§ Mark TamiTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has for an increase in the number of Government-funded training schemes for IT jobs. [105973]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Government are currently undertaking a Review of the Funding of Adult Learning. The Review is exploring how to best use Government funded provision to ensure that it meets the business needs of different sectors. The outcome of the Review will be set out in the Government's Skills Strategy to be published in June. Our recent statement "14–19: opportunity and excellence" announced the introduction (from 2004–05 onwards) of an entitlement for all young people to continue studying up to age 19 until they reach the standard of a good GCSE or the corresponding Level 2 key skill qualification in IT skills.
The Government are supporting the teaching and development of the skills required for IT jobs in a variety of ways, including a wide range of further education provision and specific Modern Apprenticeships. We are seeking to put employers at the heart of meeting skill needs through the establishment of Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). The new bodies will help to ensure that government funded learning opportunities meet particular sectoral needs. A recent joint initiative of Jobcentre Plus and the National Employment Panel has been the Ambition programme designed to engage industry expertise in the design of demand-led programmes to get unemployed and disadvantaged jobseekers into good jobs that pay well and have real
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§ Mr. Stephen TwiggAll schools in England were made aware, in June 2000, of the guidance in the Department of Health's publication "Good Practice in Continence Services" (www.doh.gov.uk/pdfs/continenceservices.pdf). The joint publication by my Department and the Department of Health on "Supporting Pupils with Medical Needs—A Good Practice Guide" (www.teachernet.gov.uk/healthandsafety) gives more general guidance for schools.