To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many young people resident in Plymouth, Sutton constituency were in further education (a) in 1997 and (b) at the latest date for which information is available. (276680)

I have been asked to reply.

Estimates of participation in education, training and employment in England for those of academic age¹ 16-18 are published annually by the Department in a Statistical First Release (SFR) each June at:

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000792/index.shtml

The Department publishes local authority estimates of participation in England as additional tables alongside the national figures, including those for Plymouth local authority. The estimates cannot be further broken down by parliamentary constituency area.

¹ Academic age represents the age at the start of the academic year, 31 August.