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Teacher Vacancies
26. Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current level of teacher vacancies in London ; and if he will make a statement.
35. Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current level of teacher vacancies throughout London ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Rumbold : I refer the hon. Members to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 12 June 1990, Official Report, column 168. My right hon. Friend hopes to publish later this month the data for teacher vacancies as at January 1990.
University Education
27. Dr. Michael Clark : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average cost of university education over the three years of graduates in (a) social sciences, (b) languages and (c) physical sciences.
Mr. Jackson : Expenditure is not disaggregated in the form requested. However, an indication of the costs of teaching in the relevant subjects met annually from block grant and tuition fees is given by the University Funding Council's current "guide prices", as follows :
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|£
---------------------------------------
Economics, Sociology, etc. |2,700
Politics, Law, etc. |2,200
Applied Social Work |3,400
Languages |2,900
Physical Sciences |4,600
Adult Vocational Training
28. Mr. Knapman : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what funding has been made available for 1990-91 to support adult vocational training initiatives.
Mr. Jackson : In 1990-91, a total of £16 million is available to support adult vocational training initiatives from funds made available by my right hon. Friend.
Language Teaching
Mr. Dykes : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on recent progress in promoting the teaching of Spanish, German and Russian in maintained schools.
Mrs. Rumbold : The national curriculum includes a modern foreign language as a foundation subject to be studied by all pupils aged 11 to 16 in maintained secondary schools. German, Russian and Spanish are among the languages which may qualify as the foreign language foundation subject. Within this framework, we are encouraging schools to offer a greater diversity of languages such as German, Spanish and Russian and we have made provision within the specific grant programme for 1991-92 for local education authorities to bid for funds for the diversification of first foreign languages.
Universities
30. Mr. Trimble : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has recently had any meetings with the chairman of the University Funding Council to discuss funding and management of universities.
Mr. Jackson : My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of the Universities Funding Council from time to time in the course of normal business.
Pupil-Teacher Ratios
31. Mr. Favell : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the pupil-teacher ratio in England and Wales ; and what information he has on the figure for Japan.
Mr. Alan Howarth : The readily available information for the United Kingdom, upon which international comparisons are usually made, and Japan, is as follows :
Pupil/teacher ratios by level, 1985-86
|Japan |UK<1>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 1st level (nursery and primary) |22.4<2> |22.0<3>
2nd level (secondary and further education) |19.1 |14.2<3><4>
<1> The overall ratio for public sector schools in England decreased from
18.9 in 1978-79 to 17.0 in 1987-88. The corresponding ratios for Wales are
19.3 and 18.6. Government policy has been to allow teacher numbers to fall
at a slower rate than pupil numbers.
<2> Partly estimated.
<3> Public sector.
<4> The UK figure for secondary schools only is 15.7.
Schools, Bradford
36. Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he next intends to visit Bradford to look at maintained schools.
Mr. Alan Howarth : I hope to take up the hon. Member's invitation to visit Bradford during the next academic year.
National Curriculum
38. Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on implementation of the national curriculum.
60. Mr. Buckley : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made on the introduction of the national curriculum ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Rumbold : There is welcome evidence from Her Majesty's inspectorate that many schools have made a satisfactory start in implementing the national curriculum. My right hon. Friend is taking steps to ensure that the introduction of the new requirements is manageable for teachers.
City Technology Colleges
39. Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress of the city technology college programme.
Mrs. Rumbold : The city technology college programme continues to make excellent progress. Three colleges are up and running, a further eight are due to open in September 1990 and 1991, and my right hon. Friend is currently consulting on proposals for a further three.
41. Mr. Nellist : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the total amount of government expenditure on the city technology college programme to date ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Rumbold : Up to the end of the 1989-90 financial year, a total of £46 million has been incurred on the CTC programme, covering project start-up costs, capital and recurrent funding.
Teachers (Overseas Advertising)
40. Mr. Ronnie Campbell : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to issue guidelines to local education authorities regarding overseas advertising for teaching staff ; and if he will make a statement.
49. Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to issue guidelines to local education authorities regarding overseas advertising for teaching staff ; and if he will make a statement.
66. Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to issue
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guidelines to local education authorities regarding overseas advertising for teaching staff ; and if he will make a statement.Mr. Alan Howarth : I refer the hon. Members to the reply that my hon. Friend the Minister of State gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. Dunnachie).
Pupil Testing
42. Mr. Carr : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has to report following the pilot projects standard assessment tests at seven years.
53. Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the implementation of his current proposals to introduce testing of children at seven years of age.
62. Mr. Hardy : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has to report following the pilot projects for standard assessment tests at seven years.
Mr. O'Brien : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his plans for the introduction of testing of children at seven years of age.
Mrs. Rumbold : I refer the hon. Members to the replies that I gave to the hon. Member for Durham, North-West (Ms. Armstrong) on 20 June 1990, Official Report, column 558 and on 26 June 1990, Official Report, column 133.
Fairfield High School
43. Mr. Colin Shepherd : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make an official visit to Fairfield high school in Herefordshire to examine the pyramid arrangements with local primary schools.
Mr. Alan Howarth : My right hon. Friend has no present plans to visit Hereford and Worcester. I myself paid an official visist there in November last year, and was glad to have the opportunity to see some excellent practices in the schools I visited.
Under-fives
48. Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to report to Parliament the findings of the committee examining education for the under-fives ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Rumbold : I expect to submit the report of the committee to my right hon. Friend shortly.
School-leaving Age
50. Mr. Holt : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give further consideration to bringing forward legislation to bring the statutory school-leaving age into line with other European countries.
Mr. Alan Howarth : No. The Government believe that young people should be allowed a real choice at age 16 of the various forms of education and training on offer, or of
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commencing employment. There has never been so high a proportion of young people in the 16 to 19 age group engaged in education or training.Education, Gloucestershire
55. Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he next expects to meet the director of education of Gloucestershire county council to discuss education in
Gloucestershire.
Mr. Alan Howarth : My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet him.
Secondary Schools, Staffordshire
56. Mr. Knox : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent per pupil at secondary schools in Staffordshire in the most recent year for which figures are available ; and what was the comparable figure in 1978-79, at constant prices.
Mr. Alan Howarth : In actual cash Staffordshire spent £530 per secondary pupil in 1978-79 and £1,610 per secondary pupil in 1988-89. At 1988-89 prices those figures are £1,165 and £1,610 respectively.
School Building and Improvements
58. Mr. Ashton : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total sum requested by local authorities for new school building and improvements last year ; and what was the total sum allocated.
Mr. Alan Howarth : The total of LEA plans for education capital expenditure in 1989-90 was £1.03 billion. The capital allocation was £352 million. The total of LEA plans for 1990-91 was over £1.3 billion. Under the new system of local government capital finance, my right hon. Friend has announced the availability of annual capital guidelines for education of £485 million.
Grammar Schools
61. Mr. Roger King : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the future of grammar school education in England.
Mr. Alan Howarth : It is for local education authorities to decide whether to bring forward proposals to change the pattern of organisation of their schools, including the establishment or discontinuance of grammar schools. My right hon. Friend considers all such proposals on their merits, having regard to the wishes of local parents.
Teacher Recruitment, Essex
63. Mr. Haselhurst : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about teacher recruitment in Essex.
Mr. Alan Howarth : Essex is receiving £60,000 education support grant this year to help with a programme of measures to improve teacher recruitment. These include the appointment of a recruitment team, local refresher courses for those returning to teaching, counselling facilities, work shadowing, keeping in touch schemes, local advertising campaigns and the provision of four creches for teachers' children.
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In addition the local education authority and the county council's housing department are negotiating with a housing association to provide low-cost accommodation for teachers ; the LEA plans to recruit 25 licensed teachers and is co-operating with Thames polytechnic and other LEAs on a scheme to recruit teachers from the Netherlands.Special Needs Education, Hampshire
64. Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received concerning the funding of special needs education in Hampshire ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Rumbold : My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from schools in Hampshire concerning the funding arrangements for pupils with special educational needs, in the authority's scheme for the local management of schools. He has approved these arrangements for the first year of the scheme's operation only. Officers in the authority are working with schools to determine funding arrangements which reflect more clearly and objectively the needs of Hampshire's schools and their pupils.
Deaf and Blind Children
65. Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last reviewed the educational provisions for deaf and blind children.
Mr. Alan Howarth : The Department wrote to all local education authorities in England on 18 May 1990, asking for their views on the education of deaf-blind children and what provision they made at present for such education. This survey follows up the policy statement on the education of deaf-blind children which the Department published in March 1989.
Foreign Languages
69. Mr. Viggers : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he proposes to take steps to encourage the study of foreign languages.
Mrs. Rumbold : The Government are concerned to increase the number of pupils continuing to study a modern foreign language until age 16 and beyond. That is why the national curriculum includes a modern foreign language as a foundation subject to be studied by all pupils aged 11 to 16 in maintained secondary schools. The national curriculum working group for modern foreign languages is due to submit its final report by the end of this month, to enable attainment targets and programmes of study for modern foreign languages to be implemented in schools from autumn 1992.
Teacher Supply
70. Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has received any representations from teachers in the northern and midland regions regarding the level of teacher supply.
Mr. Alan Howarth : No regional breakdown of statistics of correspondence received is available. My right hon. Friend has certainly received correspondence from the northern and midland regions--as from elsewhere.
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Global Environmental Programmes
71. Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the science budget for 1990-91 is being committed specifically for research into global environmental programmes.
Mr. Jackson : In the 1990-91 financial year, it is estimated that some 5 per cent. of the science budget of £897 million will be spent on research into global environmental programmes.
School Finance
Mr. Norris : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities have published notices in accordance with section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988 ; and if he will list for each local education authority what proportion of the general schools budget is devolved to schools or indicate when such information is expected to be available.
Mrs. Rumbold : Of the 87 local education authorities required to prepare budget statements for 1990-91 under section 42 of the Education Reform Act, 53 have submitted statements to date. Officials are in contact with the remaining LEAs to ensure that the statements are made available as soon as possible. A table containing as much of the information requested as is available will be published before the end of the month.
Universities (Expenditure)
Mr. Strang : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met the Association of University Teachers to discuss the level of spending on the universities.
Mr. Jackson : My right hon. Friend met the AUT in November 1989. He has received that association's recent substantial statement on this subject but has not met it to discuss its points further.
Women (Higher Education)
Dame Jill Knight : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the proportion of women in higher education (a) today and (b) 10 years ago.
Mr. Jackson : In 1988-89, a total of 44 per cent. of all home full- time and part-time students in higher education in Great Britain were women. The comparable figure for the academic year 1979-80 was 37 per cent.
Chemistry Students
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to encourage and enable the Universities Funding Council to increase the number of polymer chemists leaving higher education.
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Mr. Jackson : No. It is for institutions, in consultation with the Universities Funding Council, to determine levels of provision in the light of perceived demand.
Management Information Systems
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, when his Department will publish the report on management information systems for colleges of further education ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Jackson : The project team commissioned by the Department, together with the Training Agency and the Welsh Office, to conduct a quality assurance study of computerised management information systems in further education, presented its findings in March this year. It was decided that the greatest value would be obtained from the study if a report was produced which set the team's findings within a wider national context and drew attention to related developments. This report is currently being written and should be ready for publication in early autumn.
Special Schools
Mr. Bowis : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends to amend the regulations made under section 12 of the Education Act 1981 relating to the approval of special schools ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Alan Howarth : The Department has today issued for consultation draft amending regulations and a related draft circular which will update requirements for the approval of special schools. Copies have been placed in the Library.
Physical Education
Mr. Pawsey : To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends to set up a working group to recommend attainment targets and programmes of study for physical education within the national curriculum for England and Wales.
Mr. MacGregor : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have decided to establish a working group for physical education. The group will advise on the attainment targets and programmes of study for physical education to be included within the national curriculum in England and Wales.
The terms of reference and details of membership for the working group will be published tomorrow ; copies will be placed in the Library.
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DEFENCE
Terrorism
Mr. George : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what initiatives have been and are being taken by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to combat terrorism.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : As part of their regular consultations on matters affecting their security, the NATO allies occasionally discuss terrorism, but practical co-operation against terrorism is developed in other international bodies.
Mr. George : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of British Service personnel killed or injured in Northern Ireland, for each year since 1969, as a result of a terrorist incident.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : The number of armed forces personnel killed, wounded or injured as a result of the security situation in Northern Ireland for each year from 1969 to 1990 is as follows :
Armed forces casualties
|Killed |Wounded
|/injured
------------------------------------
1969 |0 |54
1970 |0 |620
1971 |48 |390
1972 |129 |578
1973 |66 |548
1974 |35 |483
1975 |20 |167
1976 |29 |264
1977 |29 |187
1978 |21 |135
1979 |48 |153
1980 |17 |77
1981 |23 |140
1982 |28 |98
1983 |15 |88
1984 |19 |86
1985 |6 |33
1986 |12 |55
1987 |11 |104
1988 |33 |229
1989 |13 |190
<1>1990 |7 |98
|----- |-----
Total |609 |4,777
<1> As at 4 July.
These figures include Regular Army, UDR (part-time and permanent cadre), RM, RN and RAF personnel. They do not include the TA or reserve forces, which have no security role in Northern Ireland.
Mr. George : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of British service personnel, killed or injured in terrorist attacks, since August 1989 ; where these incidents took place ; and what was the nature of each incident.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Between 1 August 1989 and 5 July 1990 29 service personnel were killed in terrorist bombing or shooting attacks ; 13 in Great Britain, two in West Germany, and 14 in Northern Ireland.
Over the same period 66 service personnel were wounded or injured in terrorist shooting and bombing attacks ; 26 in Great Britain, two in West Germany, and 38 in Northern Ireland .
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Details of the terrorist bombing and shooting attacks that caused these deaths and injuries are as follows :Date, casualties, location and nature of incident
1 September 1989
Two soldiers were seriously injured when they were shot outside York barracks, Munster, West Germany.
16 September 1989
One regular soldier was shot and killed at RUC Coalisland, Northern Ireland.
22 September 1989
Eleven regular soldiers were killed and 22 injured when a bomb exploded at the Royal Marines school of music in Deal, Kent, England.
7 October 1989
One regular soldier was seriously injured when a hijacked van exploded in the Waterside, Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
26 October 1989
Three regular soldiers were injured, not seriously, when they came under close-range mortar fire at Crossmaglen, Northern Ireland. 26 October 1989
One RAF airman was shot and killed at Wildenrath, West Germany. 17 November 1989
One part-time UDR soldier was fatally wounded when he was ambushed and shot by gunmen as he left his place of duty in Armagh, Northern Ireland, to go home.
18 November 1989
Three regular soldiers were killed and one very seriously injured near Mayobridge, South Down, Northern Ireland, when their vehicle was blown up by a bomb buried by the side of the road.
18 November 1989
One regular soldier was very seriously injured when an under-car booby trap (UCBT) exploded under his vehicle at the Army married quarters in Colchester, Essex, England.
27 November 1989
Two regular soldiers were injured, not seriously, when a bomb in Merrion Park, West Belfast, was detonated as their military patrol passed by it.
28 November 1989
One regular soldier was injured, not seriously, as he took cover from, and was hit by, a hoax device thrown over the wall at RUC Springfield road, Belfast.
1 December 1989
One off-duty part-time UDR soldier was injured, not seriously, when he was shot by a gunman in the legs and buttocks near Londonderry. 11 December 1989
Three regular soldiers were injured, not seriously, when a public house in Londonderry was bombed and masonry fell onto their vehicle. 13 December 1989
Two regular soldiers were killed, one seriously injured, and one not seriously injured during a multiple weapon attack upon the permanent vehicle checkpoint (PVCP) at Derryard, Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
3 January 1990
One off-duty part-time UDR soldier was very seriously injured in Co. Londonderry, Northern Ireland, when a UCBT exploded under his vehicle.
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