HC Deb 27 May 2004 vol 421 cc1826-7W
Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that 13 to 19-year-olds in schools, colleges and in the workplace have access to impartial career advice and guidance which is informed by the changing labour markets. [175853]

Mr. Charles Clarke

Every 13 to 19-year-old in England has access to impartial careers advice from their local Connexions Partnership or, on-line, from Connexions Direct. Connexions Partnerships liaise with local employers and conduct labour market studies in order to help young people reach career decisions based on sound information about local and national labour market trends. Connexions also makes available national careers information products, which are developed in close collaboration with Sector Skills Councils to ensure they reflect employment trends and changing occupational requirements.

Mr. Willis

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills who has been invited to serve on the end to end review of careers education and guidance in England; and what the timetable is [175851]

Margaret Hodge

The review team is made up of officials from the Department. The team has consulted a wide range of individuals and organisations. In total around 350 people will have been consulted by the end of May, including staff and students at several schools and colleges, young people taking part in a Connexions Direct user survey, a spread of Connexions Partnerships and representatives from the following organisations: Aim Higher; Association of Colleges; Association of Learning Providers; Careers England; CBI; CfBT; Construction Industry Training Board; Disability Rights Commission; Equal Opportunities Commission; e-skills UK; Go Skills; Government Offices; Guidance Council; Guidance Enterprises Group; HM Treasury; Institute of Careers Guidance; Learning and Skills Council; Local Government Association; National Association for Gifted and Talented Youth; National Association of Careers and Guidance Teachers; National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations; National Institute for Careers Education and Counselling; National Union of Teachers; Ofsted; Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; Secondary Heads Association; Sector Skills Development Agency; Selly Oak Hospital; Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities; skillsformedia; Universities for the North East; University of Northumbria I expect the review to conclude at the end of June.

Charles Hendry

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the future of the private sector in providing careers guidance for young people. [172675]

Margaret Hodge

The Department values the contribution made by the private sector in providing careers guidance for young people. However, it is the responsibility of Connexions Partnerships to decide on the most appropriate way to deliver services for young people in their area. Connexions Partnerships are currently considering the most cost-effective means of delivering the service, and in some cases this may involve a change of structure. This does not necessarily mean that the position on sub-contracting to private providers changes. We have found an increasing number of areas are moving to a "lead body" model leaving private sector careers contracts in place.