HC Deb 08 December 1992 vol 215 cc558-9W
Mr. Adley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of children in the United Kingdom remain in full-time education beyond the age of 16 years; and if he will tabulate the United Kingdom figures alongside those for other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

Mr. Forman

The available information is given in the table.

Participation rates in full-time education and training1 of 16 and 16 to 18 year olds. 19882
Percentages
Country 16 year olds 16–18 year olds
Australia4 76 52
Belgium2 92 82
Canada5 100 77
Denmark 90 79
France 82 73
Germany (Federal Republic)6 71 49
Italy2 65 55
Japan7 93 84
Netherlands6 93 77
Spain8 68 58
Sweden 84 73
United Kingdom9
1988 50 35
1989 53 36
USA2 95 75
1 Includes apprenticeships, YTS and similar schemes.
2 1987 for Belgium and Italy (provisional), 1989 for USA.
3 Includes higher education for some 18 year olds.
4 Includes an estimate for those students studying subsidised courses at non-governmental business colleges.
5 Excludes certain part-time students, 16 per cent, at 16–18.
6 Includes compulsory part-time education for 16 and 17 year olds in Germany and Netherlands.
7 Includes private sector higher education and an estimate for special training and miscellaneous schools providing vocational

training

8 Includes estimates for 18 year olds in universities.

9 Includes estimates for those studying only in the evening and for private sector further and higher education, including training courses with employers.

Sources: Education Statistics for the United Kingdom 1992, Table BB (1992 edition draft).

Mr. Adley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will indicate the comparable levels of literacy and numeracy for 16 to 18-year-olds in the United Kingdom and other OECD countries.

Mr. Forman

Information on levels of literacy and numeracy among 16 to 18-year-olds in the United Kingdom is not available centrally. However, the adult literacy and basic skills unit estimates that 5.5 million adults in England and Wales have some difficulty with reading, writing, spelling and basic mathematics. It does not, however, have a basis for making comparisons with other countries.

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