Friday 30 March 2001
Written Answers to Questions

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the number of referrals that were made to industrial tribunals in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

(AQW 2301/00)

The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): The number of referrals made to industrial tribunals from 1998 to 2000 inclusive is as follows:

1998 – 4,022

1999 – 5,053

2000 – 5,106

Mr Tierney asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the number of taught post-graduate students studying Information Technology-related subjects at each of the campuses of the University of Ulster, distinguishing between full-time and part-time students.

(AQW 2313/00)

Dr Farren: Enrolments on taught post-graduate courses in Information Technology and related subjects at the University of Ulster by campus and mode of study, 1999-2000:

Mr Tierney asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the number of full-time equivalent academic staff in each of the faculties at (a) Magee College and (b) all campuses of the University of Ulster in the current academic year, distinguishing between research active and non-research staff.

(AQW 2314/00)

Dr Farren: The full-time equivalent academic staff employed at the University of Ulster (as at 31 July 2000) are detailed overleaf.

Note: "Research Active" is defined as academic staff who were actively involved in research activities in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), which took place in 1996.

Mr Tierney asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the increase in the number of full-time equivalent student places at each of the campuses of the University of Ulster, for each year from 1995 to 2001, distinguishing between full-time and part-time, sub-degree, degree and post-graduate courses.

(AQW 2315/00)

Dr Farren: Information on student enrolments is not yet available for 2000-01.

Mr Tierney asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the number of full-time equivalent students in each faculty in (a) Magee College and (b) all campuses of the University of Ulster in the current academic year, distinguishing between sub-degree, degree and post-graduate courses.

(AQW 2316/00)

Dr Farren: Information on students enrolled at Higher Education institutions is not collected by faculty and is presented by broad subject area.

Mr Tierney asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the number of Mean Average Student Number (MASN) places allocated to each of the campuses of the University of Ulster in each of the years from 1997 to 2001.

(AQW 2317/00)

Dr Farren: The MaSN, which stands for the Maximum Student Number, is the total number of Home and EC students on full-time undergraduate or on initial teacher training courses which a university may enrol in a particular academic year. It is not allocated between university campuses. For the University of Ulster, the MaSNs allocated in each of the years from 1997 to 2001 are as follows:

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail (a) how many of the workforce are covered by basic employment law and (b) what significant changes have taken place in respect of employment law over the last decade.

(AQW 2358/00)

Dr Farren: There are approximately 612,000 persons in the Northern Ireland workforce at present, taking the workforce in this context to mean persons in paid employment, and these persons are covered by basic employment law such as protection against unfair discrimination and unfair dismissal.

Over the past decade the most significant changes in respect of employment law have been those relating to protection against unfair dismissal in various circumstances, rights in relation to trade union membership, protection against discrimination on grounds of race and disability, improvements in health and safety measures, restrictions on average weekly working time and the provision of rest breaks, introduction of a national minimum wage, extension of maternity leave and provision of parental leave, and the prevention of less favourable treatment for part-time workers.

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail, in respect of the parliamentary constituency of Lagan Valley, (a) the number of women currently involved in skills based training and (b) the number of women involved in training for non-traditional trades.

(AQO 1179/00)

Dr Farren: I attach tables giving information on the number of women in the Lagan Valley parliamentary constituency area who were participating in the major Training and Employment Agency Programmes at the end of January 2001, and the breakdown of those women involved in training for particular trades. The programmes for which information on the types of training being undertaken that are relevant and readily available, are the Jobskills programme, and the Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland 1995-99 under the Employment Sub-Programme, where trainees are undertaking Modern Apprenticeships. The data given includes trainees in all occupational areas.

Notes:

Mr McMenamin asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to comment on the numbers of Northern Ireland students gaining qualifications at higher education institutions.

(AQO 1150/00)

Dr Farren: Northern Ireland students continue to perform extremely well in higher education.

In 1999/00, 14,095 NI students gained Higher Education qualifications at Higher Education institutions in the UK.

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to outline how his proposals on student finance will target people who have been under-represented in third-level education and to make a statement.

(AQO 1154/00)

Dr Farren: I refer the members to the details of my statement made earlier this morning. I have put in place a series of proposals which members I am sure agree will:

• Widen access to further and higher education;
• provide greater equality of opportunity and greater equity of treatment by reducing the barriers to participation and retention for those from less well off backgrounds;
• increase the contribution which HE and FE make to regional economic development; and
• promote lifelong learning.

In relation to the specific questions, I do not believe that my proposals in respect of fees in further education will disadvantage the future prospects of students. On the contrary, the provision of this incentive to full-time students over 19 undertaking vocational qualifications will be to their advantage.

In respect of the costs of additional administration, it is not yet possible to quantify these in detail since negotiations over the changes to the administration of student support are at an early stage but I will, of course, seek to constrain such costs. I have, however, set aside £300k to fund the necessary changes to the relevant IT systems.

The Member for Lagan Valley has asked how my proposals will target people who have been under- represented in third level education. This is a key element of my proposals. The introduction of ILAs for part-time students in certain vocational areas in FE and HE; the introduction of a childcare grant to assist students in HE on low incomes with dependant children; the raising of the threshold for fee payment and the £½m increase in Access Funds in FE will all assist in attracting and retaining such students to FE and HE. However, I am sure that the introduction of bursaries in FE and HE deliberately targeted at those whose families or spouses earn less than £15,000 residual income will be central in establishing greater equality of opportunity for students from less well off backgrounds who have been traditionally under-represented.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the steps he is taking to ensure the availability of third-level education in West Tyrone.

(AQO 1158/00)

Dr Farren: Third-level education is available in West Tyrone through Omagh College.

Mr B Hutchinson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail what progress has been made between the University of Ulster, the Belfast Institute for Further and Higher Education and his Department in relation to the proposed Springvale Campus and to make a statement.

(AQO 1164/00)

Dr Farren: Since Ministerial approval for Springvale was announced in February 2000; grant conditions have been met by the Institutions and a Departmental Letter of Grant will issue very shortly; the Institutions are currently setting up a PFI project board to take forward the construction of the main campus; consultations have been held on the academic plan for the campus; building work has commenced on the Community Outreach Centre; and tenders have been invited for the design of the Applied Research Centre.

Mr Ford asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to outline what arrangements are in place to provide a rapid reaction service in areas where large scale redundancies are announced.

(AQO 1171/00)

Dr Farren: The Training and Employment Agency responds immediately in redundancy situations to help redundant workers find alternative employment, offer careers guidance, and advise on training opportunities. Advice can also be given on redundancy payments issues and staff from the Social Security Agency may also be involved to advise on benefit entitlements.

Mrs E Bell asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail what measures are in place to tackle the skills shortage in craft-related occupations.

(AQO 1170/00)

Dr Farren: The Training and Employment Agency addresses craft level shortages through the Traineeship and Modern Apprenticeship provision of its Jobskills programme. Higher rates of funding are payable for training in priority skill areas. The Agency works with Sector Training Councils to tackle craft level shortages via industry-led Modern Apprenticeships.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to outline what progress has been made with the establishment of a cross-departmental taskforce on employability and long term unemployment as described in the Programme for Government.

(AQO 1147/00)

Dr Farren: I chaired the first meeting of the inter-departmental Taskforce on Employability and Longterm Unemployment on 20 March. This initial meeting focused on developing our draft terms of reference and mechanisms for engaging with those outside Government. We also considered the initial findings from the independent Scoping Study which I have commissioned to review existing evidence on employability.

Mrs Courtney asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the initiatives he has undertaken to attract new entrants to the labour market.

(AQO 1151/00)

Dr Farren: The Department of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment helps new entrants to the labour market by providing quality careers guidance and employment services to Schools, Colleges and Training Organisations, and to unemployed young people. The Department also helps to improve their employability through participation in programmes such as Jobskills for the unemployed and Business/Education activities for those in full-time education.

Dr Birnie asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to give his assessment of the allocation of research funds under the Science Research Investment Fund programme.

(AQO 1186/00)

Dr Farren: The £1 billion Science Research Investment Fund running over the period 2002-04, aims to enhance UK science research. Within the overall total, the Office of Science and Technology was allocated £375 million, for distribution UK-wide, from which NI has been allocated £7 million. This is a welcome contribution to our drive to strengthen the university research base here.

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