House of Commons Hansard Debates for 27 Feb 1990

51. Mr. Knapman : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken in response to the report made to him by the interim advisory committee on teachers' pay and conditions ; and whether he intends to introduce more flexibility into the structure of teachers' pay.

67. Mr. Cyril D. Townsend : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement on teachers' pay for the next financial year.

Mrs. Rumbold : I refer my hon. Friends to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Gill) on 1 February, Official Report, columns 287-89.

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Student Loans

25. Mr. Wallace : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average debt expected for a student studying for a four -year science degree at a Scottish university, assuming the student loans scheme were in operation and the student entered the first year of the course in autumn 1990.

Mr. Jackson : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood) on 30 January ( Official Report, column 158 ).

Mr. Canavan : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations he has received to date about the proposed student loans scheme.

Mr Jackson : Since the publication of the White Paper on top-up loans for students, we have received about 5,300 letters, including 72 petitions. Of those, about 940 have been received since publication of the Education (Student Loans) Bill.

88. Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the functions and the running of the Student Loans Company.

Mr. Jackson : The Student Loans Company is a company limited by shares and owned by the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Scotland. It is based in Glasgow and is undertaking preparatory work on the student loans scheme. It is the Government's intention that, subject to the passage of the Education (Student Loans) Bill, the company will administer the scheme.

90. Mr. Ian Bruce : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how parental contributions to student maintenance will change once the student loans scheme is fully implemented.

Mr. Jackson : The average contribution will fall to a little over half its current level. This was shown in tabular form in the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) on 21 December 1989 at columns 356-57.

61. Mr. Allan Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his most up-to-date estimate of the number of students who will apply for top-up loans in the forthcoming academic session ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson : Top-up loans will mean extra resources for students. If 80 per cent. of those eligible were to apply, some 455,000 students would receive loans in the 1990-1991 academic year.

58. Mr. Bill Walker : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the location of the student loans administration headquarters.

Mr. Jackson : We have received no written representations on the location of the Student Loans Company. My right hon. Friend announced on 22 January that the company had secured premises in Glasgow ( Official Report, column 496 ).

40. Mr. Nigel Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he next plans to meet the managing director of the Student Loans Company ; and what matters he expects to discuss.

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Mr. Jackson : My right hon. Friend expects to meet Mr. Ronald J. Harrison, managing director of the Student Loans Company, from time to time to discuss preparatory work on the student loans scheme. Officials of the Department of Education and Science and the Scottish Education Department are in regular contact with Mr. Harrison.

Education Reform Act

26. Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to amend the charging regulations issued under the Education Reform Act ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to amend the charging regulations issued under the Education Reform Act ; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold : Before considering whether amendment is necessary, my right hon. Friend has instructed the Department to commission a survey of schools in the summer term to monitor any changes in the pattern of school activities since 1988. If there is evidence that activities are not taking place as a result of the legislation, my right hon. Friend will see how best he can help schools. He has no plans at present to amend the law.

53. Mr. Amos : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of the implementation of the Education Reform Act in Northumberland.

Mrs. Rumbold : I believe that good progress is being made in Northumberland in implementing our reforms in both schools and further education colleges.

Page Report

27. Mr. Dunnachie : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the Page report.

Mr. Jackson : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie (Mr. Worthington) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, South-West (Mr. Madel).

Vocational Education

28. Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the introduction of the national curriculum will allow time for some pupils to undertake vocational education.

Mrs. Rumbold : My right hon. Friend has made it clear that there will be flexibility in the 14-16 curriculum, including scope for study towards vocational qualifications. He has asked the School Examinations and Assessment Council to advise him on the principles which might govern the submission by vocational examining bodies of qualifications for certifying parts of the national curriculum.

Derbyshire

29. Mr. Oppenheim : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the standards of schooling in Derbyshire.

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Mr. Alan Howarth : Her Majesty's inspectorate considers that there is much good teaching in Derbyshire but some weaknesses are also evident.

The national curriculum will enhance educational opportunity for all children in Derbyshire as elsewhere.

Incentive Allowances

30. Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers are now eligible for incentive allowances ; and whether he intends to increase the number of allowances available.

Mrs. Rumbold : An incentive allowance can be awarded to any qualified teacher paid on the main scale. My right hon. Friend has announced that he proposes to accept the recommendation of the interim advisory committee that the number of incentive allowances in primary and secondary schools should be increased to 189,000 from 1 September.

Religious Studies

32. Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that secondary school pupils are provided with the opportunity of passing GCSE and A-level courses in religious studies ; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold : A range of syllabuses in religious studies is available to schools at both GCSE and A-level. It is for schools to decide what courses to offer their pupils, but I would urge schools to give pupils who wish to do so the opportunity of taking religious studies at GCSE and at A-level.

69. Mr. Gow : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has to improve the quality of instruction in the Christian religion in primary and secondary schools ; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold : The Education Reform Act secures the place of Christianity in the religious education and collective worship provided by county schools. The Government are supporting expenditure of £53.2 million by LEAs in 1990-91 on in-service training for the basic curriculum- -which includes religious education--and collective worship.

Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools

34. Mr. Beith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement setting out the Government's response to the problems referred to in the recent report of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools.

86. Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to take any policy initiative following the publication of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools annual report ; and if he will make a statement.

85. Mr. Livsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking in response to the annual report of Her Majesty's senior chief inspector of schools.

91. Mr. Buckley : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to take any

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policy initiative following the publication of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools annual report ; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold : The senior chief inspector's report is a survey of the state of the education service in 1988-89. It has many positive things to say, including that the great majority of work seen was satisfactory or better, and that good progress is being made in implementing the education reforms. The Government are already acting to tackle many of the weaknesses revealed, in particular to raise standards of achievement and reduce teacher shortages. My right hon. Friend will, of course, take account of the report's findings in the future development of the Government's education policies ; and he looks to the other partners in the education service to consider the messages addressed to them.

39. Mr. Chris Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to discuss with parents' organisations the contents of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools annual report ; and if he will make a statement.

74. Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to discuss with parents' organisations the contents of Her Majesty's inspectors of schools annual report ; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold : My right hon. Friend has not received any request from parents' organisations for a discussion about the senior chief inspector's annual report. He hopes that parents will note the positive things the report has to say about the state of the education service, and welcome the fact that many of the weaknesses revealed are already being addressed through the Government's wide-ranging programme of reforms.

GCSE

36. Mr. Turner : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the Government's proposals to change the structure of the GCSE examinations.

Mrs. Rumbold : GCSE will continue to be the main form of assessment for pupils at age 16 but some changes will be necessary to bring it into line with the national curriculum. From 1994, achievement will be reported on the national curriculum 1-10 scale, pupils being awarded a GCSE certificate if they achieve level 4 or better. GCSEs will be available in single subjects and also in combinations of subjects. The School Examinations and Assessment Council is developing revised GCSE national criteria embodying the statutory attainment targets and programmes of study for the 10 foundation subjects of the national curriculum.

Secondary Schools, Essex

37. Mr. Amess : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what applications he has received for the reorganisation of secondary schools in Essex.

Mr. Alan Howarth : My right hon. Friend has recently approved proposals to reorganise secondary and further education in the Basildon and Wickford area. There are no other secondary reorganisation proposals concerning Essex currently awaiting his decision.

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Capital Allocation, Bradford

38. Mr. Cryer : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the capital allocation for education in Bradford.

Mr. Alan Howarth : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) on 20 December 1989, Official Report, columns 254-58 . It is for Bradford LEA to decide how to use the resources made available to it in the light of local needs and circumstances.

Supply Teachers

41. Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the total cost of supply teachers in England and Wales for 1988-89.

Mr. Alan Howarth : Expenditure on supply teachers is not separately identified within the spending returns which local education authorities in England make to the Department of the Environment. Supply teachers in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Pupil to Teacher Ratio

42. Miss Widdecombe : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the latest available figure for the pupil to teacher ratio in England and Wales ; and what were the comparable figures for five and 10 years ago.

Mr. Alan Howarth : In January 1989 the overall pupil-teacher ratio in England was 17.0. Comparable figures for 1984 and 1979 were 17.9 and 18.9 respectively.

Corresponding figures for Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Wandsworth

45. Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the number of letters that his Department has received from parents in the London borough of Wandsworth in support of the policies being outlined by the present council once education is transferred from the Inner London education authority ; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold : None. I have noted with interest what appear to be wide-ranging and imaginative plans approved by Wandsworth council to provide an education service which raises standards and which fully meets the needs and aspirations of local people. The implementation of most of these plans appears to be solely a matter for the council. However, to the extent that the plans require the publication of statutory proposals and approval by the Secretary of State, they will be considered strictly on their merits at the appropriate time.

Research Contracts

46. Mr. Darling : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice his Department has issued to universities with regard to research contracts with private companies.

Mr. Jackson : The Department continues to encourage universities to increase earnings from private sources, but has offered no specific advice.

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Trained Teachers

48. Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to help improve the supply of trained teachers.

105. Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement on the measures which he is taking to deal with the problem of teacher shortages.

Mr. Alan Howarth : I refer my hon. Friends to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. Pawsey) on 8 January 1990 ( Official Report, column 339). Since then we have announced that the Government are providing funding of £159,000 for the London Teacher Recruitment Campaign, and the Teaching as a Career Unit will be supporting the London boroughs. We shall continue to pursue our programme to recruit teachers in shortage subjects.

102. Mr. Boswell : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will announce the numbers of students entering teacher training colleges at the start of the 1989-90 academic year ; and if he will give comparable figures for the previous year.

Mr. Alan Howarth : I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Evans) on 30 January 1990 ( Official Report, column 161 ).

Scientific Research

49. Dr. Bray : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has met representatives of British Scientists Abroad to discuss investment in scientific research.

Mr. Jackson : No, but I have met a number of British scientists abroad.

52. Mr. Wilson : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had from British scientists abroad about their reasons for leaving Britain.

71. Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from British scientists working abroad about the level of funding of research in Britain.

75. Dr. Moonie : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from British scientists working abroad about the need for Britain to invest in scientific research.

Mr. Jackson : My right hon. Friend has not received any direct representations.

Science Teaching

54. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how much the number of graduates applying to train to teach science has increased for 1990 over 1989.

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were 8 per cent. down on the corresponding time last year. Applications can be received up until the end of September. In January 1989 PGCE applications overall were running 6 per cent. down on the previous year, but at the end of the recruiting season applications were 2 per cent. and recruitment 4 per cent. higher than in the previous year. We are continuing to pursue our programme to recruit teachers in shortage subjects.

Biology Teaching

55. Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how much the number of graduates applying to train to teach biology has increased for 1990 over 1989.

Mr. Alan Howarth : Applications from graduates for postgraduate certificate in education courses are handled by the Graduate Teacher Training Registry. For the week ending 9 February applications to train to teach biology were 17 per cent. down on the corresponding time last year. Applications can be received up until the end of September. In January 1989 PGCE applications overall were running 6 per cent. down on the previous year, but at the end of the recruiting season applications were 2 per cent. and recruitment 4 per cent. higher than in the previous year. We are continuing to pursue our programme to recruit teachers in shortage subjects.

British Veterinary Association

56. Mr. Conway : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met the president of the British Veterinary Association to discuss matters within his responsibilities ; and what was discussed.

79. Mr. Hague : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met the president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to discuss matters within his responsibilities ; and what was discussed.

Mr. Jackson : My right hon. Friend has had no such meetings.

Teachers' Morale

57. Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he plans to meet representatives of the teachers' unions to discuss morale in schools ; and if he will make a statement.

89. Ms. Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he intends to take to improve morale among the teaching profession ; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Rumbold : The interim advisory committee foresees substantial gains in the self-confidence of teachers as the Government's education reforms are successfully introduced. The recommendations of the committee should significantly increase the attractiveness of teaching as a profession. My right hon. Friend will shortly be meeting the teacher unions to discuss the committee's report.

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Technology Transfer

63. Mr. Batiste : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made to develop links between institutes of higher education and industry for the purpose of technology transfer.

Mr. Jackson : This Government attach considerable importance to technology transfer between higher education and industry, both sectorally and geographically, whether on a regional, national or international basis. We are supporting a number of schemes for this purpose. For instance, the Department, together with others, is sponsoring the LINK initiative to develop and accelerate the commercial exploitation of Government-funded research in a range of sectors ; a national network of regional technology centres to support technology transfer locally, and the European Community COMETT programme to support it internationally.

Mathematics Teaching

64. Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how much the number of graduates applying to train to teach mathematics has increased for 1990 over 1989.

Mr. Alan Howarth : Applications from graduates for postgraduate certificate in education courses are handled by the Graduate Teacher Training Registry. For the week ending 9 February applications to train to teach mathematics were 9 per cent. down on the corresponding time last year. Applications can be received up until the end of September. In January 1989 PGCE applications overall were running 6 per cent. down on the previous year, but at the end of the recruiting season applications were 2 per cent. and recruitment 4 per cent. higher than in the previous year. We are continuing to pursue our programme to recruit teachers in shortage subjects.

Records of Achievement

65. Mr. David Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received in response to his draft regulations and circular encouraging schools to adopt records of achievement schemes.

Mrs. Rumbold : Fifteen responses have been received, but the period for public consultation does not end until 31 March.

Curriculum Returns

66. Mr. Paice : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he proposes to take in respect of the requirement on schools to complete the annual curriculum returns.

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Mr. MacGregor : My proposals will be published within the next few days.

Staying-on Rate

68. Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the expected staying-on rate in full-time education for the 16 to 18 years age group in the years 1992-93.

Mr. Jackson : I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) on 22 February ( Official Report, column 843 ).

City Technology Colleges

70. Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he anticipates that he will reach the target of 20 operational city technology colleges.

Mrs. Rumbold : Twenty CTCs remain the target. The programme is making excellent progress. Three colleges have already opened, and 10 more will open in September 1990 or 1991. Target dates for the remainder depend upon practical considerations such as site acquisitions.

83. Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many companies have agreed to sponsor city technology colleges.

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