§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received about the impact on colleges of the derecognition of certain Schedule 2 qualifications for FEFC funding purposes; and if he will make a statement. [49317]
§ Dr. HowellsRepresentations have been received from a number of colleges and from the Association of Colleges. Approvals granted since the Schedule 2(a) list was first published have largely met the concerns expressed. A number of awarding bodies have applications under consideration and, where relevant criteria are satisfied, approvals will be granted in due course.
§ Ms Oona KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the report `Further Education for the New Millennium', if it is his policy that there should be additional funding for students from deprived areas. [49459]
§ Dr. HowellsIt is the Government's policy that FE funding arrangements should fairly reflect the costs of providing for disadvantaged students.
§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received above the FEFC's decision to limit the eligibility of Schedule 2 qualifications for the New Deal for over-25-year-olds; and if he will make a statement. [49316]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithWe have received representations from various individuals and organisations about the design of the New Deal full-time education and training opportunities.
Ministers in this Department and the Department of Social Security decided that under the New Deal people 25 or over, unemployed two years or more, may take employment-related courses covered by Schedule 2 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (or Section 6 of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992) and retain their Jobseeker's Allowance. They may also in particular cases take higher level courses, where these are likely to lead to an early prospect of employment and alternative sources of funding are not available.