Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Institutes of Technology have been created, what courses they provide, and how many pupils currently study at the Institutes.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government is investing up to £300 million to establish a comprehensive network of 21 Institutes of Technology across England.
They bring together our world class higher and further education sectors, with local businesses – to develop a pipeline of local talent to address local skills needs. Our IoTs work hand in glove with our Local Skills Improvement Plans. They specialise in delivering high-quality training and education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based subjects, helping to bridge a vital skills gap in our economy in sectors such as engineering and manufacturing, digital, and construction. Subjects and qualifications offered differ across the network as training is tailored and responsive to the needs of business in the areas they serve. Whilst offering a range of qualifications from Level 3 (T-levels) to Level 7 (master’s degrees), they specialise in higher-level technical skills at Level 4/5, including degree apprenticeships, Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) and professional training.
The latest data the department has on the number of students studying at Institutes of Technology comes from the cohort as of the end of the 2022/23 academic year, which was 14,231. This number of students was across 15 Institutes of Technology that were open to learners at that time.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why school meal vouchers can only be used in certain shops and cannot be used in all supermarkets and convenience stores.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
During this period of partial school closures, we are asking schools to support children who are at home and eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children, and we encourage this approach where it is possible. However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the department.
Through the national voucher scheme, schools and families could initially access e-gift cards for Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer. On Monday 27 April, we added Aldi to this list and on Wednesday 29 April, we added McColl’s. We recognise that it may not be convenient or possible for some families to visit one of these supermarkets and we have been working to see if additional supermarkets can be added to this list. Any additional supermarkets would need to have the right infrastructure to deliver e-gift cards across their network of stores.
If schools are unable to provide meals or food parcels and none of the supermarkets participating in the national voucher scheme are suitable for families, schools can purchase vouchers for alternative shops and claim costs back, up to a certain limit.
Guidance on providing free school meals during the coronavirus outbreak is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools.
Further guidance on financial support is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-schools/school-funding-exceptional-costs-associated-with-coronavirus-covid-19-for-the-period-march-to-july-2020.
These are rapidly developing circumstances. We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to extend the range of supermarkets and convenience stores able to accept school meal vouchers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Berridge
Free school meal vouchers can currently be spent in a variety of supermarkets. Initially, the scheme includes supermarkets that already have e-gift card arrangements in place with Edenred, including Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, M&S and Waitrose. On 21 April we confirmed that Aldi will be added to the list of supermarkets from week commencing 27 April. We continue to work with a wide range of supermarkets to encourage them to join. This involves them having the right infrastructure to deliver e-gift cards in a uniform way across their network of stores.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total amount of food waste generated by DfE offices for each of the last five years.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The amount of waste disposed of by composting or anaerobic digestion over each of the last five years was as follows:
The majority of this was food waste (which includes inedible waste such as fruit peel and coffee grounds) but also includes other compostable waste such as tissue paper.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the progress of the work by the Careers and Enterprise Company will be reported to Parliament.
Answered by Lord Nash
The Careers & Enterprise Company, which was set up to take a lead role in transforming the provision of careers, enterprise and employer engagement experiences for young people, was incorporated in February 2015. Since then it has been working with employers, schools and colleges, careers, enterprise and employer engagement providers and others to devise its strategy for transforming the way in which schools and colleges, in partnership with employers, help to prepare young people for adult life.
On 1 July 2015 the company announced the appointment of Claudia Harris as its Chief Executive Officer and a company board comprising Christine Hodgson, Chair of Capgemini UK (chair); Lord Young of Graffham, former Enterprise Adviser to the Prime Minister; Steve Holliday, Chief Executive Officer of National Grid; Brian Lightman, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders; and Dame Julia Cleverdon, Vice-Patron of Teach First and Vice-President of Business in the Community.
The Careers & Enterprise Company has made good progress with its set up and its delivery plans. The company will commence its services in the coming months, including publishing research on ‘what works’ in school-work engagement; launching its £5 million investment fund; and development of a digital ‘Enterprise Passport’ to help young people broaden and showcase their experience. The company has been engaging Local Enterprise Partnerships recently and the enterprise advisers in the network will support schools to improve their careers and enterprise offer, in particular by brokering links with employers and local careers and enterprise providers.
To date the company has received £10.95 million from government for its activities leading to delivery of the objectives set out by my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State in December. As an independent company, it is for The Careers & Enterprise Company to publish its accounts in accordance with The Companies Act 2006.
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State is accountable to Parliament in the usual way for progress on improving careers advice and guidance for young people, including the contribution that the company makes to this.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which Local Enterprise Partnerships have been involved with the Careers and Enterprise Company to date.
Answered by Lord Nash
The Careers & Enterprise Company, which was set up to take a lead role in transforming the provision of careers, enterprise and employer engagement experiences for young people, was incorporated in February 2015. Since then it has been working with employers, schools and colleges, careers, enterprise and employer engagement providers and others to devise its strategy for transforming the way in which schools and colleges, in partnership with employers, help to prepare young people for adult life.
On 1 July 2015 the company announced the appointment of Claudia Harris as its Chief Executive Officer and a company board comprising Christine Hodgson, Chair of Capgemini UK (chair); Lord Young of Graffham, former Enterprise Adviser to the Prime Minister; Steve Holliday, Chief Executive Officer of National Grid; Brian Lightman, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders; and Dame Julia Cleverdon, Vice-Patron of Teach First and Vice-President of Business in the Community.
The Careers & Enterprise Company has made good progress with its set up and its delivery plans. The company will commence its services in the coming months, including publishing research on ‘what works’ in school-work engagement; launching its £5 million investment fund; and development of a digital ‘Enterprise Passport’ to help young people broaden and showcase their experience. The company has been engaging Local Enterprise Partnerships recently and the enterprise advisers in the network will support schools to improve their careers and enterprise offer, in particular by brokering links with employers and local careers and enterprise providers.
To date the company has received £10.95 million from government for its activities leading to delivery of the objectives set out by my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State in December. As an independent company, it is for The Careers & Enterprise Company to publish its accounts in accordance with The Companies Act 2006.
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State is accountable to Parliament in the usual way for progress on improving careers advice and guidance for young people, including the contribution that the company makes to this.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect that the Careers and Enterprise Company has had (1) on the level of employer input into careers education in schools and colleges, and (2) on the quality of careers education in schools and colleges.
Answered by Lord Nash
The Careers & Enterprise Company, which was set up to take a lead role in transforming the provision of careers, enterprise and employer engagement experiences for young people, was incorporated in February 2015. Since then it has been working with employers, schools and colleges, careers, enterprise and employer engagement providers and others to devise its strategy for transforming the way in which schools and colleges, in partnership with employers, help to prepare young people for adult life.
On 1 July 2015 the company announced the appointment of Claudia Harris as its Chief Executive Officer and a company board comprising Christine Hodgson, Chair of Capgemini UK (chair); Lord Young of Graffham, former Enterprise Adviser to the Prime Minister; Steve Holliday, Chief Executive Officer of National Grid; Brian Lightman, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders; and Dame Julia Cleverdon, Vice-Patron of Teach First and Vice-President of Business in the Community.
The Careers & Enterprise Company has made good progress with its set up and its delivery plans. The company will commence its services in the coming months, including publishing research on ‘what works’ in school-work engagement; launching its £5 million investment fund; and development of a digital ‘Enterprise Passport’ to help young people broaden and showcase their experience. The company has been engaging Local Enterprise Partnerships recently and the enterprise advisers in the network will support schools to improve their careers and enterprise offer, in particular by brokering links with employers and local careers and enterprise providers.
To date the company has received £10.95 million from government for its activities leading to delivery of the objectives set out by my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State in December. As an independent company, it is for The Careers & Enterprise Company to publish its accounts in accordance with The Companies Act 2006.
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State is accountable to Parliament in the usual way for progress on improving careers advice and guidance for young people, including the contribution that the company makes to this.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much of the proposed £20 million funding has been spent on the Careers and Enterprise Company to date; and when its first accounts will be published.
Answered by Lord Nash
The Careers & Enterprise Company, which was set up to take a lead role in transforming the provision of careers, enterprise and employer engagement experiences for young people, was incorporated in February 2015. Since then it has been working with employers, schools and colleges, careers, enterprise and employer engagement providers and others to devise its strategy for transforming the way in which schools and colleges, in partnership with employers, help to prepare young people for adult life.
On 1 July 2015 the company announced the appointment of Claudia Harris as its Chief Executive Officer and a company board comprising Christine Hodgson, Chair of Capgemini UK (chair); Lord Young of Graffham, former Enterprise Adviser to the Prime Minister; Steve Holliday, Chief Executive Officer of National Grid; Brian Lightman, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders; and Dame Julia Cleverdon, Vice-Patron of Teach First and Vice-President of Business in the Community.
The Careers & Enterprise Company has made good progress with its set up and its delivery plans. The company will commence its services in the coming months, including publishing research on ‘what works’ in school-work engagement; launching its £5 million investment fund; and development of a digital ‘Enterprise Passport’ to help young people broaden and showcase their experience. The company has been engaging Local Enterprise Partnerships recently and the enterprise advisers in the network will support schools to improve their careers and enterprise offer, in particular by brokering links with employers and local careers and enterprise providers.
To date the company has received £10.95 million from government for its activities leading to delivery of the objectives set out by my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State in December. As an independent company, it is for The Careers & Enterprise Company to publish its accounts in accordance with The Companies Act 2006.
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State is accountable to Parliament in the usual way for progress on improving careers advice and guidance for young people, including the contribution that the company makes to this.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who is on the board of the Careers and Enterprise Company.
Answered by Lord Nash
The Careers & Enterprise Company, which was set up to take a lead role in transforming the provision of careers, enterprise and employer engagement experiences for young people, was incorporated in February 2015. Since then it has been working with employers, schools and colleges, careers, enterprise and employer engagement providers and others to devise its strategy for transforming the way in which schools and colleges, in partnership with employers, help to prepare young people for adult life.
On 1 July 2015 the company announced the appointment of Claudia Harris as its Chief Executive Officer and a company board comprising Christine Hodgson, Chair of Capgemini UK (chair); Lord Young of Graffham, former Enterprise Adviser to the Prime Minister; Steve Holliday, Chief Executive Officer of National Grid; Brian Lightman, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders; and Dame Julia Cleverdon, Vice-Patron of Teach First and Vice-President of Business in the Community.
The Careers & Enterprise Company has made good progress with its set up and its delivery plans. The company will commence its services in the coming months, including publishing research on ‘what works’ in school-work engagement; launching its £5 million investment fund; and development of a digital ‘Enterprise Passport’ to help young people broaden and showcase their experience. The company has been engaging Local Enterprise Partnerships recently and the enterprise advisers in the network will support schools to improve their careers and enterprise offer, in particular by brokering links with employers and local careers and enterprise providers.
To date the company has received £10.95 million from government for its activities leading to delivery of the objectives set out by my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State in December. As an independent company, it is for The Careers & Enterprise Company to publish its accounts in accordance with The Companies Act 2006.
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State is accountable to Parliament in the usual way for progress on improving careers advice and guidance for young people, including the contribution that the company makes to this.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to reply by Lord Nash on 10 December 2014 (HL Deb, col 1830), what progress has been made in establishing the Careers and Enterprise Company and making it operational.
Answered by Lord Nash
The Careers & Enterprise Company, which was set up to take a lead role in transforming the provision of careers, enterprise and employer engagement experiences for young people, was incorporated in February 2015. Since then it has been working with employers, schools and colleges, careers, enterprise and employer engagement providers and others to devise its strategy for transforming the way in which schools and colleges, in partnership with employers, help to prepare young people for adult life.
On 1 July 2015 the company announced the appointment of Claudia Harris as its Chief Executive Officer and a company board comprising Christine Hodgson, Chair of Capgemini UK (chair); Lord Young of Graffham, former Enterprise Adviser to the Prime Minister; Steve Holliday, Chief Executive Officer of National Grid; Brian Lightman, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders; and Dame Julia Cleverdon, Vice-Patron of Teach First and Vice-President of Business in the Community.
The Careers & Enterprise Company has made good progress with its set up and its delivery plans. The company will commence its services in the coming months, including publishing research on ‘what works’ in school-work engagement; launching its £5 million investment fund; and development of a digital ‘Enterprise Passport’ to help young people broaden and showcase their experience. The company has been engaging Local Enterprise Partnerships recently and the enterprise advisers in the network will support schools to improve their careers and enterprise offer, in particular by brokering links with employers and local careers and enterprise providers.
To date the company has received £10.95 million from government for its activities leading to delivery of the objectives set out by my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State in December. As an independent company, it is for The Careers & Enterprise Company to publish its accounts in accordance with The Companies Act 2006.
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State is accountable to Parliament in the usual way for progress on improving careers advice and guidance for young people, including the contribution that the company makes to this.