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Pupil Statistics
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for each year between 1990 and the latest year for which figures are available, what were the number of (a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds in full-time education as a percentage of the age group, in total and broken down by gender. [106405]
Mr. Wicks: The information requested is contained in the following table:
(11) Figures are shown on two bases for end 1994 due to a discontinuity in the FE data sources. The rows for (a) are consistent with earlier years and for (b) with later years.
Source:
Statistical First Release 13/99: Participation in education and training by 16 to 18 year olds in England, 1988 to 1998
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Higher Education Access Funds
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he intends to publish the report of his study into higher education access funds. [106203]
Mr. Wicks: We will publish the report of the Hardship Loans and Access Funds Review shortly.
Youth Employment (Shropshire)
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the (a) percentage and (b) total reduction in youth unemployment have been since 1 May 1997 in (i) Shrewsbury and Atcham and (ii) Shropshire; and if he will make a statement. [105526]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 24 January 1999:
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As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question on the percentage and reduction in youth unemployment since 1st May 1997 in Shrewsbury and Atcham, and Shropshire.
The ONS publish a monthly count of claimants of unemployment-related benefits. The claimant count consists of all people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance or National Insurance credits at Employment Service local offices. They must declare that they are out of work, capable of, available for and actively seeking work during the week in which the claim is made.
Between 1st May 1 and November 1999 unadjusted computerised claimants amongst 18-24 years old fell by 143 (37%) in the Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency and 695 (36%) in the Shropshire county.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Age Discrimination
Mr. White: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to implement Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam with regard to age discrimination. [105596]
Ms Jowell: I have been asked to reply.
At this stage the Commission published its proposal for a framework directive dealing with discrimination in employment and training on the grounds of disability, age, ethnic origin, religion/belief and sexual orientation, which was put forward by the European Commission in November. Negotiations have just begun within the relevant Working Group of the Social Affairs Council and agreement will require unanimity.
The Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment is the centrepiece of our strategy to combat age discrimination in the workplace. The Code, which is non-statutory, sets the standard for non-ageist approaches to recruitment, training and development, promotion, redundancy and retirement. This is backed by detailed guidance and case studies. The Code, launched in June 1999, was developed with the help and advice of some key social partners, including the TUC, CBI, Institute of Personnel and Development, Age Concern and the Employers Forum on Age, among others. To date over 40,000 copies have been issued.
Mr. White:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many jobs in (a) the Foreign Office and (b) EU institutions have an age limitation. [105595]
Mr. Vaz:
All the jobs in the Diplomatic Service and the Home Civil Service of the Foreign Office have a retirement age of 60. For recruitment to the Diplomatic Service there is a lower age limit of 21 and an upper age limit of 52. For the Home Civil Service there is a lower age limit of 16 and an upper age limit of 58.
The upper age limit for recruitment to the EU institutions is 45. The age of retirement is 65.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the reasoning behind the selection of each venue for the Your Britain Your Europe roadshow. [105536]
Mr. Vaz:
I refer the hon. Member to my written reply to his question of 18 January 2000, Official Report, column 415W. He should make a point of reading the replies to questions he has tabled.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he held with hon. Members regarding the Your Britain Your Europe roadshow, prior to its tour. [105537]
Mr. Vaz:
Prior to the roadshow I wrote to all the hon. Members whose constituencies I covered during my tour.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason Her Majesty's Government have sponsored the Your Britain Your Europe roadshow; which organisations were
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consulted over planning; and if he will make a statement on efforts made to maintain political neutrality therein. [105538]
Mr. Vaz:
It is Government policy to set out the benefits of our membership of the EU. One of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's publicly declared performance targets is to increase public support for EU activities.
We consulted the European Commission, European Parliament, Britain in Europe and Government Departments during the planning stage.
This was not a party political event. All relevant constituency MPs and MEPs were invited to join.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the nature of the activities featuring in the Your Britain Your Europe roadshow as concern (a) the British Embassy in Paris, (b) schools, (c) Nissan, Sunderland, (d) the House of Commons and (e) the South West Regional Euro Forum; and if he will deposit a copy of all material distributed during the tour in the Library. [105535]
Mr. Vaz:
At the British Embassy in Paris I conducted a radio interview for the Today programme. In the UK, I visited several schools either to discuss EU projects in which they were involved, or to exchange views on Europe with students. At Nissan I met plant management and senior business leaders to discuss the impact of the single market on their businesses. I had no roadshow engagement in the House of Commons. At the South West Regional Euro Forum, I met regional business leaders to discuss trade opportunities and the impact of the euro. I have deposited copies of the roadshow material in the House of Commons Library.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the non-military crisis response tools referred to in Section 56 of the Cologne Presidency Conclusions. [105588]
Mr. Vaz:
The Conclusions of the Cologne European Council called on the General Affairs Council to deal with all aspects of security with a view to enhancing and better co-ordinating the Union's and member states' crisis response tools. In pursuit of this remit, the Presidency report adopted by the Helsinki European Council on "Non-military crisis management of the European Union" outlined further action on non-military aspects of security. It does not define the scope of that activity, but includes an illustrative list covering civilian police, humanitarian assistance, administrative and legal rehabilitation, search and rescue, electoral and human rights monitoring.
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