Since 2001, the funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) has been provided through the Skills for Life strategy in response to regional and local demand.
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) calculates the total amounts spent on ESOL as £103 million in 2000/01, £185 million in 2001/02, £235 million in 2002/03, £267 million in 2003/04 and £279 million in 2004/05. The 2005/06 final spend has yet to be confirmed by the LSC; figures prior to 2000/01 are not available as ESOL only became part of the Skills for Life strategy in 2001.
Since 2001, the funding for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) has been fully funded through the Skills for Life strategy in response to regional and local demand.
Employers (and individuals) are currently not required to contribute to ESOL programmes. However, we are committed to taking forward the dialogue with social partners about securing employer contributions to the cost of learning. New ESOL for Work qualifications will be introduced from September and will have a stronger focus on the language skills needed for the work environment through shorter, less expensive, more work-focused qualifications.
All students currently enrolled on English for Speakers of Other Languages programmes are on full fee remission.
This information is collected by the national Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and I have asked Mark Haysom, the LSC's chief executive, to write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply has been placed in the Library.