HC Deb 10 April 2002 vol 383 cc117-9W
Paul Holmes

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what plans she has for addressing the skills shortage in programming and systems analysis; what assessment she has made of the extent of that skills shortage; and if she will make a statement; [45359]

(2) what plans she has to meet with computer training companies to discuss provision for higher level skills training in the information and communications technology sector; [45360]

(3) if she will develop, alongside a replacement individual learning account scheme, a project focused more directly upon the identified skills shortages of British industry, with particular reference to the information and communications technology sector. [45383]

John Healey

The information is as follows.

Action on ICT skills

The Government recognise the importance of the ICT sector to the economy and are working closely with partners in education and industry to tackle the skills shortages. There are no quick fixes. We have committed £8 million between 2000–03 to a joint DfES/DTI work programme aimed at improving: the image of ICT and encouraging more people to pursue a career in the sector. This aims to show people that ICT jobs are rewarding and can provide valued career paths. links between education and industry to ensure that new recruits have the skills employers require and that there is an on-going dialogue about skill needs, training priorities and the respective roles and responsibilities of business and providers. understanding of the labour market, changing skill needs and skills deficiencies within ICT and improving the quality of our intelligence available for planning education and training provision and alleviating skills problems.

Examples of specific projects include: An employer-led project to create accessible, industry-wide careers information. A new labour market forecasting model, which can inform partners of skill needs on an on-going basis. Help for companies to broaden their recruitment practices to encourage more candidates from under represented groups, and graduates from other disciplines into the industry. Major employers of ICT professionals have supported the project. Developing a co-ordinated campaign to promote the positive aspects of careers in ICT occupations. The e-skills NTO has established an Employers Charter for companies committed to supporting the campaign. Activities include work on:

  • Development of work experience opportunities for students and women returners
  • Feasibility of establishing school computer clubs for girls
  • Identification of positive role models from industry.

ICT Labour Market Information

The Department has recently sponsored and supported the largest survey of employers of ICT professionals undertaken. The recently published report (e-skills NTO, 2001) reports on hard-to-fill vacancies, skill shortage vacancies and skill gaps among IT professionals both within and outside the IT sector. Some of the information is reported by job role, where there is sufficient information to do so, eg the survey reports an estimated 3,000 hard-to-fill vacancies among software development professionals in the UK. Occupations and job roles assessed within the survey do not specifically match those cited in the question.

The Department has also funded a comprehensive review and assessment of the evidence on the supply of and demand for skills in Information and Communication Technology. This includes assessment of specific skills required and shortages of, earnings trends and scenarios of the likely future balance of the demand for, and supply of, employment in the sector.

The Department recognises the rapid rate of change in the sector and among these professionals and is supporting the development of a quarterly e-skills bulletin. The bulletin will update the above information by reporting on data from the Labour Force Survey and other published sources to assess trends of skill needs.

ILA Replacement Scheme

There will be a replacement ILA-type scheme building on the strengths of the ILA and taking into account the findings of the current stakeholder consultation exercise which are due in early April. At this stage it is too early to say what the curriculum focus of the replacement scheme will be.

The Secretary of State has no plans to meet with computer training companies.