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Unemployment Forecasts
Mr. Prior: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for what reasons the (a) unemployment and (b) total cost of cyclical social security is forecast to 2002; and what reasons this date is different from the date to which unemployment is forecast. [6837]
Mr. Darling: I have been asked to reply.
There is no published forecast of unemployment, in line with conventions adopted by previous Governments. For the purposes of prudent planning of public finances, expenditure plans assume that unemployment remains at present levels, in line with long-established convention used before the 1996 Budget, and approved by the National Audit Office.
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Latest forecasts of cyclical social security for the period 1997-98 to 1998-99 are set out in table 4.6 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" 2 July 1997. They are based on the assumption that UK unemployment will be flat at its recent level of 1.65 million--para 4.28. In the absence of spending commitments for future years, three variants for medium-term projections of total general Government expenditure were published in table 4.7, although cyclical social security was not shown explicitly.
The November 1996 FSBR gave projections to 1999-2000 based on the economic assumptions of the public expenditure survey--given on page 117. Projections for 2000--01 and 2001-02, the two years beyond the survey period, were based on illustrative unemployment assumptions.
18. Mr. John M. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the criteria used by his Department in determining whether a secondary school not currently having a sixth form can successfully apply for one. [8614]
Dr. Howells:
All proposals for changes to schools will be considered on their individual merits, taking account of all relevant considerations, including the effect on other schools and colleges in the area. In the case of proposals to add sixth forms, we will have particular regard to whether there is a need for additional provision in the area, whether the provision will be delivered at reasonable cost, and whether the proposed curriculum would be appropriate for the needs of students and parents and would be likely to improve the staying-on rate in the area.
25. Mrs. Virginia Bottomley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on changes to funding arrangements for sixth form colleges; and if he will introduce a standard unit of resource for 16 to 18-year-olds. [8622]
Dr. Howells:
The funding of sixth form colleges is a matter for the Further Education Funding Council. We currently have no plans to introduce a standard unit of resource for all 16 to 18-year-olds.
23. Ms Atherton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he will take to ensure the quality of the provisions under the Government's welfare-to-work plans. [8620]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
We intend, throughout the design and implementation of our welfare-to-work provision, to define clear standards of quality designed to meet the needs of our clients. We will set in place mechanisms to ensure that the Employment Service and its partners share and deliver those standards rigorously and consistently.
30. Mr. Rowlands:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the training requirements expected of employers who participate in the welfare-to-work programme. [8627]
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Mr. Alan Howarth:
Under our new deal for young people, we will expect employers to provide, or release participants for, one day's training or its equivalent each week, leading towards an accredited qualification. We are making £750 available per person, on top of all other costs, for this purpose.
We will be working in partnership with employers, training and enterprise councils and other key organisations to ensure that the training is of high quality.
24. Mr. Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will visit Evesham college to discuss its funding; and if he will make a statement. [8621]
Dr. Howells:
My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit the college. It is for the Further Education Funding Council for England to allocate funds to individual colleges.
26. Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of state for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the application of the principle of zero tolerance to local education authorities. [8623]
Mr. Byers:
As the "Excellence in Schools" White Paper explains, LEAs must demonstrate to their own schools, to parents and the local electorate and to the Department that they are doing a good job in improving their schools. The Government expect all LEAs to play their part in driving up standards.
Where it appears that an LEA is failing, the Secretary of State may direct the Office for Standards in Education to undertake an immediate inspection. If that inspection confirms the failings, it may be necessary for the Secretary of State to intervene, either by directing LEA officers or by enabling others to perform some functions until the LEA has demonstrated its capacity to resume its full responsibilities.
27. Dr. Starkey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has had from small business representatives about his proposals to provide employment for young people. [8624]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for North-west Leicestershire (Mr. Taylor).
35. Caroline Flint:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what role further and higher education colleges will play in delivering his proposals for providing employment for young people. [8633]
Dr. Howells:
Further and higher education have a vital role to play in delivering the skilled work force we will need in the next century. We have a wide range of proposals for improving young people's participation in high quality education and training, including the new deal and Target 2000. Our new deal for young unemployed people will start across the whole country next April. Under the new deal people who do not have basic qualifications will have the opportunity to undertake
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full-time education or training. Participants on this option may undertake courses lasting up to 12 months, which will give them time to gain an accredited and useful qualification.
36. Ms Ryan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultation he is undertaking on his proposals for providing employment for young people. [8634]
Mr. Smith:
There will be three national design workshops, two in London on 24 and 30 July and one in Birmingham on 28 July. There will also be 24 regional consultation meetings and these will be followed by extensive local consultation on partnerships to deliver the new deal.
28. Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to reform the work permit system. [8625]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
There are no proposals at present to reform the arrangements for considering work permit applications. Criteria for approval of work permits are kept under review in the light of developments in the labour market. Of course, I should be interested in any observations my hon. Friend may wish to offer to improve existing arrangements.
29. Mr. Canavan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent discussions he has had about proposals for a university for industry. [8626]
Dr. Howells:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton).
Dr. Lynda Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to assist people from low-income families into and through higher education. [8628]
Dr. Howells:
The Government's preferred approach to future funding arrangements for higher education includes continuing access to free tuition for students from lower-income families, no parental contributions from lower-income families and repayment of future maintenance loans on a basis related to income after graduation. But, as the report of the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education makes clear, the main factor determining access to higher education is the level of educational attainment up to age 18. the policies which my right hon. Friend has set out in the schools White Paper are designed to increase educational attainment in school and thereby encourage wider access to higher education.
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