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Science Courses (Higher and Further Education)

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many science courses have been available in (a) higher and (b) further education establishments in each year since 1997 in (i) England, (ii) each English region and (iii) the Tees Valley. [73654]

Bill Rammell: Information on the numbers of courses offered by institutions is not held centrally. The following tables show the number of students enrolled on science courses since 1997.

Undergraduate students( 1 ) enrolled on science courses( 2) Government Office Region( 3 ) 1997-98 to 2004-05
Region of institution 1997-98 1998-99

North

27,970

29,850

North West

62,540

66,125

Yorkshire and Humberside

51,645

54,420

East Midlands

36,450

37,350

West Midlands

44,090

45,300

East Anglia

9,165

9,765

South East

79,960

79,645

South West

36,235

38,170

Greater London

81,760

83,735

Total English Regions

429,815

444,360

The Tees Valley

6,005

5,740


Region of institution 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05

North East

30,435

31,600

31,090

34,740

36,130

36,285

North West

68,570

70,760

71,000

77,570

82,135

81,925

Yorkshire and Humberside

55,725

56,095

56,105

64,210

62,235

62,320

East Midlands

36,190

37,345

38,410

42,850

46,895

46,470

West Midlands

46,315

47,995

49,500

54,595

57,415

57,350

Eastern

33,890

33,065

34,680

39,900

39,095

42,080

South East

52,620

53,370

54,200

59,815

103,220

110,420

South West

38,770

39,785

41,330

45,010

47,355

47,550

Greater London

89,715

93,975

98,040

105,845

106,410

109,870

Total English Regions

452,230

463,990

474,360

524,540

580,885

594,270

The Tees Valley

7,310

9,020

8,450

10,360

11,070

10,655

(1) Based on a snapshot count of students, as at 1 December each year. (2) A new method of allocating students to subject groups was introduced in 2002-03, the main effect of which was to increase the number of students allocated to specific named subjects and decrease the number of students allocated to "Combined Subject" courses. This will have contributed to the rise in science enrolments between 2001-02 and 2002-03. Science includes medicine/dentistry, subjects allied to medicine, biological sciences, veterinary sciences, veterinary science, agriculture, physical sciences, mathematical sciences, computer science, engineering/technology and architecture. (3) The classification of Government Office regions was revised in 2000-01. Merseyside has been included with the north west. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.


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Learning Aim Enrolments in FE in Science and Mathematics Area of Learning for 2002-03 to 2004-05
Enrolments by Region 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05

National Office

25,394

716

674

East England

50,529

41,182

38,906

East Midlands

39,945

30,263

29,877

Greater London

86,676

72,696

64,060

North-East

35,756

30,567

27,992

North-West

85,789

75,601

68,740

South-East

81,984

71,333

69,410

South-West

42,660

38,143

40,495

West Midlands

70,339

58,726

54,783

Yorkshire and Humberside

52,353

50,926

45,789

National Total

571,425

47U.153

440,726

National Total—All FE Enrolments —All Subjects

8,249,256

7,872,271

7,845,818


Enrolments at Tees Valley Local LSC

2002-03

Tees Valley

14,669

2003-04

Tees Valley

12,515

2004-05

Tees Valley

12,475

Note: FE learning aim enrolments on aims classified as being in the 'Science and Mathematics' area of learning are given. Area of Learning is used rather than sector subject area as there are more historical data using this classification. Local office classification is based on the relation between providers and their lead LLSC. Data are not supplied for prior to 2002-03 as the definitions of programme areas and how to count learners changed at that point. Source: Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Individualised Learner Record 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05


Student Finance

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have contacted the Student Loans Company with queries relating to student loans due to a change in employer in the tax year for each year since 2002; and if he will make a statement. [75321]

Bill Rammell: The information requested is not available. While the Student Loans Company does record information at individual account level, it is unable to break down the total number of contacts from borrowers to this level of detail.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to cut carbon dioxide emissions; and how regularly those steps will be reported on. [77679]

Ian Pearson: We announced on 12 June that we are taking another important step when it comes to greening Government, by committing to make by 2012
16 Jun 2006 : Column 1444W
the Government office estate carbon neutral and committing to reduce Government’s total emissions from buildings by 30 per cent.

This action is consistent with the new UK climate change programme, published in March 2006, which sets out the Government’s commitments at international and domestic levels to meeting the challenges of climate change. It also includes a commitment to introduce a new annual report to Parliament on the level of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and the steps the Government have been taking to reduce these. The first report is expected to be issued in spring 2007.

The UK’s climate change programme 2006 is available on the Defra website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/uk/ukccp/pdf/ukccp06-all. pdf.

Correspondence

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he will reply to the letter of 16 March from the hon. Member for Aylesbury to the former Minister of State for Environment and Agri-Environment about climate change on behalf of Mr. T. R. of Princes Risborough. [76342]

Ian Pearson: I apologise for the delay in replying to the hon. Gentleman's letter. A response will be issued shortly.

Departmental Blog

Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the start-up cost was for his departmental blog; how much he expects the blog to cost each year; and if he will make a statement. [77140]

Barry Gardiner: The initial start-up costs for the Secretary of State's blog were met by the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Costs of transferring the blog to DEFRA (including design, text and administration changes) have amounted to approximately £1,250. Ongoing costs for hosting and support would amount to some £900 a year on the current basis. There will be further ongoing administrative costs, consisting of a percentage of an existing member of staff's time.

Electrical Goods

Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to promote and support the use of dynamic power management devices in fridges, freezers and other electrical household white goods. [76749]

Ian Pearson: The Government are aware that a number of dynamic demand control devices have been or are being developed by manufacturers as a potential means for reducing the peak load demand on the power grid.


16 Jun 2006 : Column 1445W

We are currently investigating, via a small scale test carried out by the Market Transformation Programme (MTP), what effect these devices have on the operation of cold appliances.

For further information on the MTP, please go to: http://www.mtprog.com/


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