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17 Nov 2003 : Column 564W—continued
University Applicants
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what options he has examined for assessing (a) the standard of university applicants and (b) their suitability for different types of university courses; [137676]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the use of psychometric testing in the university admissions procedure. [137677]
Alan Johnson: Admissions are a matter for universities. Professor Steven Schwartz, Vice Chancellor of Brunel University is currently leading an independent review of the options which English institutions should consider in assessing the merits of applicants for their courses. His review will help universities to draw on best practice and the latest research. We expect that the review will provide a statement of high level principles that we hope all universities will adopt.
University Courses (Vacancies)
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many places on courses offered by universities were not filled in each academic year since 1997, broken down by course; [133069]
- (2) when he will reply to the question of 15 October from the hon. Member for Hertsmere, ref 133069. [136717]
Alan Johnson: Information on the number of unfilled places on courses offered by universities is not collected centrally.
University Entrants
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) expressed as a percentage of the total student body in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001, what percentage of (i) student entrants and (ii) student drop-outs came from each socio-economic class; [135781]
- (2) what percentage of new student entrants to Russell Group universities came from each socio-economic class in (a) 1992, (b) 1997 and (c) 2001; and what the figures were of all universities in those years. [135782]
Alan Johnson: Information for years prior to 1994 is not available centrally. The available information covers UK domiciled accepted applicant numbers to full time and sandwich first degrees through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) to Russell Group institutions and all UK institutions. Figures are shown in the table.
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The available information on non-completion rates by institution is contained in the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) publication "Performance indicators in higher education in the UK", a copy of which is in the House Library. The figures cover full-time first degree courses only, and show, for each individual HE institution in the UK, the proportion of entrants who failed to complete their course, but these data are not disaggregated by social class.
| Russell Group | All UK institutions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social class | 1994 | 1997 | 2001 | 1994 | 1997 | 2001 |
| I—Professional | 24.7 | 24.9 | 24.2 | 16.2 | 14.8 | 14.4 |
| II—Intermediate | 46.7 | 47.9 | 47.7 | 43.6 | 43.7 | 43.7 |
| IIIn—Skilled non-manual | 10.8 | 10.8 | 11.1 | 12.8 | 13.9 | 14.0 |
| IIIm—Skilled manual | 11.5 | 10.3 | 11.2 | 17.4 | 16.7 | 17.5 |
| IV—Partly skilled | 5.2 | 5.2 | 4.8 | 8.0 | 8.8 | 8.4 |
| V—Unskilled | 1.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.0 |
| Total | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
(77) Of those of known social class.
Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of reaching the target of 50 per cent. of 18 to 30-year-olds entering university by 2010. [137204]
Alan Johnson: The funding for higher education up to 2005–06 was set out in the White Paper 'The Future of higher education' (Cmd 5735), and in the annual grant letter to the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Assessments of the costs for increasing and widening participation beyond 2005–06 will be made as part of the 2004 Spending Review.
Vocational Education
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the importance placed on the promotion of vocational education within the schools system. [137545]
Mr. Miliband: We attach great importance to vocational education in schools and are taking many steps to promote it as a first class option for all pupils. Not only have we made available eight GCSEs in vocational subjects, and backed them up with the £120 million 'Increased Flexibility for 14–16 Year Olds' programme, but we are also developing more GCSEs in vocational subjects and work-related learning will become a statutory requirement for all in 2004.
In the longer term, we will be considering the recommendations of the 14–19 Working Group as to how we can strengthen vocational programmes for young people.
Work-related Stress
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [136845]
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Mr. Charles Clarke: The information requested is not held by my Department in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
My Department is committed to providing its employees with a safe and healthy working environment. It is also committed to meeting the targets for reducing work related injuries and illnesses arising from the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative. This includes ensuring that work practices are safe and that effective occupational health policies and good health management practices are developed.
My Department has procedures in place to reduce stress related absences which include:
- Training events on stress management available to all staff;
An interactive on-line package to help with recognition and prevention of stress;
An employee assistance service which includes an advice and counselling service; and
An occupational health service that provides practical advice on occupational health issues.
Youth Workers
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many youth workers were employed in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04, broken down by local education authority. [136967]
Mr. Miliband [holding answer 6 November 2003]: This information is not yet available, although the figures for 2002–03 should be available within the next two months. I will of course write to my hon. Friend setting out the figures for both 2002–03 and 2003–04 as soon as I have them and I will place a copy in the House Library.
HEALTH
Disabled People (Sexual Relationships)
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what programmes (a) there are and (b) he intends to introduce to enable more disabled people to have fulfilled sexual relationships. [137909]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Primary care trusts (PCTs) have been given the flexibility to provide services to best meet local needs, and we would expect this to include appropriate sexual health services for disabled people where such a need exists. To support PCTs in this role, the Department has published best practice information on commissioning sexual health services, which emphasises the need to provide services which are accessible and equitable, including advice on sexual health promotion for disabled people. The Department is also supporting, through a Section 64 grant, the Family Planning Association's project to provide training, advice and support in sexual health to people working with, and caring for, adults with learning disabilities.
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Genetically Modified Food
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what techniques are available for identifying unintended changes in GM foods at the molecular level; and what research he has published on this subject; [136235]
- (2) how unintended changes in GM foods approved in Europe are evaluated; and what research he has commissioned on this subject. [136238]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Each genetically modified (GM) food approved to date in Europe has been assessed on a case by case basis. A comparison is made between the GM food and its non-GM counterpart and the assessment focuses on any differences between the two. This includes a detailed analysis of the inserted gene and the protein produced, and any differences observed in the overall composition of the food.
There are a number of techniques, which could potentially be used for identifying unintended effects in GM foods at the molecular level. These include two-dimensional protein gel electrophoresis, protein microarrays, nuclear magnetic resonance and gas and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.
The Food Standards Agency funds two research programmes, which underpin the safety assessment of GM foods. One of the programmes is exploring the potential use of the above techniques for detecting unintended changes at the molecular level. The programme started in September 2001 and will finish in 2004.
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