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Careers Libraries

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total Government expenditure on careers libraries, in each year since their establishment; and if she will make a statement on the declared aims of the careers libraries. [8222]

Mr. Paice: The total annual Government expenditure on the careers library initiative, excluding value added tax, since its implementation is as follows:

1992-93: £6.283 million
1993-94: £5.984 million
1994-95: £1.488 million
1995-96: £1.345 million (provisional)
1996-97: £1.515 million (planned)

The aim of the careers library initiative is to equip secondary schools and colleges with up-to-date careers libraries and computerised information.

Employment Schemes (Geographical Mobility)

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total Government expenditure on incorporating geographical

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mobility into (a) the employment transfer scheme, (b) the free forwards fares scheme and (c) the job search scheme in each year of their operation. [8224]

Mr. Forth: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Frank Field, dated 10 December 1996:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the total government expenditure on incorporating geographical mobility into the employment transfer scheme, the free forwards fares scheme and the job search scheme in each year of their operation. This falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Agency.
The Employment Transfer Scheme (ETS), Free Forward Fares Scheme (FFFS) and Job Search Scheme (JSS) were the three geographical mobility schemes, operated by the Manpower Services Commission and were replaced in 1986 by the Travel to Interview Scheme (TIS).
We have no records of expenditure prior to the 1987-88 financial year when the Employment Service came into being. Expenditure on TIS, which became the responsibility of the Employment Service in that year, since then has been:

Year	£ million
1987-88	0.5
1988-89	1.0
1989-90	0.7
1990-91	0.6
1991-92	0.9
1992-93	1.5
1993-94	1.7
1994-95	1.8
1995-96	1.7




I hope this is helpful.

Careers Officer Training

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total Government expenditure on the careers officer training grants programme, administered by the Department of Employment, in each year of the programme's operation; and if she will make a statement on the programme. [8225]

Mr. Paice: The careers officer training grants programme administered by the Department of Employment started in 1981. Figures for expenditure on the programme are not available before 1989-90. However, expenditure in subsequent years is as follows:

1989-90: £550,000
1990-91: £560,000
1991-92: £580,000
1992-93: £645,000
1993-94: £600,000
1994-95: £695,000
1995-96: £1.5 million

The Department for Education and Employment has continued to fund expenditure on this programme.

Public Appointments

Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many of the

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individuals appointed by his Department to public positions in the last year were first identified by the public appointments unit. [8542]

Mr. Robin Squire: Before 1 April 1996, no central record was maintained of the sources of names of appointees. Since that date, two appointees have been identified by the public appointments unit.

Education Standards

Sir Ralph Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the standards of education achieved (a) in Britain and (b) in other countries for which she holds comparable figures. [8340]

Mr. Robin Squire: The UK has more detailed and comprehensive systems to measure standards achieved by pupils than any other country. These show that standards in the UK have risen significantly over recent years, and continue to do so. For example, one in three young people now proceeds to higher education, and the vast majority of 16-year-olds continue in full-time education or training: whereas 15 years ago, the figures were respectively one in eight, and one half.

Cross-national comparisons of educational standards are difficult, given the problems of definition and measurement. Some relevant data are given in the annual OECD publication, "Education at a Glance". This shows the UK to be in the middle of the range of OECD countries on most of the 45 indicators.

Earlier this year, the Government's skills audit examined the performance of four comparator countries: France, Germany, Singapore and the USA. The study highlighted that the UK needs to do more to address literacy, numeracy and other key skills, and to raise achievement at levels 2 and 3; and the Government are already taking appropriate action.

A recent report of the third international mathematics and science study compares the performance of 13-year-olds in England in science--where we do well--and mathematics--where we need to improve--with that of pupils in other countries. Further reports on the performance of nine-year-olds are to be produced later in 1997.

All these reports can be found in the Library.

Special Educational Needs Tribunal

Mr. Hargreaves: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the 1995-96 annual report of the president of the special educational needs tribunal will be published; and if she will make a statement. [8701]

Mrs. Gillan: The report has been published today, and copies have been placed in the Library.

I very much welcome the report. It demonstrates clearly that the special educational needs tribunal has continued, and improved on, its record in meeting the targets it was set for dealing with appeals.

The tribunal provides a unique and valuable mechanism for considering appeals and the needs of children are at the heart of its consideration. It has gained a deserved

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reputation for impartiality, informality and, above all, fairness. This was the basis on which it was established and it is a tribute to the professionalism of the tribunal's members and staff that they have managed to achieve this.

I applaud the hard work of the tribunal president, members and staff. A great deal has been achieved in the last year. I am confident that the tribunal will continue to build on its excellent record.

Training and Enterprise Councils

Sir Peter Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress CEWTEC, Hampshire TEC, METROTEC, Wight Training and Enterprise, Wiltshire TEC, ELTEC, training and enterprise councils and Sussex Enterprise are making in meeting the criteria for the award of a licence. [8786]

Mr. Paice: I am pleased to announce the award of a licence to CEWTEC, Hampshire TEC, METROTEC, Wight Training and Enterprise, Wiltshire TEC, and Sussex Enterprise. When ELTEC has an operational business link, which must be in place before the end of March 1997, it will have met all of the criteria and will be awarded a licence.

Employment Service Pens

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much the Employment Service agency has spent on pens carrying the slogan, "Job Centre--The Right People For The Job"; which company produced the pens; how many were produced; how they have been distributed; and what other promotional items have been produced by the agency during this period. [8042]

Mr. Forth [holding answer 9 December 1996]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 10 December 1996:

The Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question concerning the production of and expenditure on promotional items by the Employment Service (ES). This falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of the Agency.

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There are no centrally produced or widely available promotional items. Each ES region, together with Wales and Scotland, has a devolved budget for local marketing activities, including promotional items. I have consulted my regional marketing managers to be able to reply to your questions.
On the issue of the pens carrying the slogan 'Jobcentre--The right people for the job', this was produced for use in the Ayrshire North district. Castle Sales supplied 150 pens at a cost of £555. These were distributed to employers attending an event to launch an Employer's Charter in October 1996. This Charter was the culmination of work undertaken by my people in Ayrshire North to encourage employers to use the seven local Jobcentres to meet their recruitment needs.
Promotional items are used sparingly and represent a small proportion of the overall budgets for marketing and publicity purposes. Because responsibilities and budgets are devolved to local managers I am afraid it is not possible for me to identify any other offices who may also have commissioned a promotional pen similar to the Ayrshire North example. The total amount of the devolved marketing budget for 1995/96 is £2.9m. This covers all aspects of marketing Employment Service products and services to both employers and jobseekers at local level.
On the issue of other promotional items, my regional marketing managers produce a range of promotional items to meet specific targeted marketing needs. These include pens, coasters, rulers, year planners, mousemats and carrier bags and are used to inform employers and jobseekers of the benefits of using Jobcentres and to encourage participation in Employment Service programmes. They are used at employer marketing events such as conferences and exhibitions in the main.
I hope this is helpful.

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