Learning and Skills Councils

HC Deb 15 February 2001 vol 363 cc201-2W

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students he has appointed to Learning and Skills Councils. [148982]

Mr. Wicks

[holding answer 7 February 2001]: The information requested is not available as applicants for positions with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the local LSCs were not asked to declare whether they are currently or have been students.

However, we recognise that to be successful, the LSC must be fully responsive to the needs of learners and potential learners. Learning Partnerships are already charged with ensuring that consultative mechanisms are

Leavers 1994–95
	Less than 1 year1,2	One but less than 2 years2	Two but less than 3 years2	All leavers3
Nursery and primary	610	610	600	15,500 (8 per cent.)
Secondary
Mathematics	80	80	70	n/a
English	80	90	80	n/a
Science	80	120	100	n/a
Languages	80	100	100	n/a
Technology and Art	110	130	70	n/a
History	30	30	30	n/a
Geography	10	30	30	n/a

in place to capture and articulate the views and opinions of young and adult learners, and feed these back to the LSC.

The LSC itself is also considering what further mechanisms it needs to put in place at national and local levels to ensure that young people are effectively engaged in the new arrangements, and to advise on young people's learning needs and expectations.