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LearnDirect Plus
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have enrolled on LearnDirect plus in the Portsmouth, South constituency since it began; how many courses are provided in Portsmouth, South; how much funding has been provided for these courses; and if he will make a statement. [64728]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: 5,010 people have enrolled on a LearnDirect course in the Portsmouth, South constituency since the initiative was rolled out in October 2000. Learners in Portsmouth, South can choose from the current LearnDirect portfolio of 647 courses, which can be accessed at a LearnDirect centre or at home, at work or other locations. We are unable to provide information on the amount of funding provided for courses in the Portsmouth, South constituency.
Apprenticeships
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) modern apprenticeship and (b) advanced modern apprenticeship starts there were in the Portsmouth, South constituency in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement. [65370]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The numbers of advanced modern apprenticeships and foundation modern apprenticeships, started by people recorded as living in the Portsmouth, South constituency, in each of the last three years, are as follows.
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| Advanced modern apprenticeships | Foundation modern apprenticeships | |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–00 | 107 | 111 |
| 2000–01 | 114 | 169 |
| 2001–02(19) | 61 | 148 |
(19) Figures for 1999–00 and 2000–01 include transfers onto AMA and FMA from other Work-Based Learning. Figures for 2001–02 do not include these transfers.
Work Experience
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her plans are for providing further work experience for teenagers of school age. [63390]
Mr. Miliband: Over 95 per cent. of school pupils already undertake work experience placements in their last years of compulsory schooling to help develop the skills and attitudes essential for the world of work. The Department provides £10 million a year towards the costs of this programme, and evaluations suggest that the placements are generally satisfactory and well-received by schools, pupils and employers. We will also fund a £38 million programme over 2002–2004 to expand vocational opportunities at Key Stage 4. This includes support for over 30,000 pupils on part-time vocational courses in colleges that will often involve direct experience of the world of work.
The Green Paper "14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards", published in February, proposes that all young people should undertake some work-related learning. Plans to develop and enhance existing arrangements for work experience will depend upon decisions yet to be taken on these proposals.
St. Benedict's Catholic High School
Dr. Jack Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects to announce a decision on the application of St. Benedict's Catholic High School, Whitehaven for engineering college status; and if she will make a statement. [64854]
Mr. Miliband: We plan to announce the names of the schools, following the March competition, which have been successful in meeting the criteria for Specialist School designation, on Thursday 4 July. This will include the first designations under the new specialisms, which include Engineering Colleges.
Welsh A-level
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will ensure that UK universities in receipt of state funding accept Welsh A-level as a valid qualification for entry. [65391]
Margaret Hodge: Higher education institutions throughout the UK are autonomous institutions. Therefore the acceptance or non-acceptance of A-level Welsh as an appropriate entry qualification would be a decision for each individual higher education institution to take in the light of the course which the applicant wished to pursue, and the applicant's other qualifications. I am not aware of any institutions with a blanket policy of not accepting A-level Welsh.
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School Visits
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the schools visited by senior officials in her Department, broken down by (a) local education authority and (b) dates, since 1997; and how many schools have been visited by officials in her Department each year since 1997. [65578]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: Detailed information on school visits by senior officials and other staff in the Department is not available, but many such visits are undertaken each year. All staff in the Department are encouraged to visit schools and experience for themselves the impact our policies have and to take back the views of teachers, governors and parents. We are currently running, in conjunction with the Secondary Heads Association, a special programme which over the next year will involve all middle managers in Schools Directorate spending three days immersed in the life of a secondary school.
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the schools visited by Ministers in her Department, broken down by (a) local education authority, (b) dates and (c) Ministers, since 1997. [65577]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: The information in the form requested is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Leonardo Da Vinci Programme
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the reason for the delay in the payment of Leonardo da Vinci monthly programme grants by the UK Leonardo Unit. [63686]
Margaret Hodge [holding answer 21 June 2002]: The Agencies which administer the Leonardo da Vinci programme in the UK on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills have not been able to enter into formal contracts for 2002 projects because of delays in agreeing contracts with and receiving funding from the European Commission. I understand that funding should be available soon and I hope that this will enable contracts to be agreed and payments made for specific projects shortly afterwards.
National Insurance
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will calculate in percentage terms the increase in costs to local education authorities and schools of the introduction of the new rates of employers national insurance. [65534]
Estelle Morris: The additional cost in employers' national insurance contributions in 2003–04 for English local education authorities and schools represents 0.5 per cent. of total planned spending in that year. I refer the hon. Member to the reply to the Question from the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady), 24 April 2002, Official Report, column 311W.
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Investors in People
Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to announce the result of the quinquennial review of Investors in People UK. [66163]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The first stage of the quinquennial review of Investors in People UK has been completed. A report has been published today, outlining the findings of the review and the recommendations that have been made as a result. The report is available in the Library. It can also be seen on the DfES website: "www.dfes.gov.uk/ consultations".
Carlton House Terrace
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding is given to organisations to meet the cost of property in Carlton House Terrace. [63485]
Margaret Hodge: The only organisation occupying premises in Carlton House Terrace that is funded by this Department is the British Academy. The British Academy's Grant-in-Aid for 2002–03 is £13 million, including administrative and premises costs.
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Crown Prosecution Service
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement on how each CPS region is improving its own performance management. [60216]
The Solicitor-General: The devolved 42 area structure of the CPS empowers Chief Crown Prosecutors and their area business managers to develop their own approach to performance management, both internally within the organisation and in partnership with their local criminal justice partners. All areas have an annual business plan and conduct a follow-up review of their performance against those plans. To maintain consistent standards, and in order to compare and contrast performance across the service nationally, all areas report performance across a range of indicators within a national framework that supports the business planning process.
In addition, area performance is reviewed independently by the CPS inspectorate.
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