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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
 
21 Oct 2005 : Column 1252W
 
(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
	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Advanced apprenticeships	3,800	2,900	4,600
Apprenticeships at level 2	11,900	14,100	17,100
NVQ training	3,900	3,300	1,200
Total—any framework or NVQ	19,600	20,400	22,900

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
	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	(number)
Advanced apprenticeships 2001/02	2,700	(38)	1,10015	(15)	3,800	(53)	7,200
Advanced apprenticeships 2002/03	1,600	(30)	1,200	(21)	2,800	(51)	5,400
Advanced apprenticeships 2003/04	1,400	(27)	1,700	(32)	3,100	(59)	5,200
Apprenticeships at level 2 2001/02	1,700	(24)	800	(12)	2,600	(36)	7,100
Apprenticeships at level 2 2002/03	1,400	(18)	1,200	(15)	2,600	(32)	8,100
Apprenticeships at level 2 2003/04	2,700	(25)	1,400	(13)	4,200	(38)	10,900
NVQ training 2001/02	—	—	1,800	(35)	—	—	5,100
NVQ training 2002/03	—	—	1,300	(32)	—	—	4,200
NVQ training 2003/04	—	—	600	(45)	—	—	1,400
Total—any framework or NVQ 2001–02	—	—	8,200	—	—	(42)	19,400
Total—any framework or NVQ 2002–03	—	—	6,700	—	—	(38)	17,700
Total—any framework or NVQ 2003–04	—	—	7,900	—	—	(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.

Vera Baird MP

Brian Binley MP

Graham Brady MP

Annette Brooke MP

Sir John Butterfill MP

Ann Coffey MP

Derek Conway MP

Ann Cryer MP

Philip Davies MP

Rt Hon. John Denham MP

Tobias Ellwood MP

Tim Farron MP

Rt Hon. Frank Field MP

Barbara Follett MP

 
21 Oct 2005 : Column 1253W
 

Mark Hendrick MP

Stephen Hesford MP

David Howarth MP

Susan Kramer MP

Bob Laxton MP

Shahid Malik MP

Chris Mole MP

Elliot Morley MP

Greg Mulholland MP

Chris Mullin MP

Jim Paice MP

Nick Palmer MP

Andrew Pelling MP

John Penrose MP

Rt Hon. Nick Raynsford MP

Andy Reed MP

Alison Seabeck MP

Andrew Selous MP

Barry Sheerman MP

Sarah Teather MP

Mark Todd MP

Theresa Villiers MP

Dr. Rudi Vis MP

Ben Wallace MP

Dr. Tony Wright MP

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

"He is very keen that the Department gets a much stronger focus on subjects and has sought the assistance of our two organisations in doing so. Clearly this has to go hand in hand with wider policies which go across the education sector, but the need is recognised to strengthen teaching and learning within each subject, and to give teachers opportunities to pursue their own subject knowledge and pedagogic development.

In geography, there are some challenging questions. For example, what is the unique contribution of geography to a broad and balanced education? How can we get the balance right between a solid knowledge base and well developed enquiry skills? What should young people have acquired by the age of 14, and beyond? What factors are currently impeding our progress? How can we foster the important contribution of geography to the sustainable development and international agendas?"

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:

1. Dr. Rita Gardner, Director, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

2. Dr. David Lambert, Chief Executive, Geographical Association

3. Professor Andrew Goudie, Master, St. Cross College, Oxford

4. Professor David Rhind, Vice-Chancellor, City University

5. Helen Martin, Deputy Head, Shelley Primary School, Horsham

6. David Rayner, Head of Geography, Rainham Mark Grammar School, Medway

7. Dr. Mike Firth, Head, Meridian Upper School, Royston

8. Dr. Martin Frost, Director of Geographical Analyses, National Evaluation of Sure Start

9. Vanessa Lawrence, Director General, Ordnance Survey

10. Dr. Caroline Bressey, Research Fellow at the Department of Geography, University College London.

11. Barnaby Briggs, Head of Social Performance Management Unit, Shell International

12. Alasdair Thomas, Director, Birdwing

13. Dr. Gordon Conway, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for International Development

14. Dr. Nick Middleton, writer and presenter Channel 4 series "Going to Extremes" and "Surviving Extremes"

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