Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the devolution of skills policy to local authorities on the development of British Sign Language and sign language interpreting skills.
Answered by Nick Boles
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills supports British Sign Language (BSL), lip reading and managing hearing loss provision in England through the Adult Education Budget. Providers receive funding for this provision as they do for all other courses.
In the academic year 2018/19, subject to readiness conditions being met, we intend to devolve the Adult Education Budget to certain Combined Authorities which have signed devolution deals[1]. In such areas, subject to necessary Orders being passed by Parliament, functions relating to the Adult Education Budget will transfer to the Combined Authority. The Combined Authority will assume responsibility for commissioning adult education provision, including in relation to BSL and sign language as it judges appropriate to meet local needs. Some providers, including Specialist Designated Institutions, are currently funded nationally. Their post-devolution funding arrangements will be confirmed in the coming months.
Skills provision in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a devolved matter and the assessment and adequacy of BSL provision is the responsibility of the devolved administrations.
[1] To date, deals have been agreed with: Sheffield City Region; Liverpool City Region; West Midlands; North East; Tees Valley; Greater Manchester; Greater Lincolnshire; East Anglia; West of England
Asked by: Rosie Cooper (Labour - West Lancashire)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what change there has been to the number of deaf people achieving further and higher education qualifications in the last five years.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes information on students enrolled at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The number of Higher Education qualifications achieved by deaf or hearing-impaired students at HEIs in England in the past five years is presented in the table:
Qualifications Achieved by Deaf or Hearing-Impaired Students by Academic Year | |||||
English Higher Education Institutions | |||||
Academic Years 2010/11 to 2014/15 | |||||
Academic Year | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2012/13 | 2013/14 | 2014/15 |
Qualifications Achieved | 1,445 | 1,570 | 1,520 | 1,430 | 1,295 |
Source: BIS Analysis of HESA Student Record | |||||
Notes: | |||||
(1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 5 | |||||
(2) Deafness and hearing-impairment based on self-declaration by the student | |||||
The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) collects and publishes information on learners achieving Further Education and Skills qualifications. The number of FE and Skills qualifications achieved by deaf or hearing-impaired learners at Further Education Colleges in England in the past five years is presented in the table:
Qualifications Achieved by Deaf or Hearing-Impaired Students by Academic Year | |||||
English Further Education Institutions | |||||
Academic Years 2010/11 to 2014/15 | |||||
Academic Year | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2012/13 | 2013/14 | 2014/15 |
Qualifications Achieved | 20,690 | 20,720 | 23,850 | 23,990 | 21,530 |
Source: Skills Funding Agency Individualised Learner Record | |||||
Notes: | |||||
(1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 10 | |||||
(2) Deafness and hearing-impairment based on self-declaration by the learner | |||||