§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what measures his Department is taking to encourage the education and training of the long-term unemployed for re-entry into the workplace; and what programmes are available to them;
(2) what measures her Department is taking to encourage the education and training of women for re-entry into the workplace; and what programmes are available to them;
(3) what measures her Department is taking to encourage the education and training of 16 to 25-year-olds for entry into the workplace; and what programmes are available to them.
§ Mr. BoswellThe Government's policy is to increase participation in further education and attainment at all levels. Within that overall aim, colleges have a high degree of autonomy, and have the freedom to determine how best to meet the needs of their own local communities.
The Further Education Funding Council has devised a funding formula for colleges which enables the provision of free tuition to various low-income groups, including unemployed people.
The participation rate for women in full-time and part-time further education is higher than that for men in all age groups except 18 and 19-year-olds. The council is introducing further measures to improve the access to further education of people with low incomes who have child care responsibilities.
General national vocation qualifications provide vocational education which prepares young people for employment in a range of occupations or for higher education, and which develops a range of core skills. Nearly 250,000 students have registered for GNVQs since the first pilot courses began in 1992.
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