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3 July 2006 : Column 683W—continued
Office of the Independent Adjudicator
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator in solving disagreements between students and universities; and if he will make a statement. [80595]
Bill Rammell: The provisions of the Higher Education Act 2004 require the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) to produce an annual report which must include information about:
the complaints referred under the scheme;
the decisions and recommendations made by reviewers;
the extent to which recommendations made by the reviewers have been followed; and
the way in which the operator has used the fees paid in connection with the scheme.
We receive and monitor this information regularly and I will make an assessment on the basis of the OIA's annual report which will be published later this year.
Older People (Skills Training)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) grants and (b) training schemes are available through his Department (i) for people over 55 years and (ii) for people in retirement to learn new job skills. [80745]
Phil Hope:
In England the priorities for public funding of adult learning are to help those adults without the skills for life and employability, regardless of age. Tuition in literacy and numeracy is free and there will be an entitlement to free tuition for a first full
level 2 qualification across England from September this year for all adults irrespective of age. All adults can access a wide range of training courses offered by further education college and other FE providers where, currently, on average 72.5 per cent. of the tuition costs of courses are met by public funding through the Learning and Skills Council. In addition all those on income related benefits and their families are eligible for free tuition on further education courses.
There is also financial support to meet the costs of learning, such as books, equipment, child care and transport; it is discretionary, disbursed by colleges and targeted on the most disadvantaged and needy regardless of age. The Adult Learning Grant offers an entitlement of up to £30 per week to individuals on low income undertaking a first full level 2 or level 3 qualification. From September 2006 this will be available to adults aged 19 plus in 24 of the 47 LSC areas, and nationally from September 2007.
Part-time Students
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people started studying for a degree on a part-time basis in each of the last 10 years. [81342]
Bill Rammell: The available information is given in the table.
| Part-time entrants to first degree courses at English HE institutions, 1995/96 to 2004/05 | ||
| Academic year | Entrants at English HEIs (excluding the Open university) | Entrants at the Open university( 1) |
| (1) Figures for the Open university have been listed separately as in some years we are unable to identify first degree students from all undergraduate students (as all undergraduate students are recorded as studying for ‘undergraduate credits’) and in some years we are unable to identify entrants. Note: Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December and are rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record. | ||
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people completed a degree via part-time study in each of the last 10 years. [81343]
Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the table.
| First degree qualifications obtained from part-time study at English HE institutions | |
| Academic year | Qualifications |
| Notes: 1. Figures exclude students obtaining qualifications from dormant modes of study. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record. | |
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many women aged (a) 18 to 24, (b) 25 to 34, (c) 35 to 44 and (d) 45 years and over are enrolled in part-time study at universities in England. [81344]
Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the following table.
| Part time female enrolments at English HE institutions( 1) , 2004/05 | ||||
| Age( 2) | PG | 1( st) degree | Other UG | Total |
| (1) Including the Open University. (2) As at 31 August 2004. Note: Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December and are rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) | ||||
PE Teachers
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many trained physical education teachers there were in England in each of the last five years. [81219]
Jim Knight: Information on the number of teachers teaching by subject and qualification is collected for England in periodic staffing surveys the last of which was conducted in November 2002.
The following tables provide the available information.
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