To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which UK non-governmental organisations have been funded by the project lines set to be combined in the Integrated Action Plan in the Field of Lifelong Learning. (80738)

The following list contains the names of UK non-governmental organisations (ie bodies which are not education institutions) funded in 2005 by the Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates programmes which will be replaced by the Lifelong Learning Programme from 2007. This is the latest year for which complete details are available.

A.D.A.P.T. (Action by Differently Abled People in Tynedale)

Age Concern Calderdale

All cultures together in education (ACTE)

An Eochair

Arch

Ballybeen Women’s Centre

Banbury Homes—Foyer

Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre

British Dyslexia Association

Business Boffins Ltd.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce

Cresco Trust Ltd.

Dyslexia North West

ECTARC

Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.

ENGAGE

European Multicultural Foundation

Free Form

Furniture Matters

Grampus Heritage and Training Ltd.

Institution of Mechanical Engineers

INTERGEN

InterMinds

Learning Link Scotland

My Time Ltd.

National Children’s Bureau

Northern Ireland Childminding Association

NTP Ltd.

Pathways: Inspirational development Ltd.

Plain English Society Ltd.

Radio Regen

Red2Green

Sherico Care Homes Ltd.

SWAPwest

The Forum Trust Ltd.

The Foundation for European Initiatives

The Prince’s Trust

The Smallpiece Trust

The Straight Talking Project

The Vauxhall Centre

Third Age Foundation

Toucan Europe

Tourist Board Training

TWIGS (Training for work in communities)

U-Too Community Business Ltd.

WCCVS

WEA Reach Out Project

Westden Rural Links

Workers’ Educational Association

Yorkshire and Humber Development Consortium

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many UK (a) institutions and (b) academics have been funded by the project lines which are to be combined in the Integrated Action Plan in the field of lifelong learning. (80739)

The most recent data available for 2004/05 show that 156 UK higher education institutions benefited from the Erasmus programme. 1,304 teacher visits took place under the programme. This will become a part of the new action programme in the field of lifelong learning from the beginning of 2007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the teaching on non-EU languages as part of the EU integrated action plan in the field of Lifelong Learning. (80740)

The proposed Lifelong Learning programme will support the teaching of non-EU languages. It will provide for community funds to support projects and the production of materials for teaching and learning world languages such as Chinese, as well as the languages of our minority ethnic communities and indigenous regional languages such as Welsh and Gaelic. This is in line with our own national languages strategy, and support offered nationally by our new voluntary languages recognition scheme, the languages ladder.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the development of the (a) Jean Monnet programme and (b) Erasmus Mundus programme as part of the EU integrated action plan in the field of lifelong learning. (80741)

We welcome the continuation of the Jean Monnet project under the new action programme in the field of lifelong learning and believe that it can continue to be of direct benefit to UK higher education institutions by providing funding towards academic posts and course modules. The Erasmus Mundus programme is a separate programme running until 2008 and there are currently no plans to integrate it in the new action programme in the field of lifelong learning.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the involvement of non-EU countries as part of the EU integrated action plan in the field of lifelong learning. (80742)

The European Union's proposed action programme in the field of lifelong learning seeks to contribute to the development of the Community as an advanced knowledge society by fostering interchange cooperation and mobility between education and training systems. Intercultural dialogue and exchange are key elements of the programme, and so membership is rightly not limited to the EU member states, but also includes the EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey. In addition, Switzerland and the countries of the Western Balkans will be able to participate once bilateral agreements are concluded. Finally, the Jean Monnet sub-programme allows participation of higher education institutions in any other third country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the Integrated Action Plan in the Field of Lifelong Learning with sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996, with particular reference to the teaching of viewpoints on European integration; and if he will make a statement. (80743)

The European Union's proposed action programme in the field of lifelong learning seeks to contribute to the development of the Community as an advanced knowledge society by fostering interchange cooperation and mobility between education and training systems.

The programme has no bearing on sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996. The programme does not promote partisan political activities. DFES policy is to teach about the nature and roles of all democratic institutions, including the European Union, as well as the UK Parliament, United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and the Commonwealth.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what legal obligations arise for his Department from Article 1 (3)(C) of the Integrated Action Plan in the Field of Lifelong Learning; and if he will make a statement. (80744)

The Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning is legally binding on member states, as are all decisions. Article 1(3)(C) of the Decision states that a specific objective of the programme is to help improve the quality, attractiveness and accessibility of the opportunities for lifelong learning available within member states, which is in line with DfES policy. As Article 4 of the Decision makes clear, the Lifelong Learning Programme is aimed at supporting and supplementing action at member state level, and fully respects the responsibility of member states for the content of their education and training systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the proposed Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Key Competences for Lifelong Learning; and whether he plans to incorporate them into the national curriculum. (79931)

This Recommendation forms part of EU Education Ministers' response to the Lisbon Agenda and makes a reasonable and well balanced addition to the tools which the 25 member states have at their disposal when looking how best to modernise and reform their education and training systems.

The UK's policies already incorporate many aspects of this Recommendation and we have no plans to change the national curriculum in the light of the Recommendation.