§ Mr. EasthamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 17 May,Official Report, column 600, what arrangements are in place for ensuring that the objectivity and impartiality of the careers service will be delivered; and what will be the involvement of (a) schools, (b) employers, (c) pupils and (d) parents. [31041]
§ Mr. PaiceI refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave on 17 May 1996,Official Report, columns 599 and 600. The arrangements described there for quality assuring and inspecting careers services involve seeking the views of schools, employers, pupils and parents as appropriate. The arrangements are set out in the "Requirements and Guidance for Providers", a copy of which is in the Library.
§ Mr. EasthamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer 17 May,Official Report, column 599, what steps were 396W taken to replace the input of the inspector with the possible conflict of interest; and what terms and conditions of service apply to his successor. [31045]
§ Mr. PaiceThere is no longer a specific careers inspector post; therefore, the inspector has not been replaced.
§ Mr. EasthamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the funding provided to the careers service will be protected and enhanced in areas where there is increased population; and how the targets set for the service reflect the needs of individuals. [31043]
§ Mr. PaiceFunding for careers service work is allocated to Government offices based on the number of young people in each region. Government offices then have the flexibility to negotiate funding with individual careers services, taking into account the number of young people in the area and other relevant local circumstances.
The targets agreed with each careers service include group advice sessions, individual interviews and action plans for young people. These targets reflect the key purpose of the careers service which is to provide objective advice that enables young people to make appropriate choices.
§ Mr. EasthamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 7 May,Official Report, column 600, what plans her Department has to ensure that the careers service will cater for the needs of adults not in full—time education or part-time vocational education; and what is the timetable for the integration of adult guidance services with the careers service. [31042]
§ Mr. PaiceThere are no plans to expand the existing statutory careers service client group. However, the consultation document on lifetime learning published in December 1995 highlights the importance of guidance. The Government will be responding to the consultation shortly.
§ Mr. EasthamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 17 May,Official Report, column 599, if local education authorities' partners in the new careers service are companies; and what is their strategic operational role in the delivery of careers services. [31044]
§ Mr. PaiceThe majority of new careers service companies have training and enterprise councils and local education authorities as major partners. A minority of careers service providers are other types of company with a major interest in guidance training and education. Additionally, the prospectus inviting bids to provide a careers service seeks clear proposals from bidders for achieving and maintaining the confidence, trust and support of key customers and stakeholders, including LEAs. The Secretary of State's "Requirements and Guidance for Providers" states that careers services must be able to demonstrate responsiveness to local community needs, including clients, local employers, local authorities, and education and training providers.