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17 Mar 2009 : Column 1064W—continued
Voluntary Organisations: Bank Services
Jenny Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate his Department has made of the funds deposited in Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander bank by each third sector organisation with funds invested in the bank which is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [264157]
Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 5 November 2008, Official Report, columns 492-3W, to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude). The Department is working with partners in the third sector to understand the impact of the administration process of Kaupthing, Singer Friedlander on third sector organisations.
Voluntary Work
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the number of people who have volunteered in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [263873]
Kevin Brennan: Data from the Government's Citizenship Survey estimates that the following numbers of adults aged 16 and above volunteered at least once in the previous 12 months:
| Formal volunteering | |
| Number | |
Innovation, Universities and Skills
Adult Education
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of age discrimination legislation on the numbers of people from each age group taking part in adult education courses. [261829]
Mr. Simon: Adult learning is crucial in helping people to fulfil themselves as active citizens and as members of their families and communities. We are committed to ensuring that everyone, whatever their age or background, can lead healthy and fulfilling lives by participating fully in work, education and society as a whole. Building on the findings of our recent consultation, we are now working with partners to develop our strategy for Informal Adult Learning in the 21st century, which we shall publish shortly.
The Department does not routinely monitor or enforce the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 and has no express remit to do so. The regulations apply to providers and they must make decisions based on their own circumstances, the courses they run and their own legal advice. Ultimately, interpretation and enforcement will be for the courts to decide. Detailed guidance for the benefit of providers and learners alike is set out on the website of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
I am aware that a number of providers, including further education colleges and local authorities, have been withdrawing fee concessions for older learners in the belief that the Regulations prohibit such positive action. The guidance makes clear that age-related practices like fee concessions may be objectively justified where they are a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim and it will continue to be the learning provider's decision as to whether or not they wish to offer these subsidies to individuals. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 28 October 2008, Official Report, column 990W.
Adult Education: Public Consultation
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department, its predecessor and agencies have spent on the Impact of Skills for Life Learning Evaluation: Longitudinal Survey of Learners to date. [262409]
Mr. Simon: The Department and its predecessor has spent, in total to date, £1,853,097 on the evaluation of the “Impact of Skills for Life Learning” initiative.
Animal Experiments
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what funding his Department has provided for the National Centre for
the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) in each year since its creation; what funding he has allocated to the NC3Rs for each of the next two years; what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with the NC3Rs on funding levels; and if he will make a statement. [263283]
Mr. Lammy: The Government established the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) in 2004 for research into alternatives to the use of animals in research. The NC3Rs receives funding from the Department through the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Since its launch, the MRC and BBSRC have provided the NC3RS with £661,000 in 2004/05, £667,000 in 2005/06, £1,829,000 in 2006/07 and £2,368,000 in 2007/08. The two research councils have allocated the NC3Rs £3,468,000 in 2008/09, £4,268,000 in 2009/10 and £5,068,000 in 2010/11. The Secretary of State, other DIUS Ministers and DIUS officials have not held any recent discussions with the NC3Rs regarding funding levels. Future funding for the NC3Rs will be discussed in the context of the next spending review.
Apprentices
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills with reference to the answer of 22 May 2008, Official Report, column 392W, on apprentices, what progress has been made on the establishment of apprenticeships in his Department; and how many apprentices his Department employed at the latest date for which figures are available. [252080]
Mr. Simon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24 February 2009, Official Report, column 741W.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which 10 (a) companies and (b) trades have provided the largest number of apprenticeships in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008. [254166]
Mr. Simon [holding answer 3 February 2009]: Table 1 shows the 10 sector frameworks that have provided the largest number of apprenticeships in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08. This information was published in supplementary tables that accompanied the post-16 education statistical first release on 18 December 2008.
Information about companies providing apprenticeships is not currently available.
| Top 10 sector frameworks that provided the largest number of apprenticeship starts | |
| 2005/06 | |
| Apprenticeship starts | |
| 2006/07 | |
| Apprenticeship starts | |
| 2007/08 | |
| Apprenticeship starts | |
| Notes: 1. Volumes are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. This table uses programme starts as a measure for comparative purposes. Full-year numbers are a count of the number of starts at any point during the year. Learners starting more than one course will appear more than once. 3. Programme-Led Apprenticeships recorded in WBL ILR returns are included in the above figures. Source: Work based Learning Individualised Learner Record | |
The Government are committed to rebuilding apprenticeships. Since 1997 we have witnessed a renaissance in apprenticeships from a low point of 65,000 to a record 225,000 apprenticeship starts in 2007/08. Completion rates are also at a record high with 64 per cent. successfully completing an apprenticeship—up from 37 per cent. in 2004/05.
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many apprenticeships have been (a) advertised and (b) filled through the National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service in 2009 to date. [261828]
Mr. Simon: The National Apprenticeships Vacancy Matching Service has been developed to provide a high quality service to employers wishing to recruit apprentices, and to young people and adults considering an apprenticeship. This service will help deliver the objective outlined in world-class apprenticeships to expand and improve the quality of our Apprenticeships programme. On the 4 March 2009, 3,755 vacancies were live on the system. In these early weeks since the system went live on the 12 January 2009, we have had confirmation from employers that 22 vacancies have already been filled via this service. Interest from individuals is high and since the national launch of the online vacancy matching system 26,035 people have registered as candidates to use the system. The system is not due to be fully open until 1 April.
Apprentices: Greater Manchester
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many adult apprentices there are in each of the 10 local authority areas which make up the Greater Manchester area. [262279]
Mr. Simon: The following table shows the number of apprentice starts and completions in 2007/08 in the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities, broken down by age.
| Apprenticeship starts and completions in 2007/08, in the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities by age | ||||||
| Starts | Completions | |||||
| Local authority | under 19 | 19+ | Total | under 19 | 19+ | Total |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Totals are based on unrounded figures, so may not equal the sum of figures shown. 3. Local authority is based on home postcode of the learner. Source: WBL ILR | ||||||
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