CAPITAL SPENDING ON COLLEGES

That this House condemns the decision of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to halt approval of further capital expenditure by colleges pending a review; is concerned that this is already delaying capital expenditure at a time when the Government has promised to accelerate investment in order to offset the impacts of the current recession; calls on Ministers to take action to ensure that the LSC grants approval to the existing applications as a matter of urgency; and urges the Government to further increase capital investment in the schools and colleges sector to promote high quality projects and to help cushion the current deep downturn in the construction sector.