| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Skill Shortages
11. Mrs. Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): If he will make a statement on the initiatives undertaken by his Department to address skill shortages in the engineering and IT sectors. [123344]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment (Mr. Malcolm Wicks): This is, of course, a serious question. Briefly, the number of undergraduates enrolling in computer studies is increasing. With the national training organisations, the university for industry and the new Learning and Skills Council, we are tackling the issue. We are keen to ensure that more women enter careers in both computer science and engineering.
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his answer. He will know, as I do, that there are a significant number of vacancies within the UK for qualified engineers and information technology literate individuals. These people are desperately sought. I welcome the significant number of initiatives that have been taken by my hon. Friend's Department to promote the understanding of science, engineering and technology. What further initiatives does he have in mind to promote the public understanding of science, and thus possibly induce more young people into an exciting career?
Mr. Wicks: One of the relevant new initiatives is the new Connexions service--the youth support service--for 13 to 19-year-olds. It is designed to give each and every child first-class information and guidance about learning opportunities and careers. The role of the national training organisations is also important. I shall be happy to discuss the matter in more detail with my hon. Friend.
Mr. Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): The Minister will be aware that the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals has said that funding for universities needs to
be reformed. It has suggested that engineering courses will have to cost rather more in tuition fees than, for example, arts courses. The figure of £6,000 has been talked about. Does the Minister agree that a £6,000 tuition fee, far from encouraging people to study engineering, would put them off? If so, how does he reconcile that with the statement made by the Prime Minister yesterday? He said that
- we simply have to change the system of finance. Virtually every major country around the world has had to do the same, and I think that it is right that the Government make the difficult . . . choice to reform student finance.--[Official Report, 7 June 2000; Vol. 351, c. 282.]
Education Maintenance Awards
12. Mr. Peter L. Pike (Burnley): What plans he has to extend education maintenance awards to other areas. [123345]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment (Mr. Malcolm Wicks): Early signs from the existing education maintenance allowance pilots are very encouraging. Clearly, paying young people to continue their education has the potential to make a real difference to their lives and choices. We are extending the number of pilots to 41, and I am pleased to tell my hon. Friend that one of them will be in east Lancashire.
Mr. Pike: I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. He will recognise that in Burnley and in east Lancashire there is certainly more deprivation than elitism. In Burnley, there are far too many people who are unable to go on to further and higher education. Anything that the Government can do to encourage people to take that route will be welcome.
Mr. Wicks: That is absolutely right. Although the needs and abilities of youngsters at 16 will vary, we must
ensure that all young men and women have first-class training and education. Education maintenance allowances are a vital part of the strategy, but there are other parts to it.
Mr. Owen Paterson (North Shropshire): Who qualifies for this money?
Mr. Wicks: It is designed to help those from low-income backgrounds to gain access to education and training after the age of 16. We are piloting the scheme. The early results in terms of increasing participation and diligence in studies are most encouraging. It is a useful pilot and we are encouraged.
Pre-school Provision
13. Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): If he will make a statement on provision for children aged under five years in the private, voluntary, independent and maintained sectors. [123346]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment (Ms Margaret Hodge): All four-year-olds now have access to free nursery education, and for the first time in Britain, because of a Labour Government, we are specifically funding the expansion of free places for three-year-olds. By March 2002, we shall have funded 190,000 free nursery places and two out of three of our young three-year-olds will have access to a free place.
Fiona Mactaggart: The House will want to know how many extra places for three and four-year-olds have been created in the past two years. May I congratulate my hon. Friend on the diversity of provision, which stands in stark contrast to the Conservatives failed nursery voucher system?
Ms Hodge: I know that my hon. Friend takes a great interest in the issue and I congratulate her on that. We have a fantastic record on expanding places and ensuring diversity. Eight out of 10 of the new places that we have created for three-year-olds are in the private and voluntary sector. For the first time since funding has been provided for nursery education, there has been an increase in the number of places available for four-year-olds in the private and voluntary sector--a sector that the previous Government did their best to destroy.
Business of the House
12.31 pm
Sir George Young (North-West Hampshire): May I ask the Leader of the House to give the business for next week?
The President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons (Mrs. Margaret Beckett): The business for next week will be as follows:
Monday 12 June--Remaining stages of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Bill.
Tuesday 13 June--Progress on remaining stages of the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill.
Wednesday 14 June--Conclusion of remaining stages of the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill.
Thursday 15 June--Debate on European Affairs on a motion for the Adjournment of the House.
Friday 16 June--The House will not be sitting.
The provisional business for the following week will be:
Monday 19 June--Debate on the royal commission report on the reform of the House of Lords on a motion for the Adjournment of the House.
Tuesday 20 June--Opposition day [14th Allotted Day]. There will be a debate on an Opposition motion. Subject to be announced.
Wednesday 21 June--Second Reading of the Children (Leaving Care) Bill [Lords].
Thursday 22 June--Debate on the security and intelligence agencies on a motion for the Adjournment of the House.
Friday 23 June--Debate on policing of London on a motion for the Adjournment of the House.
The House will also wish to know that on Wednesday 14 June there will be a debate on European document No: 6230/00: the White Paper on Environmental Liability, in European Standing Committee A. On the same day, there will be a debate on European document No: 7828/00: Broad Economic Policy Guidelines, in European Standing Committee B.
Details of the relevant documents will be given in the Official Report.
European Standing Committee A--Relevant European Community Documents: 6230/00, White Paper on Environmental Liability. Relevant European Scrutiny Committee Report: HC 23-xiii (1999-2000).
European Standing Committee B--Relevant European Community Document: 7828/00, Broad Economic Policy Guidelines. Relevant European Scrutiny Committee Report: HC 23-xix (1999-2000).]
Mr. William Cash (Stone): On a point of order, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker: I am sorry, but I take points of order after questions.
Sir George Young: The House is grateful for the details of next week's business and an indication of the business for the following week. I welcome the long-awaited debate on the Wakeham report, six months
to the day after its publication. We hope that the Government will have something positive to say in that debate, so that they can dispel the widely held view that they wish that that issue would disappear.Yesterday, the Prime Minister trailed a statement by the Home Secretary on the Burns report on hunting. Can the right hon. Lady confirm that there will be an oral statement, and tell us on which day it will be made?
There is mounting interest, not least among spending Ministers, in the comprehensive spending review. Will the Leader of the House tell us when the Chancellor hopes to make a statement on the outcome, and will she confirm that there will then be a debate on it in Government time?
Might we also have a debate on voluntary organisations, led by the Prime Minister, to give him an opportunity to agree with his hon. Friend the Member for Cannock Chase (Dr. Wright) that the Women's Institute has done a sterling service to the Labour party by proving to the Prime Minister that people will not play a scripted part in choreographed politics?
Can the right hon. Lady find time for a debate on foreign affairs, led by the Foreign Secretary? There are many issues causing concern, not least the tragic death of Brigadier Stephen Saunders in Athens, on which the House will want to express its sympathy to family and friends. While we welcome the recent statements, they are no substitute for a structured full-day debate on foreign affairs. Will she also find time for a debate on the housing Green Paper--a subject that the House has not discussed for some time?
Finally, can the right hon. Lady say anything further about the date of the summer recess, so that our staff and the staff of the House can plan their lives?
| Next Section
| Index | Home Page |