§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to end Government funding for the access to work scheme. [6429]
§ Mr. PaiceI refer the hon. Member to an announcement made on 14 December by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton),Official Report, column 738. This makes it clear that the funding planned for next year will be maintained.
1032WDenmark. Total spending on the education of children under school age in these countries is therefore likely to be higher than in the UK. In addition, UK figures exclude expenditure on primary provision in infant and reception classes which account for approximately half of all pupils below compulsory school age in this country.
There are particular differences making comparisons over time because of changes in countries' programmes and policies and in some international definitions.
The latest available estimates based on information provided by individual countries to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development are shown in the table:
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to introduce an employers' contribution to the access to work scheme. [6428]
§ Mr. PaiceI refer the hon. Member to an announcement made on 14 December by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Tatton.Official Report, column 738. This explains that discussions will he held about the future operation of the programme.
1033W
§ Mr. CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many disabled people are currently in employment following involvement in the access to work scheme. [6430]
§ Mr. PaiceOver 9,000 disabled people have been helped by the access to work programme since April 1995. Help is provided only to disabled people who need help to get or retain work. Of those helped, over 80 per cent. were already in employment when they applied for assistance.