HC Deb 07 September 2004 vol 424 cc1008-9W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the change in(a) basic skills and (b) proportion of working age people (i) with no qualifications, (ii) qualified to level 2 and (iii) qualified to level 4 has been in the constituency of Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central since 1997. [186838]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

(a) The 2003 Skills for Life survey provides the latest estimate of literacy and numeracy levels for England, the North East and#the Tyne and Wear Learning and Skills Council area in particular. At present it is not possible to estimate levels of need for the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area although such figures will be available via DfES's website this autumn. The Skills for Life survey maps skill levels to the National Standards for Adult Literacy and Numeracy and is not directly comparable with previous estimates of basic skills need. This means we are unable to look at changes in basic skills levels since 1997.

The survey highlights that 22 per cent. of North East respondents were classified at Entry Level 3 or below for literacy (below a GCSE grade G). The figure for England as a whole is 16 per cent. If the North East's population is approximately 2.6 million, this would mean that over 500,000 people would have literacy skills at entry level 3 or below. For Tyne and Wear LSC area, 22 per cent. of respondents were at Entry Level 3 or below for literacy.

For numeracy, 55 per cent. of North East respondents were classified at Entry Level 3 or below for numeracy. This compares with a figure of 47 per cent. for England as a whole. If the North East's population is 2.6 million, this would mean that approximately 1.4 million people would have entry level 3 or below numeracy skills. 50 per cent. of respondents were at Entry Level 3 or below for Tyne and Wear LSC area.

Available data show that between the launch of the Skills for Life strategy in April 2001 and July 2003, Learning and Skills Council funded learners in the North East achieved some 35,000 Skills for Life qualifications, 18,000 within the Tyne and Wear Learning and Skills Council area. These figures are in addition to achievements funded through the Offenders' Learning and Skills Unit and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Qualification level (percentage)1
Geography No qualifications Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 and above Level 2 and above
Newcastle-upon-Tune Central PCA

Change from 1999–2000

-3 -1 +3 +9 +11
2002–03 11 18 26 36 79
2001–02 11 17 23 35 76
2000–01 13 17 26 32 75
1999–2000 13 19 23 27 69
Tyne and Wear LLSC

Change from 1999–2000

-3 -1 +1 +4 +3
2002–03 17 23 20 21 63
2001–02 19 22 19 19 61
2000–01 21 23 18 19 60
1999–2000 20 24 19 17 60
North East GOR

Change from 1999–2000

-3 0 +1 +3 +3
2002–03 18 23 19 19 61
2001–02 20 22 19 19 60
2000–01 21 23 18 19 59
1999–2000 21 23 19 17 58
1Numbers may not add up due to rounding.