§ Mr. FlookTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received from(a) schools, (b) parents and (c) pupils about the intentions of year 12 or lower 6th students expecting to complete A-levels in summer 2005 and considering whether to take a gap year in 2005–06. [148504]
§ Mr. Ivan LewisAt December 2003 the Department for Education and Skills had received the following representations about young people's gap year intentions for 2005/06: nine from schools, three from parents and three from pupils.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he intends to have with charitable organisations in respect of the impact of his proposals for higher education funding on gap year activities in 2005–06. [149026]
§ Mr. Ivan Lewis[holding answer 19 January 2003]: There are no plans for discussions with charitable organisations on the impact of the proposals for higher education funding on gap year activities in 2005–06.
The Higher Education White Paper "The Future of Higher Education" was published on 22 January 2003 and there was an extensive consultation exercise associated with it.
In addition, the impact of higher education funding on gap year intentions is a matter regularly discussed by officials and Gap Year Providers and representative groups at meetings of DfES' informal Gap Year Consultation Group.