| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Employment Service Appeals Procedure
Mr. Opik: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in each of the last three years (a) how many cases were referred to the Employment Service Appeals Procedure, (b) what percentage of cases handled by the Employment Service was referred to the Employment Service Appeal Procedure, (c) what was the average time that cases referred to the Employment Services Appeals Procedure took to be resolved, and (d) what percentage of appeals taken to the Employment Service Appeals Procedure were withdrawn before reaching a final ruling; and if he will make a statement. [94593]
Ms Jowell: 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 Richard Foster to Mr. Lembit Opik, dated 19 October 1999:
19 Oct 1999 : Column: 545
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency the Secretary of State has asked Leigh Lewis to reply to your question concerning statistical information about appeals received by the Employment Service over the last three years. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr. Lewis as Chief Executive of the Agency. I am replying in his absence.
It may be helpful, by way of background, if I first explain a little about the Employment Service appeals procedure. Decisions on doubtful claims to Jobseeker's Allowance are made by Employment Service Adjudication Officers. If a jobseeker wishes to appeal against a decision given by the Employment Service Adjudication Officer, they complete a form giving their reasons for appeal. The Adjudication Officer then re-examines the case, collects any further information that may be required from the jobseeker and the employer, and either revises the decision in the jobseekers favour or
prepares a written submission to The Appeals Service, which is not part of the Employment Service. On receipt of the submission, The Appeals Service allocates a date when the case can be heard by an appeals tribunal and deals with all subsequent administration such as notifying the jobseekers of the outcome of the appeal.
Against this background, the following table shows the number of appeals received by the Employment Service over the last three operational years.
| Operational year | Number of appeals received by the Employment Service |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 18,628 |
| 1997-98 | 30,312 |
| 1998-99 | 19,261 |
19 Oct 1999 : Column: 546
The following table shows the number of appeals received as a percentage of all the decisions given by Employment Service Adjudication Officers.
Operational year Percentage of decisions appealed against
1996-97 1.2
1997-98 2.8
1998-99 2.2
In answer to your question on what was the average time that cases referred to the Employment Service Appeals Procedure took to be resolved, the only information available on speed of process is the length of time appeals take to be processed by the Employment Service. The following table shows the length of time between the appeal being made by the jobseeker and processed by the Employment Service Adjudication Officer either by revising the decision in the jobseekers favour or referring the appeal submission to The Appeals Service.
Percentage of appeals processed within the stated periods
Operational year Up to 28 days 29-56 days Over 57 days
1996-97 90 8 2
1997-98 83 13 4
1998-99 86 12 2
As you will see, it is split into three periods, appeals processed within 28 days of receipt, those processed between 29 and 56 days after receipt and those not processed within 57 days. Because Employment Service Adjudication Officers often need to obtain further information from the jobseeker on receipt of an appeal, it is unusual for a decision to be revised or a submission to be prepared and referred to The Appeals Service immediately on receipt.
On occasions these enquiries can be protracted which means that the Employment Service Adjudication Officer is not in a position to process the appeal quickly. However, the Employment Service sets performance targets to encourage appeal submissions to be processed as quickly as possible. These are that 70% of appeals must be processed within 28 days and 85% within 56 days. The Employment Service does not collect information on the time the appeal subsequently takes to be allocated a hearing date and resolved by The Appeal Service.
Finally, I am sorry that the Employment Service does not keep information on the numbers of appeals which were withdrawn before the Appeals Tribunal made a decision. This would be a matter for The Appeals Service which is the responsibility of the Department of Social Security.
You may also be interested to know that from 18 October the appeals procedure will be changing with the implementation of the new Decision Making and Appeals arrangements.
I hope this is helpful.
Professor Barber
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what date Professor Michael Barber was appointed as Standards and Effectiveness Adviser; when Professor Barber has travelled on official business to the United States of America since his appointment; and what meetings he held with members and officials of the United States Government during each visit. [93887]
Ms Estelle Morris: Michael Barber was appointed as Head of the Standards and Effectiveness Unit on 2 May 1997.
Michael Barber visited San Diego to speak at the National Centre on Education and the Economy's conference in January 1998. He met various state level officials but no representative of the US Government. He visited Washington DC in December 1998 to present to the World bank on education reform in the UK. While he was there, he met Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy. He visited the USA again in August 1999 to speak at the International Principals' Institute conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and on that occasion met Bruce Reed again and Andrew Rotherham, who shortly afterwards took up a post as education adviser to President Clinton's administration. He also gave a presentation to a group of officials in the Education Department in Washington DC.
Postgraduate Students
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish (a) the number of students undertaking postgraduate university courses for (i) MA and (ii) PhD degrees in the arts and humanities and (b) the amount of finance provided by his Department to help sustain such students in each of the past five years. [94673]
Mr. Wicks: The available data for both student numbers and expenditure for the five most recent years are shown in the following tables.
| Academic year | MA | PhD |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 97,133 | 20,524 |
| 1995-96 | 107,338 | 23,523 |
| 1996-97 | 108,375 | 25,924 |
| 1997-98 | 113,282 | 26,849 |
| 1998-99(16) | 112,547 | 27,082 |
(15) Excludes students on Combined courses who may study Arts and Humanities as part of their course.
(16) Provisional data.
| Financial year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 1994-95 | 18.3 |
| 1995-96 | 18.5 |
| 1996-97 | 18.0 |
| 1997-98 | 18.3 |
| 1998-99 | 18.8 |
(17) The Department allocates expenditure on postgraduate courses as a whole and it is not therefore possible to separately identify expenditure on MA and PhD courses.
19 Oct 1999 : Column: 547
Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to increase the funds available to support students undertaking postgraduate courses in the arts and humanities; and if he will make a statement. [94674]
Mr. Wicks: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, welcomed the establishment of the Arts and Humanities Research Board to allocate postgraduate awards and research grants for arts and humanities courses. The total funding of the Board is over £44 million in 1999-2000, which includes funds for postgraduate arts and humanities courses. Decisions about the level of future funding for postgraduate courses in arts and humanities are under consideration.
Careers Service
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to change the statutory basis for the Careers Service in England. [94033]
Mr. Wicks: Following publication in July of the Social Exclusion Unit's report on new opportunities for 16 to 18-year-olds not in education and training, we have consulted widely about a new service to support young people including its functions and organisation. The consultation period ended on 15 October and we are considering the responses.
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to integrate careers advice and guidance for young people with the service for adults; and if he will make a statement. [94039]
Mr. Wicks: Access to high quality information and advice on learning and career opportunities is essential for young people and adults to make well informed decisions about the range of learning and career opportunities open to them.
Following publication in July of the Social Exclusion Unit's report on new opportunities for 16 to 18-year-olds not in education and training, we have consulted widely about a new service to support young people, including its functions and organisation. The consultation period ended on 15 October and we are considering the responses.
From April 2001, the Learning and Skills Council will be responsible for planning and funding local provision for adults. We will ensure that provision for clients of all ages is complementary.
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to change the contracting system for the Careers Service; and if he will make a statement. [94035]
Mr. Wicks:
Following publication in July of the Social Exclusion Unit's report on new opportunities for 16 to 18-year-olds not in education and training, we have consulted widely about a new service to support young people including its functions and organisation. The consultation period ended on 15 October and we are considering the responses.
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to make additional funding available to Careers Service contractors for improved use of ICT. [94037]
19 Oct 1999 : Column: 548
Mr. Wicks:
The Government fund Careers Service contractors to deliver a range of services as set out in their contract with the Secretary of State. Contractors are expected to develop the use of ICT to deliver services more effectively.
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to improve guidance to 18-year-olds who are in full time education. [94034]
Mr. Wicks:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State requires careers services to focus their help on young people, including 18-year-olds, who need most help to stay in, or progress in, education. The "Learning to Succeed" White Paper announced the creation of a new youth support service which will provide guidance and support for all young people aged 13-19, building on what is currently provided by the Careers Service, parts of the Youth Service and other organisations. Guidance for 18-year-olds currently given through their FE institution or from the Careers Service will continue under a new youth support service. Eighteen-year-olds in higher education will continue to receive guidance through their education institution.
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to introduce externally validated quality assessments of Careers Service contracts and contractors. [94038]
Mr. Wicks:
The "Learning to Succeed" White Paper announced the creation of a new youth support service which would provide guidance and support for all young people aged 13-19, building on what is currently provided by the Careers Service, parts of the Youth Service and other organisations. Consultation on the new service ended on 15 October 1999. Quality assurance arrangements are being considered as part of that process.
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to monitor the education and career progression of 18 to 25-year-olds. [94036]
Mr. Wicks:
The Government have invested significant resources to ensure that all adults, young and old, have access to high quality and co-ordinated information and advice on learning and careers opportunities. Services will be co-ordinated and delivered at local level through the lifelong learning partnerships. The partnerships will be expected to identify and target particular groups of people who, for various reasons, may lack confidence and need extra support and encouragement to access the learning opportunities open to them. The Government, through the Learning and Skills Council from April 2001, will monitor the success of the partnerships in achieving this objective.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |