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Ministerial Meetings

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times Ministers in his Department met members and officials on the United States Government between 2 May 1997 and 1 January 1998; on what dates and at which locations; and which (a) Ministers and (b) US counterparts and officials attended each meeting. [103181]

Dr. Moonie [pursuant to the reply, 10 January 2000, c. 86W]: I regret that one detail contained in the response was inaccurate. The appointment held by the hon. Joe Reeder, who was met by the Minister for Defence Procurement in the UK on 1 July 1998, should have read, the Under Secretary of the Army and not Secretary of the Navy, as stated.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

New Deal

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if it is the policy of the Government to continue the New Deal beyond 2002; and if he will make a statement. [107794]

7 Feb 2000 : Column: 34W

Ms Jowell: The different New Deal programmes we have put in place are all helping people move from welfare to work. Almost 180,000 young people have moved into work from the New Deal for young unemployed people; nearly 30,000 have found work from the New Deal for people aged 25+, and more than 28,000 people have found work from the New Deal for lone parents. We are also offering help through the New Deal for disabled people, New Deal for partners and New Deal for 50+.

The precise shape of this government's welfare to work programme for the new Parliament will be settled as part of the spending review 2000.

Ofsted

Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the local education authorities inspected by Ofsted during the autumn term 1999. [109011]

Ms Estelle Morris: The Local Education Authorities inspected by Ofsted and the Audit Commission during the autumn term 1999 were as follows:


Leeds LEA

Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of responses to the survey of schools undertaken in connection with the Ofsted inspection of Leeds Local Education Authority rated the Local Education Authority's strategy and services as satisfactory or better. [109010]

Ms Estelle Morris: This is a matter for Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools, Chris Woodhead. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the Libraries.

Social Exclusion Unit

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the implementation of the Social Exclusion Unit report on truancy and school exclusion. [108515]

7 Feb 2000 : Column: 35W

Ms Estelle Morris: Our latest assessment is set out in the First Annual Report of the Ministerial Task Force on Truancy and School Exclusion, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

Research Contracts

Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2000, Official Report, column 39W, on departmental research contracts, if he will place in the Library a copy of standard research contracts used by his Department (a) between May 1997 and October 1998 and (b) after October 1998. [107104]

Mr. Wicks: A copy of the standard research contracts used by the Department (a) between May 1997 and October 1998 and (b) after October 1998 shall be placed in the Library by 17 February 2000.

Educational Achievement

Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of 19-year-olds had at least one level two qualification or equivalent at each autumn quarter in each of the last three years. [108357]

Mr. Wicks: The proportion of 19 to 21-year-olds in England with at least one level two qualification or equivalent, as measured by the Labour Force Survey, was 72.3 per cent. in 1997, 73.9 per cent. in 1998 and 74.9 per cent. in 1999.

Learning to Succeed

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish a detailed

7 Feb 2000 : Column: 36W

analysis of the anticipated net administration savings arising from the restructuring proposals of Learning to Succeed, Cm. 4392. [107644]

Mr. Wicks: The new arrangements for learning and skills will cut through the present duplication and bureaucracy and will secure savings of at least £50 million a year across post 16 learning, which will be invested in improving the quality of learning. The savings come from two main sources. Nearly £15 million will be saved because Government Offices for the regions will no longer need to contract with 72 TECs. The remainder will come partly from operating through fewer local branches--47 instead of 72, and partly from operating through more efficient systems, with less negotiation and contracting.

Learning and Skills Council

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will announce the names of the chairperson and members of the Learning and Skills Council. [107643]

Mr. Wicks: In the Learning and Skills Council Prospectus, we published the timetable for appointments to the Learning and Skills Council. However, we are currently reviewing the timetable and I will write to the hon. Member with further details shortly.

Oxbridge Intakes

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the (a) total number and (b) percentage share of (x) applicants and (y) successful applicants to (i) Oxford and (ii) Cambridge universities from (1) private schools, (2) state comprehensive schools, (3) sixth form colleges, (4) state grammar schools and (5) general further education colleges in each of the last five years. [106982]

Mr. Wicks: The information is given in the tables.

7 Feb 2000 : Column: 35W

UCAS UK-domiciled applicants and acceptances to Oxford University by previous educational establishment

Year of entry
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
NumberPercentage(10)NumberPercentage(10)NumberPercentage(10)NumberPercentage(10)NumberPercentage(10)
Applicants
Independent3,399393,501423,393423,361423,41642
Comprehensive2,108241,973241,963241,945241,96724
Sixth Form College80896778747974797149
Grammar1,000129241192111925121,00412
FE college64575937515650264546
Other(11)64985987498652675327
Total8,6091008,2661008,0371008,0061008,087100
Accepted applicants
Independent1,424501,494511,500511,477491,43148
Comprehensive6132261721613216842264722
Sixth Form College22682017219727592539
Grammar344123911338413364239613
FE college1224116410449431023
Other(11)11941294122415051355
Total2,8481002,9481002,9421003,0441002,964100

UCAS UK-domiciled applicants and acceptances to Cambridge University by previous educational establishment

Year of entry
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
NumberPercentage(10)NumberPercentage(10)NumberPercentage(10)NumberPercentage(10)NumberPercentage(10)
Applicants
Independent3,413373,603373,764373,518373,49136
Comprehensive2,581282,600272,797282,613282,73928
Sixth Form College82199199947987599159
Grammar1,112121,238131,261131,293141,41014
FE college72186427648651155185
Other(11)67377167658766777528
Total9,3211009,71810010,0751009,4771009,825100
Accepted applicants
Independent1,359451,223441,338451,345451,28643
Comprehensive7012365724711247012473625
Sixth Form College23182419262925992388
Grammar4051441015404134341546916
FE college127410041294913913
Other(11)16661365157515251656
Total2,9891002,7671003,0011002,9821002,985100

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7 Feb 2000 : Column: 37W


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