§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of current recruitment to courses training careers guidance professionals. [155866]
§ Mr. WicksWe are working with the Institute of Career Guidance to develop a new qualification, the Qualification in Careers Guidance for people moving into the careers guidance profession. This is currently being piloted and will be available nationally from autumn 2001.
Information provided to us by the Institute of Career Guidance, the awarding body for the Diploma in Careers Guidance and the pilot Qualification in Careers Guidance shows that 303 students were registered for careers adviser initial training in 1999–2000 and currently 311 students are registered in 2000–01.
685WIn addition, we have made available funding in 2000–01 to support 46 students on the NVQ level 4 in Guidance.
To support people moving into the guidance profession in 2000–01, we made available £745,000.
§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he is taking to ensure that careers guidance under his Connexions Strategy is given by advisers who have undergone full training in careers work. [155867]
§ Mr. WicksThe Connexions Service will offer at least the same level of impartial careers information, advice and guidance for 13 to 19 year-olds as is currently provided by careers services. However, in order to remove the significant barriers to learning that many young people face, the range of information, advice and guidance provided by the Connexions Service will be extended to cover matters relating to, for example, housing and health.
Personal Advisers will operate as multi-disciplinary teams and will include a range of people offering specialist support to young people. Personal Advisers providing careers guidance will have appropriate professional qualifications.