HC Deb 13 February 2004 vol 418 cc178-9W
Mr. Simmonds

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many courses for adult learning have been made available in each year since 1997; [154232]

(2) how many courses are provided for adult learning in 2003–04 in the whole of England and Wales. [154233]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

Information on the number of courses made available for adult learning is not held centrally. What is held centrally, is information on the number of adults actually participating in further and adult education courses. Figures for(a) the number of adults aged 19 and over participating in LSC funded further education in sector colleges and external institutions and (b) the number of enrolments on adult education courses offered by local education authorities (LEAs), are set out separately as follows. Data on the number of learners participating in 2003/04 are not yet available.

Adult learners ( in thousands) on FE provision funded by the LSC in colleges and external institutions in England: 1997/98 to 2002/03
Adult learners
1997/98 2,774.6
1998/99 2,669.5
1999/2000 2,611.6
2000/01 2,777.4
2001/02 3,220.8
2002/03 3,234.9
Source:
LSC Statistical First Release ILR/SFRO2

Enrolments by learners aged 19 and over ( in thousands) on adult education courses offered by LEAs at 1 November 1997 to 2002
1 November Enrolments
1997 1,014.7
1998 1,055.9
1999 1,007.2
20001 983.8
20012 1,015.4
2002 993.2
1Revised estimate: enrolments were over reported by some LEAs in this year
2 Revised estimate: enrolments were inaccurately reported by some LEAs in this year, overall there was a net under-reporting
Source:
Local education authorities

Mr. Simmonds

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding will be made available for adult learning in further education colleges for 2003/04. [154235]

Alan Johnson

The Department allocates funds for education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). In the 2003/04 academic year the LSC's planned allocation for adult learning in further education colleges is £1.923 billion. This figure includes planned funding for Additional Learner Support.

Mr. Simmonds

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adults have been trained at local colleges in each year since 1997. [154236]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

The numbers of Learning and Skills Council (formerly Further Education Funding Council) funded adult learners (aged 19 and over) enrolled in further education sector colleges in each year since 1997/98 are shown in the following table.

Adult learners ( in thousands) on FE provision funded by the Council in colleges in England: 1997/98 to 2002/03
Learners
1997/98 2,480.1
1998/99 2,383.4
1999/2000 2,316.1
2000/01 2,441.8
2001/02 2,832.7
2002/03 2,844.5
Source:
LSC Statistical First Release ILR/SFRO2