WillisTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding allocation is made to the Learning and Skills Council for the education of 14 to 16-year-olds; and when the funding is approved. [36019]
§ John HealeyIn the financial year 2001–02, none of the Learning and Skills Council's budgets is specifically targeted at 14 to 16-year-olds in school years 10 and 11. £23 million, however, has been allocated for Education Business Link (EBL) activities. These activities will prepare young people for the workplace and adult life by building effective partnerships between schools and business to enhance the delivery of key skills and the national curriculum. EBL funding is aimed at all school children but includes a commitment for all Key Stage 4 pupils to experience at least two weeks' work experience.
In the financial year 2002–03 funding for EBL has been subsumed into the LSC's Youth Programmes Budget of £2,708.493 million. This funding will be increased before the start of the financial year to include funding for the "Increased Flexibility for 14 to 16-year-olds" programme. The aim of this programme is to support the development activity necessary to extend vocational options for young people at Key Stage 4 of the national curriculum, in line with commitments in the White Paper: "Schools: Achieving Success" (July 2001).
There are, of course, in addition to 14 to 16-year-olds in years 10 and 11, large numbers of 16-year-olds being educated in FE colleges and school sixth forms. FE college funding for the financial years 2001–02 and 430W 2002–03 is included in a number of LSC budgets and school sixth form funding in a separate, new LSC budget for 2002–03.
The LSC is advised of its funding for each financial year in the preceding December by means of a grant letter. It is informed of any new funding throughout the year as this becomes available.
§ Mrs. BrowningTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to converge funding streams for all post-16 provision. [36031]
§ John HealeyWe consulted extensively about funding arrangements for post-16 education and training. Planning and implementing these new systems to meet the Government's learning targets is the responsibility of the Learning and Skills Council which has published its corporate plan for the period to 2004 and its plans for developing post-16 funding systems for 2003–04 onwards. The council plans to introduce a common funding approach for 2003–04 in line with our consultations in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Progress to date has been good with development of a consistent national funding system this year for work based learning. Progress in 2002–03 will continue with the development of new funding arrangements for further education and the council's assumption of responsibility for school sixth form funding. We are committed to work with the council to further develop funding systems, to ensure that funding follows the learner and facilitating the development of a rational and coherent approach to funding different forms of post-16 provision.