§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people have benefited from the New Entrepreneur Scholarship programme since its creation. [163320]
§ Mr. Ivan Lewis40 scholars participated in the initial pilots in 2000/01 (in Greenwich, Manchester and Cornwall) of whom 75 per cent. completed. 850 scholars participated in the national pilot during 2001/02 and 2002/03 of whom 85 per cent. completed. Following the success of the pilots the programme has been extended until at least 2006/07. 1,147 scholars have been recruited to the programme in 2003/04 with an expected completion rate of 90 per cent.