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Crown Servants
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will name the current members of the Advisory Committee on the Acceptance of Business Appointments by Crown Servants, indicating their occupation and background and which other public and private sector board posts they hold.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The members of the Prime Minister's Advisory Committee on Business Appointments are:
The right hon. the Lord Carlisle of Bucklow QC - Chairman The Lord Bridges GCMG - Deputy Chairman
Sir John Blelloch KCB
Sir Denys Henderson
Sir Charles Huxtable KCB CBE
Sir Robin Ibbs KBE
The right hon. Peter Shore MP
The right hon. the Lord Thomson of Monifieth KT
Lord Carlisle, Lord Thomson and Mr. Peter Shore are senior parliamentarians and former Ministers, Lord Bridges is a retired diplomat; Sir John Blelloch is a retired senior civil servant; Sir Charles Huxtable is a retired senior Army officer; Sir Robin Ibbs is Chairman of Lloyds bank; Sir Denys Henderson is chairman of ICI and the ZENECA group.
Three members of the advisory committee hold public appointments in other advisory bodies sponsored by my Department: Sir John Blelloch is a member of the Security Commission; Lord Thomson is a member of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee and the Standing Committee on Standards in Public Life; Mr Peter Shore is a member of the Standing Committee on Standards in Public Life.
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Details of other public and private sector board posts held are a matter for individual committee members, and are not sought as a matter of course by my Department.Animal Experiment
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which of the events in the national week of science and technology, supported by his Department, will be dealing with the issue of animal experimentation.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The programme for next year's national week of science, engineering and technology will not be finalised until the new year. At present there are no events planned which deal with the issue of animal experimentation and which would be supported by my Department.
Expenditure Plans
Mr. Mans: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the expenditure plans of his Department in the period 1995 96 to 1997 98.
Mr. David Hunt: Provision for the Office of Public Service and Science, HMSO, Central Office of Information is £1,339 million in 1995 96, £1,357 million in 1996 97 and £1,386 million in 1997 98. Planned expenditure on public service tasks--OPSS, HMSO, COI--is £54 million in 1995 96, £53 million in 1996 97 and £53 million in 1997 98.
Provision for science is £1,285 million in 1995 96, £1,304 million in 1996 97 and £1,333 million in 1997 98. As a result, the science budget, which is provision excluding EC funding to research council institutes, has been maintained in 1995 96 at its 1994 95 level in real terms, almost 2 per cent. above its level in 1993 94. I shall be announcing the allocation of the 1995 96 science budget in due course.
Christmas Expenditure
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how much public money will be spent on entertaining, Christmas decorations and other festive activities this Christmas season by his Department and Government agencies answerable to his Department; and of this sum how much will be spent in Ministers' private offices and official residences;
(2) to ask the Minister without Portfolio how much public money he will spend in his ministerial capacity on entertaining, Christmas decorations and other festive activities this Christmas season; (3) to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money will be spent on entertaining, Christmas decorations and other festive activities this Christmas season by Government Whips in their offices and official residences including No. 12 Downing street.
Mr. David Hunt: I have been asked to reply. Disaggregated information of this nature is not available. Such costs as relate to Cabinet Office, Office of Public Service and Science, Central Office of Information and Her Majesty's Stationery Office are covered in running
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costs expenditure, which is published in the annual report, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.Mr. Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many official Christmas cards he and his Ministers intend to send in 1994; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he intends to send this year;
(2) to ask the Minister without Portfolio how many official Christmas cards he intends to send in 1994 in his ministerial capacity; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he intends to send this year;
(3) to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many official Christmas cards the Government Whips intend to send in 1994; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Members, Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card the Chief Whip intends to send this year.
Mr. David Hunt: I have been asked to reply.
I shall write to the hon. member when the number of Christmas cards sent by my office is known, and will be glad to send him one and to place one in the Library. The Minister without Portfolio and the Government Whips do not have official Christmas cards.
Executive Agencies
Mr. McAllion: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all executive agencies, their parent department and their date of establishment.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The information requested is as follows:
|Launch Date
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Chancellor
HM Land Registry<1> |2 July 1990
Public Record Office<1> |1 April 1992
Public Trust Office |1 July 1994
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Wilton Park |1 September 1991
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Central Statistical Office<1> |19 November 1991
HM Customs and Excise<2> |1 April 1991
Inland Revenue<2> |1 April 1992
Paymaster<1> |1 April 1993
Royal Mint<1> |2 April 1990
Valuation Office<1> |30 September 1991
Secretary of State for the Home Department
Fire Service College |1 April 1992
Forensic Science Service |1 September 1991
HM Prison Service |1 April 1993
United Kingdom Passport Agency |2 April 1991
President of the Board of Trade
Accounts Services Agency |1 October 1991
Companies House |3 October 1988
Insolvency Service |21 March 1990
Laboratory of the Government
Chemist |30 October 1989
National Physical Laboratory |3 July 1990
National Weights and Measures
Laboratory |18 April 1989
NEL |5 October 1990
Patent Office |1 March 1990
Radiocommunications Agency |2 April 1990
Secretary of State for Transport
Coastguard |1 April 1994
Driver and Vehicle Licensing
Agency |2 April 1990
Driving Standards Agency |2 April 1990
Highways Agency |1 April 1994
Marine Safety Agency |1 April 1994
Transport Research Laboratory |2 April 1992
Vehicle Certification Agency |2 April 1990
Vehicle Inspectorate |1 August 1988
Secretary of State for Defence
Army Base Repair Organisation |1 April 1993
Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment |1 April 1991
Defence Accounts Agency |1 April 1991
Defence Analytical Services
Agency |1 July 1992
Defence Animal Centre |1 June 1993
Defence Clothing and Textiles
Agency |22 November 1994
Defence Operational Analysis
Centre |1 July 1992
Defence Postal and Courier
Services |1 July 1992
Defence Research Agency |2 April 1991
Disposal Sales Agency |1 October 1994
Duke of York's Royal Military
School |1 April 1992
Hydrographic Office |6 April 1990
Logistic Information Systems
Agency |21 November 1994
Maintenance Group Defence
Agency |2 April 1991
Meteorological Office |2 April 1990
Military Survey |2 April 1991
Naval Aircraft Repair
Organisation |1 April 1992
Queen Victoria School |1 April 1992
RAF Signals Engineering
Establishment |22 November 1994
RAF Training Group Defence
Agency |1 April 1994
Service Children's Schools
(North West Europe) |24 April 1991
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
ADAS |1 April 1992
Central Science Laboratory |23 April 1994
Central Veterinary Laboratory |2 April 1990
Intervention Board<1> <4> |2 April 1990
Pesticides Safety Directorate |1 April 1993
Veterinary Medicines Directorate |2 April 1990
Secretary of State for National Heritage
Historic Royal Palaces Agency |1 October 1989
Royal Parks Agency |1 April 1993
Secretary of State for the Environment
Building Research Establishment |2 April 1990
Ordnance Survey<1> |1 May 1990
Planning Inspectorate <5> |1 April 1992
Queen Elizabeth II Conference
Centre |6 July 1989
Security Facilities Executive |15 October 1993
The Buying Agency |31 October 1991
Secretary of State for Wales
Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments) |2 April 1991
Secretary of State for Social Security
Social Security Benefits Agency |2 April 1991
Social Security Child Support
Agency |5 April 1993
Social Security Contributions
Agency |2 April 1991
Social Security Information
Technology Services Agency |2 April 1990
Social Security Resettlement
Agency |24 May 1989
Social Security War Pensions
Agency |13 April 1994
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Central Office of Information<1> |5 April 1990
Chessington Computer Centre |1 April 1993
Civil Service College |6 June 1989
HMSO<1> |14 December 1988
Occupational Health Service |2 April 1990
Recruitment and Assessment
Services Agency |2 April 1991
Secretary of State for Scotland
Historic Scotland |2 April 1991
Registers of Scotland<1> |6 April 1990
Scottish Agricultural Science
Agency |1 April 1992
Scottish Fisheries Protection
Agency |12 April 1991
Scottish Office Pensions
Agency |1 April 1993
Scottish Prison Service |1 April 1993
Scottish Record Office<1> |1 April 1993
Student Awards Agency for
Scotland |5 April 1994
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Compensation Agency |1 April 1992
Driver and Vehicle Licensing
NI |2 August 1993
Driver and Vehicle Testing
Agency |1 April 1992
Northern Ireland Child Support
Agency |5 April 1993
Ordnance Survey of Northern
Ireland |1 April 1992
Rate Collection Agency |1 April 1991
Social Security Agency (NI) |1 July 1991
Training and Employment
Agency (NI) |2 April 1990
Valuation and Lands Agency |1 April 1993
Secretary of State for Education
Teacher's Pensions Agency |1 April 1992
Secretary of State for Health
Medical Devices Agency |27 September 1994
Medicines Control Agency |11 July 1991
NHS Estates |1 April 1991
NHS Pensions |20 November 1992
Secretary of State for Employment
Employment Service |2 April 1990
Attorney General
Government Property Lawyers |1 April 1993
Minister for Overseas Development
Natural Resources Institute |2 April 1990
<1>Agencies that are Government Departments.
<2>Government Department operating on Next Steps lines.
<3>The Secretary of State for Wales is responsible for ADAS in Wales.
<4>The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretaries of State for Wales,
Scotland and Northern Ireland are jointly responsible for the Intervention Board.
<5>The Secretary of State for Wales is responsible for the Planning Inspectorate in Wales.
Mr. McAllion: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the chief executives of all executive agencies, their civil service grade, and their salary range; and whether they were outside appointments or appointed through open competition.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The information is reproduced in the table.
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|Present Chief |<1>Remuneration in |Method of
Agency |Executive |Grade |1993-94 |appointment
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accounts Services Agency |Mike Hoddinott |5 |43,974 |internal
Adas |Dr. Julia Walsh |2 |80,563 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Army Base Repair Organisation |Brigadier Jim Drew |- |53,000 |armed forces
Building Research Establishment |Roger Courtney |3 |61,529 |internal
CADW |John Carr |5 |49,752 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Central Office of Information |Mike Devereau |3 |69,166 |internal
Central Science Laboratory |Dr. Peter Stanley |3 |61,531 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Central Statistical Office |Bill McLennan |1A |114,063 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Central Veterinary Laboratory |Dr. Tony Little |3 |62,806 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Chemical Biological Defence Establishment |Dr. Graham Pearson CB |3 |59,599 |internal
Chessington Computer Centre |Robert Edwards |5 |49,200 |internal
Civil Service College |Dr. Stephen Hickey |3 |<5>59,533 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
The Coastguard Agency |Chris Harris |4 |<3>49.744 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Companies House |David Durham |4 |50,000 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Compensation Agency |Denis Stanley |5 |<5>47,357 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Defence Accounts Agency |Mike Dymond |4 |55,051 |internal
Defence Analytical Services Agency |Paul Altobell |4 |55,422 |internal
Defence Animal Centre |Colonel Roache |- |<4>44,309 |armed forces
Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency |Brigadier Richard Kirby|- |<3>55,958 |armed forces
Defence Operational Analysis Centre |David Daniel |4 |<5>48,624 |internal
Defence Postal and Courier Service |Brigadier Tweedie |- |<5>62,889 |armed forces
|Brown
Defence Research Agency |John Chisholm |2 |147,238 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Disposals Sales Agency |Keith Ellender |6 |<3>42,930 |internal
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency |Stephen Curtis |3 |57,142 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Driver and Vehicle Licensing (NI) |Brendan Magee |5 |<4>36,379 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (NI) |Brian Watson |6 |40,017 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Driving Standards Agency |Dr. John Ford |5 |<2>47,500 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Duke of York's Royal Military School |Col. Gordon Wilson |- |43,698 |armed forces
Employment Service |Mike Fogden CB |3+ |67,557 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Fire Service College |Nigel Finlayson |5 |<5>64,383 |internal
Forensic Science Service |Dr. Janet Thompson |3 |62,946 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Government Property Lawyers |Tony Osborne |3 |59,380 |internal
Highways Agency |Lawrence Haynes |2 |<3>100,000 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Historic Royal Palaces Agency |David Beeton |3 |60,903 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Historic Scotland |Graeme Munro |3 |55,415 |internal
HM Prison Service |Derek Lewis |2 |133,280 |open competition,
|direct entrant
HMSO |Dr. Paul Freeman CB |2 |68,000 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Hydrographic Office |Rear Admiral Nigel |- |<2>60,747 |armed forces
|Essenhigh
The Insolvency Service |Peter Joyce |3 |57,847 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Intervention Board |Guy Stapleton |3 |55,586 |internal
Laboratory of the Government Chemist |Dr. Richard Worswick |3 |63,000 |open competition,
|direct entrant
HM Land Registry |John Manthorpe CB |2 |67,000 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Logistics Information Systems Agency |Brigadier Allan Pollard|- |<3>55,958 |armed forces
Marine Safety Agency |Robin Bradley |4 |<3>45,680 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Medical Devices Agency |Alan Kent |4 |<3>53,776 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Medicines Control Agency |Dr. Keith Jones |3 |82,698 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Meteorological Office |Professor Julian Hunt |2 |82,000 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Military Survey |Major General Mike |- |<2>60,486 |armed forces
|Watson
National Physical Laboratory |Dr. Peter Clapham |3 |62,645 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
National Weights and Measures Laboratory |Dr. Seton Bennett |5 |55,263 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Natural Resources Institute |Anthony Beattie |3 |60,831 |internal
Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation |Capt. Wade Graham |- |<5>45,854 |armed forces
NEL |William Edgar |3 |86,000 |open competition,
NHS Estates |John Locke |3 |65,620 |open competition,
|direct entrant
NHS Pensions Agency |Alec Cowan |5 |50,911 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Northern Ireland Child Support Agency |Patrick Devlin |5 |45,665 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Occupational Health Service |Dr. Elizabeth McCloy |3 |<2>56,512 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Ordnance Survey |Professor David Rhind |3 |59,001 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland |Mike Brand |5 |48,320 |internal
Patent Office |Paul Hartnack |3 |62,751 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Paymaster |Keith Sullens |5 |43,000 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Pesticide Safety Directorate |Geoff Bruce |4 |54,929 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Planning Inspectorate |Chris Shepley |3 |<5>52,839 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Public Record Office |Mrs. Sarah Tyacke |3 |59,550 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Public Trust Agency |Miss Julia Lomas |4 |<3>56,000 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre |Marcus Black |5 |47,864 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Queen Victoria School |Brian Raine |5 |<5>43,048 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Radiocommunications Agency |Jim Norton |3 |<2>69,000 |open competition,
|direct entrant
RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency |Air Vice Marshal |- |<2>60,941 |armed forces
| Richard Kyle MBE
RAF Signals Engineering Establishment |Air Commodore Peter |- |<3>55,045 |armed forces
|Ayee
RAF Training Group Defence Agency |Air Vice Marshal John |- |<3>56,710 |armed forces
|May
Rate Collection Agency (NI) |David Gallagher |6 |38,534 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency |Michael Geddes |3 |59,278 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Registers of Scotland |Alan Ramage |4 |<5>47,197 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Royal Mint |Roger Holmes |3 |56,000 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Royal Parks |David Welch |5 |46,073 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Scottish Agricultural Science Agency |Dr. Robert Hay |5 |42,806 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency |Andrew MacLeod |5 |41,296 |internal
Scottish Office Pensions Agency |Norman Macleod |6 |40,375 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Scottish Prison Service |Edward Frizzell |3 |54,700 |internal
Scottish Record Office |Patrick Cadell |5 |43,294 |open competition,
Security Facilities Executive |John King |5 |47,203 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Service Children's Schools (NWE) |Ian Mitchelson |4 |50,808 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Social Security Agency (NI) |Alec Wylie |3 |55,878 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Social Security Benefits Agency |Michael Bichard |2 |83,012 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Social Security Child Support Agency |Miss Ann Chant |3 |<5>51,362 |internal
Social Security Contributions Agency |George Bertram |3 |<5>55,659 |internal
Social Security IT Services Agency |Ian Magee |3 |57,919 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Social Security Resettlement Agency |Paul Winstanley |6 |<5>46,000 |internal
Social Security War Pensions Agency |Peter Mathison |5 |<3>49,490 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Student Awards Agency for Scotland |Ken MacRae |6 |<3>44,287 |internal
Teachers' Pensions Agency |Mrs. Denyse Metcalfe |5 |50,470 |open competition,
|direct entrant
The Buying Agency |Stephen Sage |5 |<2>43,067 |internal
Training and Employment Agency (NI) |Julian Crozier |3 |60,590 |internal
Transport Research Laboratory |John Wootton |3 |72,400 |open competition,
|direct entrant
UK Passport Agency |David Gatenby |5 |<5>53,269 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Valuation and Lands Office |David Bell |3 |55,555 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Valuation Office |John Langford |2 |<5>77,152 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Vehicle Certification Agency |Derek Harvey |5 |45,915 |internal
Vehicle Inspectorate |Ron Oliver |4 |53,854 |open competition,
|serving civil servant
Veterinary Medicines Directorate |Dr. Mike Rutter |4 |53,411 |open competition,
|direct entrant
Wilton Park Conference Centre |Richard Langhorne |5 |<2>44,000 |open competition,
|direct entrant
<1> The Chief Executive's actual remuneration, including bonuses, and taxable benefits, in 1993-94 as shown in the Annual Report and Accounts of the agency.
<2> A new Chief Executive was appointed part way through 1993-94 and the current annual salary, excluding any bonus or other taxable benefits, for the present
Chief Executive is provided.
<3> The Agency was launched in 1994 and has therefore yet to produce its first annual Report and Accounts. The current annual salary, excluding any bonus or other
taxable benefits, is provided.
<4> The Agency was launched part way through 1993-94 and the current annual salary, excluding any bonus or other taxable benefits, is provided.
<5> A new Chief Executive has been appointed and the figure provided relates to the Chief Executive in post during 1993-94.
EDUCATION
Single Regeneration Budget
Mr. Hardy: To ask the Secretary for Education what steps he will take to avoid the creation of budgeting difficulties in colleges of further and higher education as a consequence of changes in the allocation of support from the single regeneration budget in 1995 96.
Mr. Boswell: The budgets of further and higher education colleges are matters for the institutions themselves and for the funding councils. If the hon. Member is aware of any particular difficulty, he should raise it with them in the first instance.
School Books
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of schools in (a) the primary and (b) the secondary sector spent (i) more than £1,000 and (ii) less than £500 on books in the years 1992 93 and 1993 94 and what are the projections for the financial years 1994 95 and 1995 96.
Mr. Robin Squire: Figures for expenditure on books by individual schools are not collected centrally.
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Youth Service
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education from which lines of the local authority revenue outturn and revenue accounts returns the estimate of £220 million was made for local authority expenditure on the youth service which can be found in table 3 of the Department for Education and Office for Standards in Education departmental report.
Mr. Boswell: The estimate of £220 million for local authority spending on the youth service in 1993 94 was calculated by apportioning total local authority expenditure on education, as recorded on local authority revenue account returns for 1993 94, pro rata to the breakdown of spending in 1993 94 produced by the local authority associations as part of their 1993 report into education spending needs. The expenditure figures used in the calculation were taken from lines 1-11 and 77 of the RA returns. Income in respect of technical and vocational education initiative, WRFE, Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council/Universities Funding Council payments, EC grants and other grants recorded on the same forms were then netted off.
Final outturn data for 1993 94 will not become available until next year. This is likely to be different from
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the estimate shown above. The latest outturn data available is for 1992 93. Local authority Revenue Outturn forms show that net recurrent spending on the youth service in that year was £274 million. The provisional 1992 93 figure shown in the 1994 DFE/Ofsted departmental report was £232 million.Audit
Mr. Corbett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether she will include higher and further education establishments and teacher training colleges in her audit next year of accessibility of schools.
Mr. Boswell: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be asking the Further Education Funding Council to consider whether further information on accessibility to further education sector institutions is required in the light of its statutory
responsibilities for students with disabilities. The remit letter sent to the
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Higher Education Funding Council for England on its establishment asked it to consider how access for students with special needs could be facilitated. It is for the Funding Council to decide what information it needs to collect in order to enable it to fulfil that remit and its other functions.Expenditure Plans
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement about her Department's expenditure plans for the financial years 1995 96 to 1997 98.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard: As my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in a statement today, the Department for Education and Ofsted's spending programme in 1995 96 will total £10,958 million. That total is £427 million or 4.1 per cent. higher than equivalent expenditure in 1994 95.
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<1>£ million
Outturn outturn Spending plans
|1993-94|1994-95|1995-96|1996-97|1997-98
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Terms |9,810 |10,530 |10,960 |11,230 |11,240
Real Terms (1993-94 prices) |9,810 |10,320 |10,400 |10,400 |10,180
<1>Figures rounded as in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.
In a demanding public expenditure survey, the Government have had to look for greater efficiency and economy in the delivery of education, but they have maintained priority for this service within their spending plans. In particular, the Government have allowed for growth in the number of students in further education, have extended the scope of the specialist schools programme and have increased the level of support for capital expenditure on schools. Provision is made for continuing growth in the grant-maintained schools programme. As announced last year, participation in higher education has been stabilised at a level where almost one in three young people will be entering higher education. I am announcing measures to promote the private finance initiative in further and higher education; both sectors will be able, in collaboration with the private sector, to increase the planned level of capital work over the next few years. The plans announced today do not cover the expansion which the Government intend to make in provision for children under five. There will be a further statement about that in due course.
Schools
Specialist Schools Programme
The Government's technology colleges programme has been an outstanding success. It is widening choice forparents, and helping to raise standards in the key subjects of technology, science and maths. Already 50 grant- maintained and voluntary aided schools have received matching funding under the programme from the Government and from private sponsors. As envisaged in the White Paper, "Choice and Diversity", I am now extending the initiative to foreign languages. I also intend to open the programme to county and other maintained secondary schools. Our plans include £15 million, £20 million and £25 million in 1995 96, 1996 97 and 1997 98 respectively to allow for the extension of the programme.
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Capital Expenditure on SchoolsTotal central Government provision for capital expenditure on county, voluntary and grant-maintained schools is £621 million, £672 million and £661 million in 1995 96, 1996 97 and 1997 98 respectively. In the first two years, this is an increase of £14 million and £27 million respectively over the figures announced at the time of the last Budget. I also expect the private finance initiative to make an increasing contribution in the schools sector. I shall shortly announce further details of the allocations of grant to voluntary aided schools, and annual capital guidelines to local education authorities. The Funding Agency for Schools will in due course announce the allocations to grant maintained schools. GM Schools
More than 1,000 schools are now grant-maintained. The Government's expenditure plans provide for further expansion. The GM sector's rate of growth will continue to be determined by parents' decisions in ballots at individual schools; the Government will ensure that every school which becomes grant-maintained receives the necessary funding.
The great bulk of recurrent funding for GM schools is found within the totals for local authority expenditure. Central Government's recurrent expenditure on GM schools is planned to be £83 million in 1995 96. This will be increased in 1996 97 and 1997 98 in line with the increase in GM school numbers.
Further Education
The Government continue to give a high priority to further education, as the key to enhancing the competitiveness and prospects for growth of the economy. Our plans will deliver the national targets for education and training, taking the United Kingdom to the top of the international league for participation in education and training among 16-19 year olds. We have been encouraged by the success of the new FE sector in increasing its student numbers, and intend to extend its
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period of growth: with continued efficiency gains from colleges, that will continue up to and including 1997 98.The total grant for the Further Education Funding Council is planned at £3,029 million, £3,133 million and £3,128 million in 1995 96, 1996 97 and 1997 98 respectively.
The contribution towards capital expenditure within those totals is planned to be some £480 million over the next three years. In addition to maintaining planned funding levels, we are introducing new flexibility in capital and recurrent funding so as to enable colleges to make the most effective use of their resources, and to borrow against the security of Exchequer-funded as well as other assets. This should promote effective estate management and encourage the use of private sector finance, so making possible a significant acceleration in colleges' capital programmes.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement of 14 September 1994 set out the Government's approach to public sector pay in the year now beginning. I shall set as a condition of my grant to the FEFC that it requires institutions in the further education sector to take account of the principles set out in the Chancellor's statement. Any failure by institutions to observe these principles may be expected to have an adverse effect on the level of grant made available to the Council in 1996 97. I shall also withhold £50 million of grant against certification by institutions in the sector that they are continuing to make flexible contracts with lecturers.
Vocational Qualifications
High quality vocational qualifications are central to our future economic development. We introduced general national vocational qualifications to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of young people who seek a first class alternative to academic examinations or work focused national vocational qualifications. GNVQs are a great success. We must now consolidate early progress and ensure that concerns about retaining standards are addressed. We therefore plan to allocate £23 million to this area over the next three years. These additional resources will be used to ensure that all GNVQs meet the same high standards as we continue to expect of traditional academic qualifications, and to develop the part I GNVQ, a new vocational qualification of high quality designed for 14-16 year olds of all abilities, which we shall be piloting in schools from 1995. Higher Education
Student Numbers
The forecast number of students in higher education has been revised to take account of final enrolment figures for 1993 94. The plans also allow for additional EC students arising from the enlargement of the EC with effect from 1 January 1995. The net effect of these changes is that planned total student numbers are reduced by 2,000 and 7,000 in 1995 96 and 1996 97 compared with the figures underlying last year's Budget; numbers in 1995 96 will still be 2 per cent. higher than in the previous year. Within the planned totals, it should be possible for universities and colleges to expand further the number of part-time students and to keep the participation rate for young people at over 30 per cent. through to 1997 98. The Teacher Training Agency will be responsible for initial teacher training courses from the academic year 1995 96 onwards. I have asked the Higher Education Funding Council and the TTA to work together to
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continue to control the number of students in higher education over the next three years.Tuition Fees
The maximum tuition fees reimbursed through mandatory awards in 1995 96 will be the same as for 1994 95:
|£
-----------------------------------------------------
Classroom-based courses |750
Laboratory and workshop-based courses |1,600
Clinical elements of medical, dental and
veterinary courses |2,800
Grant to the funding council and the Teacher Training Agency. The total grant for the HEFCE for recurrent and capital expenditure is planned at £3,613 million, £3,596 million and £3,561 million in 1995 96, 1996 97 and 1997 98 respectively. The total grant for the TTA for recurrent and capital expenditure is planned at £126 million, £174 million and £170 million in these three years; this includes funding for all the functions of the Agency, including the promotion of teaching as a career, as well as grant support for courses of initial teacher training.
The HEFCE and TTA will now have more flexibility in their planned total grant to manage their recurrent and capital allocations. As with the parallel change for the FEFC, this is intended to promote effective estate management by universities and colleges and to promote increased opportunities to borrow from the private sector to fund capital projects, in line with the Government's private finance initiative. The allowance for capital expenditure within the HEFCE grant is £350 million in 1995 96, £393 million in 1996 97 and £388 million in 1997 98. When taken together with the increased flexibility, this should enable higher education institutions to increase their capital investment as compared with previous plans. The TTA grant includes provision for estates formula and equipment funding related to the provision of courses of initial teacher training. All higher education institutions are eligible to apply to the HEFCE for capital funds for major projects.
I have set as a condition of my grant to the HEFCE and TTA that they require institutions in the higher education sector to take account of the principles set out in the Chancellor's statement on public sector pay of 14 September 1994. Any failure by institutions to observe these principles may be expected to have an adverse effect on the level of grant made available in 1996 97.
Student support
The plans allow for the level of student support through the main rates for grants and loans to be increased over the next three years in line with inflation. In 1995 96, loan and grant together will increase by 2.5 per cent. in line with the forecast change in the retail price index, exclusive of mortgage interest payments. Planned expenditure in the financial year 1995 96 is £644 million on loans and £1,102 million on maintenance grants. Access funds are being increased to some £28 million a year.
The main allowances, including dependants' allowances, will also be increased by 2.5 per cent. in 1995 96. However, I have decided to phase out the means-tested allowance payable as part of the maintenance grant to students over 26 who had previously
Column 679
been in employment. I have also decided to introduce a new rate of loan. This will apply to students who are studying in London and living away from the parental home but who could conveniently live with their parents while studying. There are already special arrangements for grant for such students.The Government decided last year to accelerate the shift from grant to loan so that by 1996 97 the main rates of grant and loan will be broadly equal. The new plans provide for the main grant rate to be reduced by about 8 per cent. in 1995 96 with a corresponding increase in the loan rates. The parental contribution scales under the awards regulations will be adjusted so that, for parents who residual income has risen at the same rate or slower than the rise in national average earnings, the assessed contribution will continue to fall in real terms.
Ofsted
Expenditure provision for the Office for Standards in Education is planned at £98 million, £116 million and £121 million in 1995 96, 1996 97 and 1997 98 respectively. This will enable Ofsted, the non- ministerial Government Department which monitors standards in schools in England, to complete the implementation of the new school inspection arrangements, which started in September 1993 for secondary schools and in September 1994 for primary and special schools.
Truancy
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what is the total cost of the grants from her Department to install electronic equipment in schools to combat truancy; (2) if she will name the schools and/or local education authorities which have benefited from grants from her Department to install electronic equipment to combat truancy.
Mr. Forth: The truancy and disaffected pupils programme of the grants for education support and training--GEST--scheme includes experimentation with different methods of registration, including the appropriate use of information technology, as one of a number of activities which may be funded through grant. In the 1994 95 programme, 35 local education authorities included an IT element in their approved GEST proposals. It is not possible to identify the cost of this element separately. The 35 LEAS were:
Barking and Dagenham
Barnsley
Birmingham
Bradford
Buckinghamshire
Camden
Cheshire
Coventry
Croydon
Derbyshire
East Sussex
Hammersmith and Fulham
Hampshire
Haringey
Hounslow
Islington
Kensington and Chelsea
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KnowsleyLeeds
Lincolnshire
Liverpool
Newham
Salford
Sandwell
Sheffield
Solihull
Staffordshire
Stockport
Tameside
Wakefield
Wandsworth
Westminster
West Sussex
Wigan
Wolverhampton
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