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22 Feb 2007 : Column 884W—continued

Shared Ownership Schemes

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of homes bought in Northern Ireland during 2006 were purchased through the co-ownership scheme. [122363]

Mr. Hanson: The exact number of homes bought in Northern Ireland in 2006 (whether the purchase was eligible for co-ownership assistance or not) is not known. The number of participants joining the co-ownership scheme on a shared equity basis was 344. 767 participants left the scheme after purchasing the full equity.

Water Supply

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many domestic properties in Northern Ireland not connected to the main water supply in January 2006 were connected by January 2007. [122362]

David Cairns: The chief executive of Water Service (Mrs. Katharine Bryan) has written to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question.

Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan, dated 22 February 2007:

Education and Skills

Apprenticeships: Hendon

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in Hendon completed apprenticeships in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [118483]

Bill Rammell: Data on Apprenticeships and Advanced Apprenticeships are collected on the Learning and Skills Council’s Individualised Learner Record (ILR). The following table shows the number of learners having met all the requirements of their Apprenticeship framework in the Hendon parliamentary constituency (based on learner home postcode) in the latest three years for which data are available.

Apprenticeship at level 2 Advanced apprenticeship

2002/03

10

10

2003/04

20

10

2004/05

20

10

Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
Source:
Learning and Skills Council Individualised Learner Record (ILR)

These figures are based on the Learning and Skills Council’s Individualised Learner Record and are consistent with figures underpinning the national success rates published in the National Statistics Publications: ‘Further Education and Work Based Learning—Learner Outcomes in England: 2004/05’ and ‘Further Education and Work Based Learning—Learner Outcomes in England: 2003/04’. These showed the national success rate for complete frameworks in apprenticeships has improved from 27 per cent. in 2002/03 to 40 per cent. in 2004/05. Comparable official statistics for 2005/06 will be published in the Statistical First Release ‘Further Education and Work Based Learning—Learner Outcomes in England: 2005/06’ but latest management information suggests that there has been significant further improvement to around 53 per cent.

A target has been set to increase the volume of completions to 75,500 in 2007/08. We are on target to meet that with 99,000 completions in 2005/06 based on latest management information.

In order to successfully complete an apprenticeship the learner must achieve each element required by their particular framework; that would include an NVQ, Key Skills and any other required qualification.

Departments: Official Cars

Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vehicles belonging to his Department were (a) lost and (b) stolen in each year since 1997; and what the (i) make and model and (ii) value was of each vehicle. [121372]


22 Feb 2007 : Column 886W

Mr. Dhanda: Since 1997 the number of vehicles belonging to the Department for Education and Skills which have been lost is nil, and the number stolen is one, which occurred in May 2005.

The stolen vehicle was a Volvo S80, purchased new in November 2004 for £22,550.

Departments: Civil Servants

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total sum of bonuses paid to civil servants in his Department was in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. [121565]

Mr. Dhanda: The information requested for (a) 2005 and (b) 2006 is contained in the following table:

Total amount of bonuses paid (£)

2005

1,462,000

2006

1,835,000


Education: Saudi Arabia

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools use teaching materials provided by the Saudi Education Ministry. [122121]

Jim Knight: The Department does not hold this type of information. However, we are aware that King Fahad Academy has used materials provided by the Saudi Education Ministry. The school has made copies of two particular textbooks available to us and I understand has now removed them altogether. I will consider the implications of this material alongside the report of an unannounced Ofsted inspection of the school before determining any further action.

English Language

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many English for Speakers of Other Languages courses were delivered at trade union learning centres in the last period for which figures are available; and what discussions he had had with trade unions about the impact of the ending of fee remission for those courses at such centres. [117874]

Phil Hope: Trade unions offer an important opportunity for learners with literacy, language and numeracy skills to access the learning opportunities they need for sustainable employment and progression at work.

Figures for the number of courses delivered at Trade union centres are not available. However, in 2005-06, £16.9 million was available for unionlearn and Union Learning Fund activities. Funding supported over 107,000 learners to improve their skills. For that year, figures for the number of people undertaking ESOL courses are not available. However, we expect 3,245 learners to improve their English language skills through Union Learning funded activity in 2006-07.

My hon. Friend the Minister for Higher Education and Lifelong Learning met with the TUC and union leaders as part of the Race Equality Impact
22 Feb 2007 : Column 887W
Assessment process. The changes to ESOL funding include the withdrawal of automatic fee remission from ESOL courses, but learners who are in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance and income related benefits will still be eligible for full fee remission. This includes low paid workers earning up to £15,050 who are eligible for working tax credit. The Government will continue to support the cost of learning for those who are asked for a contribution and will fund around 62.5 per cent. of the course fee.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the impact on workplace safety of the ending of fee remission for English for Speakers of Other Languages courses. [117875]

Phil Hope: Proposals for changes to ESOL were cleared through the Asylum and Migration Cabinet Committee and received the support of both the Home Office and Department for Communities and Local Government. Clearance for the changes was received in September 2006.

Changes to ESOL funding include the withdrawal of automatic fee remission from ESOL courses, but learners who are in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance and income related benefits, including working tax credit, will still be eligible for full fee remission. The Government will continue to support the cost of learning for those who are asked for a contribution and will fund around 62.5 per cent. of the course fee.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the Department for Communities and Local Government on the effect on community cohesion of the ending of fee remission for English for Speakers of Other Languages courses. [117876]

Phil Hope: Proposals for changes to arrangements for funding of ESOL courses were considered by members of the Asylum and Migration Cabinet Committee of which DCLG is a member. The changes were approved by that Committee on 21 September 2006.

The changes include the withdrawal of automatic fee remission from ESOL courses, but learners who are in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance and income related benefits, including working tax credit, will still be eligible for full fee remission. The Government will continue to support the cost of learning for those who are asked for a contribution and will fund around 62.5 per cent. of the course fee.


22 Feb 2007 : Column 888W

Higher Education

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what consultations his Department is undertaking on the new 50-point scale for those working in higher education. [122352]

Bill Rammell: We are not undertaking any consultations on pay scales for higher education staff. Since pay is a matter for higher education institutions themselves, as independent autonomous bodies, it is for individual institutions to consult their staff on the introduction of new pay arrangements.

Higher Education: Admissions

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what proportion of 18-year-olds having successfully completed (a) at least two non-vocational A-levels, (b) at least two vocational A-levels and (c) NVQ Level Three qualifications took up places in (i) full-time university, (ii) part-time university, (iii) full-time other higher, (iv) part-time other higher and (v) further education in each year since 1997. [119981]

Bill Rammell: The latest data from the Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR) showing the participation rates of 18-year-olds in higher education are shown in the first table. Comparable figures are not available for years prior to 1999.

Table 1: Participation rate of English domiciled 18-year-olds in higher education
Year of entry Participation rate (Percentage)

1999

19.1

2000

19.4

2001

19.8

2002

19.9

2003

19.5

2004(1)

19.8

(1) Provisional.
Source:
Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR). Latest figures published by DfES in “Participation Rates in Higher Education 1999/00 to 2004/05”, April 2006.

The HEIPR is not disaggregated by the qualification level of the entrants. However, data from the Youth Cohort Survey (YCS) showing the progression rates of 18-year-olds, for the five most recent cohorts, are shown in the second table. The YCS is a sample survey and as such, estimates from it are subject to sampling variability. This means changes from one cohort to the next should be treated with caution especially for small populations such as those with AVCEs and NVQ level 3s.

The latest available information on the qualification levels of entrants to higher education is shown in the third table.


22 Feb 2007 : Column 889W

22 Feb 2007 : Column 890W
English domiciled 18-year-old entrants to HE courses at UK HE institutions with A-level or equivalent level 3 qualifications as their highest qualification on entry( 1) , 2002/03 to 2005/06
Of which:
Academic year Qualification Total Full-time at universities Part-time at universities Full-time at HE colleges Part-time at HE colleges

2002/03

Total with A-level or equivalent level 3 qualifications on entry

114,735

103,200

685

10,310

140

Of who have:

2+ GCE A levels(2)

99,560

91,630

140

7,775

20

2+ VCE A levels(2)

1,015

85

5

140

5

2003/04

Total with A-level or equivalent level 3 qualifications on entry

116,520

105,090

820

10,510

100

Of who have:

2+ GCE A levels(2)

102,285

93,890

190

8,155

50

2+ VCE A levels(2)

1,415

1,415

10

185

5

2004/05

Total with A-level or equivalent level 3 qualifications on entry

120,315

111,735

950

7,490

140

Of who have:

2+ GCE A levels(2)

105,070

98,910

205

5,845

110

2+ VCE A levels(2)

1,720

1,510

5

200

10

2005/06

Total with A-level or equivalent level 3 qualifications on entry

133,320

124,040

1,040

8,140

105

Of who have:

2+ GCE A levels(2)

116,755

110,240

320

6,115

80

2+ VCE A levels(2)

2,355

2,100

10

240

5

(1) Figures for 18-year-olds entering with other qualifications are not included.
(2) Contains a count of the number of students entering with the specific qualifications. There is likely to be a small number of students who fall into both categories and so will be counted once in each category.
Note:
Figures are on a snapshot basis as at 1 December.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.

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