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27 May 2004 : Column 1821W—continued

Skill-based Qualifications

15. Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to develop flexible skill-based qualifications. [176004]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: Creating an employment-led qualifications system for adults that responds quickly to changing skills needs is a key goal of the Government's Skills Strategy.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is working with the Learning and Skills Council, the Sector Skills Development Agency and partners in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland to develop a fully operational credit-based system across all sectors.

Overseas Students

16. Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the annual number of overseas students coming to study in the UK after 2006. [176005]

Alan Johnson: My Department has no plans to estimate the number of overseas students who may come to the UK to study in the future.

Deferred University Entry

17. Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people applied for deferred entry to university in 2003–04. [176006]

Alan Johnson: Figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions (UCAS) show that 18,930, or 12 per cent., of 18-year-olds who obtained a place on a full-time undergraduate course in autumn 2003, chose to defer entry.
 
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Adult Education Spending

Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what public funding has been spent on adult (a) literacy and (b) numeracy in Blackpool North and Fleetwood in each of the last five years. [176146]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The estimated total spend on "Skills For Life"—the Government's strategy for literacy, language and numeracy needs of all post-16 learners from pre-entry level up to and including level 2—and on Key Skills (essential skills of communication, application of number and information technology), from April 2001 to July 2003, in the Lancashire Learning and Skills Council (LSC) area is set out in the table as follows:
£000

	Basic skills	Key skills
April 2001 to July 2001(28)	3,370	1,270
August 2001 to July 2002	6,577	1,857
August 2002 to July 2003	7,815	1,948

⁽²⁸⁾   The figures for April to July 2001 include costs incurred from August 2000 on learning aims continuing into April 2001.

From the information available to the LSC it has not been feasible to obtain estimates at constituency level or separate figures by subject without incurring disproportionate cost. Likewise it has not been feasible to obtain comparable figures for periods before April 2001 when the Skills for Life strategy was launched and the LSC was formed, but information shows it was considerably less than at present.

Adult Learning and Skills

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that young people and their families are being prepared through the 13 to 19 curriculum for the effects of demographic changes to the workforce over the coming decade and possible skills mismatches. [175845]

Mr. Miliband: The Government set out their strategy for the 14–19 phase of education in their policy document, 14–19: "Opportunity and Excellence". They have asked the Working Group on 14–19 Reform to recommend how there might be greater coherence in vocational learning programmes for all young people in their 14–19 education and on a unified framework of qualifications suitable for all learners. The Group's interim report was published in February and its final report is expected in the Autumn. The Government have already taken action to bring work related and vocational education into the mainstream of the secondary system to help address skills needs. Among other measures: work related learning will become a statutory requirement for all at KS4 from September 2004; qualifications such as the GCSEs in vocational subjects have been introduced to extend the curriculum offer; and programmes such as "Increased Flexibility for 14–16 Year Olds" and "Young Apprenticeships" will provide off-site placements and experience of work for students wanting more applied learning. The Skills Strategy, published in July 2003, set out an over-arching vision for equipping individuals and employers with the
 
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skills they need in order to increase productivity, increase personal returns and close the skills gaps with our international competitors.

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how his Department is (a) balancing the targeted social welfare agenda and the skills agenda and (b) taking into account (i) the OECD review of career development, (ii) the inquiry by the Education and Skills Select Committee into skills strategy and (iii) changing workforce demography; and if he will make a statement. [175848]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: In response to the hon. Member's first question, the Department is working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions to balance the targeted social welfare agenda and the skills agenda.

The Skills Strategy White Paper—"21st Century Skills: Realising Our Potential", published July 2003—invited the National Employer Panel to look at this specific issue. The Panel reported in February 2004 with a number of recommendations. We are taking these forward these recommendations working with DWP, the LSC and Jobcentre Plus. Building on this report, in the Budget, the Chancellor announced a New Deal for Skills. This will focus on the low skilled who are on benefits—both active and inactive—and help them acquire the skills they need for sustained employment.

In response to his second question, the Education and Skills Select Committee started its inquiry into skills in January focusing initially on 14 to 19 agenda; it is currently on-going and is due to continue after the summer recess. We await the conclusions of the Committee's work with interest.

The OECD report, "Career Guidance and Public Policy: Bridging the Gap" (published March 2004), highlighted some positive activity in the UK in relation to career guidance and good practice. We recognise that services such as the Connexions Service for young people, the work of Jobcentre Plus and the reform of IAG services for adults must take account of the demographic changes in the UK. I recognise that the demographic changes show that there will be an older workforce, and we must look to the integration of the skills and welfare agenda to both re-skill and up-skill older workers, and to support and encourage those people on benefits into work with appropriate training. That is why the New Deal for Skills agenda is so important.

Adult Skills

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the number of economically inactive adults without a level 2 qualification; and if he will make a statement. [174368]

Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 25 May 2004]: According to the quarterly Labour Force Survey, in winter 2003/04 there were 2,862,000 economically inactive adults lacking a level 2 qualification (49.2 per cent. of an inactive population of 5,822,000).

As we said in our Skills Strategy White Paper, "21st Century Skills", we will create a new guarantee of free tuition for any adult without a good foundation of employability skills to get the training they need to
 
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achieve such a qualification at level 2. We intend that it will apply to those in the workforce or of working age—including the economically inactive who are seeking those employability skills—who do not already have a full level 2 qualification, and who commit to trying to achieve one. The entitlement will be trialled in two regions—the North East and the South East—from September 2004. Subject to experience in the first year, we will roll out the entitlement nationally from September 2005.

In the 2004 Budget the Chancellor announced a New Deal for Skills. This will focus on people with significant skills needs who are on benefits—both active and inactive—and help them acquire the skills they need for sustained employment.

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the number of economically inactive adults with a level 3 qualification; and if he will make a statement. [174369]

Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 25 May 2004]: According to the quarterly Labour Force Survey, in Winter 2003/04 there were 1,903,000 economically inactive adults with a level 3 qualification (or higher), representing 32.7 per cent. of an inactive population of 5,822,000.

We want to increase the number of people with level 3 qualifications that will enhance their employability. Working through Regional Skills Partnerships and Sector Skills Councils, priority skills needs will be identified so that learning undertaken at level 3 has greater impact for both individuals and employers as regional and sector skills priorities are addressed.

In the 2004 Budget the Chancellor announced a New Deal for Skills. This will focus on people with significant skills needs who are on benefits—both active and inactive—and help them acquire the skills they need for sustained employment.

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to maintain adult skills provision at (a) basic, (b) level 2 and (c) level 3 in the Worthing area. [175449]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Government outlined their commitment to improving adult skills in "21st Century Skills" published in July 2003 and has set challenging PSA targets for skills improvement in basic skills and at level 2.

Sussex Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for planning and funding adult skills provision in Worthing through the main further education college, Northbrook College, and other learning providers including Worthing College and West Sussex Adult Education Service. Northbrook College, in its three-year development plan, outlined plans to maintain learner numbers at entry level, level 1 and level 3, with an increase in learners at level 2.

Sussex LSC is working closely with local providers and partners, in order to ensure that the strategic area review delivers an improvement in the provision and that the needs of individuals and employers are being met effectively. Sussex LSC is also involved in the
 
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national pilot for level 2 entitlement to deliver free provision and financial support to adults without level 2 qualifications.

In addition, Sussex LSC has established a Skills for Life Development Centre, in partnership with the South East England Development Agency to increase demand for, and improve, basic skills provision.

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