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21 Apr 2008 : Column 1588W—continued
The Department does not have a record or calculate the differences on a per pupil basis. It is a matter for each local authority to determine how it distributes funding to schools.
With regard to part (b), local authorities do not provide us with returns on the amounts that they are intending to spend on teaching pupils for whom English is an additional language.
Truancy: Disadvantaged
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of pupils designated as persistent absentees were entitled to free school meals in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by school year. [195197]
Kevin Brennan: The requested information is shown in the table.
| Primary, secondary and special schools( 1, 2) : Persistent absentees known to be eligible for free school meals by national curriculum year group( 3) 2006-07: England | ||||
| O f which : known to be eligible for free school meals: | ||||
| National Curriculum Year Group: | Number of persistent absentees | Percentage of enrolments( 4) | Number of persistent absentees known to be eligible for free schools meals | Percentage of persistent absentees( 5) |
| (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. Includes maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). (3) Persistent absentees are defined as having more than 63 sessions of absence (authorised and unauthorised) during the year, typically over 20 per cent. absence rate. (4) Number of persistent absentees expressed as a percentage of the total number of enrolments. (5) The number of persistent absentees known to be eligible for free school meals by year group expressed as a percentage of the number of persistent absentees in same year group. Note: Numbers of enrolments have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census | ||||
Innovation, Universities and Skills
Adult Education: Finance
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his latest estimate is of (a) the likely total value of payments made in adult learning grant during 2007-08 and (b) the likely cost of administering adult learning grants in that year. [198559]
Mr. Lammy:
The Learning and Skills Council for England manage the adult learning grant on behalf of the Department. Adult learning grant became available across England from September 2007 following trialling in four LSC regions. The LSC contracts with
Liberata, which provides helpline, assessment and payment services. Final figures for 2007-08 are not yet available but the LSC estimate that (a) the total payments made to learners for the adult learning grant during 2007-08 was £11.98 million and (b) the cost of administering the adult learning grant during 2007-08 was £1:07 million.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which organisations are responsible for administering adult learning grant in Buckinghamshire. [198560]
Mr. Lammy: The Learning and Skills Council for England administer the adult learning grant nationally on behalf of the Department. The LSC contracts with a single helpline, assessment and payment body, Liberata, who process applications and payments on behalf of the LSC throughout England.
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many applications for the adult learning grant have been (a) made, (b) accepted and (c) refused in (i) the London Borough of Bexley and (ii) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency. [198811]
Mr. Lammy: Adult learning grant has been available throughout England since September 2007, and during its pilot phase, showed that it was successful at helping more individuals raise their skill levels through completing their training and gaining a qualification. It is intended to help low skilled individuals in work on low incomes achieve their first full level 2 or first full level 3 qualification. The grant offers up to £30 per week.
The issues raised are matters for the Learning and Skills Council who administer the adult learning grant for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and have responsibility for the contract with the helpline, assessment and payment body. Mark Haysom, the Council’s Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which organisations are responsible for administering adult learning grant in Bexley. [198812]
Mr. Lammy: The Learning and Skills Council for England administer the adult learning grant nationally on behalf of the Department. The LSC contracts with a single helpline, assessment and payment body, Liberata, who process applications and payments on behalf of the LSC throughout England.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) where the call centre handling calls to the adult learning grant helpline is located; [198436]
(2) what the average length of time is for an application for adult learning grant to be processed following receipt of a completed application form; [198437]
(3) what training is given to staff responsible for responding to calls by members of the public to the adult learning grant helpline; and if he will make a statement; [198486]
(4) how many (a) staff and (b) full-time equivalent staff are employed to manage and operate the adult learning grant helpline; [198487]
(5) how many applications for adult learning grant have been (a) made, ( b) accepted and (c) refused in (i) England, (ii) the area of the Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Learning and Skills Council, (iii) Buckinghamshire and (iv) Aylesbury parliamentary constituency in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement. [198562]
Mr. Lammy: Adult learning grant has been available throughout England since September 2007 and during its pilot phase showed that it was successful at helping more individuals raise their skill levels through completing their training and gaining a qualification. It is intended to help low skilled individuals in work on low incomes achieve their first full Level 2 or first full Level 3 qualification. The grant offers up to £30 per week.
The issues raised are matters for the Learning and Skills Council adult learning grant for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and have responsibility for the contract with the helpline, assessment and payment body. Mark Haysom, the Council’s chief executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
Letter from Verity Bullough, dated 10 April 2008:
In the absence of Mark Haysom I am writing in response to your parliamentary questions that asked:
1. What performance indicators have been set to asses the (a) quality of customer service provided by the adult learning grant helpline and (b) efficiency of the processing of applications for adult learning grant; and if he will make a statement.
The administration of Adult Learning Grant moves to a new system from September 2008, This is part of wider changes to bring together the delivery of a number of strands of the LSC Learner Support, Programme, in order to give improved service to prospective learners.
Delivery of the Adult Learning Grant on the old system in the first term of this academic year was not always satisfactory. Service performance indicators have been set for the new system and these have been met since early January. A baseline survey of the helpline was carried out last year and will be repeated when the new service is in operation, to assess improvement and customer satisfaction.
2. How many applications to grant have been (a) made, (b) accepted and (c) refused in (i) England, (ii) the area of the Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Learning and Skills Council, (iii) Buckinghamshire and (iv) Aylesbury parliamentary constituency in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.
Application information is available at LSC area level but not at local authority or constituency level.
The table below shows application data for the Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes LSC area.
| Area | Applications received | Applications accepted (Awards) | Applications refused | Applications in progress |
3. Where the call centre handling calls to the Adult Learning Grant helpline is located.
The Call Centre dedicated to handling Adult Learning Grant calls is in Manchester, with a back-up site in Barrow and imminent further back-up sites in Coventry and Darlington.
4. What training is given to staff responsible for responding to calls by members of the public to the Adult Learning Grant helpline; and if he will make a statement.
Advisors undertake an initial two week training course incorporating mentoring with an experienced advisor and ongoing support and guidance from team leaders. Training continues throughout the Advisors’ employment
5. What is the average length of time for an application for Adult Learning Grant to be processed following receipt of a completed application form.
Applications are processed and a communication to the applicant is sent within 10 days of receipt.
6. How many (a) staff and (b) full-time equivalent staff are employed to manage and operate the Adult Learning Grant helpline.
Staff levels dedicated to ALG calls vary in accordance with volumes of calls. There is a core of 7 full-time staff increasing to 27 full-time staff as required.
7. What is the average length of time for dispatch of an Adult Learning Grant pack following receipt of a request from a member of the public.
ALG application forms are available from learning providers, Nextstep, Connexions and Learndirect. Learndirect despatch application packs direct to applicants within two working days of the request being made by 2(nd) class post. Learndirect advise callers that the application form should be with them within 7 days.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the average length of time is for dispatch of an adult learning grant pack following receipt of a request from a member of the public. [198438]
Mr. Lammy: Adult learning grant has been available throughout England since September 2007 and during its pilot phase showed that it was successful at helping more individuals raise their skill levels through completing their training and gaining a qualification. It is intended to help low skilled individuals in work on low incomes achieve their first full Level 2 or first full Level 3 qualification. The grant offers up to £30 per week.
The issues raised are matters for the Learning and Skills Council who administer the adult learning grant for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and have responsibility for the contract with the helpline, assessment and payment body. Mark Haysom, the Council’s Chief Executive, has written to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
Letter from Verity Bullough, dated 10 April 2008:
In the absence of Mark Haysom I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Questions that asked;
1. What performance indicators have been set to assess the (a) quality of customer service provided by the adult learning grant helpline and (b) efficiency of the processing of applications for adult learning grant; and if he will make a statement.
The administration of Adult Learning Grant moves to a new system from September 2008. This is part of wider changes to bring together the delivery of a number of strands of the LSC Learner Support, Programme, in order to give improved service to prospective learners.
Delivery of the Adult Learning Grant on the old system in the first term of this academic year was not always satisfactory. Service performance indicators have been set for the new system and these have been met since early January. A baseline survey of the helpline was carried out last year and will be repeated when the new service is in operation, to assess improvement and customer satisfaction.
2. How many applications for adult learning grant have been (a) made, (b) accepted and (c) refused in (i) England, (ii) the area of the Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Learning and Skills Council, (iii) Buckinghamshire and (iv) Aylesbury parliamentary constituency in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.
Application information is available at LSC area level but not at Local Authority or constituency level.
The table below shows application data for the Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes LSC area.
| Area | Applications Received | Applications Accepted (Awards) | Applications Refused | Applications in progress |
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