HC Deb 10 June 2004 vol 422 cc585-7W
Mr. Hopkins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what he expects the funding gap between school sixth forms and further education colleges to be in(a) 2004–05, (b) 2005–06 and (c) 2006–07. [176822]

Alan Johnson

[holding answer 7 June 2004]: The Government have set out its investment plans for 2003–04 to 2005–06 which should enable the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to increase funding for further education significantly. For the academic year 2003/04, base funding rates per qualification increased by 3 per cent. for school sixth forms and by 4.5 per cent. for further education colleges on a broadly comparable basis. Our expenditure plans to 2005–06 should see this trend continue. Although the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 17 March the Spending Review settlement for the Department for the years 2005–06 to 2007–08, Ministers have yet to determine funding allocations and priorities within the Department. It is therefore too early to say what impact this settlement will have on the funding of schools, sixth forms and further education colleges.

Brian Cotter

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to equalise funding between schools and colleges for 16-19 years olds in Weston-Super-Mare. [176979]

Alan Johnson

The Government have set out its investment plans for 2003–04 to 2005–06 which should enable the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to increase funding for further education significantly. For the academic year 2003/04, core funding rates per qualification increased by 3 per cent. for school sixth forms and by 4.5 per cent. for further education colleges on a broadly comparable basis. Our expenditure plans to 2005–06 should see this trend continue.

Brian Cotter

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to provide funding to help further education colleges in Weston-Super-Mare to refurbish and rebuild their estates. [176980]

Alan Johnson

All of the Department's post-16 learning and skills sector capital investment is allocated to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The Department does not provide a specific budget to the LSC for rebuilding and refurbishing property in further education colleges at either the local or regional levels. It is for the LSC to determine for itself the right level of capital investment in further education colleges. Mr. Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member on this matter and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to equalise funding between schools and colleges for 16 to 19-year-olds in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. [177011]

Alan Johnson

[holding answer 7 June 2004]: The Government have set out its investment plans for 2003–04 to 2005–06 which should enable the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to increase funding for further education significantly. For the academic year 2003/04, core funding rates per qualification increased by 3 per cent. for school sixth forms and by 4.5 per cent. for further education colleges on a broadly comparable basis. Our expenditure plans to 2005–should see this trend continue.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much capital expenditure has been allocated to each further education college on Merseyside since 1995. [177261]

Alan Johnson

All of the Department's post-16 learning and skills sector capital investment is allocated to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The Department does not provide a specific budget to the LSC for rebuilding and refurbishing property in further education colleges at either the local or regional levels, and does not collect this information. It is for the LSC to determine for itself the right level of capital investment in further education colleges. This is an operational matter for the LSC. Mr. Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend on this matter and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding each further education college on Merseyside received in each year since 1997; what budget they have been allocated from the Learning and Skills Council for 2004–05; and what percentage change these allocations represent in comparison with the previous year. [177263]

Alan Johnson

The Department allocates funds for education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The LSC decides the funding allocations at individual college level. Information about these allocations is not collected by the Department. This is an operational matter and the responsibility of the LSC. Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.