§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the importance of vocational educational training in eradicating poverty; and if she will make a statement. [59876]
§ Mr. FoulkesThis Department has in the past carried out a number of reviews of training, much of which has been of an academic or technical nature. Vocational educational training has been shown to contribute best to poverty eradication when it is closely targeted on the needs of poor individuals and related to the conditions in which they are living. We are in the process of designing a 'Skills for Development' programme which will address the needs in developing countries for a variety of skills including policy level, management, technical and livelihood skills.
Work currently under way includes a project in India which will investigate and provide for the skills needs of poor people to improve their employability in local industries and enterprises, via a non-formal community college whose work is firmly rooted in the local context. The project incorporates a management partnership
352Wmade available by her Department for the use of staff; what is the cost to parents of this childcare; how many parents used the facilities in the financial years (a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98; and what proportion of total staff used these facilities in the financial years (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 1997–98. [59729]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe Department for International Development provides holiday playschemes at both Headquarters sites.
The site in East Kilbride operates under a three-way partnership made up of DFID, Inland Revenue and Scottish Nuclear. The site in London is part of the Whitehall Holiday Playscheme, run by the Cabinet Office at three sites in central London and open to a large proportion of Government Departments.
The figures requested are as follows:
between Bilston College in Staffordshire and the Community College in Madras. We intend that this initiative will be assessed for its impact on poverty and growth in the local economy.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what departmental resources are currently allocated to vocational educational training programmes; and if she will provide details of the programmes. [59877]
§ Mr. FoulkesThe information requested is not readily available. I will reply by Monday 23 November with the information requested, and will send a copy to the Library of the House.