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Higher Education (Access)
18. Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to improve access to higher education for young people from low-income families. [4109]
Dr. Howells: We are committed to widening opportunities for all individuals to fulfil their potential and we shall be considering very carefully what the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education has to say about improving the under-representation of lower socio-economic and certain other groups in higher education.
Key Stage 2
19. Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to modify the assessment tests at key stage 2. [4110]
Ms Estelle Morris: We are awaiting advice from the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority on the shape of the 1998 assessments before making decisions.
School Standards
20. Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his main policy priorities for raising standards in schools.[4111]
Mr. Byers: Raising standards in schools is a central priority of this Government. That is why we have set up the Standards and Effectiveness Unit. We have also set clear new national targets for higher standards of literacy and numeracy by the time children leave primary school age 11.
Early-years Development Plans
21. Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of local authorities in preparing interim early-years development plans. [4112]
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Ms Estelle Morris:
Progress is very encouraging. A majority of local authorities have told us they intend to submit interim plans by the deadline of 1 July.
22. Mr. Touhig:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the early-years development plans will cover early-years education and child care. [4113]
Ms Morris:
Yes. We have made clear the need to integrate these services.
26. Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the arrangements for providing and funding nursery education for four-year-olds following the abolition of the nursery voucher scheme. [4118]
32. Mr. Walter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for the replacement of the nursery voucher scheme; and what are the financial implications of these plans. [4124]
Ms Estelle Morris:
The Government's plans were set out in my right hon. Friend's reply to a question from the hon. Member for Barking (Ms Hodge) on 22 May, Official Report, column 128 and in the Department's letter of 22 May to Chief Education Officers, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
As early-years development plans take effect, nursery education places occupied by eligible four-year-olds will be funded through local education authorities from the resources previously available for vouchers.
27. Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when his Department's review of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will be completed. [4119]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
Our manifesto commits us to supporting "comprehensive, enforceable civil rights" for disabled people. We are consulting interested parties on the best way to achieve this and we shall develop proposals in the light of our discussions.
An announcement about how we intend to proceed will be made after we have had an opportunity to consider the views put to us at these initial meetings.
30. Mr. Canavan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement about the role of his Department in the plans for a university of industry. [4122]
Dr. Howells:
The Department is taking the lead in developing the framework for a university for industry.
We are taking urgent steps to bring together a range of interests from across and outside government to agree the way ahead on the university for industry's development. An announcement is expected very soon.
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31. Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will increase the priority accorded to cooking skills within the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement. [4123]
Ms Estelle Morris:
The Secretary of State has agreed not to make any changes to the national curriculum before the year 2000. The new Qualifications and Curriculum Authority will be offering advice on any changes that might be made and he will consider the issue of cooking skills alongside that advice.
33. Mr. Reed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to move long-term unemployed people from welfare into work. [4125]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
Under our new deal for young unemployed people aged 18 to 24, we intend to offer opportunities to take jobs, and to gain relevant education, training and work experiencee. We also intend to offer employers an incentive of £75 per week to recruit people aged 25 or over unemployed for two years or more.
The Employment Service will work in partnership with the business community, voluntary organisations and other bodies to ensure the initiative is effective.
29. Mr. Ivan Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to promote the integration of early-years education and child care.[4121]
Ms Estelle Morris:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made clear the importance we attach to the development of a coherent programme for the education and care of young children that, along with after school provision, helps parents who want to work juggle work and family life. We regard the integration of education and childcare as central to this. Good quality child care should be based on learning and child development, and should form part of a wider family learning programme. To achieve this local authorities will establish early-years forums to draw up early-years development plans which will show how these and other services for families can be brought together. Young children's services providing education and child care support, early-years development plans, after school homework clubs funded by the midweek lottery and the work already being delivered by the out of school child care Initiative, and meeting the needs of children, parents and employers, will form key elements of our overall approach.
Mr. David Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to integrate early-years education with child care. [4431]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made clear the importance we attach to the development of a coherent programme for the education and care of young children that, along with after school provision, helps parents who want to juggle work and family life. We regard the integration of education and child care as central to this.
26 Jun 1997 : Column: 639
Good quality child care should be based on learning and child development, and should form part of a wider family learning programme. To achieve this local authorities will establish early years forums to draw up early years development plans which will show how these and other services for families can be brought together. Young children's services providing education and child care support, early-years development plans, after school homework clubs funded by the midweek lottery and the work already being delivered by the out of school child care initiative, and meeting the needs of children, parents and employers, will form key elements of our overall approach.
34. Mr. McNulty:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent International Labour Organisation conference. [4126]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
This year's International Labour conference was a successful event in which the UK played a positive and constructive part. When I addressed the conference, I set out the Government's commitment to the promotion of basic labour standards and our support for the ILO Director-General's vision of universal respect for fundamental human rights in the workplace. There was unanimous approval of my announcement concerning the restoration of trade union rights at GCHQ.
35. Mr. Cawsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools are participating in the pilot literacy summer schools. [4127]
Mr. Byers:
I launched the initiative on 3 June with 29 schools and am delighted to say that this initiative has recently been expanded to a total of 50 schools.
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