I asked to raise on the Adjournment the implications of the exclusion of Vocational Training Opportunity Scheme courses from the newly launched back to education scheme and I thank the Chair for giving me the opportunity to do so. Everyone welcomes the Minister's initiative in providing the new back to education scheme. The scheme reads very well and I wish it every success.
However, I am concerned, as are many adult educators, that this new scheme will create an unequal playing field between the VTOS centres and other course providers. Students now on VTOS courses will receive fewer benefits and it will not be financially attractive to them to attend VTOS courses once they can chose the back to education allowance scheme. This would be a great pity as VTOS programmes are the only courses specifically designed to cater for the individual needs of the long-term unemployed. That is most important.
VTOS is also the only programme which provides general education as well as vocational skills. The courses are unique in offering life skills, study skills and personal development as an integral part of second chance education. We all know that VTOS has a track record second to none, especially in the areas of personal gain, academic achievement and employment. I do not have to bring to the Minister's attention the recent publications by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs entitled Everything to Gain and College Knowledge and the Department of Education and Science book entitled VTOSpell Success.
For over 12 years VTOS staff and centres have developed a wide range of skills and expertise in the area of second chance education for the long-term unemployed. The teachers have participated in numerous in-service training programmes specific to the needs of VTOS students and the needs of the long-term unemployed. VTOS centres have built up resources appropriate to the labour market needs in their local areas. They have established good reputations and built networks within their local communities.
This new scheme, good as it is, will direct students away from VTOS. This would appear to be a shocking waste of expense, resources and established networks. In effect, it would appear to be a case of reinventing the wheel. Many view it as regressive in the sense that 12 years of VTOS courses at VTOS centres would be lost. New courses would start again at the beginning.
It is not appropriate to penalise VTOS students and to further marginalise them by excluding them from the benefits of the back to education allowance scheme. I strongly urge the Minister to use his influence to take whatever steps he can to ensure parity of payment and conditions for students on VTOS courses with those on the new scheme.
To compare the two schemes, the BTE allowance scheme offers the maximum standard rate of payment whereas VTOS payments to students are means tested. The BTE allowance scheme offers students a £150 grant in September for books and other necessary items whereas VTOS offers no additional money in September or at any other time of the year. The BTE allowance scheme allows students to work to supplement their payment whereas VTOS students are means tested for holiday and part-time work. The BTE allowance scheme has no time limit whereas VTOS students are allowed a maximum of two years on their course; and the BTE allowance scheme has no cap on the number of lone parents, people with disabilities and other categories whereas the VTOS schemes have a 10 per cent cap on such students. While I welcome the back to education allowance scheme it should not discommode or discourage those attending VTOS at present, given the enormous work VTOS has done for the long-term unemployed in so many local communities. Will the Minister try to resolve the apparent inequity between the two schemes?
VTOS is now paid by the Department of Education and Science, and that includes an ESF grant. Could students on VTOS schemes be paid by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs in the same way as those on the back to education allowance scheme or could the Minister ensure that the Department of Finance would sanction an increase for VTOS payments through the Department of Education and Science to ensure a parity of payment and benefit between students attending both VTOS and the back to education allowance scheme?