Press Release: LSC chief taking the rap for ministerial failure
Responding to the resignation of Mark Haysom, the Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Shadow Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, David Willetts said:
“There does need to be a shake-up at the Learning and Skills Council but, ultimately, responsibility for this lies squarely with ministers.
“The LSC minutes for last year, published after pressure from us, show officials were informed of the capital crisis six months ago. They attended key meetings and ministers were kept informed.
“Getting someone else to take the rap is a classic device, but John Denham cannot escape responsibility for this mess. He has not even answered questions on the fiasco and avoided interviews last week.
“Now the focus must be on tackling the serious crisis that threatens the viability of colleges and the training prospects of thousands of young people. So far, the Government has made absolutely no practical proposals to tackle the underlying problem. We need them to act.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. The LSC Capital Committee minutes for 19 September 2008 say, ‘this year is the first time since the LSC was formed a potential overspend against the current capital budget was forecast. … other sources of funds were being sought to offset the overspend in the current year and to extend the availability of funds in future years.’ (http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/National/nat-capitalcommittee-minutes-19sep2008.pdf)
2. The same committee’s minutes for 22 October 2008 say additional funds had already been sought from DIUS: ‘a special submission had been made to DIUS to bring forward funds from future years (when the capital budget increases) to cope with the current exceptional demand for funds.’ (http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/lsc/National/nat-capitalcommittee-minutes-22oct2008.pdf)
3. Ministers claim they only found out about the problems in late November. John Denham said in the House of Commons (when questioned by David Willetts): ‘The position is clear. Ministers were first alerted to a potential problem with the capital programme at the end of November’ (Hansard, 12 March 2009, col.428; http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090312/debtext/90312-0001.htm#column_425).