HC Deb 27 April 2004 vol 420 cc974-6W
Mr. Hendrick

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been allocated to schools in Preston for information and communication technologies since 2001. [168116]

Mr. Charles Clarke

My Department does not hold information on school level allocations for information and communication technologies. However Preston is in Lancashire LEA and since 2001–02 schools in Lancashire have benefited from the following funding through the Standards Fund grant for ICT (including match funding from the LEA):

Allocation to Lancashire LEA (£)
2001–02 6,483,142
2002–03 8,983,493
2003–04 9,169,124
2004–05 11,892,478

Mr. Hendrick

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many women in Preston have visited an information and communications technology training centre in order to learn skills to return to work. [168117]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

In the period October 20031-March 2004, 6,262 people visited a UK online centre in the Preston constituency. 3,507 (56 per cent.) of these people were women.

Since learndirect was launched in 1999, 4,197 people from the Preston constituency have enrolled on a learndirect course. 2,395 (57 per cent.) of these people were women. Of the total number of women who enrolled on a course, 3 per cent. did so in order to learn skills to return to work. 1Please note the complete statistics are not available for UK online prior to September 2003 as the DfES did not collect this data on a centre-by-centre basis.

Mr. Hendrick

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people in Preston have received a computer to assist in seeking employment or retraining. [168118]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

At present no centrally funded schemes exist which enable people to acquire free or low price recycled computers. In the past such schemes have been trialled but have proved costly to administer to ensure fair distribution of equipment.

Malcolm Bruce

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the impact of information and communication technology on(a) GCSE and (b) A-level grades. [168667]

Mr. Charles Clarke

Independent research has found that, when used effectively, ICT can raise levels of pupil attainment by the equivalent of half a grade at GSCE. We do not have any comparable research at 'A' level but this is currently being considered.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many women in Burnley have visited an information and communications technology training centre in order to learn skills to return to work. [167935]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

In the period October 20031—March 2004, 3,030 people visited a UK online centre in the Burnley constituency. 1,697 (56 per cent.) of these people were women.

Since learndirect was launched in 1999, 4,119 people from the Burnley Constituency have enrolled on a learndirect course. 2,466 (60 per cent.) of these people were women. Of the total number of women who enrolled on a course, 3 per cent. did so in order to learn skills to return to work. 1Please note the complete statistics are not available for UK online prior to September 2003 as the DfES did not collect this data on a centre-by-centre basis.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people in Burnley have received a computer to assist in seeking employment or retraining. [167936]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

At present no centrally funded schemes exist which enable people to acquire free or low price recycled computers. In the past such schemes have been trialled but have proved costly to administer to ensure fair distribution of equipment.

Mr. Kaufman

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many women in Manchester, Gorton have visited an information and communications technology training centre in order to learn skills to return to work. [167433]

Mr. Charles Clarke

In the period October 20031—March 2004, 2,828 people visited a UK online centre in the Manchester Gorton constituency. 1,584 (56 per cent.) of these people were women.

Since learndirect was launched in 1999, 6,485 people from the Manchester Gorton Constituency have enrolled on a learndirect course. 3,120 (48 per cent.) of these people were women. Of the total number of women who enrolled on a course, 8 per cent. did so in order to learn skills to return to work. 1Please note the complete statistics are not available for UK online prior to September 2003 as the DfES did not collect this data on a centre-by-centre basis.

Mr. Cummings

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding has been allocated to schools in the Easington constituency for IT technologies in 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [168074]

Mr. Charles Clarke

My Department does not hold information on school level allocations for information and communication technologies. However, Easington is in Durham LEA and in 2002–03 schools in Durham benefited from £4,168,531 through the Standards Fund grant for ICT (including match funding from the LEA).

Research shows that, when used effectively, ICT can engage pupils in learning and raise standards of performance to the equivalent of half a grade at GCSE. The positive impact of ICT in schools takes place irrespective of the socio-economic context of the school.