HL Deb 29 October 2002 vol 640 c26WA
Lord Greaves

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many people are on the waiting lists of applicants for ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) courses in England; and how many of these are (a) waiting for initial interviews and (b) students waiting to be placed in classes. [HL5919]

Whether they consider it acceptable that there is currently a waiting list of several months for initial assessment interviews for applicants for ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) classes at Nelson and Colne College and of six months for students who have undertaken an initial assessment before they can be offered places in classes; and whether they will provide extra resources in order to allow additional provision to be made. [HL5921]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland):

The Government are fully committed to providing good quality English language provision for adults who do not speak English as a first language. Neither the Department for Education and Skills nor the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) holds information on waiting lists of ESOL provision across England. Some areas have higher demand for ESOL provision than others, and the LSC will ensure that where colleges can identify a need to expand their ESOL provision, sufficient funding will be available to them. In addition, the LSC has commissioned research into any unmet demand for ESOL. This includes a survey of providers to establish whether any individuals are on waiting lists for ESOL courses and whether there are constraints on growth to meet demand. The department has recently established ESOL pathfinders, including one in Burnley and Pendle, where Nelson and Colne College is a main partner, to test the new ESOL teaching and learning infrastructure and how we can improve and widen access to ESOL learning.