[holding answer 24 February 2010]: The best schools, working in partnership with local authority services, provide excellent support for their pupils to help them to make decisions about learning and careers but the quality across all schools is variable. We published our strategy to improve information, advice and guidance (Quality, Choice and Aspiration) in October 2009. Alongside the strategy we published statutory guidance for schools, setting out clear expectations for the provision of high quality impartial information about learning options, which promotes the best interests of pupils.
The way that provision of careers services has been funded has changed in the period since 1997, with the establishment of the Connexions service and, more recently, local authorities assuming responsibility for the provision of information, advice and guidance. Funding has been provided to Connexions/Careers Services as set out in the following table:
Funding (£ million) To: 1997-98 192 1Careers services 1998-99 210 Careers Services 1999-00 223 Careers Services 2000-01 233 Careers Services 2001-02 110 2Connexions 173 Careers Services 2002-03 337 Connexions 52 Careers Services 2003-04 439 Connexions 2004-05 458 Connexions 2005-06 464 Connexions 2006-07 466 Connexions 2007-08 467 Connexions 2008-09 469 3Connexions 2009-10 467 Connexions 1 Prior to 2001, Careers Services provided advice and guidance on careers and related issues 2 From April 2001 Connexions was introduced in a staged way and the Department provided funding to Connexions Partnerships for the delivery of Connexions services for young people. 3 From April 2008 local authorities have received funding for Connexions services, which advise young people on a range of issues including careers, as part of their Area Based Grant.