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18 Jan 2007 : Column 1308Wcontinued
continuedIn terms of student numbers, although in 2006 there was a small decrease (4.5 per cent.) in university entrants accepted through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Scheme (UCAS), this came on the back of a larger than usual increase (8.9 per cent.) in those entering in 2005. Compared to 2004, numbers for 2006 entry were up by 12,000 or 4.3 per cent. It is as we expected, and is what happened when tuition fees were first introduced in 1998. Then, there was a small reduction, after which applications continued upwards.
The underlying trend is still up and the proportion of applicants from lower socio-economic groups has not fallen.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) who is responsible for maintaining the Teenage Pregnancy Unit website; and how often it is updated; [116410]
(2) what research projects are being undertaken by the Teenage Pregnancy Unit; [116411]
(3) what the terms of reference are for the Teenage Pregnancy Unit; [116412]
(4) whose responsibility commissioning research from the Teenage Pregnancy Unit is; [116413]
(5) how many civil servants work at the Teenage Pregnancy Unit; and how many worked at the unit in each year since its establishment. [116414]
Beverley Hughes: The Teenage Pregnancy Unit (TPU) is currently staffed by six civil servants. Shortly after the launch of the strategy in 2000, TPU employed 16 civil servants. TPU does not have published terms of reference, but its role is to oversee implementation of the strategy and to develop it in the light of evidence of what is working to reduce conception rates.
The TPU website is managed internally, with one member of staff taking lead responsibility for its maintenance. It is updated on an ongoing basis. However, during 2007, the information on the website will be migrated on to the Department's Every Child Matters website as part of a wider exercise to rationalise the number of websites that the Department is responsible for maintaining and to make it easier for stakeholders to access information from a single source.
TPU does not carry out research itself. But it did commission a national evaluation of the first four years of the strategy and a number of individual research projects (through a competitive tender exercise), to fill gaps in the existing evidence base. There were a total of nine research projects commissionedthe findings of which have all been published on the TPU websitebrigaded under the following five themes.
The impact of growing up in rural and seaside resorts on the sexual behaviour and life-chances of young people.
Long term consequences of teenage births for mothers, fathers and their children.
Attitudes and behaviour of black and minority ethnic young people relating to sexual activity, contraceptive use and teenage pregnancy.
Black and minority ethnic young peoples experience of teenage parenthood.
Educational experiences of pregnant young women and young mothers of school age.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many, and what percentage of, students have their university fees paid in (a) full and (b) part by their local education authority, broken down by London borough; and if he will make a statement. [115980]
Bill Rammell: The available data are given in the following table:
Number and percentage of students who had their tuition fees paid in full or in partLondon borough local authority areas | ||||
Academic year 2005/06 | ||||
London borough local authority | Number of students in receipt of full fee support( 1) | Percentage of students in receipt of full fee support( 2) | Number of students in receipt of partial fee support( 1) | Percentage of students in receipt of partial fee support( 2) |
(1) Figures are for students domiciled in local authorities in the London boroughs, rounded to the nearest 10 students. (2) The percentage is the number of students in receipt of fee support expressed as a percentage of the total number of students who applied to the Student Loans Company for any student support and is rounded to the nearest whole number. (3) Totals do not add due to rounding. (4) A figure for all English local authorities has been included in the table for comparison purposes. Source: Student Loans Company |
In 2005/06, students on full-time undergraduate courses and their families were expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their tuition based on household income. Students from lower income backgrounds were wholly or partially exempt from paying tuition fees.
In 2006/07, no student needs to find money up front to meet tuition fees as they are eligible for a tuition fee loan of up to £3,000.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that the Association of British Insurers maintain records of all companies liable for employers liability. [113316]
Mrs. McGuire: Since 1 November 1999, the Association of British Insurers and the Lloyds Market Association have been operating a code of practice for tracing Employers Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) policies that currently exist.
The 2006 pre-Budget report set out a simplification plan outlining the steps that DWP is taking to achieve our target of reducing the administrative burdens we place on business. This will result in an ELCI consultation exercise later this year and the maintenance of ELCI records will form part of this.
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time taken by the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman to carry out an investigation from receipt of the request to conclusion was in the last period for which figures are available; and what steps are being taken to reduce this period. [116517]
James Purnell: The information is not available in the form requested. At 31 December 2006 the age distribution of cases on hand was as follows:
Age distribution of Pensions Ombudsman cases on hand at 31 December 2006 | ||
Age | Number of cases | Percentage of total |
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