§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what measures she is taking to promote British engineering; [79545]
(2) what measures she is taking with the Department of Education and Skills to increase the number of graduates in the engineering sector. [79466]
§ Mr. WilsonI am taking a number of measures to promote British engineering. British engineering is able to benefit from the services of British Trade International in competing in overseas markets. And there is a range of specialist activity such as the "Capability Statement" documents on education and training in the oil and gas industry which describe the roles UK trained and educated engineers play in all the major centres of oil and gas production world-wide.
The Department promotes engineering in key overseas markets through the deployment of International Technology Promoters who promote collaboration between UK firms and overseas counterparts. Smaller engineering firms have access to additional support through a secondments programme, which enables SMEs to improve their competitive position by spending up to a year in a foreign company.
I am taking a range of measures: to encourage young people to consider engineering as a rewarding career choice; to increase the attractiveness of degree courses in engineering; and to provide a clear progression path though school, FE and HE. I am particularly keen to ensure individual learners and employers are offered flexible training opportunities for people in the workforce.
The Government accept that without an adequate supply of young people studying the sciences, technologies, engineering and mathematics, the UK's long-term prospects are bleak. The Government aims to increase young people's engagement in science and technology through increased activity in schools that will inspire young people and improve perceptions of the relevance of the curriculum to the world of work. For its part the DTI is working closely with our colleagues in the DfES to ensure that in response to Sir Gareth Roberts' Report "SET for Success" a number of measures are taken to improve the supply of people with science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills. For example: an additional investment of £100 million a year by 2005–06 (in addition to extra resources for the Department for Education and Skills) to implement the recommendations of the Review
Government will also be funding the Research Councils to increase the minimum PhD stipend to £12,000 by 2005–06, which should also enable the average PhD stipend to rise to over £13,000 by 2005–06 and investing in research careers by increasing funds for PhD training.
Sir Gareth's Report recommends that the Government increase its support for SETNET, (the Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths Network) and the UK-wide network of 53 SETPoints that it administers which channel Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) activities supported by industry into schools. This network also administers the 750W Science and Engineering Ambassadors programme. The Government is still considering how best to respond to these specific recommendations.
The Government are also committed to supporting the new Engineering and Technology Board, which has replaced the former Engineering Council and has the more effective promotion of science, technology, engineering and maths as one of its key objectives.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of engineers educated in the UK who were working abroad in each of the last five years. [79574]
§ Mr. WilsonThis information is not available.