Written question asked by Ross Cranston (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 March 2005. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 March 2005 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, whether her Department will fully fund courses for adults at Level 3 at Dudley College in 2005-06; whether she expects fees for courses above Level 2 for adults to rise at Dudley College in 2005-06.

Answer: Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) whether her Department will fully fund courses for adults at Level 3 at Dudley College in 2005/06; [222732] (2) whether she expects fees for courses above Level 2 for adults to rise at Dudley College in 2005/06. [222734] Dr. Howells: It is our policy to ensure that those groups of people benefiting from fully funded further education provision will continue to do so. There will be no change in the fee concessions arrangements that help unemployed people, those on income based benefits, and retired people and working families on low incomes, to access further education. We will continue to make substantial levels of public funding available to all which covers the largest part of the cost of courses but we also expect adult learners, who can afford to do so, to make a contribution to the costs of their learning. Those people already qualified at level 2, or not in one of our priority groups, will on average pay a higher fee contribution in 2005/06 unless they qualify for fee concessions.

Secondary information