HC Deb 13 February 2002 vol 380 cc465-6W
Mr. Truswell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 2002,Official Report, column 532W, on the fast track work permit scheme, if he will list (a) the members of the panel of representatives from the technology communications and electronics sector to which he refers and (b) the organisations to which they belong. [34799]

Angela Eagle

The Information Technology, Communications and Electronics (ITCE) sector panel is composed of other Government Departments and relevant industry bodies and not individuals. The organisations that are represented on the ITCE sector panel are:

  • Association of Technology Staffing Companies
  • British Computer Society
  • Computer Software Services Association
  • Department of Trade and Industry
  • Department for Education and Skills
  • e-Skill National Training Organisation
  • Federation of the Electronics Industry
  • Institution of Electrical Engineers
  • National Training Organisation for Engineering and Manufacturing
  • Professional Contractor Group
  • Recruitment and Employment Confederation.

Mr. Truswell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 January,Official Report, column 532W, on the fast track work permit scheme, if he will make a statement on the evidence adduced to justify the inclusion of Oracle database administration in the list of shortage occupations for the purposes of the fast track work permit scheme. [34800]

Angela Eagle

At the Information Technology, Communications and Electronics (ITCE) sector panel meeting held on 10 October 2001 evidence from panel members restricted the Database Specialist to Oracle Database Administrator. That in itself is under review following the ITCE meeting in January 2002 as further evidence is provided by panel members. Further information has been requested from panel members, before considering the removal of this specific shortage occupation.

Mr. Truswell

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown, by category, of the work permits approved under the shortage occupation category for information technology since 21 January 2000. [34797]

Angela Eagle

The number of work permits approved under the shortage occupation category for information technology since 21 January 2000 is:

Number
Analyst programme 2,505
Business analyst 331
Computer engineer 410
Computer programmer 1,293
Database specialist 162
Information Technology (IT) manager 172
Network specialist 304
Project manager 300
Software engineer 4,681
System analyst 2,375
Other IT related occupations1 7,759
1 This category includes occupations that are on the published shortage occupation list but are not captured separately for management information purposes by the Work Permits United Kingdom computer system.