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18 Mar 2004 : Column 465W—continued
Drugs/Alchohol Misuse (Schools)
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent on programmes explaining the dangers of (a) drugs and (b) alcohol misuse in (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in Lancashire in the last year for which figures are available. [161386]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: In 2003–04 Lancashire Local Education Authority (LEA) received £395,863 of Government funding to support drug education in schools. Of this, £261,599 originated from this Department, £114,304 from the Department of Health, and £20,000 from the Home Office to cover enhanced school drug adviser support for Lancashire's participation in the Blueprint research programme. The LEA is able to add to this funding if it wishes.
There has been no direction from Government as to the proportion of this funding that should be spent on education about different substances or on schools in different sectors.
Education Funding
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on higher education in Crosby in each of the last seven years. [160411]
Alan Johnson: There is no higher education institution in Crosby receiving funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Institutions located outside Crosby may be undertaking activities in the area, for example outreach to raise the attainment and aspirations of potential HE entrants, or special arrangements with schools and colleges to improve progression into HE. This information is not held centrally.
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his most recent assessment is of the total funding per pupil in Worcestershire for the next financial year. [162131]
Mr. Miliband: In 2004–05, Worcestershire's total funding per pupil aged 3–19 is estimated at £3,490. That figure takes account of the authority's Education
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Formula Spending Share and grants allocated so far. It also includes an estimated allocation of the School Standards direct grant for Worcestershire.
Examination Grades
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils in (a) Ribble Valley and Fulwood constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West achieved three grade As or more at A-level in each year since 1997–98. [161808]
Mr. Miliband: The percentages of 16 to 18-year-old A-level candidates achieving three or more grade As at A-level in (a) Ribble Valley and Fulwood constituency, (b) Lancashire local education authority and (c) the North West in each year since 1997/98 are:
| (a) Ribble Valley and Fulwood constituency(26) | (b) Lancashire LEA | (c) North West region | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 7.1 | 6.6 | 5.3 |
| 1999 | 15.0 | 8.0 | 5.7 |
| 2000 | 10.7 | 8.1 | 5.8 |
| 2001 | 9.3 | 8.2 | 5.9 |
| 2002 | 9.4 | 7.6 | 5.7 |
| 2003 | 9.7 | 7.7 | 5.7 |
(26) These figures are made up of two institutions in the Ribble Valley and Fulwood constituency.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 15 to 16 year olds in Buckingham achieved five or more GCSEs at grade A to C or GNVQ equivalent in each of the last seven years. [161576]
Mr. Miliband: The statistical information requested is detailed in the following table:
| Academic year | Buckingham parliamentary constituency | England |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 54.1 | 45.1 |
| 1998 | 54.4 | 46.3 |
| 1999 | 57.7 | 47.9 |
| 2000 | 56.0 | 49.2 |
| 2001 | 60.6 | 50.0 |
| 2002 | 59.4 | 51.6 |
| 2003 | 63.5 | 52.9 |
(27) Pupils are aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 15 to 16 year olds in Chorley achieved five or more GCSEs at A to C or GNVQ equivalent in each of the last seven years. [161602]
Mr. Miliband: The statistical information requested is detailed in the following table:
| Academic year | Chorley parliamentary constituency | England |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 53.7 | 45.1 |
| 1998 | 51.4 | 46.3 |
| 1999 | 52.1 | 47.9 |
| 2000 | 56.7 | 49.2 |
| 2001 | 53.8 | 50.0 |
| 2002 | 57.4 | 51 .6 |
| 2003 | 61.0 | 52.9 |
(28) Pupils are aged 15 at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August.
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Free Pre-school Places
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) free nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four year olds in Buckingham in each of the last seven years. [161314]
Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested.
Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-olds in Buckinghamshire local education authority area are shown in the table.
The latest figures on provision for 3 and 4-year-olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin 'Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2003' which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.
By April 2004, six months ahead of our original target, all 3-year-olds in England whose parents want one, will have access to a free, part-time early education place.
| Position in Januaryeach year | 3-year-olds | 4-year-olds |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 600 | 5,700 |
| 1998 | 700 | 5,900 |
| 1999 | 700 | 6,200 |
| 2000 | 700 | 6,100 |
| 2001 | 1,200 | 6,100 |
| 2002 | 2,500 | 5,900 |
| 2003 | 3,900 | 6,000 |
(29) Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by 3 and 4-year-old children.
(30) A free nursery education place comprises five 2½ hour sessions of early years education per week, for 33 weeks of the year, usually three terms of 11 weeks.
Further Education
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what barriers to re-entering full-time further education for 19-year-olds and over he has identified. [160423]
Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 11 March 2004]: Adults who wish to re-enter further education full-time face a range of issues. The National Employment Panel report, Welfare to Workforce Development, which was published on 9 March, refers to a need for improved services and support for learners. The Study of Learners in Further Education (RR 469, September 2003), which my Department commissioned, also highlights the financial implications of being a full-time learner in further education.
Within the framework of the Skills Strategy, the Government is taking action to address these issues and to encourage adults to learn, The measures we are taking include:
- The new Adult Learning Grant (ALG), which is being piloted in 10 local LSC areas. This is a major step in helping adults who did not achieve their potential in initial education. ALGs offer a means tested allowance of up to £30 per week for full-time
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- students aged between 19–30 studying for their first full level 2 or first full level 3 qualification. The pattern of attendance required to qualify for ALG means that learners can combine studies with part-time working.
- The Government provides 75 per cent. of the standard national course costs to the Learning and Skills Council to pass on to Further Education Institutions (FEIs).
- In 2003–04, £96.5 million of Learner Support Funds have been made available for FE students aged 19+ who may find finance a barrier to learning. Learner Support Funds include Access Funds (which can help towards the cost of books, equipment, transport and tuition fees), Childcare Support Funds and Residential Bursaries.
- We are also working with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to address the financial disincentives to learn for people in receipt of benefits.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact of the 16 hour rule on participation rates of homeless people in further education. [160424]
Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 11 March 2004]: My Department has not made a specific assessment of the impact of the 16 hour rule on participation rates of homeless people in further education. However, both DfES and The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which has responsibility for the '16 hour rule', recognise that the rule can create difficulties for some people, including homeless people, who wish to participate in, and complete, courses of further education.
DfES and DWP are working together to address financial disincentives to learn for people in receipt of benefits. This is in line with the recommendations of the National Employment Panel report, "Welfare to Workforce Development", which was published on 9 March.
Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the further education centres of learning which (a) have closed in London in the past five years, (b) are due to close this year, (c) have opened in the past five years in London and (d) are due to open this year. [162107]
Alan Johnson: The Department only holds information on the dissolution of existing further education institutions and the incorporation of new ones. In the last five years Cordwainers College, Ealing Tertiary College, Greenhill College Harrow, Hendon College, Kingsway College, Phoenix College and Weald College have been dissolved and their property, rights and liabilities transferred to other further education institutions to effect mergers. The Brooke House Sixth Form College has been incorporated within the last five years. There are no other dissolutions or incorporations planned this year. Mark Haysom, Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council will write with details of any other significant changes.
Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make it his policy to require further education colleges disposing of listed buildings to return a proportion of the buildings' capital value to the community which owned them prior to incorporation. [162108]
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Alan Johnson: The transaction of land and buildings by a Further Education college is specifically covered by the 'Financial Memorandum' which is a significant part of the contract between the LSC and FE corporations and regulates their relationship on financial and related matters. The 'Financial Memorandum' states that a college would normally apply the proceeds of asset sales to investment in fixed assets and, where the college is proposing to dispose of land and buildings which have been acquired by Exchequer funds, allows the LSC to require the college to surrender some or all of the proceeds.
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