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17 Sept 2003 : Column 789W—continued

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Access to Learning Fund

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the

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(a) use, (b) development and (c) cost of the Access to Learning Fund. [129988]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Access to Learning Fund (ALF) is a new non-repayable discretionary Fund administered by institutions with HE students and aimed at providing additional support for those who need extra financial help to access or remain in Higher Education. Priority groups for assistance include: students with children (especially lone-parents); mature students; students from low income families; disabled students; care leavers and students from Foyers or who are homeless.

The ALF is being introduced following consultation with institutions' and students' representatives to ensure that awards are made on a consistent and transparent basis. The ALF is currently being piloted in approximately 50 institutions and subject to evaluation it is intended to be rolled out in all institutions from 2004–05.

In 2004–05 £65.5 million will be available through the Access to Learning Fund.

Adult Qualifications

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people aged (a) 19–30 and (b) over 30 in the working population have not achieved (i) a Level 2 qualification and (ii) a Level 3 qualification. [130719]

Alan Johnson: The following table shows analysis of the working population (i.e. economically active) for those aged (a) 19–30 and (b) over 30 who lack a Level 2 and Level 3 qualification. Data come from the Labour Force Survey in spring 2003 and cover England only.

Age bandAge band
19 to 30PercentageOver 30(4)Percentage
Below Level 21,294,000225,646,00032
Below Level 32,629,000449,234,00053
Total work force5,921,00017,568,000

(4) This age band covers economically active males aged 31–64 and economically active females aged 31–59.


Apprenticeships

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) current participation and (b) latest annual completion rates are for (i) foundation and (ii) advanced modern apprenticeships, broken down by proposed sector skills council areas. [129985]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) publish work based learning participation numbers and success rates by area of learning rather than by sector. The 14 areas of learning are used by the LSC, the Adult Learning Inspectorate and Ofsted. Numbers participating on advanced modern apprenticeships (AMA) and foundation modern apprenticeships (FMA) as at 1 November 2002 by area of learning are shown in the following table.

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Learners on 1 November 2002 by area of learning
000s

Area of LearningAMAFMA
Business administration, Management and Professional12.117.9
Construction11.318.1
Engineering, Technology and Manufacturing46.913
English, Languages and Communication
Foundation programmes
Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy5.213.9
Health, Social Care and Public Services11.112.5
Hospitality, Sports, Leisure and Travel8.915
Humanities
Information and Communication Technology4.14.1
Land based provision1.63.2
Retailing, Customer Service and Transportation10.222.1
Science and Mathematics0.20.1
Visual and Performing Arts and Media0.70.2
Unspecified area of learning0.90.8
Total113.3120.8

Source:

Individualised Learner Record 2002/03


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Success rates by area of learning for those who left a modern apprenticeship in 2001/02 were published on 24 July, 2003 by the LSC in the Statistical First Release ISR/SFR25. These are shown in the following table.

Success rates by area of learning and programme type 2001/02

Framework (X per cent.)NVQ Only (Y per cent.)Framework or NVQ(X plus y per cent.)Total leavers numbers
Advanced Modern Apprenticeships
Business Administration Management and Professional25123710,400
Construction3314468,700
Engineering, Technology and Manufacturing3894713,000
English, Languages and Communications
Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy228303,900
Health, Social Care and Public Services2213357,400
Hospitality, Sports Leisure and Travel196268,400
Humanities
Information and Communication technology319401,800
Land-based provision241034900
Other Foundation Programmes
Retailing, Customer Service and Transportation1692410,400
Science and Maths36239100
Visual & Performing Arts & Media311748400
Unspecified AOL111122100
Total26103665,400
Foundation Modern Apprenticeships
Business Administration Management and Professional26113815,100
Construction2412367,100
Engineering, Technology and Manufacturing1913326,900
English, Languages and Communications
Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy2611367,500
Health, Social Care and Public Services1513289,000
Hospitality, Sports Leisure and Travel19123113,900
Humanities
Information and Communication technology468544,200
Land-based provision2615412,500
Other Foundation Programmes
Retailing, Customer Service and Transportation19113025,000
Science and Maths
Visual & Performing Arts & Media221537100
Unspecified AOL022500
Total22113491,800

Source:

Individualised Learner Record 2001/02


Data Protection

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills under what powers a county council may keep a person's P45 details on file after they have been used as part of a student loan application; and for what length of time such details may be kept. [129628]

Alan Johnson: The basis for the county council processing the P45 derives from s. 22(2)(a) of the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998, and the relevant provision of the applicable Student Support Regulations (e.g. reg 6(3) of the Education (Student Support) (No. 2) Regulations 2002 which states:


The basis for keeping a person's P45 details on file is firstly that this is a National Audit Office requirement and as such the NAO is entitled to audit the assessment and payment of loans and can request supporting documentation relating to main ledger financial transactions for a period of up to six years after after the end of the financial year in which the transaction took place. Secondly, the Limitation Act 1980, which applies

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to proceedings by and against the Crown, and has the effect that proceedings to recover money must be instituted within six years of the money becoming due. Evidence used for the assessment is therefore required to be retained to support or defend any such action.

1. The four main acts of parliament from which the Comptroller and Auditor General and the NAO derive their authority are:


Education Funding (Buckinghamshire)

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the impact of the area cost adjustment on education funding in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire. [129888]

Mr. Miliband: The Area Cost Adjustment provides funding top-ups for areas where it costs more to recruit and retain staff. It uses the New Earnings Survey to calculate earnings differentials between different areas in the country. A threshold is set below which all authorities are given the same area cost adjustment factor. The area cost adjustment factor for Buckinghamshire is 1.0943. It is for Buckinghamshire local education authority to decide on the distribution of funding within Buckinghamshire, in consultation with its schools.

Individual Learning Accounts

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been set aside for Individual Learning Accounts for (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06. [130721]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: In order to meet remaining commitments under the original ILA Programme, a budget of £8.013 million has been set aside for 2003–04. The remaining funding originally set aside for Individual Learning Accounts has been re-deployed to support the implementation of proposals set out in the White Paper '21 Century Skills: Realising our Potential' published on 9 July 2003.


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