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Green Minister

Mr. Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the activities of the Green Minister in the Department in financial year 2003–04. [185113]

Estelle Morris: Since my appointment as Green Minister for DCMS in July 2003, the Department has published its comprehensive Sustainable Development Strategy and a copy is in the Library of the House. I have encouraged collaboration at ministerial and official level with the Department for Education and Skills in connection with education for sustainable development. I have also had a bilateral meeting with the Minister of State for the Environment.

Publicly Owned Collections

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer of 28 June 2004, what initiatives the Government have introduced to improve public access to items in publicly owned collections of museums, galleries and other civic buildings that are permanently in storage; and if she will make a statement. [185657]

Estelle Morris: DCMS encourages each of its sponsored museums and galleries to improve both intellectual and physical access to those collection items not on open display. Examples include the Natural History Museum Darwin Phase 1 Project which contains the Museum's remarkable collection of 22 million zoological items collected over the last 200 years and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester's Collection Centre which opened up 70 per cent. of the Museum's collection to the public when it opened in 2001. The National Museum of Science and Industry will be opening a new branch of the National Railway Museum (Locomotion) at Shildon in September of this year. It will enable visitors to view up to 60 vehicles that they might not have been able to see previously. In each case the Department has contributed funding to these developments. We also encourage the development of virtual access. A recent example of this is 'Ingenious', the new website of the National Museum
 
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of Science and Industry which allows access to 30,000 images from its collections, which might not otherwise be seen.

Wembley Stadium

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received on progress on the new Wembley Stadium development; and what the latest estimated date is for completion. [183595]

Mr. Caborn: In the period since 1 April 2004 we have received no representations asking about progress towards completion of the Wembley Stadium development.

A key milestone for Wembley National Stadium Ltd. was the successful raising of the Stadium arch in June 2004. The Stadium remains on target for completion in January 2006 and to be built within budget.

We continue to work with all those involved in the development to ensure that public contributions are protected and used in the most efficient and effective ways possible.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received on the costs of the new Wembley Stadium development. [183596]

Mr. Caborn: Since l April 2004 we have received letters from the right hon. Sir George Young and from Mr. Stuart Sutherland of Dornoch, Scotland, about the cost of the Wembley Stadium development.

The stadium remains on target for completion in January 2006 and to be built within budget.

We continue to work with all those involved in the Wembley National Stadium development to ensure that public contributions are protected and used in the most efficient and effective ways possible.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Access to Universities

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for Women what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills regarding (a) the opportunities available for older women to attend universities and (b) how to increase opportunities for women to attend universities. [183712]

Ms Hewitt [holding answer 15 July 2004]: We have regular bilaterals on the cross-Government skills agenda. These bilaterals cover a host of skills related items including, where relevant, issues relating to gender and age in industry and academia. Women returners will be helped by reforms in the Government's Skills Strategy, including the new learner entitlement for those without qualifications, better learner support, and better Information Advice and Guidance. Steps have already been taken to improve services for adults such as the University for Industry (Ufi)/learndirect national advice service. DTI is also taking forward a strategy to improve women's representation in science, engineering and technology, including a resource centre with a specific women returners project.
 
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The Government are keen to ensure that everybody can access learning and qualifications and this is why the Access to Learning funds prioritise groups of students, like mature students who may have existing financial commitments, when allocating the funding. Other forms of financial support available are Career Development Loans, Parents Learning Allowance and the Adult Dependents Grant, which support students who have a financially dependent adult family member.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Apprenticeships

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what policies are followed by his Department to encourage young people to enter apprenticeship schemes within the construction industry. [185339]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: Changes to the Apprenticeship programme recently announced will benefit all sectors including construction. We want to put in place a coherent ladder of high quality vocational opportunities responsive to the needs of young people, older workers and business. We intend to build a family of apprenticeship programmes to suit a variety of needs from aged 14 upwards. These will include: Young Apprenticeships for 14 to 16-year-olds, a pre-apprenticeship route within the existing Entry to Employment programme, Apprenticeships at NVQ Level 2, Advanced Apprenticeships at NVQ Level 3 and a strengthened progression route into higher education, including vocational Foundation Degrees.

In addition we have set up a new network of employer-led Sector Skills Councils to work with government to meet the skill needs of their sectors. Construction Skills—the SSC for construction—was licensed in September 2003. A key role for SSCs is to encourage take up of apprenticeship places by young people and others.

The number of new entrants to the sector rose by 4 per cent. between 2001/02 and 2002/03 and the construction sector is the second most popular Apprenticeship framework with over 23,000 young people in training. Construction was also the most popular sector for both young people and employers responding to the recent Apprenticeship marketing campaign.

Family Support

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions of 15 March 2004, Official Report, column 12, on child poverty, if he will list for each year since 1997 for which data is available the resources that the Government has put into counselling and encouraging people to resolve their relationship difficulties in the interests of their children. [184445]

Margaret Hodge: There are a number of ways in which the Government encourage people to resolve relationship difficulties in the interests of the child. The Marriage and Relationship Support (MARS) grant funds activities aimed at helping people establish, maintain and develop successful relationships with their partners. This includes encouraging people to resolve
 
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relationship difficulties in the interests of their children and meeting the needs of socially and commonly excluded groups.

The MARS programme (since 1997) provided grants as follows: 1997–98: £3.4 million; 1998–99: £3.0 million; 1999–2000: £3.2 million. Following Sir Graham Hart's recommendations in his report to the Lord Chancellor on Marriage Support Funding (published in November 1999), the allocation was increased as follows: 2000–01: £4 million; 2001–02: £4.5 million; 2002–03 and 2003–04: £5 million.

Additionally, Sure Start local programmes and Children's Centres provide a range of family support and counselling services and opportunities for couples to discuss relationship issues. Similarly, a Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) officer might be involved at court directions hearings in providing assistance to children and their families to help them reach agreement on arrangements for their children, primarily in respect of contact and residence.

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