To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what programmes are in place to assist those with impaired hearing to develop basic lip reading and sign language skills. (143052)

Lip reading and sign language courses are offered through LSC-funded further education provision and are funded in exactly the same way as other vocational courses. In the 2005/06 academic year, 20,607 learners enrolled on LSC-funded lip reading and sign language courses (20,092 on sign language courses and 515 on lip reading courses.)

The majority of the cost of learning is supported by public funds, but the learner is also expected to contribute to the cost of their learning, unless certain conditions apply: for example, learners on income-related benefits are eligible for fee remission, as are learners aged 16 to 18 years; and individual providers may choose to waive a full fee or charge a reduced fee. In 2004/05 lip reading classes were free to more than 80 per cent. of learners either as a result of national policy or at the discretion of the provider.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will classify the teaching of lip reading and sign language as a basic skill for those with impaired hearing. (143176)

We recognise the importance of lip reading and sign language for the deaf and hard of hearing. Lip reading and sign language are eligible for LSC funding but do not form part of the Government’s “Skills for Life” definition of provision commonly referred to as ‘basic skills’ as they are not mapped to the national literacy and numeracy standards.

The majority of the cost of learning is supported by public funds, but the learner is also expected to contribute to the cost unless certain conditions apply: for example, learners on income-related benefits are eligible for fee remission, as are learners aged 16 to 18 years; and individual providers may choose to waive a full fee or charge a reduced fee. Some providers also have ‘access funds’ that they are able to make available to individuals to help with the costs of a course. In 2004/05 lip reading classes were free to more than 80 per cent. of learners either as a result of national policy or at the discretion of the provider.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people with impaired hearing in Copeland receive free basic skills training in lip reading and sign language. (143178)

In the 2005/06 academic year, 20,607 learners in England enrolled on LSC-funded lip reading and sign language courses (20,092 on sign language courses and 515 on lip reading courses.) In the Copeland constituency in the same period, 12 learners enrolled on sign language courses and none on lip reading courses. Of the 12 learners enrolled on sign language courses, none were recorded as having impaired hearing.