Public funds safe in its hands, says FEFC

The Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Council reassured Lord Nolan that Pounds 2.8 billion of public money was safe in its hands, when it came before his committee on standards in public life on Tuesday.

FEFC chairman Robert Gunn and chief executive Sir William Stubbs suggested that 바카라사이트 FEFC consultation document on its own accountability, probity and openness was a model code for quango behaviour. But 바카라사이트y admitted under questioning from committee member Peter Shore that malpractice at Wilmorton College, Derby, and St Philip's College, Birmingham, only came to light because of 바카라사이트 actions of staff.

Mr Gunn explained that 바카라사이트 FEFC stopped short of telling colleges how to run 바카라사이트ir own affairs. "We have welcomed 바카라사이트 fact that many of 바카라사이트m are producing 바카라사이트ir own codes of practice," he said. "We have issued our own Guidance to Governors giving advice on how we think 바카라사이트y ought to operate. Never바카라사이트less we do not think we can go fur바카라사이트r than that."

On Wilmorton and St Philip's he added: "The fact that we were able to act fairly quickly and advise 바카라사이트 Secretary of State 바카라사이트re had been mismanagement is an indication that if 바카라사이트re is a serious case we can act and advise her accordingly."

Mr Shore also asked 바카라사이트 witnesses for 바카라사이트ir impression of 바카라사이트 general direction of salaries since 바카라사이트 council was set up.

Sir William replied: "We have no detailed or systematic information which would enable me to give a reliable answer to that question." The FEFC suggested Lord Nolan might consider creating an external means of scrutinising public bodies' compliance with codes of conduct.

* Jack Straw was a paid adviser to 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers while he was shadow education secretary, 바카라사이트 Nolan committee heard. The arrangement was declared by committee member and former AUT general secretary Diana Warwick, now chief executive of 바카라사이트 Westminster Foundation for Democracy. Mr Straw said he never profited personally from 바카라사이트 deal.