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Dr. Michael Clark (Rayleigh) rose--
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Michael J. Martin): Order. During Adjournment debates, any hon. Member who wants to take part must have the prior permission of the Minister and the promoter of the debate.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment (Mr. George Mudie): I am happy to allow the hon. Gentleman to speak, Mr. Deputy Speaker.
1.45 pm
Dr. Michael Clark (Rayleigh): Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, and I also thank the Minister. I will only take one minute, as I am encroaching on the hon. Gentleman's time. I congratulate the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East (Dr. Kumar) on securing this debate and on the way in which he has presented it. The hon. Gentleman serves on the Select Committee on Science and Technology. He brings his skill and expertise in chemical engineering into that Committee and is an invaluable member of it. When I worked as a chemical engineer, I did so in his constituency, and I do not need reminding of the importance of chemical engineers, although I welcomed the opportunity to hear the concise way in which the importance of that profession was put before the House.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment (Mr. George Mudie): I thank the hon. Member for Rayleigh (Dr. Clark) for those kind remarks about my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East (Dr. Kumar). He has done the House a service by raising this important issue. Indeed, I believe that this is the first time that chemical as opposed to general engineering has been discussed on the Floor of the House. As my hon. Friend was a chemical engineer before he entered the House, he is uniquely placed to comment on that important sector of the United Kingdom economy. His constituency in Teesside contains the largest concentration of the chemical industry in the UK, which adds to the authority with which he speaks.
Chemical engineers have an important impact in virtually all areas of life, being found in industries as diverse as oil refining and health care. The contribution that they can make to developing an economically viable, but environmentally more friendly world is clearly set out in the thought-provoking "Future Life" report, which was produced by the Institution of Chemical Engineers, to which my hon. Friend referred.
"Future Life" identifies a host of challenges that face our society. For instance, it forecasts the design of smokeless cars and the development of biosensors to detect diseases before they become critical. It anticipates the need to recycle "grey" water from baths and washing machines, and to intensify agricultural production to meet the demands of an expanding population. Therefore, chemical engineers are central to improving the quality of our life. Their education and preparation for the world of work are critical to our future prosperity.
My hon. Friend raised a number of matters with which I shall try to deal in the time available. One was the supply of graduates. It is encouraging to note that the overall trend line for recruitment to chemical engineering courses is positive, with 1,141 students entering university to read the subject in 1997. A recent research study by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research into supply and demand for engineering, science and technology graduates, which is to be published shortly by my Department, indicates that the number of students entering engineering degrees is adequate. The study concluded that, with the possible exception of electronic engineering,
Engineering has suffered for too long from a poor image. That problem applies particularly to chemical engineering, as my hon. Friend's reference to Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory so vividly conveys. Therefore, I am delighted by the suggestion that steps be taken to counteract those misconceptions regarding the profession. Although the lead lies with industry, the Government are also playing their part by contributing toward a major long-term campaign co-ordinated by the Engineering Council. That campaign is targeted on presenting a more positive and dynamic image of engineering to children in the early stages of secondary education. Any further initiative by individual professional bodies, such as the Institution of Chemical Engineers, to reinforce that message would be much appreciated and warmly welcomed by the schools sector. I should also welcome early intervention in the schools sector on any occasion by hon. Members who are aware of the industry's problems with recruitment.
Recent reform of the education system will also encourage more students to enter science in the coming years. All secondary school pupils are now required to take at least one science subject, and 90 per cent. of pupils sitting GCSEs study double science. As part of our reform of the A-level system, the Government will promote a broader curriculum, which will result in more students studying science and technology-based subjects.
On the issue of entry standards, it is pleasing to see that many people are applying to become chemical engineers and that the A-level standards of entrants are high: more than 45 per cent. of entrants to chemical engineering courses have more than 24 A-level points, which is significantly higher than those of entrants to other undergraduate courses. That means that our graduate chemical engineers should be well placed to hold their own against their foreign counterparts.
However, if we are to meet the overall needs of industry, we must address skills demand at all levels. I mentioned earlier the issue of quality, as opposed to quantity. Rather than try further to expand the supply of chartered engineers, industry should examine the level of
skills required, and whether those requirements are better met at incorporated engineer and technician level. The need to provide chemical engineering skills at levels other than that of chartered engineer is illustrated by a recent labour market survey conducted by the National Training Organization for the Chemical Manufacturing and Processing Industry. That survey found that the greatest number of vacancies were for manufacturing professionals, process technicians and process operators.
Among the engineering professions, chemical engineering is conspicuous for historically having little or no output of incorporated engineers, and it is time that that gap was plugged. The development of an incorporated engineer degree programme, and the introduction of non-accredited courses for chemical engineering and chemical technology would be an effective response to employer demand for skills at that level. Employers might also increase their stock of technicians by broadening their recruitment channels to include those who have completed a higher national diploma or higher national certificate. In response to the growing demand for technician-level skills identified by the skills task force, my Department has recently announced a significant expansion of sub-degree places.
I am delighted that my hon. Friend has drawn attention to the fact that chemical engineering attracts a higher proportion of women than do other engineering disciplines. As well as celebrating that achievement, should we not be analysing that attraction and promoting the positive features more widely? Female participation rates in chemical engineering courses are roughly double the rates in other engineering disciplines. The proportion peaked at 28 per cent. and is now running at about 25 per cent., although that is still too low.
My hon. Friend raised the question of course content, and it must be acknowledged that one obstacle to widening the base of chemical engineers has been the tendency of courses to focus too narrowly on traditional industries such as oil, petrochemicals and industrial gas. I shall expect the proposed review of course content to keep pace with economic developments and address the needs of other industries that draw extensively on chemical engineers, such as food and fine chemicals.
Knowledge alone is not an entry ticket to employment. Feedback from employers clearly indicates that many graduates lack key skills required in the workplace: a common criticism made by employers recruiting graduates in chemistry, industrial chemistry and chemical engineering is that recruits are simply not ready for the world of work. My Department is taking steps to improve their employability by responding to the concern expressed in the Dearing report about the lack of key skills. In coming years, many more graduates will emerge from higher education with competency in the six skill areas most commonly sought by employers: management, communications, team working, problem solving, numeracy and information technology.
Employers' general complaint about graduates is that they lack first-hand experience of work, and so tend to have unrealistic expectations and little awareness of what is expected of them. In response, my Department is spending £1.5 million on the development of high-quality work experience projects in the period 1998 to 2000. To ensure that the momentum is sustained, my Department
has supported the establishment of a national centre for work experience run by the National Council for Industry and Higher Education.
The skills and industrial knowledge of university staff are also an important influence on the quality of graduate supply. They are best kept up to date by improving links with industry. The recently announced higher education reach out fund, or HEROIC, will provide significant impetus, injecting a further £50 million over the next three years. That initiative, which is jointly funded by my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry, aims to improve the employability of graduates, the use of graduate skills made by business, and the transfer of technology and knowledge between higher education and business.
I note my hon, Friend's suggestion regarding differential salaries for university lecturers, but terms and conditions of employment for all university staff are a matter for employers. The Government await the outcome of the Bett report, which has not yet been officially published. My hon. Friend has suggested what that outcome will be, and I should be interested to hear how he came to know so many of the details. However, university salaries are a matter for employers and any money needed for that purpose will have to be drawn from funds allocated under the comprehensive spending review settlement.
I am aware of concerns regarding the geographical spread of chemical engineering courses and that the problem may become more acute if a higher percentage
of students choose to attend their local university. The launch of regional development agencies in April this year will provide an opportunity to safeguard and, I hope, to expand provision that meets local needs. One of the RDAs' first tasks will be to agree a regional economic strategy in conjunction with key stakeholders. In regions such as the north-east, where chemical engineering is critical to the success of key industries, we would expect the regional economic strategy to include an analysis of that sector and to specify steps to tackle any problems.
I thank my hon. Friend for working hard to raise important matters relating to chemical engineering, which is a vital and important part of our economy. Like other sectors of engineering, chemical engineering lacks in public perception the glamour of other occupations, but the reality is that it is exciting and challenging, and offers participants a fine career. I hope that my hon. Friend's speech today inspires youngsters to enter the industry.
It being Two o'clock, the motion for the Adjournment of the House lapsed, without Question put.
"the great majority of mismatches between supply and demand for technical graduates are attributable to quality problems rather than any overall shortfall in quantity".
Those findings are consistent with feedback from employers--including Glaxo Wellcome--who have made it clear that their concern lies primarily with the quality of the science graduates they recruit, not with the quantity available in the labour market. I shall develop that point later.
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