HC Deb 20 November 2003 vol 413 cc1495-6W
John Barrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education land Skills what recent assessment he has made of the content and design of his Department's website. [139336]

Mr. Charles Clarke

I am unable to provide the information requested before the House prorogues. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

Alan Johnson

Information for the years 1992 and 1993 are not available centrally. The available information for the years 1994 to 2002 covers all applicant numbers to full time and sandwich first degrees through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) to institutions in Greater London and is shown in the table.

For students entering teacher training courses, there has been a progressive shift over many years from BEd to PGCE courses; only the BEd courses are covered by UCAS. Following the Roberts Review, which looked into the supply of people with science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills, we have introduced a number of initiatives designed to improve staffing and the teaching environment of these subjects, including additional funding for pay and for the development of university science infrastructure.