§ Mr. WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adults achieved an NVQ level 2 or equivalent qualification in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [172977]
§ Mr. Ivan Lewis[holding answer 13 May 2004]: Table 1 shows the number of NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) and OVQs (Other Vocational Qualifications), at level 2, achieved by adults in each year since 1997/98. Data are for England and are taken from the National Information System for Vocational Qualifications (NISVQ).
Table 1: The number of level 2 qualifications1 achieved by adults2, in England, 1997/98 to 2001/02
Thousand NVQs OVQs Total level 2 awards
1997/98 171 58 229 1998/99 161 65 226 1999/2000 167 76 243 2000/01 152 96 247 2001/02 139 79 218 1NVQ figures are based on information relating to all awarding bodies that award NVQs. OVQ data are for City and Guilds, OCR and Edexcel only. 2Adults are defined as those who are academic age 18 or over. Academic age is age of the person at the start of the academic year e.g. in 2001/02 age would be calculates against 31 August 2001. Source: NISVQ