§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the running costs of the(a) Learning and Skills Council, (b) the Higher Education Funding Council and (c) the Sector Skills Agency were in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [156697]
§ Alan JohnsonThe administration costs in 2002–03 (the most recent year for which figures are available) are in the table.
£ million (a) Learning and Skills Council (LSC): 223.3 (b) Higher Education Funding Council 15.69 (c) Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) 3.72 The different amounts reflect the different remits and structures of the three organisations. As part of the 2002 Spending Review, £218 million has been allocated in each of the three years 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06 for the LSC's administration costs and have asked the LSC to find administrative economies so that it can manage with a flat cash administrative budget. As part of this, the LSC has already announced that its national office will be reducing by 200 posts, building on the 600 reductions already Achieved through more efficient back-office functions.
Notes:LSC: Figures include transition costs associated with establishing a new organisation. SSDA: 2002–03 was the SSDA's first year of operation and £1.05 million of the administration costs was attributed to the setting tip of the Agency.