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Heavy Goods Vehicles (Fatalities)
Mr. Hinchcliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatalities resulted from persons being struck by reversing heavy goods vehicles in each of the last 10 years.
Mr. Key : The information is shown in the table.
Fatalities resulting
from accidents
involving a
reversing HGV<1>: GB
1983-93
Casualties
|Killed
---------------------
1983 |8
1984 |10
1985 |6
1986 |7
1987 |6
1988 |7
1989 |12
1990 |4
1991 |5
1992 |8
1993 |2
<1> Goods vehicles
with an unladen
weight over 1.52
tonnes.
Recycled Paper
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of his Department's (a) press releases and (ii) written answers are printed on recycled paper.
Mr. Norris : None. My Department will examine the scope to use recycled paper.
EDUCATION
Private Health Insurance Schemes
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidelines he has issued in respect of the use of education funds for payment of contributions to private health insurance schemes for staff members and their families by colleges of further and higher education.
Mr. Boswell : It is for individual colleges to decide what they will pay their staff, within the resources available to them and within the framework of the Government's policy on public sector pay.
Access Funds
Mr. Bryan Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects the results of the monitoring requirement contained in the Higher Education Funding Council for England circular "Access Funds : Terms and Conditions for Payment" and notes of guidance for the academic year 1993-94 to be published.
Mr. Boswell : There are no plans to publish the results of the monitoring returns from higher education institutions on their use of discretionary access funds in 1993-94. In issuing revised guidance on access funds annually, my Department takes into account the report it receives each year from the funding council on the results of its monitoring exercise.
Mr. Bryan Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Education why the publication of the Higher Education Funding Council for England circular "Access Funds : Terms and Conditions for Payment" and notes of guidance for the academic year 1993-94 was delayed until April.
Mr. Boswell : In sending guidance on access funds to the Higher Education Funding Council for England in November 1993, we advised that an amendment was likely to be required following the European Economic Area agreement. The funding council decided to delay issue of its circular until details of the amendment were received, at the end of January 1994, so as to incorporate them. The council then issued its circular as soon as the high priority
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work on the 1994-95 funding allocations allowed. It is its intention that allocations and conditions circulars for 1994-95 will be issued at the beginning of the new academic year.New Schools
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will state the names and location of recently completed secondary schools, without sixth form provision, of eight or more form entries per year, distinguishing between (a) county schools, (b) voluntary-aided schools, (c) grant-maintained schools and (d) city technology colleges together with their costs, exclusive of site.
Mr. Robin Squire : Information on capital projects since 1987 indicates that the only secondary school, without sixth form provision, of eight or more forms of entry to have recently been completed is Tanbridge school--a county comprehensive--in Horsham, West Sussex. The cost of the school, exclusive of site, was £12.1 million.
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what account he takes of the likely proportion of statemented children attending newly built schools to which his cost and other regulations apply.
Mr. Forth : My right hon. Friend judges each case for a new school on its merits. Before approving new accommodation, the Secretary of State takes into account the extent to which the accommodation is consistent with his building guidelines and whether, in the case of accommodation for pupils with special educational needs, it is appropriate for those needs. The need for special accommodation for pupils with statements of special educational needs may form part of that consideration.
Staff Surveys
Mr. Radice : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what surveys of the views, opinions and attitudes of the staff of his Department have been carried out in the last two years ; and if he will place copies of the findings in the Library.
Mr. Forth : The most recent staff attitude survey carried out in my Department took place in 1991. A copy of the findings was placed in the Department's library. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.
Efficiency Grants
Mr. Bryan Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance he has given to the Higher Education Funding Council for England to protect research resources in the allocation of planned efficiency grants.
Mr. Boswell : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 24 June at column 339.
City Technology Colleges
Mr. Grocott : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his latest estimate of the cost (a) to public funds and (b) to private funds of the city technology colleges.
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Mr. Robin Squire : Total spending on city technology colleges by the Department since 1987-88 and projected expenditure to 1994-95 are shown in the following table. This includes both capital and recurrent expenditure, the latter is broadly equivalent to that incurred in other secondary schools.
Financial |DFE
Year |expenditure
|Cash
|(£m)
------------------------------------
1987-88 |1
1988-89 |14
1989-90 |30
1990-91 |58
1991-92 |56
1992-93 |50
<1>1993-94 |50
<2>1994-95 |52
<1>estimated outturn.
<2>plans.
Private sector contributions received by city technology colleges amount to £36.8 million.
Voluntary-aided Schools
Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what arrangements are in place to enable a school to which he grants voluntary- aided status to repay private loans made to enable urgent capital works to be undertaken before his decision on the school's voluntary-aided status application was announced ;
(2) what discretion he has to make loans to voluntary aided schools in respect of initial capital expenditure ; what discretion he has to make loans to schools applying for voluntary aided status where applications are regarded by his Department as viable and deserving approval ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Forth : My right hon. Friend has no power to provide a loan to promoters of proposed new voluntary aided schools to assist with costs incurred on capital work carried out before the decision on the statutory proposals has been made.
If proposals to establish a new voluntary aided school are approved, the promoters may apply for a loan under section 105 of the Education Act 1994 to assist them with their share of capital costs to provide the site or buildings for the new school. The site and buildings project plans and costs, which would be scrutinised by the Department's architects, would require the prior approval of the Secretary of State. A loan may be granted subject to availability of funds, the approval of building plans and the acceptance of a statisfactory loan agreement.
Teacher Education
Mr. Don Foster : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will provide figures on admissions to courses of initial teacher education starting in autumn 1994, broken down by gender for primary and secondary schools.
Mr. Robin Squire : Information on these courses will not be available to the Department until next year.
Mr. Don Foster : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the admission targets for initial teacher
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education for 1994, 1995 and 1996, for school based and non-school based training ; and what difficulties are expected in meeting the targets.Mr. Robin Squire : The following recruitment targets for higher education institutions were notified to the Higher Education Funding Council for England--HEFCE--in January 1993.
|1994-95|1995-96|1996-97
------------------------------------------
Primary |12,930 |12,115 |10,855
Secondary |16,050 |17,000 |17,935
|-------|-------|-------
Total |28,980 |29,115 |28,790
In addition, some 460 places are expected to be provided on approved courses of school-centred ITT--SCITT--in 1994-95. The targets are based on the best available information about the needs of the system and are reviewed annually.
Targets for 1995-96 and later years will be reviewed and notified to the Teacher Training Agency--TTA--in the autumn, subject to the passage of the Education Bill. It will be for the TTA to determine the allocation of places, both on SCITT courses and those in higher education institutions.
Recycled Paper
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of his Department's (a) press releases and (b) written answers are printed on recycled paper.
Mr. Forth : The Department's policy is to use recycled paper wherever possible. It is used for all headed paper, enveloped, file covers and forms. For printing purposes recycled paper is best suited to conventional printing processes and not to high speed electronic machines. The Department's press releases and written answers are printed using high speed electronic machines using environmentally friendly--chlorine free-- paper.
Pupil Statistics
Mr. Don Foster : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list pupil to teacher ratios, average class sizes and the percentage of classes with more than 30 pupils for each year since 1989 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Robin Squire : I refer the hon. Member to tables 3 and 7 in "Statistical Bulletin 8/94" published in June 1994, a copy of which is in the Library.
Class Sizes
Mr. Don Foster : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what evidence his Department has on the relationship between class size and pupil attainment.
Mr. Robin Squire : The Department has no evidence of a link between class size and pupil attainment in the United Kingdom. The Government agree with the authors of "Curriculum Organisation and Classroom Practice in Primary Schools that quality of teaching is of paramount importance.
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Teacher Statistics
Mr. Don Foster : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the gender profile, average length of service and average age of the teaching profession.
Mr. Robin Squire : The tables show the distribution by gender, the average age and the distribution by length of service of full-time teachers in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools sector in March 1992. It is not possible to calculate accurately the average length of service.
Table 1: Distribution of full-time
teachers by gender in maintained
nursery, primary and secondary schools
England and Wales: March 1992
Percentages
|Men |Women|Total
-----------------------------------------
Nursery and Primary Schools
Headteachers |6 |6 |12
Deputy heads |3 |7 |10
Standard scale |9 |68 |78
Total teachers |19 |81 |100
Secondary Schools
Headteachers |2 |1 |2
Deputy heads |3 |2 |5
Standard scale |46 |47 |93
Total teachers |51 |49 |100
Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools
Headteachers |4 |3 |7
Deputy heads |3 |4 |8
Standard scale |28 |57 |85
Total teachers |36 |64 |100
Table 2: Mean age of
teachers in full-time
maintained nursery,
primary
and secondary schools
England and Wales:
March 1992
|Mean
|age
-----------------------
Men |42
Women |41
All teachers |41
Table 3: Distribution of full-time teachers by length of service in
maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools
England and Wales: March 1992 Percentages
Length of service |Men |Women |All
in years |teachers
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under 5 |13 |21 |18
5 to 9 |10 |19 |16
10 to 14 |16 |21 |19
15 to 19 |25 |19 |21
20 to 24 |16 |11 |13
25 to 29 |14 |7 |9
30 and over |6 |2 |4
|--- |--- |---
Total |100 |100 |100
Parents Charter
Mr. Don Foster : To ask the Secretary of State for Education what action he intends to take to correct mistakes in the parents charter relating to parents' legal duty to provide education for their children ; what additional cost will be incurred ; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Robin Squire : The updated parents charter is a brief introduction to the operation of the school system, and explains many of the important changes that have taken place. It is a popular summary for parents and the general public as a whole, not a definitive guide to the law. My right hon. Friend sees no need to issue a correction in respect of parent's duty to provide education for their children.
Teachers' Pay
Mr. French : To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement about teachers' pay in 1994-95.
Mr. Patten : I have today laid before Parliament a pay and conditions order bringing the provisions of the school teachers' pay and conditions document 1994 into force from 1 September 1994. Copies of this order are being sent to local education authorities, the chairmen of governors of grant-maintained schools and the teachers' and employers' associations.
The school teachers' pay and conditions document 1994 was published on 6 June following detailed consultation with the teachers' and employers' associations and representatives of the governors of voluntary schools and grant-maintained schools. The document sets out the statutory pay and conditions of service for teachers in maintained schools in England and Wales which will apply from 1 September.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Debt Forgiveness
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which financial year Her Majesty's Government began including debt forgiveness in relation to officially supported export credits in the United Kingdom's total official development assistance figures.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : In 1988-89. The country involved was Mali.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the World Health Organisation about the adequacy of its services in sub-saharan Africa ; and what undertakings he has received about improvements.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The World Health Organisation's activities in Africa, in common with its activities elsewhere, are examined each year by the WHO executive board, of which the United Kingdom is a member.
At World Health Assembly and WHO executive board meetings, we have supported WHO's efforts to improve the health conditions of the people in sub-Saharan Africa. At the May 1994 assembly, we supported resolutions requesting WHO to give special assistance to the peoples of Rwanda, and to continue its assistance to the peoples of Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland and to those countries in sub-Saharan Africa affected by drought.
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In reacting to a United Kingdom-chaired working group on WHO's response to global change, the organisation has undertaken to review the role of its country representatives--a matter of particular relevance to sub-Saharan Africa.Aid Contributions
Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of gross national product in rank order was contributed in aid by each member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's development assistance committee in 1979.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : The information requested is as follows :
Net Official Development Assistance as a percentage of Gross National Product-1979 DAC countries in |Percentage rank order --------------------------------------------------- Sweden |0.94 Netherlands |0.93 Norway |0.93 Denmark |0.75 France |0.59 Belgium |0.56 Australia |0.52 United Kingdom |0.51 Canada |0.46 Germany |0.44 New Zealand |0.33 Japan |0.26 Finland |0.21 Switzerland |0.21 United States |0.20 Austria |0.19 Italy |0.08
Sudan
Mr. Bernie Grant : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what part of the further tranche of the £15 million provided for relief aid to the Horn of Africa will be spent in those areas under the jurisdiction of the Sudanese Government.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Harrogate (Mr. Banks) on 29 April, Official Report, column 368. The funds are available to meet emergency humanitarian needs in rebel and Government-held areas.
Statistics
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 June, Official Report, column 322, what was the source or sources of the information that (a) Britain's overseas aid expenditure in 1992 on basic needs was 10 per cent. of bilateral aid and (b) the United Kingdom is better than the average of all donors in that area ; and if he will place the relevant statistics in the Library.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : (a) The 10 per cent. figure is an estimate based on 1992-93 figures and is calculated as follows :
|Expenditure
|£ million
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water and Sanitation<1> |25.8
Health and Population<1> |48.9
Block Grants to Non-Governmental Organisations<1> |12.8
Grant to International Planned Parenthood Federation<1> |8.0
Basic Education<2> |15.8
|-------
Total |111.3
<1> Source: British Aid Statistics 1988-89 to 1992-93, a copy of which is
available in the Library.
<2> Estimated 15 per cent. of total education spending.
This represents 10.7 per cent. of ODA's bilaterial aid to developing countries. A more useful measure is aid for basic needs as a percentage of aid which is allocable by sector, estimated to be 16 per cent. in 1992-93. Neither estimate includes £150 million of bilateral emergency aid, most of which goes to meet basic human needs in times of crisis. In addition, much of the 46 per cent. of United Kingdom aid which is channelled through multilateral agencies is for basic needs.
(b) The average percentage of bilateral aid for human priorities among 15 development assitance committee countries was 7 per cent. between 1989 and 1991.
Statistics on aid for human priorities can be found in table 4.4 of the "Human Development Report 1994", a copy of which is available in the Library.
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 22 June, Official Report, column 253, what was the source or sources of the information given (a) that Britain has one of the best records among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's development assistance committee donors of allocating aid to the poorest countries and (b) that in each of the past five years between 80 per cent. and 85 per cent. of Britain's bilateral aid which is allocatable by income group has been spent in low- income countries defined as those with an income per capita of less than $765 ; and if he will place the relevant statistics in the Library.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd : (a) The source of this information is table 37 of the development co-operation 1993 report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. This shows that the United Kingdom ranks fourth among DAC donors in the percentage of total aid to low income countries.
(b) This information is taken from Table A2 of "British Aid Statistics 1988 -89 to 1992-93", published by the ODA.
Copies of both publications are available in the Library.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Public Service League Tables
36. Mr. Michael Brown : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans the Government have to provide more league tables to assess the standards of public service.
Mr. David Davis : Publication of comparative information on the performance of schools and colleges is already well established. The first national tables on the performance of hospitals and ambulance authorities have just been published.
Later this year, the revised passengers charter will be published containing comparative information on the
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performance of railway routes. This will supplement the information on local performance already displayed monthly at each station. Next year, the first national tables on the performance of local authorities, including the police, will be published.Japan (Co-operation)
38. Mr. Mans : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to increase co-operation with Japan in science and technology.
Mr. Waldegrave : I am happy to say that I visited Tokyo on 13 June where I signed a formal science and technology agreement with the Japanese Foreign Minister. This marks a further step in our excellent science and technology co-operation with Japan.
Charter Mark Winners
39. Mr. Rowe : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what charter mark winners are doing to help advance charter principles in the public sector.
Mr. David Davis : Charter mark winners are a constant example to others in the public sector of the successful application of the citizens charter principles. The eight winners in Kent have been particularly helpful in acting as an inspiration to other organisations to implement the charter principles and improve services.
On a national basis, I am pleased to be able to say that 520 applications have been received for this year's charter mark scheme.
Government Expenditure
40. Mr. Lidington : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made through his Department's initiatives in obtaining best value for money in central Government expenditure.
Mr. Waldegrave : My Department co-ordinates a wide range of initiatives to improve value for money across Government, including the citizens charter, next steps, and competing for quality programmes. They have played their part in achieving a reduction in civil service numbers of nearly 30,000 since 1990, with savings of £150 million now estimated from the competing for quality initiative alone.
Citizens Charter
41. Mrs. Roche : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what he estimates to be the total cost of the citizens charter initiative.
Mr. David Davis : The citizens charter initiative applies to all public services, and this is reflected in their individual expenditure programmes. Centrally, the cost of the charter unit between the inception of the citizens charter and 31 March 1994 was £8,005,980.
Duchy Benevolent Fund
42. Mr. Pike : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total of charity donations made within the County Palatine from the Duchy Benevolent Fund during the last financial year.
Mr. Waldegrave : For the Duchy year ending 29 September 1993, donations from the Duchy Benevolent Fund made within the County Palatine totalled £127,444.
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Market Testing
Mr. Jenkin : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his latest assessment of the progress that has been made in the Government's market testing exercise ; and what are his plans for the future.
Mr. Waldegrave : On the basis of the provisional information which is currently available, I am able to estimate that approximately £1.3 billion of activities have been market tested or otherwise examined. Annual savings from the competing for quality programme will be at least £150 million. I expect to report in more detail in the autumn.
Information
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance was sought from his Department, and what advice was given, in regard to the request made by the Financial Times for details of decisions taken by qualified majority vote at ministerial meetings of the Foreign Affairs, Internal Market, Social Affairs and Agriculture Councils since 1989, under the EU code of conduct on public access to information.
Mr. Waldegrave : The Government have argued in the Council that the response to the Financial Times should be as helpful as possible. This position took account of advice provided by the Cabinet Office.
Recycled Paper
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of his Department's (a) press releases and (b) written answers are printed on recycled paper.
Mr. Waldegrave : My Department does not at present use recycled paper for press releases or written answers. However, in accordance with Government policy to use recycled and environmentally friendly paper wherever this is available, of adequate quality and where it represents value for money, all copy paper used by the Department is environmentally friendly. That includes paper used for the issue of press releases and for written answers.
Electronic Data
Sir Michael Marshall : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will outline work which is currently within his Department to ensure that all Government Departments and their agencies maximise the use of electronic data interchange.
Mr. Waldegrave : My Department recognises the significant benefits afforded by electronic data interchange, especially where those can improve the efficiency and quality of public services. The OPSS has been actively promoting the use of electronic data interchange through the activities of CCTA, the Government Centre for Information Systems. That work encourages Departments to use EDI as a strategic business tool.
The CCTA has recently published a best practice guide called "EDI in Government : the Business Opportunities" which draws on the experience collected from the Government interest section run jointly with EDI Association. I hope my hon. Friend will endorse its contents.
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Ministerial colleagues and I are actively considering further ways to exploit the use of EDI in order to maximise the benefits to public service.Lockerbie
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the implications of the open government initiative in relation to the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie.
Mr. Waldegrave : The open government initiative does not override or disturb the existing arrangements for disclosure in legal proceedings.
DEFENCE
Aviation Medicine
Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the future of the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine ;
(2) what are his plans for the future of the speciality of aviation medicine ;
(3) if the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine will continue with its present range of activities with particular reference to the full extent of its research work.
Mr. Aitken : In March this year, I endorsed a decision to bring together under the management of the chief executive of the Defence Research Agency all elements in the Ministry of Defence dealing with human factors research, including the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine.
The RAF speciality of aviation medicine will continue under the control of the Director General of Medical Services (RAF). The DRA has formed these elements into a new centre for human sciences which will seek to preserve the already well-established reputation and skill of establishments including the Institute of Aviation Medicine and build on these to offer a comprehensive and expert service to customers both inside and outside my Department. These activities remain vote funded by my Department and staff conditions of service remain unchanged. It is planned, however, that by 1 April 1996 at the latest, all human factors research will be formally absorbed into the DRA's trading fund and under this regime it is for customers ultimately to decide what research they are prepared to pay for, although a strong demand and continued support of current activities is anticipated. No decisions have yet been taken about the final location of such work, although staff will be fully consulted before any changes are made.
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