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| College building scheme condemned | College building scheme condemned |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A government-commissioned report is likely to criticise the handling of a multi-billion-pound scheme to rebuild further education colleges in England. | A government-commissioned report is likely to criticise the handling of a multi-billion-pound scheme to rebuild further education colleges in England. |
| Sir Andrew Foster, former head of the Audit Commission, was asked to investigate why 144 projects had to be put on hold because funds ran out. | Sir Andrew Foster, former head of the Audit Commission, was asked to investigate why 144 projects had to be put on hold because funds ran out. |
| Sir Andrew is expected to conclude that the Learning and Skills Council was guilty of major management failings. | |
| Last week, LSC chief Mark Haysom, resigned from his £200,000 a year post. | Last week, LSC chief Mark Haysom, resigned from his £200,000 a year post. |
| The government is also unlikely to escape entirely unscathed. | The government is also unlikely to escape entirely unscathed. |
| The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills had a member on the board of the LSC and officials attended crucial meetings on the rebuilding programme. | The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills had a member on the board of the LSC and officials attended crucial meetings on the rebuilding programme. |
| Urgent action | Urgent action |
| The colleges affected say they may lose at least £140m if urgent action is not taken to resolve the situation. | The colleges affected say they may lose at least £140m if urgent action is not taken to resolve the situation. |
| Some warn they may be forced into technical insolvency. | Some warn they may be forced into technical insolvency. |
| One college affected, Barnsley College, has already demolished its old building. | One college affected, Barnsley College, has already demolished its old building. |
| Principal Colin Booth said the situation "defied belief" and that the LSC "got its sums wrong". | Principal Colin Booth said the situation "defied belief" and that the LSC "got its sums wrong". |
| Brooklands College in Middlesex has gutted the building it expected to be refurbished and has had to put students in temporary accommodation costing almost £80,000 a month. | Brooklands College in Middlesex has gutted the building it expected to be refurbished and has had to put students in temporary accommodation costing almost £80,000 a month. |
| Its principal Colin Staff said Brooklands faced a precarious future if the government could not come up with extra cash. | Its principal Colin Staff said Brooklands faced a precarious future if the government could not come up with extra cash. |
| It has already spent £9m which will otherwise take 25 years to pay off. | It has already spent £9m which will otherwise take 25 years to pay off. |
| Sir Andrew's report will be published on Wednesday afternoon. | Sir Andrew's report will be published on Wednesday afternoon. |