To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his latest estimate is of the proportion of young people who are expected to start the new vocational diplomas in 2008; and if he will make a statement. (164443)

Figures put forward by the successful consortia applying through the Gateway Process indicate that there will be approximately 39,000 places available for learners on the five new 14-19 diplomas that will be available from September 2008. This represents around 1.2 per cent. of the total 14-19 population in that year, and is the first step on a phased roll-out of the new diplomas that will culminate in a national entitlement from 2013.