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21 Oct 2005 : Column 1251W—continued

Apprenticeships

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have (a) begun and
 
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(b) successfully completed apprenticeships related to the construction industry in each of the last five years for which records are available. [18169]

Bill Rammell: Figures for those starting and successfully completing apprenticeships in construction funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) derive from the Individual Learner Record (ILR). This was collated for the first time in 2001/02 (as an Interim ILR) and comparable figures are only available for the three years from then. Results for 2004/05 are scheduled for publication in December 2005.

(a) Table 1 shows the number of starts on apprenticeships or NVQ training done within a work-based learning programme in construction.
Table 1: Number of starts in LSC fundedWBL provision in construction

Starts
2001–022002–032003–04
Advanced apprenticeships3,8002,9004,600
Apprenticeships at level 211,90014,10017,100
NVQ training3,9003,3001,200
Total—any framework or NVQ19,60020,40022,900




Note:
Numbers may not add to totals due to founding




(b) Table 2 shows numbers (and proportions) of learners who successfully completed LSC funded apprenticeships or NVQ training done within a work-based learning (WBL) program in construction.
Table 2: Numbers of successful completers of LSC funded WBL provision in construction

Framework (x)
NVQ only (y)
NVQ successes (x + y)
Total leavers
NumberPercentageNumberPercentageNumberPercentage(number)
Advanced apprenticeships 2001/022,700(38)1,10015(15)3,800(53)7,200
Advanced apprenticeships 2002/031,600(30)1,200(21)2,800(51)5,400
Advanced apprenticeships 2003/041,400(27)1,700(32)3,100(59)5,200
Apprenticeships at level 2 2001/021,700(24)800(12)2,600(36)7,100
Apprenticeships at level 2 2002/031,400(18)1,200(15)2,600(32)8,100
Apprenticeships at level 2 2003/042,700(25)1,400(13)4,200(38)10,900
NVQ training 2001/021,800(35)5,100
NVQ training 2002/031,300(32)4,200
NVQ training 2003/04600(45)1,400
Total—any framework or NVQ 2001–028,200(42)19,400
Total—any framework or NVQ 2002–036,700(38)17,700
Total—any framework or NVQ 2003–047,900(45)17,500




Note: Numbers and percentages may not add up to totals due to rounding




Engagements

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which hon. Members met (a) the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education and (b) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills to discuss further education in response to the invitation issued on 21 June 2005. [20595]

Bill Rammell: The hon. Members listed accepted an invitation to attend the open meetings with the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education on 23 June 2005 and with the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills on 28 June 2005. No formal record was made of attendance at the meetings.


 
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Further Education

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to enable further education colleges to retain funding for students who have withdrawn from courses; and if she will make a statement. [20817]

Bill Rammell: Further education funding recognises the benefits to learners in completing their planned studies and the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) funding methodology rewards institutions with higher retention rates. The LSC's agenda for change funding reform proposals include a simpler and less bureaucratic method of recognizing retention in calculating funding. I have no plans to ask the LSC to remove consideration of retention as a funding principle.

Geography

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) when she expects the working group headed by Lord Adonis on the teaching of geography at primary schools to report; [18111]

(2) if she will list the members of the working group headed by Lord Adonis on the teaching of geography at primary schools; [18112]

(3) what the terms of reference are of the working group headed by Lord Adonis on the teaching of geography at primary schools. [18113]

Jacqui Smith: The Geography Focus Group, formed in 2004, is looking at ways to improve the teaching and learning of geography. Its remit covers both primary and secondary geography and the transition into higher education. The letter of invitation to Group members
 
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sent by the Royal Geographical Society and Geographical Association on behalf of the previous Secretary of State set out that

The Focus Group is putting forward a set of recommendations for action for consideration at the next meeting in November 2005. Members of the Focus Group are:


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