| Home | Committees | Membership | Publications | Legislation | Chronology | Commission | Tour | Search |
|
Friday 15 February 2002 Student Drop-Out Mr M Robinson asked the Minister for Employment and Learning how many students have dropped out of (a) further; and (b) higher education institutions in each of the last five years. (AQW 1195/01) The Minister for Employment and Learning (Ms Hanna): The information in Further Education (FE) Institutions is not available. However, the Department collects information relating to the number of final year students who do not sit their examinations, as a proportion of all final year enrolments. This data provides a measurement of drop-out and the statistics are backed up by the Education and Training Inspectorate, who surveyed a broad range of vocational courses in seven NI Further Education Institutions in 1998-99 and 1999-2000. This survey states that the average drop out rate was 27% for full- time courses and 29% for part-time courses inspected. This figure is calculated as the overall average drop-out rate for the three years prior to the focused inspection. Further Education Leavers and the percentage who did not sit examinations (as a proxy for drop out)
Source: Further Education Leavers Survey The above figures relate to vocational and academic enrolments only * The increase in the % of students on vocational courses who did not sit their examinations should be viewed against the background of widening access initiatives which have increased participation but in doing so have lowered completion rates.
* Two colleges of Queen’s University, (St Mary’s and Stranmillis) now submit data on their own behalf. This has had implications for the projected outcomes of the institution, which show a large proportion expected to transfer to other HEI’s, and a consequent decrease in the proportion projected to obtain a degree. As these results are misleading, HEFCE have omitted the figures for this institution from the table. Promoting Courses at Mr M Robinson asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what steps are being taken to promote the merits of courses at further education colleges. (AQW 1701/01) Ms Hanna: The marketing and promotional activities of further education (FE) colleges are the responsibility of individual colleges. In addition to college prospectuses, colleges also employ a range of marketing initiatives to promote their services to prospective learners. Further independent information is available from a range of sources including the Careers Service, the Educational Guidance Service for Adults and learndirect. In addition my Department has established a Marketing Working Group to look at the wider issues surrounding the marketing of the FE sector. Undergraduates from Republic of Ireland Enrolled at University Campuses Lord Kilclooney asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what are the most recent figures for the number of undergraduates from the Republic of Ireland enrolled at each of the university campuses in Northern Ireland. (AQW 1710/01) Ms Hanna: The table below sets out information on the number of undergraduates from the Republic of Ireland enrolled at each of the university campuses in Northern Ireland. These figures relate to the 2000/01 academic year. Republic of Ireland domiciled undergraduate students enrolling on higher education courses at Northern Ireland institutions by mode of study and campus, 2000/01
Source: HESA Dataset Work Permits Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what safeguards exist, when issuing foreign nationals outside the EU with work permits, to ensure that the minimum wage criteria is met. (AQW 1738/01) Ms Hanna: Employers applying for work permits are required to state, among other things, the amount they guarantee to pay the employee before deductions. A permit is not issued if it appears that the employer proposes to pay less than the National Minimum Wage or less than the rate normally paid to a European Economic Area resident worker. The amount of pay stated by the employer is reproduced on the work permit. Governing Bodies of Institutes Mr Kennedy asked the Minister for Employment and Learning if she intends to bring forward proposals to increase transparency and public accountability in respect of membership of the governing bodies of Institutes of Further and Higher Education; and to make a statement. (AQW 1757/01) Ms Hanna: The governing bodies of Institutes of Further Education will be reconstituted on 1 April 2002. My Department has already indicated the intention to review the arrangements for governance in 2003-04. Review of Public Administration Mr Kennedy asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to outline (a) her plans for the Review of Public Administration within her Department; (b) the timescale involved; and to make a statement. (AQW 1758/01) Ms Hanna: The Review of Public Administration is currently under consideration by the Executive. Governing Bodies Mr Kennedy asked the Minister for Employment and Learning if she has any plans to establish an independent forum/panel, with powers of investigation and remedy, to oversee complaints against governing bodies of Further and Higher Education Institutes in respect of issues of employment and equality; and to make a statement. (AQW 1759/01) Ms Hanna: The issues raised are matters for the governing bodies of the Colleges of Further Education in conjunction with the appropriate statutory authorities for employment and equality. Student Loans Mr J Kelly asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what measures she is taking to provide for student debt so that the total funds reserved for student loans could be reduced; and to make a statement. (AQW 1840/01) Ms Hanna: While student loans offer students a method of funding their living costs, with very favourable repayment terms, I recognise that some students experience financial difficulties. With this in mind, my Department is introducing means-tested non- repayable higher education bursaries of up to £1,500 per year from 2002-03. This will reduce the amount of loans students will claim and ultimately reduce the Department's loans budget. Bombardier Shorts: Financial Assistance Mr Weir asked the Minister for Employment and Learning how much financial assistance has been provided to Bombardier Shorts for training or other associated activities in each year since 1989. (AQW 1842/01) Ms Hanna: Details of financial assistance provided to Bombardier Shorts are only available from the 1997-98 period. The total assistance provided by my Department in each of the years from 1997-98 was:
Enterprise, Trade and Investment Unemployment Rate: East Antrim Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail, by electoral ward, the unemployment rate for the parliamentary constituency of East Antrim. (AQW 1628/01) The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): [holding answer 8 February 2002]: Ward-based information on employment is confined to claimant count numbers. Details of the number of claimant count unemployment for each ward in East Antrim parliamentary constituency area can be found in Table 1 overleaf. Also provided (Table 2) is an unemployment rate for East Antrim parliamentary constituency area as a whole compared to Northern Ireland. Table 1
Table 2
'Employment in Europe 2001' Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give his assessment of (a) the ‘Employment in Europe 2001 — Autumn Update’ document; and (b) the employment implications therein relevant to Northern Ireland. (AQW 1714/01) Sir Reg Empey: (a) 'Employment in Europe' is one of many useful publications commenting on the employment challenges facing all national and regional economies given the current global economic climate. (b) While the publication is concerned with employment prospects at a European and national level, it does confirm my view that Northern Ireland is not immune from the effects of a slowdown in the world economy. The document identifies several sectors that are important to Northern Ireland’s future employment prospects and which are vulnerable given the current global economic climate. The sectors of the Northern Ireland economy that are most vulnerable are aerospace, tourism and Information/Communication Technology (ICT). Future employment prospects in these areas will be largely dependent upon a global economic recovery and the restoration of confidence in the airline industry. Employment Trends Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he will make a statement on employment trends since September 2001. (AQW 1721/01) Sir Reg Empey: As the latest available employment estimates relate to September 2001, I am not in a position to discuss trends since that date. However, for information the September 2001 Quarterly Employment Survey (QES) estimated that there were 643,620 employee jobs in Northern Ireland. This represents a decrease of 300 from the previous quarter (June 2001) and an increase of 4,520 over the year. Employment estimates for December 2001 are due to be published on 20 March 2002. Work-Related Accidents Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how many accidents at work led to (i) major; and (ii) minor injuries in each of the last three years. (AQW 1735/01) Sir Reg Empey: The number of accidents reported to enforcing authorities under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1997 during the last three financial years is set out in the following table.
Fatal Accidents Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how many deaths were recorded at work for each of the last three years. (AQW 1736/01) Sir Reg Empey: The number of fatal accidents reported to enforcing authorities under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (Northern Ireland) during the last three financial years is as follows:
National Minimum Wage: Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, pursuant to AQW 965/01, to detail the process to ensure that foreign nationals from within the EU currently working at Ballylumford Power Station, are able to avail of the national minimum wage. (AQW 1760/01) Sir Reg Empey: The Inland Revenue enforces the national minimum wage provisions on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Foreign workers are entitled to the national minimum wage in exactly the same way as other workers. The Inland Revenue has a specialist team based in Belfast who are responsible for enforcing the national minimum wage in Northern Ireland. The team follow up complaints by workers and will also respond to tip-offs from other interested parties. If someone suspects non-compliance with the minimum wage in Northern Ireland, then in the first instance, they should contact the Northern Ireland minimum wage helpline on 0845 6500 207. National Minimum Wage Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how many people are benefiting from the recent uprating of the national minimum wage. (AQW 1763/01) Sir Reg Empey: There is no standard method of calculating the number of people directly affected by the National Minimum Wage in Northern Ireland. Estimates relating to the percentage of employees earning less than the National Minimum Wages are available from the NI New Earnings Survey which is carried out each April. The latest results available refer to April 2001, when the national minimum wage rates were £3·70 per hour for those aged 22 and over and £3·20 per hour for 18- to 21-year olds. This suggests that 0.8% of employees were earning less than the National Minimum Wages. There is no data available as yet covering the uplift in October 2001 to £4.10 and £3·50 respectively. Agriculture Industry Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of non-UK and non-Republic of Ireland citizens who are registered as working in the agricultural industry in each of the last five years. (AQW 1778/01) Sir Reg Empey: The only potential source of the information requested is the Northern Ireland Labour Force Survey (LFS). However, this is a sample survey and estimates disaggregated to the level required are not sufficiently reliable and are not published. Job Losses: Coats Viyella, Randalstown Mr Ford asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what action he is taking in conjunction with the Industrial Development Board following the loss of 200 jobs at the Dorma factory in Randalstown announced on 11 February. (AQW 2040/01) Sir Reg Empey: Officials in the Industrial Development Board (IDB) have been in close contact with senior Coats Viyella management and members of the Management buyout team since the company made its first announcement that 70% of the factory’s capacity was no longer required by customers. When IDB was informed of the final decision to close, the Chief Executive spoke to a member of the Coats Viyella senior management team to once more encourage Coats Viyella to reconsider the options for the future. IDB is continuing to work with the employment services of the Training and Employment Agency and Coats Viyella management to obtain an orderly run down of production and will be responding to any expressions of interest in the business from other parties to secure the best possible outcome for those affected. IDB has also offered to help promote the factory and surrounding site to bring it to the attention of other businesses by placing it on IDB’s Property Services web site. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||