HC Deb 03 November 1995 vol 265 cc518-20W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the reason given by Barnsley and Doncaster TEC for making an operating loss for the financial year 1993–94, and if she will make a statement. [38631]

Mr. Paice

The information relating to the operating surplus/deficit made by Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council is available in the TEC's annual report for 1993–94. A copy of this report is held in the Library.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many(a) adults and (b) young people on average participated in the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC training scheme in each month in the past two years; and if she will indicate the average percentage of those who gained qualifications. [38981]

Mr. Paice

The number participating in youth training and training for work in the Barnsley and Doncaster Training Enterprise Council area are given in the following table. The table also includes information on those gaining qualifications.

Barnsley and Doncaster TEC
1993–94 1994–95
Youth Training
Average number in-training 4,040 3,710
Percentage of leavers gaining a qualification or credit towards one: 52 per cent. (January-December 1994) 53 per cent.
Training for Work
Average number in-training Percentage of leavers gaining 3,460 3,130
Percentage of leavers gaining a qualification or credit towards one: 39 per cent. (January-December 1994) 45 per cent.

Source:

TEC management information returns, YT and TFW national follow-up surveys.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to what extent Barnsley and Doncaster TEC is involved in(a) the open learning credits initiative and (b) the skill choice initiatives; what achievements have been made under the programme; what yearly funding it has received to date; and when the initiative will end. [39011]

Mr. Paice

Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council did not take part in either the open learning credits pilots or the skill choice initiative.

The open learning credits pilots were run in 1993–94 to trial the use of open learning for unemployed people. There were 14 pilots involving 17 TECs and two local enterprise councils. Total funding for the pilots was £2.97 million. The purpose of the pilots was to trial the use of open learning for unemployed people. The pilots were fully evaluated and identified a number of benefits including choice, flexibility, high levels of client satisfaction and the opportunity to target particular client groups.

Skill choice was a two-year initiative run in 1993–94 and 1994–95. There were 14 TECs and three local enterprise companies involved and total expenditure was £19. 5 million. The aim of the initiative was to help individuals, mainly those in employment, to purchase the vocational guidance and assessment services of their choice. The total number of individuals helped over two years was 250,000, and employers participating in the initiative reported significant economic benefits.

Evaluation reports for both programmes have been placed in the Library.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions she has had with her colleagues in increasing the funding of Barnsley and Doncaster TEC. [38982]

Mr. Paice

There are no plans to increase the allocation of funds to Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council in the current financial year. However, the TEC along with others, may benefit from additional resources available through funds already committed for national/regional competitions between TECs. These include performance-related funding, skills challenge and the achievement of additional qualifications through youth training.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to extend or amalgamate the boundaries of the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC, and if she will make a statement. [39048]

Mr. Paice

I am not aware of any plans to extend or amalgamate the boundaries of Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council. It is for TECs themselves to propose any structural change.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if Barnsley and Doncaster TEC uses adult training credits within its training for work provision; and if she will make a statement. [39451]

Mr. Paice

The information requested is operational information on the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council and the question would be best addressed to the TEC to answer.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the estimated number of people who have found permanent work during the last 12 months as a result of training at the Barnsley and Doncaster TEC. [39453]

Mr. Paice

In 1994, 43 per cent. of those leaving training for work from Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council were in a job six months after leaving. In the same period, 50 per cent. of youth training leavers were in a job.

As the information comes from surveys, it is possible to give only percentages not actual numbers.