HC Deb 22 March 2004 vol 419 cc625-7W
Dr. Iddon

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding the Government has provided to universities for the Rewarding and Developing Staff funding initiative; and what criteria the Government attached to the initiative. [162063]

Asset Management Plans. In addition, all schools have, since 2000–01, received Devolved Formula capital to use on their most urgent capital needs.

Alan Johnson

The Government have invested £50 million in 2001–02, £110 million in 2002–03 and £170 million for 2003–04 to underpin higher education institutions (HEIs) human resource strategies. This helps institutions to recruit and retain the staff they need to improve further the quality of teaching and learning, and to modernise management and reward systems. The £170 million will be consolidated into institutions' core grants from 2004–05. As part of the 2002 Spending Review settlement, an additional £50 million in 2004–05 and £117 million in 2005–06 will also be provided. This additional funding will be consolidated into institutions' core grants where the momentum for change is being maintained.

HEIs have been asked to specifically address six priority areas in their human resource strategies: targeted approaches to recruitment and retention; staff and management development; equal opportunities including implementation of institution-wide job evaluation; reviewing staffing needs to match market demands, student numbers and technological change; rewarding good performance through annual staff reviews; tackling poor performance.