---

Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Mr. Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been allocated for (a) marketing, (b) consultants, (c) advertising, (d) administration and (e) buildings for (i) the University for Industry, (ii) the learning and skills councils and (iii) the Connexions service, broken down by (A) centrally and (B) locally-allocated funds, in each year since 1997. [167575] Mr. Charles Clarke: The information is as follows: (i) Ufi Ufi, launched in 2000, receives an annual grant from my Department which funds their infrastructure and operating costs such as product development. My Department does not specify the exact amount of money which should be allocated by Ufi on individual items. Figures have however, been provided in Table (a) following which show the funds expended by Ufi for marketing, consultants, advertising, administration and buildings provided on a central basis in each of the financial years since 1999. Much of the marketing developed centrally is also used locally by Ufi/ learndirect centres and hubs. Marketing and advertising at local level does however remain the responsibility of Ufi/learndirect hubs and centres, many of which are private organisations who set their budgets accordingly. No central information is held on this local expenditure. Also, Ufi uses consultants to support the development of the national Ufi/learndirect network and does not allocate consultancy budgets at local level. Table (a) Ufi _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Funding allocated--centrally (£000) Financial year 1990-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 17 months1 12 months 12 months 12 months 12 months 12 months Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Budget (a) Marketing2 1,969 8,224 9,767 10,126 10,156 8,721 (b) Consultants 560 741 1,117 1,637 2,927 389 (c) Advertising2 2,990 12,474 12,727 8,652 11,112 9,542 (d) Administration 9,408 12,418 17,309 20,106 21,435 25,007 (e) Buildings3 841 1,104 1,120 1,263 1,473 1,631 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 Ufi Limited's first statutory reporting period was 17 months to 31 March 2000. The figures used are consistent with information filed with Companies House. 2 The figures provided for 2004-05 have not been finalised and the analysis is based on the 2003-04 ratio. 3 Accommodation related costs such as rent, rates, facilities management. (ii) Learning and Skills Council This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. I have therefore asked Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, to write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested and to place a copy of his reply in the Library. (iii) Connexions Service (A) Central (a) and (c) Marketing and Advertising The following table shows the amounts allocated in each year since the launch of Connexions in April 2001 for centrally-managed marketing and advertising activity in support of the Connexions Service. (b) Consultants No funding is allocated specifically for spending on consultants either nationally or regionally. However, consultants are engaged where this is judged to be the most cost-effective method of achieving objectives. (d) Administration Table (b) following shows the amounts allocated in each year since the launch of Connexions in April 2001 for the salaries and associated administrative costs of staff managing Connexions and a range of associated initiatives. In addition, the table also shows those amounts allocated to regional Government Offices for the salary and associated administration costs of their staff managing Connexions. (e) Buildings It is not possible to disaggregate the building costs associated with DfES Head Office staff working on Connexions from the costs of other Departmental staff using the same head office building, nor those costs associated with Government Office staff working on Connexions from those associated with other Government Office staff. Table (b) Connexions service _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Funding allocated--centrally (£000) Financial year 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 (a) Marketing -- -- 1,000 1,900 850 1-- (b) Consultants -- -- 2n/a 2n/a 2n/a 2n/a (c) Advertising -- -- 4 1,678 2,861 tbc (d) Administration Head Office3 -- -- 5,637 5,784 6,098 tbc Government Office -- -- 2,500 2,750 2,625 2,500 (e) buildings -- -- 4n/a 4n/a 4n/a 4n/a _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1 No allocation. 2 No element of funding is earmarked specifically for this purpose. 3 Head Office (HO) administration figures cover the costs of all staff working on Connexions and a range of associated policies and programmes. It is not possible to disaggregate the costs of staff working specifically in support of Connexions. 4 It is not possible to disaggregate costs of HO/GO staff working on Connexions. (B) Local Local Connexions Partnerships have the flexibility to use their funding in a way which best meets local needs; no part of the funding that is allocated to them is ring- fenced for specific activities or purposes such as administration, buildings, marketing, advertising or consultants.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

420 c1574-6W; 167575

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Administration Advertising Buildings Consultants Finance Education Learning and skills councils Publicity Training Connexions Service UfI

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk