University Students (Hansard, 12 May 2003)

§ Ms Hewitt

My Department, excluding the agencies who are replying separately, has sponsored or supported 19 university students in the last year. A limited number of work placements are provided where suitable work and the necessary support by management are available. Local arrangements for placements are encouraged and the need for a centrally administered scheme is under review. At present, we do not pay university fees.

Letter from Alison Brimelow to Mr. Allen, dated 12 May 2003: The Patent Office has a bursary scheme that supports female students who want to make the transition from arts to science studies: it awarded four such bursaries to university students last year. Each bursary is worth £500 a year for the duration of the university course. A limited number of work placements are provided where suitable work and necessary support by management are available. The Patent Office currently has one university student on an unpaid work placement. At present, we do not pay any student university fees.

Letter from lain MacGregor to Mr. Allen, dated 12 May 2003: The Secretary for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question on how many university students her Department and associated agencies have supported or sponsored with a work placement in the last year; what her policy is on work placements; what plans she has to develop such schemes; and what her policy is on paying their university fees. In the past year, NWML has had two (2) work experience placements for students. We normally offer two per year. One person during summer vacation, which is a regular arrangement and for which we often advertise if we have not had any expressions of interest. The summer vacation placement receives a small salary. Plus another one at some other time of the year—this year it was January 2003—for a short 2-week unpaid (except 22W for expenses) placement. These may not necessarily be university students as we sometimes take school students or those about to start university or college. This is currently the only sponsorship we offer at present, as we are a small Agency of only 57 staff and we do not have the capacity to support many work placements. For the same reasons, we do not currently offer to pay any university fees.

Letter from Ms. R. J. R. Anderson to Mr. Allen, dated 12 May 2003, On 13 February 2003 you asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many university students her Department and associated agencies have supported or sponsored with a work placement in the last year; what her policy is on work placements; what plans she has to develop such schemes; and what her policy is on paying their university fees. In the academic year August 2001 to July 2002 the Radiocommunications Agency provided 7 university students with 50-week contracts to work in the Agency as part of their degree course. This is through an Agency managed scheme. The Radiocommunications Agency did not sponsor any students in the last year:- the Agency does not pay university fees.

Letter from Roger Heathcote to Mr. Allen, dated 12 May 2003: You tabled a question on 13 February to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry asking her how many university students her Department and associated agencies have supported or sponsored with a work placement in the last year; what her policy is on work placements; what plans she has to develop such schemes; and what her policy is on paying their university fees. I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Employment Tribunals Service, which is an agency of the DTI. I apologise for the delay in replying. The Employment Tribunals Service does have a policy to support its staff in undertaking further or higher education and is prepared to contribute to university fees where such study would both benefit the individual and the agency. In the last year one member of staff has been supported in undertaking a part-time university course. As far as work placements for university students are concerned, the agency has no specific policy.

Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. Allen, dated 12 May 2003: I am responding to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI. Companies House has not had any work placements of students within the last twelve months. We have however provided advice and information to students during the course of their studies, typically when completing dissertations or course work. These are not centrally administered, but the need to do so is under review. At present we do not pay university fees.

Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Allen, dated 12 May 1003: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply in relation to The Insolvency Service Executive Agency to your question (2002/1344) on university students who were supported or sponsored with a work placement during the year to 31 March. The Insolvency Service sponsored or supported no university students last year nor did it provide work placements. However for the current year The Insolvency Service is currently undertaking a recruitment campaign to fill three placements via the Civil Service Sandwich Placements scheme.