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31 Oct 2006 : Column 280W—continued
Olympic Games
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions she has had with possible future owners of West Ham United on the post-2012 use of the main Olympic Stadium; [97618]
(2) what discussions she has held with (a) the Football Association, (b) football clubs and (c) UK Athletics on the post-2012 use of the main Olympic stadium. [97621]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 30 October 2006]: On 3 July 2006, I and representatives of the other Olympic stakeholders met the Mayor of Newham and representatives of West Ham United to discuss the legacy of the Olympic stadium. I have held no discussions with any future possible owners of West Ham United or with the Football Association or other football clubs.
However, the Minister for Sport and officials have previously had exploratory discussions with those with a potential interest in the legacy use of the stadium, including football clubs.
The Olympic Delivery Authority announced in July that it had appointed consultants to scope possible community legacy uses for the stadium to ensure that Games and legacy use are planned together. They are consulting community groups, sporting bodies and other interested parties. Both UK Athletics and the International Association of Athletics Federations are involved in the consultants' work. This work will conclude at the end of the year.
Osborne Estate
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what progress she has made with the plans to reassign the use of those parts of Osborne House that were previously used as a convalescent home under the terms of the Osborne Estate Acts 1902 and 1914; [97500]
(2) if she will make a statement on the future of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. [97502]
Mr. Lammy: English Heritage is responsible for the management of Osborne House, including the wing previously used as a convalescent home. English Heritage will explore proposals for the use of the wing, subject to Parliament's approval of repeal of part of the Osborne Estate Act 1902. Any proposals will be subject to consultation with the local community, and will go through the usual planning procedures.
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tourists visted Osborne House in each of the last five years. [97501]
Mr. Lammy: These details are set out in the following table:
| Number | |
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been earned through commercial and private activities at Osborne House in each of the last five years. [97513]
Mr. Lammy: These details are set out in the following table:
| £ | |
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on the convalescent wing of Osborne House in each of the last 10 years. [97514]
Mr. Lammy: The convalescent home at Osborne House closed in 2000. From the period 1996 to 2000, English Heritage estimates that £40,000 was spent each year on its maintenance. Following the closure of the convalescent home, maintenance costs have been amalgamated for the whole house and are therefore not captured separately.
Phone-in Quizzes
Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will take steps to classify television phone-in quizzes as lotteries under the Gambling Act 2005. [97798]
Mr. Caborn: The Government have no intention of seeking to regulate genuine prize competitions under gambling law. However, the Government are also firmly committed to maintaining the longstanding convention that lotteries should only be held for good causes and not for private gain.
The Gambling Act 2005, which will come into force in September 2007, will introduce a new definition of a lottery and a complex lottery.
Subsection 14(3) of the new Act provides that an arrangement is a complex lottery if:
(a) persons are required to pay in order to participate in the arrangement,
(b) in the course of the arrangement one or more prizes are allocated to one or more members of a class,
(c) the prizes are allocated by a series of processes, and
(d) the first of those processes relies wholly on chance.
Ultimately only the courts will be able to decide whether or not certain television phone-in quizzes constitute lotteries under the new Act. However, the Gambling Commission is currently consulting on its view that some television quizzes would need to change the way that they are currently operated to ensure that they comply with the new rules.
Seaside Piers
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many seaside pier owners in the (a) public and (b) private sector have applied for lottery funding to maintain and improve their piers since the inception of the lottery; and how many have been successful. [97050]
Mr. Caborn: According to information supplied by the Heritage Lottery Fund:
(a) Ten public sector organisations (local authorities and trusts) have applied for Heritage Lottery Fund funding to maintain and improve their seaside piers. Six were successful in gaining funding.
(b) One private sector owner has applied for HLF funding to maintain and improve their pier. This bid was not successful.
Education and Skills
Adult Literacy
Mr. Skinner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment he has made of levels of adult literacy in England; and if he will make a statement. [98481]
Phil Hope: The 2003 “Skills for Life Survey” reported that 5.2 million people of working age in England have literacy skills below Level 1 (broadly equivalent to the level required to pass an English GCSE at grades D to G.)
Our “Skills for Life” strategy offers adults literacy tuition free of charge up to Level 2 (broadly equivalent to the level required to pass an English GCSE at grades A* to C.). Since the launch of the “Skills for Life” strategy in 2001, 3.7 million learners have taken up 7.9 million “Skills for Life” learning opportunities; this includes approximately 3.2 million literacy learning opportunities. 1,275,000 learners have gone on to attain at least one “Skills for Life” qualification; this includes approximately 450,000 literacy qualifications.
Further Education Budget
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adults participated in further education in each of the last 20 years. [93515]
Phil Hope: Data on enrolments in further education are not available on a comparable basis prior to 1994/95. The following table shows numbers of enrolments in further education in England by those aged 19 or over, for each year from 1994/95 to 2004/05:
| Number of enrolments (thousands) | |||
| FE institutions | Adult education enrolments | Total | |
| Notes: 1. For 2000/01-2001/02 there is no breakdown of Adult Education (AE) data by age band so a breakdown by age cannot be shown. It is known that the totals for 2000/01 and 2001/02 were 1,041 thousand and 1,052 thousand respectively and that typically 95 to 97 per cent. of all adult education (AE) enrolments are aged 19 or over. 2. All figures exclude school 6(th) forms. Sources: 1. FE enrolments: 1994/95 to 1996/97—FEFC: Student Statistics ISR/SFR22; 1996/97-2004/05—LSC Statistical First Release ILR/SFR08 2. Adult Education Enrolments in England: 1994/95-2002/03—Adult Education Enrolments, DfES; 2003/04-2004/05—LSC Statistical First Release ILR/SFR08 | |||
Student Debt
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what advice and support is provided to (a) students and (b) students from poorer backgrounds on managing debt (i) while at university and (ii) after graduation. [96198]
Bill Rammell: Higher Education Institutions and student unions operate money advice services. Most institutions provide a range of student services for their students, and specifically for those students from poorer backgrounds who need particular help, including advice on managing their finances.
Advice and support on money and debt management is also offered by a wide range of other organisations. For example, as part of the Financial Services Authority’s financial capability initiative, Roehampton university have piloted their money doctors scheme, helping students to become financially competent, to confront debt and take control of their own finances; and 18 other institutions will be developing the piloted approaches. UNIAID provide tools, including a new student calculator, to develop budgeting skills and increase understanding of finance. Graduates have access to the same debt advisory services as other adults including citizens advice
bureaux, the Financial Services Association and the Consumer Credit Counselling Service; the Money Advice Liaison Group; and the Money Advice Association.
It is important to recognise that the student loan debt incurred while at university or college is repaid by the student only after leaving the course and when they are earning £15,000 or more; and then only at a rate of 9 per cent. on earnings above that threshold. The Government are providing more in upfront loan and grant support than ever before, particularly for low income students. Full-time eligible students are now entitled to maintenance grants of up to £2,700, with HE institutions also providing bursaries of typically £1,000. Managing debt has to be seen in that broader context.
Vocational Education
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what schemes are in place to support the study of vocational subjects (a) at GCSE level, (b) A-level and (c) in further education. [97726]
Phil Hope: The Increased Flexibility for 14 to 16-year-olds Programme (IFP) was introduced in 2002. The aim of the programme was to create enhanced vocational and work-related learning opportunities for 14 to 16-year-olds of all abilities who can benefit most—this included supporting provision of GCSEs in vocational subjects. A fifth cohort of students embarked on the programme this September.
The young apprenticeship programme for 14 to 16-year-olds offers pupils the opportunity to pursue, alongside their core curriculum, industry-specific courses of study involving extended work experience. Young apprentices combine the practical application of skills in a vocational context with studying for qualifications that relate to particular occupational sectors. There are currently 5,500 pupils on the young apprenticeship programme.
Apprenticeships are the main programme for young employed people seeking vocational qualifications at Level 2 and Level 3. Other opportunities are also being developed, including a pilot programme that started in April this year aimed at encouraging 16 to 18-year-olds in jobs without training to gain a Level 2 qualification, whether academic or vocational.
The first five specialised diplomas will be available from September 2008 and will offer young people a real alternative to traditional learning styles by offering a high quality, innovative blend of general education and applied, work-related learning.
Northern Ireland
Appointments
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many (a) Protestant, (b) Roman Catholic and (c) non-determined applicants there have been to each of the newly announced governing bodies of the six area-based colleges of further and higher education in Northern Ireland; [98153]
(2) how many (a) Protestant, (b) Roman Catholic and (c) non-determined applications to join the governing bodies of the six area-based colleges in Northern Ireland were shortlisted. [98154]
Maria Eagle:
There were two separate competitions involving further education colleges monitored by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The first, which has now been completed and the
outcome announced, was for applications to the position of chair; the second competition, which is still under way, is for the appointment of members. Community background information was collected for statistical purposes and played no part in the appointment process.
The following table provides a breakdown in terms of community background for these competitions.
| Protestant | Roman Catholic | Non-determined | |||||
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Total | |
| (1) The totalled figures reflect the combined number of individual applicants for the chair and members’ competitions. Unsuccessful chair applicants carried forward to the members’ competition are not included in these totals, for the purpose of avoiding double counting. | |||||||
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