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3WS
Written Ministerial Statements
26 OCTOBER 2009
Written Ministerial Statements
4WS
“Quality, Choice and Aspiration” sets out our plans
to deliver 21st century IAG that reflects what young
people tell us they want and is more accessible and
relevant, reflecting a rapidly changing economy. In line
with our plans to raise the participation age to 18 our
strategy will set out our ambition for every young
person to receive careers education to 18. The reforms
we are setting out today will make sure every young
person, whatever their background, can aim for the
top.
Raising the quality of IAG requires a new approach,
one that brings together young people, those working in
business and older peers, because they are often best
placed to provide an understanding of all the different
types of jobs young people might aspire to and the
qualifications they will need to fulfil their ambitions.
Children begin to think about their future careers at
an early age, so our strategy will support schools and
parents working together to nurture the aspirations of
children and develop their strengths, whether they are
practical, academic or both.
This generation of young people look to the internet
for knowledge in most areas. So this strategy signals a
step change in online advice and guidance so young
people are able to access IAG on Facebook, YouTube,
blogs and other social networking sites.
Reflecting our approach to 21st century IAG, the
strategy will include a number of new proposals:
piloting approaches to teaching about careers in primary school
and plans for primary schools to work with universities to give
younger pupils an experience of higher education and the
wider world of work;
provide support and resource for schools and parents to engage
with young people from an early age to talk about career
opportunities;
the ambition that every young person to have access to a
mentor—two new national mentoring champions will help
increase mentoring opportunities between schools, businesses
and higher education;
more help for disadvantaged and disabled young people in
accessing work experience so that all young people—regardless
of their background, ethnicity or gender—can realise their full
potential;
a £10 million fund to support innovative ways of delivering
careers education.
This strategy has been informed and influenced by
the important report “Fair Access to the Professions”
by my right hon. Friend the Member for Darlington
(Mr. Milburn) and his panel, published this summer.
The plans outlined today build on my right hon. Friend’s
report and take forward the majority of the
recommendations relevant to IAG.
Now more than ever young people need access to
good IAG. This strategy sets out our vision. It puts in
place the building blocks for an IAG system which gives
every young person the high-quality support they need
to release their talents, thus setting them on the path to
success.
I am placing a copy of the strategy in the Libraries of
both Houses.
HEALTH
Standing Commission on Carers (Annual Report)
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Phil
Hope): Last week the Standing Commission on Carers
published its first annual report, which I have today
placed in the Library.
Entitled “Carers at the heart of 21st century families
and communities—work in progress”, the report concludes
the first stage of the Commission’s work (2007 to 2009)
and highlights progress made against the main themes
of the national carers strategy. It sets out future
challenges and opportunities, and contains a number of
recommendations and suggestions for the Government,
delivery partners and the next phase of the Commission.
I welcome the report and thank the Commission members
for their work in scrutinising delivery of the strategy
and their advice about future direction. The Government
will carefully consider the recommendations and look
forward to continuing to work with their stakeholders
to achieve real benefits for carers.
Direct Payments for Health Care (Consultation)
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Phil
Hope): A consultation has been launched on the
Government’s proposals for piloting direct payments
for health care. Subject to parliamentary approval, the
Health Bill provides power to make regulations allowing
direct payments in authorised pilot schemes. The
consultation document outlines how we propose to use
this power.
The direct payment pilots would form part of a wider
pilot programme, announced in “High Quality Care
For All”, to explore personal budgets in the national
health service.
Personal health budgets are intended to help create a
more personalised NHS, by giving people more control
over their care. Primary care trusts are already able to
offer personal budgets that do not involve giving money
directly to individual patients. The Health Bill would
provide the additional option of a direct payment:
where individuals receive money to arrange and pay for
their own services.
This England-only consultation will last 12 weeks,
finishing on 8 January 2010.
The consultation document has been placed in the
Library and copies are available to hon. Members from
the Vote Office. It can also be found at: www.dh.gov.uk/
en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_107425
HOME DEPARTMENT
National Identity Service (Cost Report)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the
Home Department (Meg Hillier): The “Seventh Cost
Report of the National Identity Service” is being laid
before Parliament today. It sets out an estimate of the
public expenditure likely to be incurred on the scheme
over the next ten years, in accordance with section 37 of