§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the percentage of 16-year-olds in full-time education was in Wiltshire in 1999. [157789]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 23 April 2001]: At the heart of our drive to improve participation and attainment is the new Connexions Service which is being phased in from this month. The service will provide information, advice, support and access to personal development opportunities for all 13 to 19-year-olds, whatever their needs and circumstances, to keep them learning. Latest figures show that the numbers of 16 to 222W 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training in England fell by 28,000 from 185,000 in 1998 to 157,000 in 1999.
Participation rates by LEA for 16 and 17-year-olds are published in Statistical Bulletin 11/00: Participation in education and training by young people aged 16 and 17 in each local area and region, England, 1994–95 to 1998–99.
The percentage of 16-year-olds in full-time education in Wiltshire local education authority was 73 per cent. in 1998–99, the latest year for which figures are available.