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7 Apr 2003 : Column 81W—continued
University Admissions Policy
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how he will ensure that universities will accept as entry criteria qualifications achieved through the Government's proposals "14–19: Opportunity for Excellence"; and if he will make a statement; [105084]
- (2) how many universities accept as entry criteria key skills achieved through Curriculum 2000; and if he will make a statement; [105085]
(3) what assessment he has made of the impact of Curriculum 2000 on university admissions policies; and if he will make a statement. [105086]
Margaret Hodge: Universities are responsible for their own admissions criteria. Many universities have responded to the flexibilities introduced by Curriculum 2000 to modify their entry requirements. Around 70 per cent. of universities have course admissions
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requirements which explicitly refer to AS levels. The corresponding figure for key skills is around 50 per cent. My right hon. Friend has asked Mike Tomlinson to chair a group to consider future strategy on 14–19 qualifications.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Homelessness
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to tackle the growing levels of homelessness in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [107438]
Mr. Browne: Both the Department for Social Development and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive recognise that the numbers of those presenting as homeless are increasing. However, homelessness is not just about bricks and mortar and many of the causes leading to homelessness are not within the control of either the Department or the Housing Executive.
The Secretary of State's Plans and Priorities indicate our commitment to help those unfortunate enough to become homeless. The Government are committed to:
- investing £5 million to provide 75 new accommodation units specifically to assist homeless people;
implementing new arrangements for providing housing support services to over 9,000 vulnerable people living in the community, helping to sustain and improve the existing support services provided to the homeless; and
drawing up an interim report from an inter-departmental, cross sectoral Promoting Social Inclusion Review Group which is being set up to consider the causes of homelessness and the needs of homeless people.
Learning Disabilities
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made by the inter-departmental working group to develop a strategy for the support of people with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland. [107439]
Jane Kennedy: The Inter Department Group on the transition of young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) into the world of employment, training or further education has met on two occasions and examined a number of key areas, including:
- options open to school leavers with SEN and associated gaps in provision,
barriers that exist in terms of the benefits available to disabled school leavers on entering employment or training,
difficulties in the Statutory Transition planning process and
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- The Department of Education has met with and subsequently invited several voluntary groups to contribute to the Inter Departmental Group's work in order to develop a model of best practice.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has met parents and carers to listen first hand to their experiences and concerns at meetings facilitated through a number of voluntary organisations.
The Department for Employment and Learning has collated information to help inform the group and assist them to consider how to tackle the key issues of transition and provision for leavers of Special Schools.
Jane Kennedy: The consultation process on proposals for legislation which will enhance the educational opportunities of children and young people in Northern Ireland with special educational needs and disabilities has been completed. Consideration is currently being given to the content of such legislation in light of the responses to the consultative document and views expressed at consultation meetings. It is expected that draft legislation will be issued before the Summer and this will be the subject of further consultation. It is intended to introduce an Order in Council at Westminster or a Bill in the Northern Ireland Assembly towards the end of 2003, with a view to beginning implementation of the legislation in September 2004.
New Homes
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to increase the number of new homes being built by the public sector in Northern Ireland. [107437]
Mr. Browne: A Needs and Effectiveness Review of Housing last year questioned the accuracy of the Net Stock Model which is the means for determining the level of new build social housing. Accordingly, the Department for Social Development commissioned research through the Northern Ireland Housing Executive with the aim of developing a more robust model, one that would identify housing need and demand over a 10-year period. The research, which will review and analyse the most recent demographic trends emerging from the 2001 census as well as the most up to date economic and social trends, will be available later this year. Clearly, the results of this work will be essential in helping inform decisions about the future level of new build social housing.
Omagh Bombing
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Irish Government about the decision of the Garda Commissioner to refuse permission to the Police Service of Northern Ireland to question two senior Garda officers concerning the investigation into the Omagh bombing. [107436]
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Jane Kennedy: The PSNI have advised that they have not made any request to date to interview senior Garda officers in connection with the Omagh Investigation, and any press reports to the contrary are untrue.
WORK AND PENSIONS
Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilots
Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how much has been spent so far on the job retention and rehabilitation pilots; if he will list the pilots and their (a) costs and (b) locations; and how many pilots, in which locations, are planned for 2003–04; [104719]
- (2) how much has been spent so far on the job retention and rehabilitation pilots; if he will list the pilots and their (a) costs and (b) locations; and how many pilots, in which locations, are planned for 2003–04. [104720]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The Job Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot will run from April 2003 for up to two years. It will test the effectiveness of different intervention strategies in helping people return to work, and will be delivered in six sites: Birmingham, Greater Glasgow, Sheffield, Tyneside, Teesside and West Kent. The total cost of the pilot is anticipated to be £17.75 million of which £1,580,197 has been spent to date.
Age Diversity
Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department completed its diagnostic review for compliance with the Government's Code of Practice for Age Diversity in Employment; and what changes his Department plans to make following the review. [99419]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department is committed to ensuring that there is no unfair discrimination on basis of age within its policies and their implementation.
The Department took steps to embed the provision of Government's Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment when age was integrated into our equal opportunity policies in accordance with the Performance and Innovation Unit's (PIU's) report "Winning the Generation Game".
The former Department for Social Security and Department for Education and Employment were lead partners associated in developing the report. They considered all recommendations of the PIU's report and implemented new policies where necessary, e.g. to allow staff to stay on up to the age of 65, (which was implemented before the report was issued).
The Department has now implemented the recommendations of PIU's report.
British Sign Language
Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which organisations in Cornwall will
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receive part of the funding recently allocated for raising awareness of British Sign Language; and if he will make a statement. [107395]
Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 18 March 2003, Official Report, column 41WS, in which he announced a discrete programme of initiatives to support the statement. We will be consulting organisations of and for deaf people about how the additional funding of £1 million should be allocated.
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