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12 Sept 2005 : Column 2347W—continued
Higher Education
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many UK-domiciled higher education qualifiers at (a) first degree and (b) postgraduate degree level there were in each year between 1994 and 2004. [11099]
Bill Rammell: The latest information is shown in the table:
Note:
Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils in (a) Southend, (b) the Metropolitan Police area of London and (c) Hertfordshire went on to higher education from (i) maintained school sixth forms,
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(ii)sixth form colleges, (iii) further education colleges and (iv) special schools in the last year for which figures are available. [14128]
Beverley Hughes: Figures on participation by local areas were published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England in January in Young Participation in England", which is available from their website at: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_037. Participation rates for local education authorities based on this work (including those within the Metropolitan Police area), showing figures for the years up to 2000, are given on the supporting POLAR website (www.hefce.ac.uk/polar). However, the figures are not dis-aggregated by type of school attended.
The Department uses the Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR) to assess progress on increasing first-time participation of English students aged 18–30 in higher education towards 50 per cent.: the latest provisional figure for 2003/04 is 43 per cent. The HEIPR is not calculated at local area level.
Immigration and Asylum
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost was in each of the last three financial years of delivering education to individuals and their families in the immigration and asylum system. [14691]
Bill Rammell: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost, however the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) estimate that in 2003–04, the latest period for which data are currently available, further education (FE) colleges received approximately £47 million for the education of asylum seekers and their dependants. Information for earlier years is not readily available. Asylum seekers and their dependants are eligible for FE if they are supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) or receive similar (usually local authority) support. Asylum seekers not receiving NASS or similar support are not eligible for publicly funded FE.
In the first quarter of 2005, the number of asylum applications was 22 per cent. lower than the same period in 2004, and 69 per cent. lower than the fourth quarter of 2002. This fall in intake follows the introduction of a range of measures by the Government to reduce the number of unfounded asylum claims. We are continuing to introduce measures that will reduce the number of unfounded claims still further and increase removals of failed asylum seekers.
The Department does not keep separate records on the number of children of those in the immigration and asylum system who are being educated at school. Nor do data produced by the Higher Education Statistics Agency separately identify individuals and their families in the immigration and asylum system studying in higher education courses. It is not therefore possible to estimate costs for these areas of education.
Looked-after Children
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many independent children's homes are registered in England. [12813]
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Maria Eagle: Information provided by CSCI indicates that 1,239 independent children's homes were registered in England, as at 19 July 2005.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) announced and (b) unannounced inspections of children's homes have taken place since July 2004; how many homes have been inspected; and what percentage of the total this represents. [12815]
Beverley Hughes:
The number of children's homes registered with the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) at 31 March 2004 was 1,845. The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) took over the responsibilities of the NCSC on 1 April 2004 and at 31 March 2005 2,046 children's homes were registered with the Commission.
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Between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2005 CSCI completed 100 per cent. of its regulatory inspections of children's homes. Between July 2004 and June 2005 CSCI inspected 1,984 children's homes making 1,488 announced inspections and 1,762 unannounced inspections. The 1,984 homes inspected represents 97 per cent. of the 2,046 children's homes registered with the Commission.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of looked-after children (a) under the age of two, (b) aged two to five, (c) aged six to 10 and (d) aged ten or above experienced three or more changes of placement in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001, (iii) 2002, (iv) 2003 and (v) 2004. [13785]
Beverley Hughes: The information requested is provided in the following tables:
(29)Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements.
(30)Figures taken from the SSDA 903 return.
(31)Figures over 1,000 are rounded to nearest 100. All other figures are rounded to the nearest 10
(32)Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements.
(33)Figures taken from the SSDA 903 return.
(34)Figures over 1,000 are rounded to nearest 100. All other figures are rounded to the nearest 10
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local authorities have a specific policy for service provision for minority ethnic looked-after children. [13793]
Maria Eagle: Information about the number of local authorities which have a specific policy for service provision for minority ethnic looked-after children is not collected centrally. Information from the Commission for Social Care Inspection indicates that they are at a range of different stages in adapting their services in order to comply with their statutory duty to promote race equality, as required by the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.
Management Consultancies
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which five management consultancies received the highest value of contracts awarded by her Department in each of the last three years; and what the total value was of the contracts awarded to each. [12571]
Maria Eagle: This information could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total expenditure saved in each of the last three years as a result of implementing recommendations by management consultancies within the Department was. [13574]
Maria Eagle: This information could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
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