§ Paul HolmesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many young people with learning disabilities have used the Connexions Service, broken down by region, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [170397]
§ Margaret HodgeInformation on the use of Connexions services by young people with learning disabilities is not collected centrally.
In support of their key target of reducing the proportion of young people who are not in education, employment or training, many Connexions Partnerships have agreed a local target to increase the proportion of 16–19 year olds with learning difficulties and disabilities in education, employment and training. It is encouraging that there was a small increase of two percentage points in the numbers of young people with learning difficulties and disabilities in education, employment or training between June 2003 and March 2004.
§ Charles HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received concerning the effect on private contractors of his Department's encouragement of Connexions partnerships to improve tax efficiency; and if he will make a statement. [169977]
1748W
§ Margaret HodgeMy Department has received a number of representations from private companies, Connexions Partnerships and other organisations regarding the effect on private contractors of the need to reduce VAT transition funding.
The decision about what tax efficiency means for each partnership, is the responsibility of individual Boards. Establishing a tax efficient delivery model does not necessarily affect the relationship with private sector companies. But the Department remains in discussion with representatives from Connexions service providers and will continue to consider any issues that they bring forward.
Some partnerships have for some time been in the process of changing their model of governance. The need for tax efficiencies has not always been the catalyst for this but it does bring these partnerships in to line with others looking at how they structure themselves to become more tax efficient.
§ Charles HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many contracts between the Connexions Service and private contractors have been terminated in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [169978]
§ Margaret HodgeOne private sector contract has been terminated in the last year by Essex Southend and Thurrock Connexions Partnership. In addition, Lifetime Careers (part of the Nord Anglia group) were not selected by Greater Manchester Connexions to deliver services in Stockport and Bury in 2004–05 following a competitive tendering exercise.
§ Charles HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many subcontracting Connexions Partnerships have a local authority as the lead body for the receipt of grant. [169979]
§ Margaret HodgeOf the 47 Connexions Partnerships, there are three subcontracting Connexions Partnerships who have a local authority as the lead body—Hertfordshire Connexions, Norfolk Connexions and Central London Connexions.
§ Charles HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many private sector contractors have been used by the Connexions Service in each year since its establishment. [169981]
§ Margaret HodgeConnexions Partnerships are themselves private companies. Many will also sub contract some services to other private sector companies. Information on the numbers involved is not collected centrally.