MP Mike Hall raised concerns about Mid-Cheshire College funding in Parliament (From Northwich Guardian)

MP Mike Hall raised concerns about Mid-Cheshire College funding in Parliament

1:40pm Sunday 5th July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

WEAVER Vale MP Mike Hall has raised the problem of money for the new Mid-Cheshire College campus in Hartford during a Commons debate.

On Thursday, June 11, during a House of Commons question and answer session on business, innovation and skills, Mr Hall raised the problems that Mid-Cheshire might have regarding the funding of its new campus after the Learning Skills Council ran out of money after approving too many projects.

Work on the Hartford campus has since been put on hold as a result.

He said: “It is an absolutely fantastic £35 million redevelopment project for a college that provides an outstanding quality of education.

“However, the project is not quite shovel-ready, and the fact that delays to the shovel-ready projects have already been announced means that colleges further down the line will face even more delays.

“The college is desperate to know the time lines for the decision on its allocation so that it can plan for the future.

“It is also worried that the LSC’s recent announcements on the criteria used to determine funding do not mention quality.

“Surely the funding should follow quality, and outstanding colleges such as Mid-Cheshire college should benefit from that funding?”

Answering Mr Hall’s question, Kevin Brennan MP, said the projects that are not quite ready to be dealt with at this stage will be dealt with later in the year if they are at the appropriate stage by then.

Mr Brennan added: “In addition to the £300 million from the Budget, an additional £2.3 billion will be spent on these projects during this comprehensive spending review period.

“Furthermore, there has already been an indicative letter from the Treasury to the Learning and Skills Council about a further pledge of £300 million a year, so this is not something that will come to an end – provided, that is, that we have a Government who is committed to making that investment.”

What do you think about the problems regarding the funding for Mid-Cheshire College’s new campus? Let us know at northwichguardian.co.uk.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)