|
TUESDAY 12 DECEMBER 2000
Members present:
Mr Richard Allan
Valerie Davey
Mr Michael Foster
Dr Evan Harris
Helen Jones
|
Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Stephen O'Brien
Mr Nick St. Aubyn
Mr Barry Sheerman
Mr Stephen Twigg |
Resolved, That, at this day's sitting, Mr Barry Sheerman do take the Chair of the Committee.—(Helen Jones.)
The Committee deliberated.
Report from the Education Sub-committee [Early Years] brought up and read.
Ordered, That the Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 123 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 124 read, amended, and agreed to.
Paragraphs 125 to 146 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 147 read, amended, and agreed to.
Paragraphs 148 to 155 read and agreed to.
Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Education Sub-committee relating to the Report be annexed to the Report.
Resolved, That the Report, as amended, be the First Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No. 134 (Select Committees (reports)) be applied to the Report.
Several Papers were ordered to be appended to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education Sub-committee.
Ordered, That the Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Sub-committee be reported to the House.—(The Chairman.)
Several Papers were ordered to be reported to the House.
Report from the Education Sub-committee [OFSTED Corporate Plan 2000] brought up and read.
Ordered, That the Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 13 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 14 read, as follows:
"We consider that, in making this decision, the Chief Inspector's judgement was flawed. This refusal to give time to this most important inquiry was not something to be expected of a senior public servant."
Amendment proposed, in line 1, to leave out from the word "Chief" to the end of the paragraph and insert the words "Inspector laid himself open to the criticism that he did not consider the subject to be particularly important and thereby compromised his ability to object to any subsequent criticism made of the Office for which he had responsibility."—(Dr Evan Harris.)
Question put, that the Amendment be made.
The Committee divided.
| Ayes, 5
Valerie Davey
Dr Evan Harris
Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Stephen O'Brien
Mr Stephen Twigg
| Noes, 2
Mr Michael Foster
Helen Jones
|
Paragraph, as amended, agreed to.
Paragraph 15 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 16 read, amended, and agreed to.
Paragraphs 17 to 21 read and agreed to.
A paragraph—(Dr Evan Harris)—brought up, read the first and second time and inserted (now paragraph 22).
Paragraph 22 (now paragraph 23) read, amended, and agreed to.
Paragraphs 23 to 35 (now paragraphs 24 to 36) read and agreed to.
Paragraphs 36 to 38 (now paragraphs 37 to 39) read, amended, and agreed to.
Paragraphs 39 to 43 (now paragraphs 40 to 44) read and agreed to.
Another paragraph—(Mr Nick St Aubyn)—brought up, read the first and second time and inserted (now paragraph 45).
Paragraph 44 (now paragraph 46) read, amended, and agreed to.
Paragraph 45 (now paragraph 47) read and agreed to.
Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Education Sub-committee relating to the Report be annexed to the Report.
Resolved, That the Report be the Second Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Several Papers were ordered to be appended to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education Sub-committee.
Ordered, That the Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Sub-committee be reported to the House.—(The Chairman.)
Several Papers were ordered to be reported to the House.
[Adjourned till a date and time to be fixed by the Chairman.
TUESDAY 30 JANUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Richard Allan
Ms Candy Atherton
Mr Derek Foster
Mr Michael Foster
Dr Evan Harris
Helen Jones
Judy Mallaber
| Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Patrick Nicholls
Mr Stephen O'Brien
Mr Ian Pearson
Mr Nick St Aubyn
Mr Barry Sheerman
Mr Stephen Twigg |
Resolved, That, for the first part of this day's sitting, Mr Derek Foster do take the Chair of the Committee.—(Mr Nick St Aubyn.)
The Committee deliberated.
Draft Special Report [The Work of the Committee], proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time and agreed to.
Annex [Memorandum to the Liaison Committee from the Chairman of the Employment Sub-committee and the Chairman of the Education Sub-committee on the Work of the Committee] agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the First Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Table of recommendations, responses to recommendations and further information supplied by the Department for Education and Employment be appended to the Special Report.—(The Chairman.)
Report from the Employment Sub-committee [Recruiting Unemployed People], brought up and read.
Ordered, That the Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 65 read and agreed to.
Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Employment Sub-committee relating to the Report be annexed to the Report.
Resolved, That the Report be the Third Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No. 134 (Select Committees (reports)) be applied to the Report.
Several Papers were ordered to be appended to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Employment Sub-committee.
Ordered, That the Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Sub-committee be reported to the House.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That, for the remainder of this day's sitting, Mr Barry Sheerman do take the Chair of the Committee, in place of Mr Derek Foster.—(The Chairman.)
Report from the Education Sub-committee [Higher Education: Access] brought up and read.
Draft Report, proposed by Mr Nick St Aubyn, brought up and read.
[For the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the Fourth Report from the Committee, Session 2000–01, Higher Education: Access, HC 205, see pages lv to lxxi of the Report.]
[Adjourned till a date and time to be fixed by the Chairman.
WEDNESDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2001
Members present:
Valerie Davey
Mr Derek Foster
Mr Barry Sheerman
| Mr Jon Trickett
Mr Stephen Twigg |
Resolved, That, at this day's sitting, Mr Barry Sheerman do take the Chair of the Committee.—(Mr Derek Foster.)
Mr Jon Trickett declared that he had no registrable interests.
Ordered, That Mr Jon Trickett be added to the Employment Sub-committee.—(Mr Derek Foster.)
The Committee deliberated.
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Second Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government's Response to the Second Report from the Committee in Session 2000–01 [OFSTED Corporate Plan 2000] be appended to the Special Report.—(The Chairman.)
[Adjourned till a date and time to be fixed by the Chairman.
WEDNESDAY 6 MARCH 2001
Members present:
Charlotte Atkins
Valerie Davey
Mr Derek Foster
Helen Jones
| Mr Patrick Nicholls
Mr Stephen O'Brien
Mr Jon Trickett |
Resolved, That, at this day's sitting, Mr Derek Foster do take the Chair of the Committee.—(Helen Jones.)
Ordered, That Mr Kerry Pollard be added to the Employment Sub-committee.—(Charlotte Atkins.)
The Committee deliberated.
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Third Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the OFSTED Response to the Second Report from the Committee in Session 2000–01 [OFSTED Corporate Plan 2000] be appended to the Special Report.—(The Chairman.)
[Adjourned till a date and time to be fixed by the Chairman.
TUESDAY 13 MARCH 2001
Members present:
Mr Richard Allan
Valerie Davey
Mr Derek Foster
Mr Michael Foster
Dr Evan Harris
Helen Jones
| Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Patrick Nicholls
Mr Stephen O'Brien
Mr Kerry Pollard
Mr Barry Sheerman |
Resolved, That, for the first part of this day's sitting, Mr Derek Foster do take the Chair of the Committee.—(Mr Barry Sheerman.)
Mr Kerry Pollard declared his registrable interests.
The Committee deliberated.
Report from the Employment Sub-committee [New Deal: An Evaluation], brought up and read.
Ordered, That the Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 78 read and agreed to.
Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Employment Sub-committee relating to the Report be annexed to the Report.
Resolved, That the Report be the Fifth Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No. 134 (Select Committees (reports)) be applied to the Report.
Several Papers were ordered be appended to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Employment Sub-committee.
Ordered, That the Appendices to the Minutes of the Evidence taken before the Sub-committee be reported to the House.
Resolved, That, for the remainder of this day's sitting, Mr Barry Sheerman do take the Chair of the Committee, in place of Mr Derek Foster.—(The Chairman.)
The Committee further deliberated.
Report from the Education Sub-committee [Higher Education: Student Retention] brought up and read.
Paragraphs 1 to 48 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 49 postponed.
Paragraphs 50 to 93 read and agreed to (now paragraphs 49 to 92).
Postponed paragraph 49 read and agreed to (now paragraph 93).
Paragraphs 94 to 110 read and agreed to.
Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Education Sub-committee relating to the Report be annexed to the Report.
Resolved, That the Report, as amended, be the Sixth Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No. 134 (Select committees (reports)) be applied to the Report.
Several Papers were ordered to be appended to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Education Sub-committee.
Ordered, That the Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Sub-committee be reported to the House.—(The Chairman.)
Several Papers were ordered to be reported to the House.
[Adjourned till a date and time to be fixed by the Chairman.
TUESDAY 21 MARCH 2001
Members present:
Mr Richard Allan
Mr Derek Foster
Mr Michael Foster
| Dr Evan Harris
Mr Barry Sheerman |
Resolved, That, for this day's sitting, Mr Derek Foster do take the Chair of the Committee.—(Mr Barry Sheerman.)
The Committee deliberated.
Report from the Employment Sub-committee [Age Discrimination in Employment], brought up and read.
Ordered, That the Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 29 read and agreed to.
Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Employment Sub-committee relating to the Report be annexed to the Report.
Resolved, That the Report be the Seventh Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No. 134 (Select Committees (reports)) be applied to the Report.
Several Papers were ordered be appended to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Employment Sub-committee.
Ordered, That the Appendices to the Minutes of the Evidence taken before the Sub-committee be reported to the House.
Several Papers were ordered to be reported to the House.
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Fourth Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government Response to the First Report from the Committee in Session 2000–01 [Early Years] be appended to the Special Report.—(The Chairman.)
[Adjourned till a date and time to be fixed by the Chairman.
TUESDAY 28 MARCH 2001
Members present:
Mr Richard Allan
Valerie Davey
Mr Derek Foster
| Mr Michael Foster
Mr Barry Sheerman
Mr Stephen Twigg |
Resolved, That, for this day's sitting, Mr Barry Sheerman do take the Chair of the Committee.—(Mr Derek Foster.)
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Fifth Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government Response to the Third Report from the Committee in Session 2000–01 [Recruiting Unemployed People] be appended to the Special Report.—(The Chairman.)
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Sixth Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government Response to the Fourth Report from the Committee in Session 2000–01 [Higher Education: Access] be appended to the Special Report.—(The Chairman.)
The Committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till a date and time to be fixed by the Chairman.
TUESDAY 1 MAY 2001
Members present:
Mr Richard Allan
Valerie Davey
Mr Derek Foster
Mr Michael Foster
| Helen Jones
Mr Barry Sheerman
Mr Kerry Pollard
Mr Nick St Aubyn |
Resolved, That, for this day's sitting, Mr Barry Sheerman do take the Chair of the Committee.—(Mr Derek Foster.)
Report from the Education Sub-committee [Standards and Quality in Education: The Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools for 1999–2000], brought up and read.
Ordered, That the Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 30 read and agreed to.
Ordered, That the Minutes of Proceedings of the Education Sub-committee relating to the Report be annexed to the Report.
Resolved, That the Report be the Eighth Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No. 134 (Select Committees (reports)) be applied to the Report.
Several Papers were ordered to be appended to the Minutes of Evidence.
Ordered, That the Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Employment Sub-committee be reported to the House.—(The Chairman.)
The Committee deliberated.
Ordered, That an uncorrected transcript of the oral evidence to be given to the Committee by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on Wednesday 9 May be placed on the internet as soon as possible
DfEE Funding—DfEE Departmental Report 2001: Sir Michael Bichard KCB, Permanent Secretary, Mr David Normington, Director General, Schools, and Ms Ruth Thompson, Principal Finance Officer, Department for Education and Employment, were examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 9 May at Four o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 9 MAY 2001
Members present:
Mr Richard Allan
Mr Derek Foster
Dr Evan Harris
| Helen Jones
Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Barry Sheerman |
Resolved, That, for this day's sitting, Mr Derek Foster do take the Chair of the Committee.—(Mr Barry Sheerman.)
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Seventh Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Responses from the Government and from the Higher Education Funding Council for England to the Sixth Report from the Committee in Session 2000–01 [Higher Education: Student Retention] be appended to the Special Report.—(The Chairman.)
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Eighth Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government Response to the Seventh Report from the Committee in Session 2000–01 [Age Discrimination in Employment] be appended to the Special Report.—(The Chairman.)
Draft Special Report, proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Ninth Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the Government Response to the Fifth Report from the Committee in Session 2000–01 [New Deal: An Evaluation] be appended to the Special Report.—(The Chairman.)
Draft Special Report [The Work of the Committee in the 2000-01 Session], proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Tenth Special Report of the Committee to the House.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.
Ordered, That the memorandum from the Department for Education and Employment on Documents used by the DfEE and OFSTED to plan and report on their finances be appended to the Special Report.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That certain Papers [DfEE Funding] submitted to the Committee be reported to the House.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That other Papers [Standards, Disadvantage and Opportunity] submitted to the Education Sub-committee be reported to the House.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That the Memorandum submitted to the Employment Sub-committee by the Greater Manchester Low Pay Unit be reported to the House.—(The Chairman.)
The Committee deliberated.
[The Committee adjourned.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE EDUCATION SUB-COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER 2000
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Valerie Davey
Mr Michael Foster
Dr Evan Harris
| Helen Jones
Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Stephen O'Brien |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Resolved, That the Sub-committee do visit Guildford and Kingston in connection with its inquiry into Higher Education.—(The Chairman.)
Resolved, That the Sub-committee do visit Manchester in connection with its inquiry into Higher Education.—(The Chairman.)
The Sub-committee further deliberated.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 20 December at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2000
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Dr Evan Harris
| Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Nick St Aubyn |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till Thursday 11 January 2001 at Two o'clock.
THURSDAY 11 JANUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Dr Evan Harris
| Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Nick St Aubyn |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Higher Education (Student Retention): Professor Mantz Yorke, Liverpool John Moores University, was examined.
Higher Education (Student Retention): Ms Dorma Urwin, Principal, University College Worcester, and Professor Michael Wright, Principal, Canterbury Christ Church University College, were examined; and Professor Mantz Yorke, Liverpool John Moores University, was further examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 17 January at a quarter past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 17 JANUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Valerie Davey
Mr Michael Foster
Dr Evan Harris
| Helen Jones
Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Stephen O'Brien |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Higher Education (Student Retention): Mr John Randall, Chief Executive, and Mrs Julie Swan, Director of Development, Quality Assurance Agency, were examined.
The Sub-committee further deliberated
[Adjourned till Thursday 18 January at a quarter to Four o'clock.
THURSDAY 18 JANUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Valerie Davey
Mr Michael Foster
Dr Evan Harris
| Helen Jones
Mr Stephen O'Brien
Mr Nick St Aubyn |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Higher Education (Student Retention): Sir Howard Newby, Vice-Chancellor, Southampton University, President Universities UK and Chief Executive designate Higher Education Funding Council for England, was examined.
The Sub-committee further deliberated.
Draft Report [Higher Education: Access], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
[For the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the Fourth Report from the Committee, Session 2000–01, Higher Education: Access, HC 205, see pages xlvii to xlviii of the Report.]
Ordered, That further consideration of the Chairman's draft Report be now adjourned.— (Charlotte Atkins.)
Report to be further considered upon Wednesday 24 January.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 23 January at a quarter to Four o'clock.
TUESDAY 23 JANUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Valerie Davey
Mr Michael Foster
| Dr Evan Harris
Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Nick St Aubyn |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Higher Education (Student Retention): Professor Diana Green, Vice-Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University and Chair of the Universities UK sector group on staff and student issues, Professor Geoffrey Copland, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Westminster, and Professor Geoff Peters, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Planning), Open University, were examined.
[Adjourned till to-morrow at half past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Valerie Davey
Mr Michael Foster
Dr Evan Harris
| Helen Jones
Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Stephen O'Brien
Mr Nick St Aubyn |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Higher Education (Student Retention): Sir Michael Bett, Pro-Chancellor, Aston University and Chair of the Independent Review of Higher education Pay and Conditions, Mr David Packham, Registrar, Aston University and Professor John Beath, Head of School of Social Sciences, University of St Andrews, and Chairman of the Conference of Heads of University Departments of Economics, were examined.
Consideration of the Chairman's draft Report [Higher Education: Access] resumed.
[For the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the Fourth Report from the Committee, Session 2000–01, Higher Education: Access, HC 205, see pages xlviii to liv of the Report.]
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the Committee.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 31 January at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 31 JANUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Dr Evan Harris
| Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Nick St Aubyn |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Ordered, That an uncorrected transcript of the oral evidence to be given to the Sub-Committee by the Minister of State (Lords) for Education and Employment on Thursday 1 February be placed on the internet as soon as possible.
Higher Education (Student Retention): Professor Claire Callender, South Bank University, Ms Caroline Callahan, MORI, and Ms Lindsey Fidler, National Union of Students, were examined.
Higher Education (Student Retention): Mr Bahram Bekhradnia, Director of Policy, and Mr John Thompson, Senior Data Analyst, Higher Education Funding Council for England, were examined.
[Adjourned till to-morrow at a quarter past Two o'clock.
THURSDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2001
Members present:
Charlotte Atkins
Dr Evan Harris
Helen Jones
| Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Nick St Aubyn |
In the absence of the Chairman, Charlotte Atkins was called to the Chair.
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Higher Education (Student Retention): Rt Hon. Baroness Blackstone, a Member of the House of Lords, Minister for Education and Employment, and Mr Nick Sanders, Higher Education Directorate, Department for Education and Employment, were examined.
Mr Barry Sheerman took the Chair.
Higher Education (Student Retention): Rt Hon. Baroness Blackstone, a Member of the House of Lords, Minister for Education and Employment, and Mr Nick Sanders, Higher Education Directorate, Department for Education and Employment, were further examined.
The Sub-committee further deliberated.
[Adjourned till a date and time to be fixed by the Chairman.
WEDNESDAY 7 FEBRUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Valerie Davey
Mr Michael Foster
Dr Evan Harris
| Helen Jones
Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Stephen O'Brien |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 14 February at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Valerie Davey
Dr Evan Harris
Mr Stephen O'Brien |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 28 February at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Valerie Davey
Mr Michael Foster
| Dr Evan Harris
Helen Jones
Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Nick St Aubyn |
Draft Report [Higher Education: Student Retention], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 and 2 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 3 read, amended, and agreed to.
Paragraphs 4 to 11 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 12 read as follows:
"Undergraduate numbers have risen substantially over the past twenty years. The limitations of the data prevent an exact analysis of the trend in non-completion over the period, but in general terms it can be said that about one in six students who enter higher education leave without completing their degree. In their April 2000 oral evidence the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals told the Education Sub-committee that the average national figure for non-completion had not changed significantly throughout the period of expansion in higher education over the past 30 years, and that the UK had one of the very lowest 'drop-out' rates in any higher education system anywhere in the world. Baroness Blackstone, Minister for Higher Education, told the Sub-committee that the most recent figure for non-completion was just over 17 per cent, which was a small reduction over previous years."
Amendments made.
Another Amendment proposed, in line 10, at the end, to insert the words—
"However, we do not consider the data robust enough to allow conclusions to be safely drawn about trends over time for non-completion."—(Dr Evan Harris.)
Question put, That the Amendment be made.
The Sub-committee divided.
| Ayes, 1
Dr Evan Harris
| Noes, 2
Valerie Davey
Mr Gordon Marsden |
Paragraph, as amended, agreed to.
Paragraphs 13 to 16 read, amended, and agreed to.
Paragraphs 17 to 24 read and agreed to.
A paragraph—(Dr Evan Harris)—brought up, read the first and second time, and inserted (now paragraph 25).
Paragraph 25 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 26).
Paragraph 26 read and agreed to (now paragraph 27) .
Paragraph 27 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 28).
Paragraphs 28 to 32 read and agreed to (now paragraphs 29 to 33).
Paragraph 33 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 34).
Paragraphs 34 to 37 read and agreed to (now paragraphs 35 to 38).
Paragraph 38 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 39).
Another paragraph—(Dr Evan Harris)—brought up, read the first and second time, and inserted (now paragraph 40).
Paragraph 39 read and agreed to (now paragraph 41).
Another paragraph—(Dr Evan Harris)—brought up, read the first and second time, and inserted (now paragraph 42).
Paragraphs 40 and 41 (now paragraphs 43 and 44) read and agreed to.
Ordered, That further consideration of the Chairman's draft Report be now adjourned.— (The Chairman.)
Report to be further considered upon Wednesday 7 March.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 7 March at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 7 MARCH 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Valerie Davey
Dr Evan Harris
Mr Gordon Marsden
| Mr Stephen O'Brien
Mr Nick St Aubyn |
Consideration of Chairman's draft Report [Higher Education: Student Retention] resumed.
Another paragraph—(Dr Evan Harris)—brought up, read the first and second time, amended, and inserted (now paragraph 45).
Paragraphs 42 to 44 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraphs 46 to 48).
Paragraph 45 read, amended, and agreed to (as paragraph 49—now paragraph 93).
Paragraph 46 read, amended and agreed to (now paragraph 49).
Paragraphs 47 and 48 read and agreed to (now paragraphs 50 and 51).
Paragraph 49 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 52).
Another paragraph—(The Chairman)—brought up, read the first and second time, and inserted (now paragraph 53).
Paragraphs 50 to 59 read and agreed to (now paragraphs 54 to 63).
Paragraph 60 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 64).
Paragraphs 61 and 62 read and agreed to (now paragraphs 65 and 66).
Paragraphs 63 to 92 postponed.
Another paragraph—(Mr Gordon Marsden)—brought up, read the first and second time, amended, and inserted (now paragraph 100).
Postponed paragraph 63 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 67).
Postponed paragraph 64 read and agreed to (now paragraph 68).
Postponed paragraphs 65 to 69 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraphs 69 to 73).
Postponed paragraphs 70 to 73 read and agreed to (now paragraphs 74 to 77).
Postponed paragraph 74 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 78).
Postponed paragraph 75 read and agreed to (now paragraph 79).
Postponed paragraphs 76 and 77 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraphs 80 and 81).
Postponed paragraphs 78 and 79 read and agreed to (now paragraphs 82 and 83).
Another paragraph—(Dr Evan Harris)—brought up, read the first and second time, amended, and inserted (now paragraph 84).
Postponed paragraph 80 read and agreed to (now paragraph 85).
Postponed paragraph 81 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 86).
Postponed paragraph 82 read and agreed to (now paragraph 87).
Postponed paragraph 83 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 88).
Another paragraph—(The Chairman)—brought up, read the first and second time, and inserted (now paragraph 89).
Postponed paragraph 84 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 90).
Postponed paragraph 85 read and agreed to (now paragraph 91).
Postponed paragraph 86 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 92).
Postponed paragraphs 87 to 90 read and agreed to (now paragraphs 94 to 97).
Postponed paragraphs 91 and 92 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraphs 98 and 99).
Paragraph 93 read and agreed to (now paragraph 101).
Paragraph 94 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 102).
Paragraph 95 read and agreed to (now paragraph 103).
Paragraphs 96 to 100 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraphs 104 to 108).
Paragraph 101 read as follows:
"We recommend that the Government should tackle the perception of student debt as an issue affecting student retention by making even greater efforts to get across the message that higher education is a good and affordable investment."
Paragraph disagreed to.
Paragraphs 102 and 103 read, amended, and agreed to (now paragraph 109 and 110).
Resolved, That the Report, as amended, be the Fourth Report of the Sub-committee to the Committee.—(The Chairman.)
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the Committee.
[Adjourned till Wednesday14 March at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Valerie Davey
Dr Evan Harris
| Mr Gordon Marsden
Mr Nick St Aubyn |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Higher Education: Access—Follow-up: Dr Tony Higgins, Chief Executive, Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, was examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 21 March at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Mr Michael Foster
Dr Evan Harris
| Helen Jones
Mr Nick St Aubyn |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools Annual Report for 1999–2000: Mr Mike Tomlinson CBE, HM Chief Inspector of Schools, Mrs Maggie Smith, Head of Early Years Directorate, and Ms Judith Philips CBE, Director of Policy, Planning and Resources, OFSTED, were examined.
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools Annual Report for 1999–2000: Mr Mike Tomlinson CBE, HM Chief Inspector of Schools, was further examined; and Ms Elizabeth Passmore OBE and Mr David Taylor, Directors of Inspection, OFSTED, were examined.
[Adjourned till a date and time to be fixed by the Chairman.
WEDNESDAY 4 APRIL 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Valerie Davey
| Mr Michael Foster |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 25 April at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 25 APRIL 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Valerie Davey
| Dr Evan Harris
Helen Jones |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Draft Report [Standards and Quality in Education; The Annual Report of Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools for 1999-2000], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 3 read and agreed to.
Paragraph 4 read, amended and agreed to.
Paragraphs 5 to 30 read and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the Fifth Report of the Sub-committee to the Committee.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the Committee.
The Sub-committee further deliberated.
Resolved, That two Members be authorised to represent the Education Sub-committee at the 10th anniversary conference of the European Access Network in Glasgow from 24 to 27 June 2001.—(The Chairman.)
The Sub-committee further deliberated.
Ordered, That an uncorrected transcript of the oral evidence to be given to the Sub-Committee by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment and Equal Opportunities on Wednesday 2 May be placed on the Internet as soon as possible.—(The Chairman.)
Early Years follow-up: Ms Gill Haynes OBE, Chief Executive, National Childminding Association, was examined.
Early Years follow-up: Mrs Pam Bolton, Manager, Handsworth Community Nursery, Sheffield, was examined.
Early Years follow-up: Ms Rosemary Roberts, Director, Peers Early Education Partnership, Oxford, was examined.
Early Years follow-up: Dr Margy Whalley, Director of Research and Development, Pen Green Centre, Corby, was examined.
Early Years follow-up: Dr Richard Dorrance, Chief Executive, and Ms Savita Ayling, Director, Early Years National Training Organisation, were examined.
Early Years follow-up: Professor Helen Penn, Professor of Early Childhood at the University of East London, was examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 2 May at half-past Nine o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 2 MAY 2001
Members present:
Mr Barry Sheerman, in the Chair
Charlotte Atkins
Helen Jones
| Mr Nick St Aubyn |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Early Years follow-up: Ms Margaret Hodge MBE, a Member of the House, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment and Equal Opportunities, and Mr Alan Cranston, Divisional Manager, Early Years, Department for Education and Employment, were examined.
[Adjourned till a date and time to be fixed by the Chairman.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE EMPLOYMENT SUB-COMMITTEE
TUESDAY 12 DECEMBER 2000
Members present:
Mr Derek Foster, in the Chair
Mr Richard Allan
Mr Patrick Nicholls
| Mr Ian Pearson
Mr Stephen Twigg |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Recruiting Unemployed People: Rt Hon. Tessa Jowell, a Member of the House, Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities, and Mr Bill Wells, Chief Labour Economist, Department for Education and Employment, and Mr Hugh Tollyfield, Employment Service, were examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 13 December at a quarter to Four o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER 2000
Members present:
Mr Derek Foster, in the Chair
Mr Richard Allan
Judy Mallaber
| Mr Stephen Twigg |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
New Deal: An Evaluation: Professor Jane Millar, University of Bath, was examined.
New Deal: An Evaluation: Mr David Gibson, Chief Executive, and Dr John Brennan, Director of Further Education Development, Association of Colleges, and Ms Ruth Silver, Principal, Lewisham College, were examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 20 December at a quarter to Four o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2000
Members present:
Mr Derek Foster, in the Chair
Mr Richard Allan
Judy Mallaber
| Mr Stephen Twigg |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Resolved, That the Sub-committee hold an informal seminar with relevant experts to inform its inquiry into Age Discrimination in Employment.
Resolved, That the Committee do take evidence from the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry on Work – Life Balance.
Resolved, That the Committee do take evidence from the Department for Education and Employment and the New Deal Taskforce in connection with its inquiry into New Deal: An Evaluation.
New Deal: An Evaluation: Dr Garry Young and Ms Rebecca Riley, National Institute for Social and Economic Research, were examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 17 January at a quarter to Four o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 17 JANUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Derek Foster, in the Chair
Mr Richard Allan
Judy Mallaber
Mr Patrick Nicholls
| Mr Ian Pearson
Mr Stephen Twigg |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
New Deal: An Evaluation: Mr Paul Convery, Director, Youthaid and the Unemployment Unit, Mr Victor Adebowale, Chief Executive, Centrepoint, and Sajid Butt, Policy and Information Officer, Black Training and Enterprise Group, were examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 24 January at a quarter to Four o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Derek Foster, in the Chair
Mr Richard Allan
Judy Mallaber
| Mr Ian Pearson
Mr Stephen Twigg |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Draft Report [Recruiting Unemployed People], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 65 read and agreed to.
Annexes agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report be the First Report of the Sub-committee to the Committee.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the Committee.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 6 February at a quarter to Four o'clock.
TUESDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Derek Foster, in the Chair
Ms Candy Atherton
Judy Mallaber
| Mr Patrick Nicholls
Mr Stephen Twigg |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
New Deal: An Evaluation: Rt Hon. Tessa Jowell, a Member of the House, Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities was further examined and Mr Leigh Lewis, Chief Executive, Employment Service, was examined.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 14 February at a quarter to Four o'clock.
TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2001
Members present:
Mr Derek Foster, in the Chair
Mr Richard Allan
Mr Patrick Nicholls
| Mr Jon Trickett
Mr Stephen Twigg |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Age Discrimination in Employment: Mrs Margaret Hodge MBE, a Member of the House, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment and Equal Opportunities, and Michael Richardson, Director, Employment Policy, Department for Education and Employment, were examined.
[Adjourned till Tuesday 6 March at Four o'clock.
TUESDAY 6 MARCH 2001
Members present:
Mr Derek Foster, in the Chair
Mr Patrick Nicholls
Mr Kerry Pollard
| Mr Jon Trickett |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Draft Report [New Deal: An Evaluation], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 76 read and agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report, as amended, be the Second Report of the Sub-committee to the Committee.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the Committee.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 14 March at Four o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH 2001
Members present:
Mr Derek Foster, in the Chair
Mr Richard Allan
| Mr Jon Trickett |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Draft Report [Age Discrimination in Employment], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.
Ordered, That the draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.
Paragraphs 1 to 29 read and agreed to.
Annex agreed to.
Resolved, That the Report, as amended, be the Third Report of the Sub-committee to the Committee.
Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the Committee.
[Adjourned till Wednesday 2 May at a quarter to Four o'clock.
WEDNESDAY 2 MAY 2001
Members present:
Mr Derek Foster, in the Chair
Mr Richard Allan
| Mr Stephen Twigg |
The Sub-committee deliberated.
Work–Life Balance: Ms Kay Carberry, Head, and Ms Lucy Anderson, Senior Policy Officer, Equal Rights Department, TUC, Ms Diana Holland, National Officer for Equalities, TGWU and Mr Paul Gates, General Secretary, National Union of Knitwear, Footwear and Apparel Trade, were examined.
Work–Life Balance: Ms Susan Anderson, Director of Human Resources Policy, Mr Simon Bartley, Vice Chair, SME Council and Managing Director of CJ Bartley & Son, and Mr Rob Collinge, Chairman of CBI Employee Resourcing Panel and Director of Human Resources, GlaxoSmithKline, Confederation of British Industry, were examined.
[Adjourned till a date and time to be fixed by the Chairman.
LIST OF REPORTS
EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE REPORTS
IN THE 1997-2001 PARLIAMENT
Session 1997–98
First Report: Teacher recruitment: what can be done? (HC 262)
Second Report: The New Deal (HC 263)
Third Report: The Dearing Report: some funding issues (HC 241)
Fourth Report: The relationship between TECs and the proposed Regional Development Agencies (HC 265)
Fifth Report: Disaffected Children (HC 498)
Sixth Report: Further Education (HC 264)
Seventh Report: Pathways into Work for Lone Parents (HC 646)
Eighth Report: The New Deal Pathfinders (HC 1059)
Ninth Report: The Role of Headteachers (HC 725)
First Special Report: Government Response to the Fourth Report of the Committee, Session 1996–97, Social Costs and Employment (HC 229)
Second Special Report: Government Response to the Second Report of the Committee, Session 1997–98, The New Deal (HC 496)
Third Special Report: Government Response to the First Report of the Committee, Session 1997–98, Teacher recruitment: what can be done? (HC 519)
Fourth Special Report: Government Response to the Third Report of the Committee, Session 1997–98, The Dearing Report: some funding issues (HC 557)
Fifth Special Report: Government Response to the Fourth Report of the Committee, Session 1997–98, The relationship between TECs and the proposed Regional Development Agencies (HC 752)
Sixth Special Report: Government Response to the Fifth Report of the Committee, Session 1997–98, Disaffected children (HC 859)
Seventh Special Report: Government Response to the Seventh Report of the Committee, Session 1997–98, Pathways into work for lone parents (HC 1122)
Eighth Special Report: Government Response to the Eighth Report of the Committee, Session 1997–98, The New Deal Pathfinders (HC 1123)
Session 1998–99
First Report: Active Labour Market Policies and their Delivery: Lessons from Australia (HC 163)
Second Report: Part-time Working (HC 346)
Third Report: Highly Able Children (HC 22)
Fourth Report: The Work of OFSTED (HC 62)
Fifth Report: The Role of School Governors (HC 509)
Sixth Report: [Seventh Report of the Social Security Committee]: The ONE Service Pilots (HC 412)
Seventh Report: The Performance and Future of the Employment Service (HC 197)
Eighth Report: Access for All? A Survey of Post-16 Participation (HC 57)
Ninth Report: Opportunities for Disabled People (HC 111)
First Special Report: Government Response to the Sixth Report from the Committee, Session 1997–98, Further Education (HC 56)
Second Special Report: Government Response to the Ninth Report of the Committee, Session 1997–98, The Role of Headteachers (HC 164)
Third Special Report: Government Response to the Second Report of the Committee, Session 1998–99, Part-Time Working (HC 609)
Fourth Special Report: Government Response to the Third Report of the Committee, Session 1998–99, Highly Able Children (HC 610)
Fifth Special Report: Government's and OFSTED's Response to the Fourth Report of the Committee, Session 1998–99, The Work of OFSTED (HC 791)
Sixth Special Report [Fifth Special Report of the Social Security Committee]: Government Response to the Sixth Report of the Committee and the Seventh Report of the Social Security Committee, Session 1998–99, The ONE Service Pilots (HC 855)
Seventh Special Report: Government Response to the Seventh Report of the Committee, Session 1998–99, The Performance and Future Role of the Employment Service (HC 858)
Eighth Special Report: Government Response to the Fifth Report of the Committee, Session 1998–99, The Role of School Governors (HC 859)
Session 1999–2000
First Report: School Meals (HC 96)
Second Report: Visit to USA: Raising Educational Standards and the Role of the Private Sector (HC 290)
Third Report: The Draft Part-Time Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 (HC 297)
Fourth Report: Employability and Jobs: Is there a Jobs Gap? (HC 60)
Fifth Report: Work Permits for Overseas Footballers (HC 218)
Sixth Report: Standards and Quality in Education: the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools 1998–99 (HC 345)
Seventh Report: The Role of Private Sector Organisations in Public Education (HC 118)
Eighth Report: New Deal for Young People: Two Years On (HC 510)
First Special Report: Government Response to the Eighth Report from the Committee, Session 1998–99, Access for All? A Survey of Post-16 Participation (HC 213)
Second Special Report: Government Response to the Ninth Report of the Committee, Session 1998–99, Opportunities for Disabled People (HC 214)
Third Special Report: Government Response to the First Report from the Committee, Session 1999–2000, School Meals (HC 291)
Fourth Special Report: Government's Response to the Third Report from the Committee, Session 1999–2000: The Draft Part-time Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 (HC 522)
Fifth Special Report: Government Response to the Fourth Report from the Committee, Session 1999–2000: Employability and Jobs: Is there a Jobs Gap? (HC 603)
Sixth Special Report: Government's Response to the Fifth Report From the Committee, Session 1999–2000: Work Permits for Overseas Footballers (HC 860)
Seventh Special Report: Government's and Ofsted's Response to the Sixth Report from the Committee Session 1999–2000: Standards and Quality in Education: the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools 1998–99 (HC 861)
Eighth Special Report: Government's Response to the Eighth Report from the Committee Session 1999—2000: New Deal for Young People: Two Years On (HC 969)
Session 2000–01
First Report: Early Years (HC 33)
Second Report: OFSTED Corporate Plan 2000 (HC 34)
Third Report: Recruiting Unemployed People (HC 48)
Fourth Report: Higher Education: Access (HC 205)
Fifth Report: New Deal: An Evaluation (HC 58)
Sixth Report: Higher Education: Student Retention (HC 124)
Seventh Report: Age Discrimination in Employment (HC 259)
Eighth Report: Standards and Quality in Education: the Annual Report of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools for 1999–2000 (HC 362)
First Special Report: The Work of the Committee (HC 206)
Second Special Report: Government's Response to the Second Report of the Committee, Session 2000–01, OFSTED Corporate Plan 2000 (HC 258)
Third Special Report: OFSTED's Response to the Second Report of the Committee, Session 2000–01, OFSTED Corporate Plan 2000 (HC 294)
Fourth Special Report: Government's Response to the First Report of the Committee, Session 2000–01, Early Years (HC 361)
Fifth Special Report: Government's Response to the Third Report of the Committee, Session 2000–01, Recruiting Unemployed People (HC 383)
Sixth Special Report: Government's Response to the Fourth Report of the Committee, Session 2000–01, Higher Education: Access (HC 384)
Seventh Special Report: Government's Response to the Sixth Report of the Committee, Session 2000–01, Higher Education: Student Retention (HC 385)
Eighth Special Report: Government's Response to the Seventh Report of the Committee, Session 2000–01, Age Discrimination in Employment (HC 518)
Ninth Special Report: Government's Response to the Fifth Report of the Committee, Session 2000–01, New Deal: An Evaluation (HC 519)
Tenth Special Report: The Work of the Committee in the 2000-01 Session (HC 520)
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