Marsden asks key questions in Parliament

Gordon Marsden, the Labour MP for Blackpool South, he is also Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Skills Group and a member of the Education and Skills Select Committee, tabled a number of parliamentary questions which were answered on 10 June.

Members will note from the answers given then reduction of real terms funding for information, advice and guidance over the past ten years. The Minister's response to the question about training reflects the efforts currently being put in to developing the schools based workforce while the development of the external workforce seems to be low on the DCSF radar. The Institute has raised the matter a number of times with officials and will continue so to do.

All Age Career Guidance Strategy

Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what arrangements his Department has made to facilitate effective close working between Connexions and the new advancement and careers service. [209922]

Beverley Hughes: My officials are working with officials from DIUS on the development of the new adult advancement and careers service to ensure that a joined-up service will be delivered. Both Departments are also working on an all age careers strategy that will make links between careers services for young people and for adults and ensure coherent delivery.

New Connexions Arrangements

Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many local authorities are (a) delivering Connexions services in-house, (b) sub-contracting services to former Connexions Partnerships and (c) tendering out to other providers. [210065]

Beverley Hughes: The Connexions service operates in England only. Based on the latest information held by the Department, the number of local authorities delivering Connexions services in each of the ways described is as follows:

(a) delivering Connexions services in-house: 35;

(b) sub-contracting the services to former Connexions Partnerships: 53;

(c) tendering out to other providers: 62.

Career Guidance: Expenditure

Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on careers guidance for young people in England in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each year since 1997. [209921]

Beverley Hughes: In April 2001, responsibility for providing careers advice passed from the Careers Service to the Connexions Service. Connexions provides services to 13 to 19-year-olds and to people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities up to the age of 24. The following table shows the amount of central Government funding allocated to the Connexions Service and the Careers Service since 1997. Information on the amount spent on careers guidance is not collected centrally. However, an independent study undertaken in 2006 concluded that, on average, around 42 per cent of a Connexions Partnership's expenditure was on information, advice and guidance.

Career Guidance: Training

Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department has commissioned research to evaluate the initial training and continuing professional development available to those delivering information, advice and guidance and careers education. [209923]

Beverley Hughes: Everyone providing information, advice and guidance to young people on learning and careers should have the skills and knowledge that they need to provide excellent service. To ensure this, the Training and Development Agency for Schools has been asked"to review the support that ... (they) provide for the delivery of careers education in schools, and (to) consider more widely the further ITT and CPD support needed by all key stage 4 and post 16 teachers to ensure that they are aware of the pathways for progression through the 14-19 phase in school, college and work-based settings ... (so that they) can talk confidently to students about progression, within and from their own subject and (about) the range of qualifications to which their subject contributes'".We are commissioning a programme of research that will help us to profile the skills gaps of careers coordinators in schools which will, in due course lead to the development of new training provision. And we are working with the Children's Workforce Expert Group to develop a long-term strategy for the whole children's work force. Future support and development for those providing IAG services will sit within the context of that long-term strategy.

Connexions Direct

Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether there are plans to update the Connexions Direct website. [209925]

Beverley Hughes: The Connexions Direct website is regularly updated to a planned monthly schedule, ensuring that the website and associated helpline continue to support departmental and wider government policies, remaining current, topical, responsive, up to date, and relevant to young people and their needs.