§ Chris RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what barriers to re-entering full-time further education for 19-year-olds and over he has identified. [160423]
§ Mr. Ivan Lewis[holding answer 11 March 2004]: Adults who wish to re-enter further education full-time face a range of issues. The National Employment Panel report, Welfare to Workforce Development, which was published on 9 March, refers to a need for improved services and support for learners. The Study of Learners in Further Education (RR 469, September 2003), which my Department commissioned, also highlights the financial implications of being a full-time learner in further education.
Within the framework of the Skills Strategy, the Government is taking action to address these issues and to encourage adults to learn, The measures we are taking include:
The new Adult Learning Grant (ALG), which is being piloted in 10 local LSC areas. This is a major step in helping adults who did not achieve their potential in initial education. ALGs offer a means tested allowance of up to £30 per week for full-time 468W students aged between 19–30 studying for their first full level 2 or first full level 3 qualification. The pattern of attendance required to qualify for ALG means that learners can combine studies with part-time working.The Government provides 75 per cent. of the standard national course costs to the Learning and Skills Council to pass on to Further Education Institutions (FEIs).In 2003–04, £96.5 million of Learner Support Funds have been made available for FE students aged 19† who may find finance a barrier to learning. Learner Support Funds include Access Funds (which can help towards the cost of books, equipment, transport and tuition fees), Childcare Support Funds and Residential Bursaries.We are also working with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to address the financial disincentives to learn for people in receipt of benefits.
§ Chris RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the impact of the 16 hour rule on participation rates of homeless people in further education. [160424]
§ Mr. Ivan Lewis[holding answer 11 March 2004]: My Department has not made a specific assessment of the impact of the 16 hour rule on participation rates of homeless people in further education. However, both DfES and The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which has responsibility for the '16 hour rule', recognise that the rule can create difficulties for some people, including homeless people, who wish to participate in, and complete, courses of further education.
DfES and DWP are working together to address financial disincentives to learn for people in receipt of benefits. This is in line with the recommendations of the National Employment Panel report, "Welfare to Workforce Development", which was published on 9 March.
§ Martin LintonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the further education centres of learning which(a) have closed in London in the past five years, (b) are due to close this year, (c) have opened in the past five years in London and (d) are due to open this year. [162107]
§ Alan JohnsonThe Department only holds information on the dissolution of existing further education institutions and the incorporation of new ones. In the last five years Cordwainers College, Ealing Tertiary College, Greenhill College Harrow, Hendon College, Kingsway College, Phoenix College and Weald College have been dissolved and their property, rights and liabilities transferred to other further education institutions to effect mergers. The Brooke House Sixth Form College has been incorporated within the last five years. There are no other dissolutions or incorporations planned this year. Mark Haysom, Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council will write with details of any other significant changes.
§ Martin LintonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make it his policy to require further education colleges disposing of listed buildings to return a proportion of the buildings' capital value to the community which owned them prior to incorporation. [162108]
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§ Alan JohnsonThe transaction of land and buildings by a Further Education college is specifically covered by the 'Financial Memorandum' which is a significant part of the contract between the LSC and FE corporations and regulates their relationship on financial and related matters. The 'Financial Memorandum' states that a college would normally apply the proceeds of asset sales to investment in fixed assets and, where the college is proposing to dispose of land and buildings which have been acquired by Exchequer funds, allows the LSC to require the college to surrender some or all of the proceeds.