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13 Jul 2005 : Column 1034W—continued
Graduate Employment
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the proportion of graduates in jobs for which a degree was not an advertised requirement one year after completion of their studies for each year between 1994 and 2004. [10068]
Bill Rammell: We do not collect the information at the level of detail requested. The available information covers first degree graduates who were in employment six months after graduation. The earliest data relate to graduates in the academic year 2002/03. Respondents were asked if they would have been able to get the job they were doing without the qualification they obtained.
Of first degree graduates, known to be in employment and who responded to the question, 39 per cent. qualifying in 2002/03 and 37 per cent. qualifying in 2003/04 responded that they could have obtained their job without their degree qualification. Figures and percentages are given in the following table.
(1) Figures cover home and EU full-time and part-time first degree graduates from UK HE institutions.
(2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 5, so constituent parts may not sum to totals.
Source:
Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA))
The Department also commissioned a survey of 1995 graduates, tracking graduate careers 3 and a half years post-graduation, which asks about how the skills gained at university have since been put to use. For this cohort it is estimated that 65 per cent. of employed graduates—six months after leaving—are in jobs using their degree skills, and this rises to 70 per cent. after one year, and to nearly 80 per cent. within three and a half years 1 . This research is currently being updated tracking the careers of a cohort of 1999 graduates up to four years after leaving university—this will be published in the autumn.
In addition, projections of occupational demand show that of the 13.5 million total jobs expected to be filled by 2012, 50 per cent.—that is 6.8 million—are in occupations most likely to demand graduates 2 .
1 Data from Elias, P et al (1999) Moving On: graduate careers three years after graduation". CSU/DfEE.
2 Based on data from Wilson, R et al (2004) Working Futures: new projections of occupational employment by sector and region", 2002–2012 IER, Warwick.
Key Stage 2 Results
Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 11-year-olds failed to reach level 2 at KS2 in reading, writing and mathematics in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [10771]
Jacqui Smith:
The information requested is as follows:
13 Jul 2005 : Column 1035W
| 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Writing | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Mathematics | 5 | 5 | 4 |
These figures cover all schools, including independent schools and pupil referral units.
Looked-after Children
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what plans she has to introduce measures to assist local authorities in reducing the number of placements experienced by looked-after children; [11797]
(2) what reports she has received and what discussions she has had relating to the effect of placing looked-after children from London and inner-cities in seaside communities. [11798]
Maria Eagle: Improving the stability of looked-after children's lives, and thus reducing the number of placements which they experience, is one of the Government's key objectives. The Department for Education and Skills has a public service agreement target that, by 2008, 80 per cent. of children under 16 who have been looked after for 2.5 years or more will have been in the same placement for at least two years or be placed for adoption. We are working closely with local authorities to ensure that this target can be met: we have issued a range of tools and guidance to help authorities commission placements for children more effectively; we have a programme of work in place to improve the support received by foster carers; we are looking at ways in which to encourage better use of friends and family placements; we are working to reduce unnecessary delays in public law cases; and we have introduced independent reviewing officers to chair individual children's reviews. These all have important contributions to make in securing improved stability for looked after children.
Kent Child Protection Committee sent the Department a report on child and public protection issues in Thanet at the end of June. We are currently considering the report carefully and will respond to the Committee in due course. At the same time, we are also considering a national report, commissioned by Ministers last year, on identifying ways of helping local authorities both to reduce their dependence on out-of-authority placements for looked after children, and to improve support for children who are placed out-of-authority.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many looked-after children under 16 years of age (a) were prescribed contraceptive measures and (b) had pregnancy terminations (i) with and (ii) without parental consultation and approval in each of the last five years. [11802]
Maria Eagle:
The information requested is not collected centrally.
13 Jul 2005 : Column 1036W
Student Finance
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of students were assessed to make (a) no contribution towards their fees, (b) a partial contribution towards their fees and (c) a full contribution towards their fees in each academic year between 1999–2000 and 2004–05. [10050]
Bill Rammell: Students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition based on household income. Students from lower income backgrounds are wholly or partially exempt from paying tuition fees.
Available data on the percentage of students making a nil, partial or full contribution to their fees are given in the table.
(3) Data do not include those students who decide not to apply for any support with their fees and instead make direct application to the institution.
Source:
F503G Survey of Local Education Authorities and SLC
Data in the answer cover the period from 1999/2000 to 2003/04. Information on the percentage of student contributions to tuition fees in 2004/05 is not yet available, but this will be included in a Statistical First Release due to be published in November 2005.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Cereal Disease
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the level of risk of cereal disease due to high temperatures and low rainfall; and if she will make a statement. [11155]
Jim Knight: The major indigenous diseases of UK wheat and barley crops are favoured by wet weather, particularly in spring and summer. With current production systems and cereal varieties, high temperatures and low rainfall reduce the incidence of cereal diseases. Other risks are monitored as part of the UK's surveillance programme for plant quarantine diseases. Generally, these risks are unlikely to increase as a result of high temperatures and low rainfall.
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