HC Deb 13 January 1998 vol 304 cc182-3W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what response he plans to make to Irish Government proposals for a Programme and Joint Management Structure for youth exchanges between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. [22506]

Dr. Howells

A joint working party is being established to define the range and content of the youth exchange programme and to decide how it will operate. The Department will appoint representatives.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what response he plans to make to the proposal from the Irish Government for a joint forum to facilitate discussion and co-operation in educational matters. [22501]

Dr. Howells

Following the joint statement issued by the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach on 12 December, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment met the Irish Minister of Education and Science, Mr. Michael Martin TD, on 17 December. They agreed that there should be regular contact between officials of their Departments to discuss ways of enhancing teaching and learning through new technologies.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many meetings of the Anglo-Irish Inter-Governmental Council Working Group on Education and Culture have taken place in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [22565]

Dr. Howells

The Working Group on Education and Culture has met five times during the last three years, on 3 February 1995, 26 April 1996, 7 February 1997, 8 May 1997 and 14 November 1997. The Working Group provides a valuable forum for the discussion of Anglo-Irish co-operation in the fields of education and culture.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many projects his Department funds under the Leonardo vocational training programme which involve Irish organisations. [22505]

Dr. Howells

During the first three years of the Leonardo da Vinci vocational training programme, UK organisations have led 757 transnational projects of which 149 involve partners from the Republic of Ireland. The Leonardo da Vinci programme is funded by the European Community, not the DfEE, and runs from 1995–99.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many meetings his Department has had with the Irish Department of Education in relation to the National Grid for Learning and the University for Industry. [22500]

Dr. Howells

There has been one formal meeting of officials in relation to the National Grid for learning and none in relation to the University for Industry.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students from the Republic of Ireland are studying at British universities; and how many are in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. [22503]

Dr. Howells

Data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency for the academic year 1996–97 showed that there were 14,550 students from the Republic of Ireland studying in higher education institutions in the UK, of whom 7,552 were studying in England, 1,570 in Scotland, 1,546 in Wales and 3,882 in Northern Ireland.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students from the Republic of Ireland are participating in further education in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. [22504]

Dr. Howells

In 1995–96, the latest year for which data were available, there were 1,700 students from the Republic of Ireland studying in further education institutions in England.

The numbers of such students studying in other parts of the United Kingdom are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales, for Scotland and for Northern Ireland respectively.

Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he intends to take to encourage participation by English and Welsh schools in the European Studies Project. [22502]

Dr. Howells

The Government welcome the fact that a growing number of UK schools are forming partnerships with Irish schools through their participation in initiatives such as the European Studies Project and the EC SOCRATES programme. Following a meeting between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and the Irish Minister of Education and Science on 17 December 1997, the Government are considering whether there is a need for additional measures to encourage co-operation between educational institutions in the UK and in Ireland.