Almost a year ago, 144 further education colleges across the country were thrown into turmoil as the Learning and Skills Council, who had given provisional approval to building projects financed by the LSC, announced that funding had been suspended. Since then just 13 colleges have been given the go ahead - every one in Labour held constituencies.
Mark Garnier, Wyre Forest's Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman, remarked: "After a year of delay, the LSC has funded just 13 of 144 projects - projects that had been given provisional approval. 131 colleges have still not received the go ahead and this includes Kidderminster College. Wyre Forest's parents and students will be rightly disappointed at the delay and will be forgiven for questioning the government's motives in pushing ahead with colleges in Labour held constituencies.
"Conservative education shadow ministers are continuing to press for a resolution of this crisis. In the meantime, uncertainty continues over the future of Kidderminster College's Sladen Learning Centre."