§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what targets the Learning and Skills Councils have for(a) the 16 to 18 age group, (b) the post-19 age group and (c) lifelong learning. [83564]
§ Margaret HodgeThe Df ES has agreed a set of new Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets with the Treasury. The ones directly relevant to the Learning and Skills Council are:
- (a) By 2004, increase by 3 percentage points the number of 19year-olds achieving a Level 2 qualification, compared with 2002; with a further increase of 3 percentage points by 2006;
- (b) By 2004, at least 28 per cent. of young people to start a Modern Apprenticeship by age 22. And by 2010 90 per cent. of young people by age 22 will have participated in a full-time programme fitting them for entry into higher education or skilled employment; and
We would also expect the LSC to help support progress towards 50 per cent. of 18 to 30-year-olds entering higher education by 2010.
- (c) Improve the basic skill levels of 1.5 million adults and young people between the launch of Skills for Life 2001 and 2007, with a target of 750,000 by 2004;
Reduce by at least 40 per cent. the number of adults who lack a Level 2 qualification by 2010. Working towards this, 1 million adults already in the workforce to achieve Level 2 between 2003 and 2006.We are committed to an investment and reform programme to raise standards, increase participation and improve outcomes for learners and employers. FE colleges and other providers will be set challenging targets for minimum performance and value for money.
The LSC will be publishing a supplement to its Corporate Plan in 2003 that will reflect its contribution to the PSA targets.