to Academic Review for directly funded higher education which is provided by further education colleges. [151501]

Alan Johnson

None at present. I am aware that HEFCE and QAA are currently considering the successor arrangements after the current round has been completed, and are committed to introducing a revised system.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what new research he is planning to ascertain the scale and scope of higher education delivered by further education colleges; and if he will make a statement. [151502]

Alan Johnson

The Department does not currently have any plans for further research into the scale and scope of higher education delivered by further education providers. The Department, HEFCE and the LSC already have information relating to the amount and type of higher education delivered in further education colleges.

The Government want to expand higher education, including through work-focused Foundation Degrees. Our expectation is that many new Foundation Degrees will be delivered by colleges working with higher education institutions. HEFCE recently invited further education colleges and higher education institutions to bid for additional student numbers and they will be announcing the outcome this spring.

Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to establish teacher training qualifications for higher education teaching in further education colleges; and if he will make a statement. [151503]

Alan Johnson

The White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education", published in January 2003, set out our expectation that professional teaching standards and mandatory qualifications for new higher education (HE) teachers should be established. These are due to be introduced by 2006 and will be applicable to those teaching HE in further education colleges. They will complement the regulations already in place for FE teachers.