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13 Nov 2007 : Column 136W—continued
Higher Education: Finance
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) what assessment he has made of the impact that the phasing out of funding for students taking equivalent or lower qualifications at university from 2008-09 will have on the delivery of the objectives of the Leitch review of skills; [162627]
(2) what assessment he has made of the impact that phasing out funding for students taking equivalent or lower qualifications at university from 2008-09 will have on institutions with a high proportion of part-time and mature learners; [162712]
(3) which organisations were consulted prior to the decision being made to phase out funding for students taking equivalent or lower qualifications at university from 2008-09; and when each was consulted. [162714]
Bill Rammell: We are not cutting funding from higher education. We took this decision as part of the comprehensive spending review in order to target resources on our top priorities and the country's long term needs. While the policy has been set, we have asked HEFCE to consult widely on how it should be implemented. Our policy not only responds to the challenge in the Leitch report to increase the proportion of the work force with higher level skills from under 30 per cent. now to over 40 per cent. by 2020 but is also fairer to both taxpayers and students who have not yet entered higher education. Many of those in the work force without higher level skills may be mature learners who wish to study part-time. The overall effect of these changes on the income of individual institutions will depend on how successful they are in attracting students who meet our priorities. Every institution will have an incentive to maximise its share of the £100 million which will be redistributed through this change.
Higher Education: Mature Students
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time mature students enrolled on a higher education course in each year since 2001; [162118]
(2) how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time students enrolled in higher education courses in each year since 2001. [162120]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 12 November 2007]: The latest available information is shown in the following table. Figures for 2006/07 will be available in January 2008.
Science and Innovation Policies of Government Review
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much of the £1 billion announced on the publication of the conclusions of the Sainsbury Review, to be spent on business innovation and technology development, is additional resources not previously (a) announced and (b) allocated. [163163]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 12 November 2007]: The Technology Strategy Board will develop and lead a strategic programme worth £1 billion over the next three years (the upcoming CSR period), in partnership with the Research Councils and the regional development agencies (RDA). This includes £180 million which will be earmarked by the RDAs and £120 million by the research councils to spend jointly on activities with the TSB. The £1 billion is all new money not previously announced or allocated.
Space Systems
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills for what reasons single source procurement of space systems is used; and what the evidential basis is for this providing best value. [163480]
Ian Pearson:
The UK Government have not independently procured any space systems for many years and have no current plans to do so. Departments like the MOD procure space enabled services on a regular basis, and this can involve the purchase of hardware, especially in the ground segment (e.g.
MilSatCom handsets). In all cases, standard Government procurement policies are followed to ensure value for money.
The UK is a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) which does procure space systems. ESA procurements are undertaken within a geo-return framework, but are subject to affordability within the overall programme subscription and VFM through competition at both prime and sub-prime (sub-system) levels (and sometimes also below this). BNSC provides two delegates to the ESA Industrial Policy Committee which scrutinises and authorises all major procurements.
Student Wastage
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the (a) drop-out and (b) failure rate for young people attempting level 3 qualifications was in the most recent period for which figures are available. [161943]
Mr. Lammy: The Learning and Skills Council collect data on learners enrolling on level 3 qualifications in further education (in general further education and tertiary colleges, sixth form colleges and external institutions). Drop-out and failure rates are not calculated, but retention rates and success rates are shown in Table 1 for those aged 16 to 18 studying towards a level 3 qualification with expected end year 2005/06.
| Table 1: Success and Retention Rates for 16 to 18-year-olds enrolled on level 3 qualifications (excluding A/AS levels) in colleges, with expected end year 2005/06 | |||
| Qualification Type | Starts (excluding transfers) | Success r ate( 1) (percentage) | Retention r ate( 2) (percentage) |
| (1) Success rate is calculated as the number of aims achieved as a percentage of starts. (2) Retention rate is calculated as the number completing as a percentage of starts. Source: Learning and Skills Council Individualised Learner Record. | |||
Equivalent data for those studying A/AS/A2 levels at school are not available. Student numbers achieving A levels in schools and colleges are reported in the DCSF Achievement and Attainment Tables, but different methodologies and timescales are used. Table 2 shows A level results of students aged 16 to 18 in schools and colleges taken from the Statistical First Release (SFR): GCE/VCE A/AS and Equivalent Examination Results in England (consistent with the Achievement and Attainment Tables data).
| Table 2: GCE A level examination results of 16 to 18-year-old(1) students | ||
| Total entries | Ungraded, no award (absent/declined) and pending (percentage) | |
| (1) Age at the start of the academic year i.e. 31 August. Source: GCE/VCE A/AS and Equivalent Examination Results in England, 2005/06 and 2006/07. | ||
Students: Finance
Mr. Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the potential effect of his decision to withdraw Equal and Lower Qualification student funding on the income of (a) Birkbeck College and (b) the Open University. [163845]
Bill Rammell: We took this decision as part of the comprehensive spending review in order to target resources on our top priorities and the country's long-term needs. Our policy not only responds to the challenge in the Leitch report to increase the proportion of the work force with higher level skills from under 30 per cent. now to over 40 per cent. by 2020 but is also fairer to both taxpayers and students who have not yet entered higher education. The overall effect of these changes on the income of individual institutions will depend on how successful they are in attracting students who meet our priorities. Every institution will have an incentive to maximise its share of the £100 million which will be redistributed through this change and no complete assessment of these changes on any institution can be made until that £100 million has been redistributed.
Justice
Appeals: Asylum
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what mechanisms are available to asylum seekers who have had cases heard by judges (a) Illyas Khan and (b) J and believe inappropriate considerations were taken into account. [162886]
Bridget Prentice: If a party to an appeal before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal believes that an Immigration Judge has made an error of law for whatever reason, he or she can apply to the Tribunal for the decision to be reconsidered within the time limits provided by the Procedure Rules. If such an application is late, the appellant must advance good reasons to justify an extension of time.
Arrests: Hunting
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been (a) arrested, (b) charged and (c) convicted for offences under the Hunting Act 2005, broken down by police force area. [162404]
Maria Eagle: The arrests collection held by my Department provides data on persons arrested only for recorded crime (notifiable offences). Summary offences under the Hunting Act 2004 are not included within this category.
Data on the number of offenders charged are not held by my department; however I can confirm there were three defendants proceeded against under the Hunting Act 2004 in England and Wales, all of whom were found guilty. Of these, two were prosecuted in Thames Valley and one in Merseyside police force area.
Data for 2006 will be available from the 29 November 2007.
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