Further Education Colleges

EDM number 452 in 1996-97, proposed by Bryan Davies on 28/01/1997.

That this House deplores the concern and confusion throughout the further education sector caused by the precipitate decision of the Government to refuse the Further Education Funding Council's claim for funding for demand-led student enrolments from the beginning of 1997; recognises that these enrolments have been critical to the expansion of education and training opportunities in further education colleges and workplaces in recent years; further recognises and applauds the work of these colleges in widening access to learning for young people and adults, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds; believes their contribution to the national education and training targets to be of crucial importance and calls upon the Government to enter into immediate and urgent consultation with all interested parties on this matter before irreparable damage to college provision and extensive job losses in both the public and private sectors takes place.

This motion has been signed by a total of 113 MPs.