HC Deb 23 July 1996 vol 282 cc195-7W
Mr. Bryan Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total public expenditure for the training of outside consultants in the structure and language of national vocational qualifications prior to the publication of the Beaumont report; and what expenditure is planned in this regard for(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [39038]

Mr. Paice

The Department did not provide any training at public expense specifically on structure and language of NVQs prior to the Beaumont report. Following the receipt of that report and as stated in the Government's action plan a programme of professional development for people involved in the development of occupational standards and NVQs is planned for 1996–97, and will continue to be available until the end of the "review of all" in April 1998. A total training budget of approximately £60,000 is proposed for 1996–97. No specific amount has been set aside for consultants as opposed to others provided by industry bodies.

We expect to spend a similar amount in 1997–98.

Mr. Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the level of current expenditure on(a) additional national vocational qualifications and (b) the revision of existing national vocational qualifications; and what expenditure is planned for 1997–98. [39037]

Mr. Paice

The current planned level of expenditure through the standards programme for work on additional standards and national vocational qualifications is £2.2 million for 1996–97.

The current planned level of expenditure through the standards programme for work on revision and updating of standards and national vocational qualifications is £4.8 million for 1996–97.

Decisions on expenditure on these items for 1997–98 have not yet been taken.

Mr. Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the total public expenditure on the development of standards for national vocational qualifications since the inception of the standards programme; and now much of this expenditure has been on outside consultants. [39039]

Mr. Paice

Total expenditure since the inception of the standards programme for national vocational qualifications in 1988 has been £83 million. It is not possible to say how much of this has involved consultants.

Mr. Byers

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which courses are now no longer approved for output funding by her Department as a result of their removal from the NVQ national database; and for each course, what was the number of students taking the course in the last three years. [38257]

Mr. Paice

[holding answer 22 July 1996]: Three hundred and fifty-five vocational qualifications were removed from approval and closed to new entrants to training programmes between May 1993 and May 1996. Of these, 81 are no longer eligible for output payments to TECs; they are listed. Student numbers taking each qualification are not available as trainee data are collected on an aggregated basis by level of qualification for all approved types. Data are not collected by reference to individual qualification titles.

Qualification titles:—Accommodation Services; Adult Trainers Award; Agricultural Machinery Partsmen (Special Examination); Agriculture Phase II; Aeronautical Engineering Competencies Part II; Animal Care (Small Animals) Phase 1; Animal Care (Small Animals) Phase 2; Animal Care (Special Examination); Automotive Glazing (GTL); Automotive Glazing (RTITB); Baking; Basic Quarrying (Special Examination); Basic Upholstery Skills; Beauty Therapy; Beauty Specialist's Diploma; Caring for Children (0–7 years); Certificate in Achievement in Forecourt Operations; Certificate in Cleaning Science; Certificate of Proficiency (Chemical Industry); Certificate of Tour Operating Practice Level I; Clothing and Knitting Craft Stage I; Community Care Practice; Cosmetic Make-up; Diploma in Health Community Care and Parentcraft; Diploma in Hotel Reception and Front Office Practice; Electronic Office Systems Maintenance; Electronic Office Systems Maintenance (Field); Electronic Office Systems Maintenance (Workshop) Family and Community Care; First Certificate in Caring; First Certificate in Leisure Studies; First Certificate in Science; First Diploma in Caring; First Diploma in Leisure Studies; Footware Manufacture Operatives Stage 1; Footware Manufacture Operatives Stage 2; Furniture Removing—Manual Operations; Furniture Removing—Sales Administration; Guide Dogs (Kennel Staff); Guide Dogs (Trainer); Horse Care (Level 1); Horse Care (Level 2); Industrial Ceramics (Special Examinations); Industrial Cleaning and Maintenance; Iron and Steel Production (Foundation); Kennel Craft (Special Examination); Leather Goods Manufacture; Light Leather Goods Skills Tests; Maintenance and Repair of Construction Plant Part I; Manicure; Meat Industry General Assistant; National Small Animal Care Certificate; Plumbing Craft (New Scheme); Practical Caring Skills Part II; Practical Environmental Skills; Preliminary Certificate in Applications Programming; Preliminary Examination for Banking Certificate; Preliminary Examination for membership of AAT; Process Operations (Man-Made Fibres and Film) Level 1; Process Operations (Man-Made Fibres and Film) Level 2; Recreation and Leisure Industries Part I; Recreation and Leisure Industries Part II; Road Haulage; Roadwork Craft; Saddlery Level I Skills Tests; Security and Emergency Alarm Systems Part I; Security and Emergency Alarm Systems Part II; Shoe Repair Stage I; Shoe Repair Stage II; Skillbuild (Level 1); Stock Administration and Handling Part II; Surveying for Draughtproofing; The Certificate in Accounting; The Certificate in Business Travel; Threshold Certificate; Tobacco Processing (Cigarette Making); Tobacco Processing (Cigarette Packing); Tobacco Processing (Cigarette Packing); Tobacco Processing (filter Rod Making); Tobacco Processing (Loose Tobacco); Vehicle Mechanics and Systems (Stage Two) National Craft Certificate; Waterman's Certificate (Special Examination) Part I.