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Post-16 Education
23. Mr. Mans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of 16-year-olds stay on in full-time education; and what were the figures in 1986. [14700]
Mr. Paice:
Some 71.5 per cent. of 16-year-olds were in full-time education in 1994-95. This compares with 47.3 per cent. in 1985-86.
21 Feb 1996 : Column: 202
24. Mr. Campbell-Savours:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she next intends to meet representatives of Cumbria training and enterprise council to discuss the implications of the closure of Homepride by Campbells Soups. [14701]
Mr. Paice:
Cumbria TEC itself is well equipped to help Homepride employees. I know that the TEC is in regular contact with the company and is helping employees to retrain and to find new jobs. I therefore have no plans to meet its representatives.
25. Mr. Evennett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received about the future of grammar schools; and if she will make a statement. [14702]
Mrs. Gillan:
My right hon. Friend regularly receives letters and other representations from hon. Members and members of the public about grammar schools and selection.
26. Mr. Nigel Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the aims of her campaign to improve the use of the English language. [14703]
Mr. Paice:
I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer that I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mr. Butcher).
27. Mr. Thomason:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the measures she is proposing to take to boost overall standards in schools. [14704]
35. Mr. Hawkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action she is taking to raise standards in primary schools. [14713]
Mr. Robin Squire:
The Government have introduced a coherent programme of reforms designed to raise standards in all our schools, building on the national curriculum, regular inspection and the publication of performance information.
28. Mr. Dowd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action she is taking to promote the study of music in schools. [14705]
Mr. Paice:
Music is a national curriculum subject and is compulsory for all pupils between the ages of five and 14 in maintained schools.
29. Mr. Jack Thompson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to meet Northumberland county council to discuss education funding. [17707]
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Mr. Robin Squire:
My right hon. Friend has no current plans to meet Northumberland county council to discuss what to do with the above average 5.5 per cent. increase in Northumberland's education standard spending assessment which the Government have provided for 1996-97.
30. Mr. McFall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people who have left school and taken up a training place in the last three years are currently classified as (a) unknown and (b) unemployed. [14708]
Mr. Paice:
Some 14 per cent. of young people completing youth training in 1994-95 were unemployed six months later. This has fallen from 18 per cent. the previous year and 20 per cent. the year before that.
31. Mr. Touhig:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received about people who are currently working part time because they cannot find a full-time job. [14709]
Mr. Forth:
No such representations have been made recently. People in Britain welcome the opportunities to choose between full-time and part time work. Only about 14 per cent. of people who work part time do so because they could not find a full-time job.
32. Sir Michael Neubert:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she next expects to meet her German counterpart to discuss employment prospects in Europe. [14710]
Mr. Forth:
My right hon. Friend expects to meet European Union Employment Ministers, including her German counterpart, at the next meeting of the Social Affairs Council on 29 March.
33. Mr. Bill Walker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the period of compulsory schooling in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) other European Union countries. [14711]
21 Feb 1996 : Column: 204
Temporary Employment
34. Mr. Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the number of people who are currently in temporary positions because they cannot find a permanent job. [14712]
Mr. Forth: Latest figures show that about 650,000 people were in temporary jobs because they could not find a permanent job. As the table shows, a smaller proportion of the working population in the UK are in temporary jobs than in any other major European country.
| Country | Proportion of temporary employees --1994 |
|---|---|
| UK | 6.3 |
| Italy | 7.3 |
| Germany | 10.2 |
| France | 10.9 |
| Spain | 33.6 |
| EU 12 Average | 10.9 |
Independent Nursery Schools
36. Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to review the criteria for the registration of independent nursery schools. [14714]
Mr. Robin Squire: We have no plans to amend the provisions of the Education Act 1944 which define an independent school and the educational and other standards to be met for the purposes of registration. The registration under the Children Act 1989 of other independent nursery establishments is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.
Nursery Voucher Scheme
37. Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the progress of nursery vouchers. [14715]
Mr. Robin Squire: Phase 1 of the voucher scheme is progressing well. Nearly two thirds of parents have returned their application forms. Over three quarters of eligible providers have joined the scheme.
Departmental Publications
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which of her Department's administrative manuals and internal guidance are now made public; and which remain private. [14034]
21 Feb 1996 : Column: 205
Mr. Robin Squire:
The Department and its agencies are fully committed to the Government's code of practice on access to Government information, and in particular to the provision of information in response to specific requests.
In responding to such a request, in general, any information in an administrative manual or internal guide would be made available, unless it fell within the categories of exemption identified in the code.
The Department and its agencies, in particular the Employment Service, produce a large number of administrative manuals and documents of internal guidance, covering both external and internal work. They range in size from a single page to multiple volumes, and in lifespan from a few days to many years. It would be disproportionately costly and time consuming to identify all such publications in order to list them and to determine which fall in whole or in part within the exempt categories.
Mr. Tom Clarke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps her Department has taken to ensure that adequate training opportunities exist for young people between the ages of 16 and 18 years who (a) are disabled or (b) have learning difficulties and who have left special education or local authority care. [15208]
Mr. Paice:
The Department contracts with training and enterprise councils in England to provide training leading to a range of outcomes tailored to individuals' needs. Additional payments are made for those whose training plan states and intended outcome below national vocational qualification level 2. The Government guarantee at least one offer of a suitable training place to all 16 and 17-year-olds who want one and are not in full-time education or a job. The guarantee is extended to those over 18 who have been prevented from completing or taking up a training place for a variety of reasons including disability or as a result of a care order.
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