HC Deb 29 March 1994 vol 240 cc783-4
6. Mr. John Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the United Kingdom participation rate in education for 16-year-olds; and what information he has on comparable rates in other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Further and Higher Education (Mr. Tim Boswell)

Some 94 per cent. of 16-year-olds in the United Kingdom took part in some form of education and training in 1990, the latest year for which international comparisons are available covering both full-time and part-time education. That compares well with the position in other OECD countries for which data are available, where participation by 16-year-olds ranges from 100 per cent. in Canada to 71 per cent. in Spain.

Mr. Greenway

That is a very encouraging reply. May I give my hon. Friend the even better news that 74 per cent. of 16-year-olds in North Yorkshire actually stay on at school? Will he continue to build on the progress already made, to make vocational education and training really worth while and relevant for young people so that they achieve the best qualifications that they can and so achieve something of value to employers?

Mr. Boswell

I am delighted to hear the good news from Yorkshire, where the importance of investing in the future is fully understood. That mirrors national provision: there has been a tremendous increase in the number of young people who stay on at school, obtaining satisfactory academic and vocational qualifications or taking training courses in parallel.

Rev. Martin Smyth

I welcome the Minister's response. Does he accept, however, that too many parents—especially in areas of high unemployment—tend to encourage their children to take dead-end jobs rather than equipping themselves to do better jobs in the future?

Mr. Boswell

I am sure that that was the case in the past, but I think that the culture is changing. I hope that the hon. Gentleman and I—indeed, the whole House—will join in breaking that tradition. The more young people stay on, the more chance there will be of our having a highly skilled labour force and a competitive economy in the future.

Sir Dudley Smith

I welcome my hon. Friend's comments about staying on at school: that is excellent. Will he also tell us how we compare with other OECD countries in terms of rural schools? If the position in this country demonstrates excellence and good endeavour, will he do all that he can to preserve those rural schools, in view of the excellent comments of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State earlier about the need to preserve the rural scene?

Mr. Boswell

My constituency is quite near my hon. Friend's, and I am aware of his concerns about Warwickshire. I have noted his comments, as, I am sure, have my colleagues; but he will appreciate that, while it is likely that representations will be made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, we cannot comment on individual school reorganisations.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The Minister should start by admitting that some 40 per cent. of 16 and 17-year-olds do not complete the courses that they begin; that participation rates for 18-year-olds are very poor by international standards; and that study after study shows how badly our young people do compared with those abroad. As Ministers would not expect so little—

Madam Speaker

Order. I have not heard a question yet. This is Question Time, and I must hear a direct question to the Minister.

Mr. Lloyd

As Ministers would expect a good deal more for their children, will the Minister now tell us what he intends to do to ensure that all our young people get as much as children in Japan, Germany and France?

Mr. Boswell

We are determined to deal with the deficiencies exposed in "Unfinished Business": we are determined both to increase the staying-on rate and to ensure that those who go on to attend either sixth form or further education colleges sustain their education through to the age of 18. Incidentally, the hon. Gentleman cited some figures relating to 18-year-olds, although the question relates to staying on at 16.

It is important to keep people on course for that time. No doubt the hon. Gentleman has noted the helpful proposals of the Further Education Funding Council, which are designed both to counsel young people and lead them to the appropriate course and—through the appropriate funding mechanism—to ensure that they stay on that course and complete it.