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2 Apr 2009 : Column 1317W—continued
Mr. Coaker:
The Home Office leads a cross-Government science programme to address priority research requirements related to the potential use of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear materials by terrorists. Elements of this work are classified. However, unclassified requirements in the areas of analytical techniques, protection, detection, medical countermeasures, hazard management, assessment and studies, and models have been published on the Home Office website. The current
programme of work is being undertaken by around 45 research organisations in academia, industry and Government. For security reasons, we do not generally disclose the precise nature of the research nor the research body responsible.
Theft: Motor Vehicles
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to publish the car theft indexes for (a) 2007 and (b) 2008. [263527]
Mr. Alan Campbell: The Home Office produced an annual edition of the car theft index from 2004 to 2006. It was last published in December 2006 was not produced in 2007 or 2008 and there are no plans to retrospectively publish car theft index reports for those years.
Innovation, Universities and Skills
Apprentices
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the average insurance cost to employers of taking on an apprentice. [261857]
Mr. Simon: I am not aware that there are any extra insurance costs to an employer of employing an apprentice above the normal costs of an employee. All employers must have employer liability insurance, the cost of which will depend on the nature of the industry.
Apprentices are employees and I would not expect their training status to lead to additional costs for employers.
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many apprentices completing their training were still in a job relevant to the apprenticeship undertaken (a) 12 months and (b) 24 months after completion of the course in the latest period for which figures are available. [265347]
Mr. Simon: An apprenticeship is a work-based programme and apprentices must have a job or a work placement as a condition of completing their apprenticeship framework. Many will already be in permanent employment prior to the end of their apprenticeship.
Information on the immediate destinations of apprenticeships upon completion of their apprenticeship is not readily available. This type of information will in future be collected using the Framework for Excellence learner destination survey with the first results for all FE Colleges and Work based learning providers available in spring 2009. The survey will be conducted nine months after the end of the academic year and so will not relate exactly to 12 or 24 months after the completion of the apprenticeship. Also, the survey will not tell us whether these people are in a job relevant to their apprenticeship.
A recent research report has carried out a cost-benefit analysis of apprenticeships and other vocational qualifications. This report, including the main findings, can be found here:
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.
Apprentices: East Sussex
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people resident in (a) Eastbourne and (b) East Sussex were on (i) apprenticeships and (ii) advanced apprenticeships in each of the last five years. [267271]
Mr. Simon: The table shows the number of apprenticeship and advanced apprenticeship starts in Eastbourne parliamentary constituency and East Sussex local authority from 2003/04 to 2007/08, the latest year for which fully-audited figures are available.
| Number of apprenticeship and advanced apprenticeship starts in Eastbourne parliamentary constituency and East Sussex local authority, 2003/04 to 2007/08 | ||||
| Area | Apprenticeship starts | Advanced apprenticeship starts | Total starts | |
| Notes: 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest ten, and therefore may not sum to the total. 2. Figures for advanced apprenticeships include higher level apprenticeships (HLA) to be consistent with information published in statistical first releases. HLA numbers are currently too small to include as a separate category. Source: 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.
Building Colleges for the Future Programme
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 4 March 2009, Official Report, column 55WS, on capital investment (further education colleges), whether (a) the effect on regeneration programmes and (b) co-funding from other organisations will be included in the criteria for allocating outstanding funds to college capital funding projects. [268530]
Mr. Simon: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) have already begun discussing options for prioritisation with the FE sector already. Once the consultation is complete, the LSC will advise on options.
We would expect the consultation and subsequent advice to give due consideration to all potential prioritisation criteria, including whether the proposal impacts upon regeneration programmes, or has attracted co-funding from other organisations.
Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 4 March 2009, Official Report, column 55WS, on capital investment (further education colleges), what capital funding he plans to make available to the (a) 79 colleges with approval in principle and (b) 65 colleges awaiting approval in principle for their building projects; and when such funds will be made available. [268531]
Mr. Simon: The Learning and Skills Council’s (LSC) new acting chief executive has appointed an external team to review the current financial data held by the LSC and a team of property specialists to assist the LSC to ensure information held about individual projects is accurate and comprehensive and a sound basis for taking future decisions.
The LSC are working with the sector for prioritisation criteria for allocating any available funding. Announcements will be made once that work is completed.
Christmas
Mr. Rob Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether it is his Department's policy to offer staff (a) additional leave entitlement for Christmas shopping and (b) Christmas bonus payments. [262809]
Mr. Simon: The Department does not offer staff additional leave entitlement or bonus payments over Christmas.
Departmental Detergents
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will make it his policy to ensure that no cleaning products or ingredients of cleaning products used by his Department have been tested on animals. [261124]
Mr. Simon: The Department's office cleaning services are provided through the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) which manage the buildings that DIUS occupies.
Both BERR and DCSF use JohnsonDiversey cleaning products. JohnsonDiversey are a member of the UK Cleaning Products Industry Association (UKCPI) whose position on animal testing is
“the total elimination of animal testing, with progress towards that goal dependent on advances in scientific knowledge. Where animal testing remains necessary in order to establish safety of ingredients, it is kept to an absolute minimum to meet legal requirements”.
BERR and DCSF will work with their cleaning suppliers to use products which avoid the use of animal testing wherever possible.
Departmental Publications
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the (a) production and printing and (b) other costs to his Department of producing its most recent (i) departmental annual report and (ii) autumn performance report. [266691]
Mr. Simon: The information requested is as follows:
(i) Costs for the Department's 2008 Annual Report are listed.
Bell Design (creative concept; initial copywriting; typesetting and production incl. web-optimised pdf; photo library research and fees; studio materials and proofs; project management) £85,022.98 incl. VAT
COI (further copywriting; copy editing; handling amends and proof-reading) £10,186.08 incl. VAT
Stationery Office (print production and delivery of copies, incl. TSO management fee of £1,500) £9,686 incl. VAT
(ii) DIUS published its 2008 Autumn Performance Report on line. It was produced in-house in the normal course of business without extra production costs.
Departmental Training
Grant Shapps:
To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much has been spent on media training for each Minister in his Department in each of the last three years; how many
sessions have been provided; and who provided such training. [268310]
Mr. Simon: The Department provided one media training session in 2008 for a Minister at a cost of £1,276. No other media training for Ministers was arranged in the last three years. The session was run by a freelance trainer.
Economic Situation
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2009, Official Report, columns 504-6W, on the economic situation, (1) what expenditure under what budgetary headings his Department incurred in relation to its local business seminar in Hoylake, Wirral on 8 January 2009; [268099]
(2) what expenditure under what budgetary headings his Department incurred in relation to (a) the DIUS group meeting and (b) the DIUS Family delivery partners drinks reception on 19 November 2008; [268100]
(3) what expenditure under what budgetary headings his Department incurred in relation to its seminar on small and medium enterprises on 26 November 2008; [268101]
(4) what expenditure under what budgetary headings his Department incurred in relation to its away day to discuss the DIUS response to the downturn on 27 January 2009; [268102]
(5) what expenditure under what budgetary headings his Department incurred in relation to its seminar on Staying Ahead, investing in science during the down-turn on 19 February 2009. [268103]
Mr. Simon: Further to my answer of 25 March regarding the summits, conferences and seminars DIUS has hosted since January 2008, at which a primary subject for discussion was the impact of the economic situation on matters within DIUS' responsibility; the cost of these events, by category, is listed as follows.
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