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Written Answers to Questions

Friday 13 January 1995

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Divorce Law Reform

Mr. Boateng: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to publish a White Paper on divorce law reform.

Mr. John M. Taylor: The Lord Chancellor is considering the case for legislation in the light of the Government's consultation on divorce reform. He therefore has no immediate plans for publication of a White Paper.

Domestic Violence Bill

Mr. Boateng: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to publish the family home and domestic violence Bill.

Mr. John M. Taylor: Soon.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

European Commissioners

Mr. John Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many European Commissioners there were in January 1972; and how many there will be following the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden; what additional functions the Commission has been given since 1 January 1972; what was the cost of the Commissioners and their cabinets in 1972; and what it will be in 1995.

Mr. Baldry: There were nine members of the European Commission in January 1972. When Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the Union on 1 January this year, the number of Commissioners became 20. The 1986 Single European Act and the 1993 Maastricht treaty extended the areas of Community activity in which the Commission has functions to perform. These areas include the environment, research, education and health. There is no separate line in the EC budget covering the basic salaries of the Commissioners and their cabinets. We could provide these figures only at disproportionate cost.

Somalia (Family Reunions)

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration underlay the decision to appoint only one extra entry clearance officer for Somali family reunion cases to reduce the waiting period for interview; what action he will take to ensure that the waiting period is reduced to a period of two to three months; and what was the reason for the time taken to identify and deal with the delay in Addis Ababa.


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Mr. Baldry: Lack of office accommodation has meant that it has been possible to deploy only one extra ECO in Addis Ababa for the time being. New accommodation should be available by mid-1995. We would then hope to be able to deploy additional staff, resources permitting.

ENVIRONMENT

Air Pollution

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sites for recording air pollution in Staffordshire.

Mr. Atkins: The Department of the Environment, in co-operation with local authorities, operates two national monitoring networks measuring the levels of smoke and sulphur dioxide, on a daily basis, and the levels of nitrogen dioxide using passive diffusion tube samplers.

The monitoring sites in Staffordshire are as follows:

(a) smoke and sulphur dioxide

Cannock, Rugeley, Burton upon Trent, Biddulph, Cheadle and Stoke on Trent.

(b) nitrogen dioxide

Burton upon Trent, Codsall, Leek, Stafford and Tamworth. There are four diffusion tube sites in each area.

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what pollutants are included in the collection of air samples at his Department's monitoring stations.

Mr. Atkins: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 20 December 1994 to the hon. Member for Normanton (Mr. O'Brien), Official Report , columns 1108 9 .

Single Regeneration Budget

Mr. Heppell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how factors of deprivation are taken into account in allocation of the single regeneration budget.

Mr. Curry: Paragraph 35 of the SRB "Bidding Guidance" issued in April 1994, copies of which are in the Library of the House, explains how factors of deprivation have been taken into account in assessing SRB bids in round 1. Copies of the "Index of Local Conditions", which is referred to in paragraph 35 of the "Bidding Guidance", have also been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Heppell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those councils which employed consultants to assist them with their bids for single regeneration budget and the names of the consultants they employed.

Mr. Curry: This information is a matter for local authorities and is not held centrally.

Mr. Heppell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the estimated cost of work done by councils in submitting unsuccessful bids for the single regeneration budget (a) in England and (b) in the east midlands;

(2) what is the estimated cost of the work done by councils in submitting bids for the single regeneration budget (a) in England, (b) in Nottinghamshire and (c) in Nottingham.

Mr. Curry: This information is a matter for local authorities and is not held centrally.


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Sustainability

Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms of reference for the United Kingdom sustainability round table; who are the participant bodies; by what criteria they are chosen; how wide was the invitation; and whether he will ensure that proper regard is given to the requirements of the manufacturing and construction sectors in evaluating the outcome of the round table.

Mr. Atkins: We issued a consultation paper in October 1994. We have considered responses to it, and will be making our conclusions known shortly.

Land Use Planning

Mr. Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals for EU involvement in land use planning were discussed by Ministers in Leipzig on 22 September; and what proposals his Department will be supporting for EU involvement in housing and planning at the Council of Ministers' meeting to be held on 30 to 31 March.

Sir Paul Beresford: No proposals for EU involvement in land use planning were discussed by Ministers in Leipzig on 22 September. Further, it is not expected that proposals for EU involvement in housing and planning will be discussed at the informal Council of Ministers meeting on 30 to 31 March.

Greenways Landfill

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) for what purposes his Department's officials or legal representatives have met with Greenways Landfill or its legal representatives since his decision to refuse planning permission for development of clay extraction, landfilling and restoration at Aveley No. 3 pit; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what were the reasons for his decision to refuse planning permission for development of clay extraction. landfilling and restoration at Aveley No. 3 pit submitted by Greenways Landfill; and if he will make a statement;

(3) who are the representatives of Greenways Landfill that his officials have met since his decision to refuse planning permission for development of clay extraction, landfilling and restoration at Aveley No. 3 pit; and if he will make a statement;

(4) on what occasions his Department's officials, or legal representatives, have met with Greenways Landfill or its legal representatives since his decision to refuse planning permission for development of clay extraction, landfilling and restoration at Aveley No. 3 pit; and if he will make a statement;

(5) for what purposes his Department's officials or legal representatives have corresponded with Greenways Landfill or its legal representatives since his decision to refuse planning permission for development of clay extraction, landfilling and restoration at Aveley No. 3 pit; and if he will make a statement; (6) if any circumstances have arisen subsequent to his decision to refuse planning permission for development of clay extraction, landfilling and restoration at Aveley No. 3 pit that would cause him to reconsider his decision; and if he will make a statement;


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(7) on what occasion his Department's officials or legal representatives have corresponded with Greenways Landfill or its legal representatives since his decision to refuse planning permission for development of clay extraction, landfilling and restoration at Aveley No. 3 pit; and if he will make a statement.

Sir Paul Beresford: The decision of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to refuse planning permission for clay extraction, landfilling and restoration at Aveley No. 3 pit has been quashed by the High Court following a challenge by the applicants, Greenways Landfill. There has been no contact between my officials and Greenways Landfill since the decision was announced in August 1994, although there has been some discussion between the Treasury Solicitor and Greenways' legal representatives over the handling of the High Court challenge. The application must now be redetermined, and we will be writing to interested parties, including the hon. Member for Thurrock, about the next steps. All material considerations, including any changed circumstances and new representations from the parties, will be taken into account.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many grants under the home energy efficiency scheme were made in the last financial year; and what was the sum of money granted in each case.

Mr. Robert B. Jones [holding answer 10 January 1995]: A total of 270,000 grants were made during 1993 94, with an average value of £153. Before 9 December 1993, a contribution from the householder, to a maximum of £16, was required in each case. Since then, 100 per cent. grants have been available.

Ms Lynne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications for grants under the home energy efficiency scheme were made in the last financial year; and how many of those applications were turned down.

Mr. Robert B. Jones [holding answer 10 January 1995]: Grant in all but a handful of cases--where applicants carry out the work themselves--is paid not to clients but to network installers who have carried out work under the scheme. Inquiries to network installers which do not result in a grant application for work done are not recorded centrally.

TREASURY

Telephone Dialling Codes

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made as to the additional costs which will be incurred by his Departments as a result of the changes in national telephone dialling codes next year; and how much this change will cost his Departments in additional expenditure.

Mr. Nelson: The additional costs to the Treasury and Customs and Excise that will be incurred as a result of the changes to the national dialling codes next year are expected to be negligible. The Inland Revenue estimates the costs for reprogramming its telephone systems and amending its


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major information technology systems to be £38,000 and £332,000 respectively.

Government Administration

Mr. Morgan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 10 January, Official Report , column 9 , if he will list the principal components of the changing split between administrative costs and programme spending; and if he will specify in which year they were accounted for, for the first time in the annual statistics.

Sir George Young: Departmental running costs were first accounted for separately in 1986 87. The main components are:

Civil service pay, travel and subsistence, training etc; current expenditure on accommodation, including rent, rates, utilities (eg water and electricity) and maintenance;

office services including stationery, postage,

telecommunications, computer maintenance, etc;

comparable contracted out services (net of refundable VAT on qualifying service contracts).

EDUCATION

Training

Mrs. Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what measures his Department is taking to encourage the education and training of the long-term unemployed for re-entry into the workplace; and what programmes are available to them;

(2) what measures her Department is taking to encourage the education and training of women for re-entry into the workplace; and what programmes are available to them;

(3) what measures her Department is taking to encourage the education and training of 16 to 25-year-olds for entry into the workplace; and what programmes are available to them.

Mr. Boswell: The Government's policy is to increase participation in further education and attainment at all levels. Within that overall aim, colleges have a high degree of autonomy, and have the freedom to determine how best to meet the needs of their own local communities.

The Further Education Funding Council has devised a funding formula for colleges which enables the provision of free tuition to various low-income groups, including unemployed people.

The participation rate for women in full-time and part-time further education is higher than that for men in all age groups except 18 and 19- year-olds. The council is introducing further measures to improve the access to further education of people with low incomes who have child care responsibilities.

General national vocation qualifications provide vocational education which prepares young people for employment in a range of occupations or for higher education, and which develops a range of core skills. Nearly 250,000 students have registered for GNVQs since the first pilot courses began in 1992.


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Further Education Colleges

Mr. Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will publish the names of the 20 further education colleges described by the Further Education Funding Council as being in financial jeopardy and the 105 where significant adverse variances might limit their ability to deliver their strategic plan and remain financially viable.

Mr. Boswell: The Further Education Funding Council is required to monitor the financial position of the institutions it funds. The council has recently completed a general survey of college strategic plans for the period 1994 97 and published its conclusions on 22 December 1994; I am arranging to place a copy in the Library. Some of the colleges are in better financial health than others. Because the information may be commercially sensitive and its disclosure damage the colleges concerned, the council does not publish its assessment of individual colleges. I am asking the council's chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the current salary of each principal at each incorporated college of further education in England.

Mr. Boswell: This information is not collected by the Department. Further Education Funding Council guidelines on accounting policies recommend that colleges should disclose the emoluments of the principal and other senior postholders in their accounts, which are publicly available.

Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many full- time equivalent students are registered on roll at each incorporated college of further education in England; and how many full-time equivalent students were registered on roll at each college of further education in England at 31 March 1993.

Mr. Boswell: Information on the number of students enrolled in academic year 1992 93 at each college in the further education sector is available in issue No. 2 of "The Statistical Bulletin", titled "Information on Early Student Enrolment Statistics" published by the Further Education Funding Council. A copy is available in the Library. Figures for the current academic year are not yet available.

Assisted Places Scheme

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list in descending order the 50 independent schools which received most money from her Department in the financial year 1993 94 through the operation of the assisted places scheme; the amounts which they received; the numbers of pupils at each school; the number of pupils covered by the assisted places scheme at each school; the proportion of the school roll covered by the assisted places scheme; and the fees charged by each of these schools.

Mr. Robin Squire: The information requested, as collected for the academic year 1993 94, is given in the following table:


Assisted places scheme 1993-94 academic year                                                                                               

                                                                                                       |Fee charged for                    

                               |Amount           |Number of        |Number of        |Percentage       |assisted place                     

School name                    |£000s            |pupils on roll<1>|assisted pupils  |of APs           |holders                            

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dulwich College                |1,288            |1,390            |269              |19.35            |5,832                              

Wisbech Grammar                |1,199            |635              |333              |52.44            |4,124                              

St. Edward's College           |1,131            |993              |398              |40.08            |3,192                              

Emanuel, London SW11           |1,117            |752              |295              |39.23            |4,237                              

Alleyn's, Dulwich              |940              |1,085            |205              |18.89            |5,351                              

Latymer Upper                  |928              |1,057            |278              |26.30            |4,338                              

Royal Grammar, Worcester       |883              |912              |283              |31.03            |4,035                              

Hereford Cathedral             |821              |594              |234              |39.39            |4,080                              

Newcastle Under Lyme           |817              |1,295            |377              |29.11            |3,098                              

Bristol Grammar                |814              |1,221            |280              |22.93            |3,492                              

Queen's Elizabeth's, Blackburn |803              |1,194            |261              |21.86            |3,477                              

Bolton School (Boys)           |798              |1,012            |263              |25.99            |3,960                              

Wolverhampton Grammar          |793              |652              |255              |39.11            |4,020                              

Manchester Grammar             |771              |1,436            |261              |18.18            |3,592                              

Haberdashers' Aske's (Boys)    |770              |1,310            |234              |17.86            |4,899                              

Bolton School (Girls)          |765              |1,164            |256              |21.99            |3,960                              

Wellington, Somerset           |749              |795              |237              |29.81            |3,907                              

St. Mary's College, Crosby     |734              |836              |251              |30.02            |3,339                              

King Edward VI Southampton     |732              |939              |236              |25.13            |4,005                              

Plymouth College               |727              |881              |208              |23.61            |3,840                              

St. Bede's College             |726              |1,115            |220              |19.73            |3,543                              

James Allen's (Girls)          |723              |1,059            |174              |16.43            |5,106                              

King's, Worcester              |698              |946              |179              |18.92            |4,684                              

King Edward's Birmingham       |689              |873              |259              |29.67            |4,023                              

Godolphin and Latymer          |677              |705              |168              |23.83            |5,055                              

William Hulme's Grammar        |665              |788              |220              |27.92            |3,717                              

Liverpool College              |664              |970              |183              |18.87            |3,767                              

Bradford Grammar               |659              |1,106            |230              |20.80            |3,516                              

Batley Grammar                 |639              |579              |257              |44.39            |3,078                              

Brighton College               |631              |467              |115              |24.63            |6,171                              

Colfe's                        |623              |924              |194              |21.00            |4,111                              

Merchant Taylors', Liverpool   |614              |818              |226              |27.63            |3,307                              

Birkenhead High GPDST          |613              |1,008            |243              |24.11            |3,294                              

Malvern College                |610              |827              |97               |11.73            |7,140                              

City of London                 |607              |872              |139              |15.94            |5,234                              

Hampton                        |606              |918              |198              |21.57            |4,127                              

Denstone College               |601              |298              |113              |37.92            |5,970                              

Edgehill College               |601              |561              |141              |25.13            |4,594                              

Bury Grammar (Girls)           |591              |1,098            |251              |22.86            |3,105                              

St. John's College, Southsea   |576              |824              |204              |24.76            |3,224                              

Kingston Grammar               |575              |594              |171              |28.79            |4,380                              

Stockport Grammar              |575              |1,280            |236              |18.44            |3,591                              

Pocklington                    |562              |726              |149              |20.52            |4,267                              

Old Palace, Croydon            |558              |778              |223              |28.66            |3,570                              

Merchant Taylors' (Girls)      |554              |922              |192              |20.82            |3,309                              

King's Macclesfield            |553              |1,168            |173              |14.81            |3,831                              

Trent College                  |549              |655              |131              |20.00            |5,314                              

Trinity-of John Whitgift       |549              |852              |147              |17.25            |4,672                              

Churcher's College             |545              |687              |140              |20.38            |4,545                              

Carmel College                 |539              |219              |82               |37.44            |7,237                              

<1> As at January 1994                                                                                                                     

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much her Department spent on the operation of the assisted places scheme; how many pupils were covered by the scheme; and by how much the assisted places scheme overspent its budget in the financial year 1993 94.

Mr. Robin Squire: There were 29,291 pupils covered by the scheme in September 1993. The final outturn expenditure of £92.3 million for the financial year 1993 94 fell within the estimate provision.

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list in descending order for the


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financial year 1993 94 the 50 independent schools with the highest proportions of their school rolls covered by the assisted places scheme; the proportion of pupils on the school's roll and number of pupils covered by the assisted places scheme; and the fees charged by each of these schools.

Mr. Robin Squire: The information requested, as collected for the academic year 1993 94, is given in the following table:


Assisted places scheme 1993-94 academic year                                                        

                              |Number of    |Number of    |Percentage of|Fee                        

                              |pupils on    |assisted     |APs to       |charged                    

School name                   |roll         |pupils       |total        |for APs                    

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wisbech Grammar               |635          |333          |52.44        |4,124                      

Batley Grammar                |579          |257          |44.39        |3,078                      

St. Edward's College          |993          |398          |40.08        |3,192                      

Hereford Cathedral            |594          |234          |39.39        |4,080                      

Emanuel, London SW11          |752          |295          |39.23        |4,237                      

Wolverhampton Grammar         |652          |255          |39.11        |4,020                      

King Edward VII Lytham        |575          |221          |38.43        |3,024                      

Denstone College              |298          |113          |37.92        |5,970                      

Carmel College                |219          |82           |37.44        |7,237                      

Queen Mary, Lytham            |643          |231          |35.93        |3,024                      

Queen Elizabeth's Hospital    |518          |178          |34.36        |3,653                      

Ursuline High, Ilford         |377          |128          |33.95        |3,804                      

Colston's Girls               |519          |174          |33.53        |3,273                      

St. Joseph's Convent, Reading |392          |130          |33.16        |3,511                      

La Sagesse Convent            |475          |155          |32.63        |3,481                      

Royal Grammar, Worcester      |912          |283          |31.03        |4,035                      

Farnborough Hill              |535          |163          |30.47        |3,903                      

St. Mary's College, Crosby    |836          |251          |30.02        |3,339                      

Hulme Grammar Girls           |628          |188          |29.94        |3,315                      

Red Maids, Bristol            |568          |170          |29.93        |3,543                      

Friends, Saffron Walden       |291          |87           |29.90        |5,580                      

Wellington, Somerset          |795          |237          |29.81        |3,907                      

Maynards                      |549          |163          |29.69        |3,555                      

King Edward's Birmingham      |873          |259          |29.67        |4,023                      

Bristol Cathedral             |482          |142          |29.46        |3,702                      

Newcastle Under Lyme          |1,295        |377          |29.11        |3,098                      

Old Palace, Croydon           |778          |224          |28.79        |3,570                      

Kingston Grammar              |594          |171          |28.79        |4,380                      

Upton Hall Convent            |591          |168          |28.43        |2,541                      

Streatham Hill/Clapham High   |572          |162          |28.32        |3,714                      

Dame Allan's Girls            |460          |129          |28.04        |3,189                      

William Hume's Grammar        |788          |220          |27.92        |3,717                      

Merchant Taylors' Liverpool   |818          |226          |27.63        |3,307                      

Belvedere GPDST               |630          |173          |27.46        |3,294                      

Latymer Upper                 |1,057        |278          |26.30        |4,338                      

Hulme Grammar Boys            |815          |213          |26.13        |3,315                      

Bolton School Boys            |1,012        |263          |25.99        |3,960                      

Bury Grammar Boys             |805          |204          |25.34        |3,105                      

Talbot Heath                  |541          |137          |25.32        |3,991                      

Edgehill College              |561          |141          |25.13        |4,594                      

King Edward VI Southampton    |939          |236          |25.13        |4,005                      

Dame Allan's Boys             |476          |119          |25.00        |3,189                      

King's High Girls, Warwick    |548          |137          |25.00        |3,416                      

King Edward VI High           |545          |136          |24.95        |3,645                      

St. Bees                      |290          |72           |24.83        |6,009                      

St. John's College, Southsea  |824          |204          |24.76        |3,224                      

Brighton College              |467          |115          |24.63        |6,171                      

Magdalen College              |496          |121          |24.40        |4,177                      

Birkenhead High GPDST         |1,008        |243          |24.11        |3,294                      

Godolphin and Latymer         |705          |168          |23.83        |5,055                      

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement indicating the number of independent schools receiving under the assisted places scheme from her Department, more than (a) £1 million, (b) over £750,000, (c) over £500,000 and (d) over £250,000 in payments.

Mr. Robin Squire: The number of schools in each category is (a) 4, (b) 16, (c) 66 and (d) 160.

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment she has made of the impact of the operation of the assisted places scheme in ensuring the continued operation of the independent schools sector.

Mr. Robin Squire: The assisted places scheme is designed to provide an excellent education for able pupils from less well-off families, not to subsidise independent schools, many of which would fill their places without the


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aid of the scheme. It is outstandingly successful in meeting its objective, achieves excellent results, and is more popular than ever with parents.

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the numbers of foreign-based students covered by the assisted places scheme for each financial year since 1981 82 and the total amounts paid to foreign - based students under the operation of the assisted places scheme in each financial year during this period.

Mr. Robin Squire: Figures for the numbers of foreign based students covered by the assisted places scheme are not collected centrally. To be eligible for an assisted place, all pupils must satisfy the conditions as to residence in the British islands or European Community laid down in the Education (Assisted Places) Regulations 1989.


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Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment her Department has made of the average household income of the pupils applying for assistance under the assisted places scheme; and what is the average household income of pupils covered by the assisted places scheme.

Mr. Robin Squire: Information about the household income of pupils applying for assisted places is not collected centrally. Such information is collected only in respect of pupils actually holding assisted places. Parental income for the purposes of the assisted places scheme is assessed on total family income from all sources, gross of all allowances. For school year 1993 94, the latest for which information is available, over 11,800--40 per cent.--assisted pupils were entitled to a completely free place because their families' income fell below the threshold of £9,225 per annum. The average household income of assisted pupils was £10,854. Over 80 per cent. of parents in the scheme have total family income below the national average household income.

Independent Schools

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the number of independent schools operating in England for each financial year since 1975.

Mr. Robin Squire: The information available is given in the following table for January of each calendar year:


            |Number of              

            |independent            

Year        |schools                

------------------------------------

1975        |2,477                  

1976        |2,437                  

1977        |2,400                  

1978        |2,379                  

1979        |2,361                  

1980        |2,348                  

1981        |2,339                  

1982        |2,338                  

1983        |2,344                  

1984        |2,331                  

1985        |2,311                  

1986        |2,285                  

1987        |2,276                  

1988        |2,273                  

1989        |2,269                  

1990        |2,283                  

1991        |2,287                  

1992        |2,269                  

1993        |2,261                  

Note:                               

The numbers relate to England only  

and from 1990 include city          

technology colleges.                

Higher Education Courses

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the ratio of students to lecturers in each higher education subject category and in total for each year since 1988.

Mr. Boswell: Information for the former University Funding Council- funded United Kingdom universities is contained in the publication "University Management Statistics and Performance Indicators in the UK" published by the universities statistical record. Statistics for the higher education institutions formerly funded by the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council for England have been published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England in "Student Staff Ratios in polytechnics and colleges". Copies of both publications are in the House library.

Standard Spending Assessments

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the education component of standard spending assessments per pupil, net of specific grants, in sub-blocks five to 10 and 11 to 15 in (a) 1992 93, (b) 1993 94, (c) 1994 95 and (d) 1995 96 in each local education authority and on average; and what was the percentage change in each local education authority and on average from 1992 93 to the latest year for which figures are available.

Mr. Robin Squire: The information requested is set out in the table. The figures for 1995 96 and hence the percentage changes are provisional since education standard spending assessments for that year have yet to be finalised.

Education SSAs do not equate to spending on schools since they notionally include spending on heads of expenditure which are not delegated to schools, such as transport, special education and related support services.

Variations between LEAs reflect the different costs of providing a common standard of service across the country, taking account of the relative costs of educating children in different circumstances: in sparsely populated areas; in London and the south-east region where labour costs are higher; and in areas of socio-economic disadvantage or with a high proportion of non-English speaking children. The figures are in cash terms. Variations between years will be influenced by changes in local authorities' functions and changes in the SSA methodology.

The balance of funding between the five to 10 and 11 to 15 sub-blocks reflects the latest available data on local authority spending on primary and secondary education and is annually updated to reflect changes in spending patterns.


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Education component of Standard Spending Assessment per pupil, in sub-blocks 5 to 10 and 11 to 15       

                        1992-93           1993-94           1994-95           1995-96                   

                       |5 to 10 |11 to 15|5 to 10 |11 to 15|5 to 10 |11 to 15|5 to 10 |11 to 15         

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

City of London         |2,264   |3,306   |3,015   |4,382   |3,133   |4,392   |2,901   |9,069            

Camden                 |2,522   |3,696   |2,724   |3,966   |2,744   |3,850   |2,900   |3,653            

Greenwich              |2,377   |3,480   |2,424   |3,524   |2,583   |3,621   |2,711   |3,595            

Hackney                |2,918   |4,283   |3,126   |4,558   |2,976   |4,180   |3,076   |4,366            

Hammersmith and Fulham |2,593   |3,802   |2,815   |4,101   |2,716   |3,811   |2,904   |3,783            

Islington              |2,701   |3,961   |2,824   |4,114   |2,861   |4,017   |2,888   |3,969            

Kensington and Chelsea |2,611   |3,828   |2,755   |4,011   |2,645   |3,710   |2,852   |4,077            

Lambeth                |2,950   |4,331   |3,084   |4,497   |2,886   |4,052   |3,066   |4,470            

Lewisham               |2,537   |3,718   |2,637   |3,837   |2,685   |3,766   |2,777   |3,787            

Southwark              |2,695   |3,953   |2,789   |4,062   |2,805   |3,937   |2,947   |4,097            

Tower Hamlets          |2,986   |4,385   |3,035   |4,425   |2,975   |4,178   |3,035   |4,041            

Wandsworth             |2,562   |3,756   |2,674   |3,892   |2,549   |3,572   |2,683   |3,624            

Westminster            |2,593   |3,802   |2,741   |3,991   |2,622   |3,677   |2,750   |3,643            

Barking and Dagenham   |2,074   |3,034   |2,095   |3,042   |2,219   |3,107   |2,231   |2,955            

Barnet                 |2,069   |3,027   |2,130   |3,094   |2,161   |3,024   |2,197   |2,887            

Bexley                 |1,908   |2,787   |1,972   |2,861   |2,068   |2,893   |2,064   |2,739            

Brent                  |2,458   |3,604   |2,542   |3,701   |2,454   |3,441   |2,500   |3,454            

Bromley                |1,883   |2,750   |1,938   |2,811   |2,039   |2,851   |2,013   |2,682            

Croydon                |2,097   |3,068   |2,143   |3,112   |2,202   |3,083   |2,243   |3,055            

Ealing                 |2,294   |3,360   |2,398   |3,488   |2,356   |3,302   |2,350   |3,229            

Enfield                |2,088   |3,054   |2,126   |3,088   |2,208   |3,091   |2,234   |2,945            

Haringey               |2,576   |3,778   |2,670   |3,889   |2,618   |3,674   |2,589   |3,588            

Harrow                 |1,995   |2,916   |2,019   |2,930   |2,110   |2,952   |2,147   |2,903            

Havering               |1,828   |2,668   |1,878   |2,722   |2,057   |2,877   |2,023   |2,691            

Hillingdon             |1,923   |2,809   |1,983   |2,878   |2,120   |2,967   |2,133   |2,843            

Hounslow               |2,134   |3,122   |2,165   |3,145   |2,233   |3,128   |2,260   |2,964            

Kingston upon Thames   |1,917   |2,801   |1,957   |2,839   |2,052   |2,870   |2,064   |2,724            

Merton                 |2,056   |3,007   |2,121   |3,080   |2,163   |3,028   |2,184   |2,909            

Newham                 |2,529   |3,709   |2,586   |3,766   |2,603   |3,653   |2,581   |3,444            

Redbridge              |2,008   |2,936   |2,093   |3,038   |2,172   |3,040   |2,164   |2,892            

Richmond upon Thames   |1,932   |2,823   |1,982   |2,875   |2,001   |2,797   |2,015   |2,639            

Sutton                 |1,902   |2,779   |1,972   |2,860   |2,085   |2,916   |2,093   |2,727            

Waltham Forest         |2,316   |3,393   |2,404   |3,498   |2,440   |3,421   |2,434   |3,266            

Birmingham             |2,072   |3,037   |2,131   |3,101   |2,093   |2,934   |2,083   |2,802            

Coventry               |1,892   |2,769   |1,909   |2,773   |1,948   |2,728   |1,984   |2,652            

Dudley                 |1,700   |2,484   |1,722   |2,498   |1,802   |2,521   |1,813   |2,412            

Sandwell               |1,910   |2,796   |1,960   |2,849   |1,976   |2,768   |1,986   |2,646            

Solihull               |1,721   |2,514   |1,752   |2,542   |1,808   |2,527   |1,798   |2,380            

Walsall                |1,813   |2,652   |1,829   |2,656   |1,881   |2,633   |1,894   |2,505            

Wolverhampton          |2,003   |2,934   |2,030   |2,952   |1,997   |2,798   |1,995   |2,695            

Knowsley               |2,050   |3,003   |2,084   |3,032   |2,201   |3,087   |2,186   |2,991            

Liverpool              |2,061   |3,019   |2,113   |3,075   |2,141   |3,002   |2,110   |2,825            

St. Helens             |1,729   |2,527   |1,750   |2,539   |1,851   |2,590   |1,845   |2,471            

Sefton                 |1,769   |2,586   |1,788   |2,596   |1,879   |2,630   |1,875   |2,496            

Wirral                 |1,869   |2,735   |1,891   |2,746   |1,959   |2,744   |1,948   |2,611            

Bolton                 |1,815   |2,654   |1,863   |2,705   |1,869   |2,616   |1,866   |2,492            

Bury                   |1,681   |2,456   |1,699   |2,464   |1,786   |2,498   |1,813   |2,409            

Manchester             |2,150   |3,153   |2,206   |3,211   |2,214   |3,107   |2,258   |3,077            

Oldham                 |1,877   |2,746   |1,866   |2,709   |1,910   |2,674   |1,919   |2,534            

Rochdale               |1,805   |2,639   |1,863   |2,706   |1,917   |2,684   |1,932   |2,613            

Salford                |1,853   |2,711   |1,919   |2,788   |1,971   |2,762   |1,975   |2,656            

Stockport              |1,669   |2,437   |1,689   |2,449   |1,776   |2,484   |1,775   |2,379            

Tameside               |1,779   |2,601   |1,785   |2,590   |1,827   |2,556   |1,831   |2,432            

Trafford               |1,745   |2,550   |1,758   |2,551   |1,798   |2,515   |1,830   |2,424            

Wigan                  |1,687   |2,464   |1,727   |2,505   |1,814   |2,537   |1,809   |2,395            

Barnsley               |1,765   |2,580   |1,793   |2,602   |1,854   |2,594   |1,869   |2,493            

Doncaster              |1,861   |2,720   |1,905   |2,765   |1,943   |2,717   |1,934   |2,576            

Rotherham              |1,796   |2,625   |1,819   |2,640   |1,856   |2,596   |1,871   |2,466            

Sheffield              |1,815   |2,655   |1,874   |2,722   |1,936   |2,711   |1,922   |2,570            

Bradford               |1,971   |2,885   |2,022   |2,940   |1,993   |2,791   |1,986   |2,683            

Calderdale             |1,808   |2,643   |1,869   |2,714   |1,905   |2,665   |1,896   |2,527            

Kirklees               |1,853   |2,710   |1,914   |2,779   |1,912   |2,675   |1,900   |2,543            

Leeds                  |1,813   |2,652   |1,846   |2,680   |1,868   |2,613   |1,864   |2,484            

Wakefield              |1,761   |2,574   |1,771   |2,569   |1,816   |2,539   |1,825   |2,425            

Gateshead              |1,828   |2,673   |1,886   |2,739   |1,952   |2,733   |1,937   |2,605            

Newcastle upon Tyne    |1,908   |2,792   |1,949   |2,832   |2,012   |2,820   |2,045   |2,722            

North Tyneside         |1,797   |2,628   |1,779   |2,582   |1,828   |2,557   |1,845   |2,486            

South Tyneside         |1,836   |2,685   |1,825   |2,649   |1,923   |2,692   |1,932   |2,592            

Sunderland             |1,805   |2,640   |1,833   |2,661   |1,925   |2,695   |1,919   |2,553            

Isles of Scilly        |3,155   |4,601   |3,140   |4,545   |3,281   |4,570   |3,347   |4,331            

Avon                   |1,728   |2,524   |1,779   |2,582   |1,835   |2,566   |1,838   |2,464            

Bedfordshire           |1,896   |2,772   |1,976   |2,867   |2,011   |2,812   |1,995   |2,668            

Berkshire              |1,855   |2,709   |1,906   |2,764   |1,953   |2,730   |1,988   |2,668            

Buckinghamshire        |1,826   |2,666   |1,890   |2,740   |1,962   |2,741   |1,966   |2,634            

Cambridgeshire         |1,764   |2,576   |1,802   |2,613   |1,847   |2,580   |1,876   |2,512            

Cheshire               |1,703   |2,487   |1,746   |2,532   |1,818   |2,542   |1,817   |2,413            

Cleveland              |1,894   |2,772   |1,908   |2,772   |1,942   |2,719   |1,940   |2,593            

Cornwall               |1,799   |2,627   |1,831   |2,654   |1,878   |2,622   |1,893   |2,525            

Cumbria                |1,763   |2,575   |1,820   |2,639   |1,862   |2,600   |1,856   |2,474            

Derbyshire             |1,706   |2,491   |1,739   |2,522   |1,801   |2,516   |1,812   |2,419            

Devon                  |1,762   |2,574   |1,817   |2,635   |1,865   |2,605   |1,879   |2,510            

Dorset                 |1,714   |2,502   |1,771   |2,569   |1,828   |2,554   |1,833   |2,445            

Durham                 |1,787   |2,611   |1,805   |2,618   |1,879   |2,627   |1,884   |2,516            

East Sussex            |1,825   |2,666   |1,941   |2,816   |1,986   |2,776   |2,000   |2,677            

Essex                  |1,815   |2,650   |1,882   |2,729   |1,972   |2,756   |1,989   |2,646            

Gloucestershire        |1,731   |2,528   |1,772   |2,569   |1,819   |2,541   |1,836   |2,439            

Hampshire              |1,788   |2,611   |1,867   |2,707   |1,929   |2,696   |1,930   |2,586            

Hereford and Worcester |1,712   |2,500   |1,734   |2,513   |1,798   |2,511   |1,827   |2,442            

Hertfordshire          |1,842   |2,689   |1,884   |2,732   |1,970   |2,754   |2,010   |2,667            

Humberside             |1,817   |2,656   |1,849   |2,684   |1,891   |2,644   |1,891   |2,512            

Isle of Wight Council  |1,875   |2,739   |1,940   |2,813   |2,018   |2,819   |2,016   |2,700            

Kent                   |1,807   |2,638   |1,886   |2,734   |1,960   |2,740   |1,968   |2,625            

Lancashire             |1,805   |2,639   |1,822   |2,644   |1,867   |2,611   |1,877   |2,506            

Leicestershire         |1,785   |2,608   |1,821   |2,642   |1,855   |2,593   |1,864   |2,487            

Lincolnshire           |1,809   |2,642   |1,850   |2,682   |1,874   |2,616   |1,873   |2,487            

Norfolk                |1,789   |2,612   |1,815   |2,632   |1,863   |2,601   |1,881   |2,512            

North Yorkshire        |1,738   |2,537   |1,756   |2,544   |1,805   |2,518   |1,827   |2,426            

Northamptonshire       |1,759   |2,569   |1,796   |2,604   |1,823   |2,547   |1,836   |2,458            

Northumberland         |1,743   |2,544   |1,784   |2,587   |1,838   |2,566   |1,825   |2,425            

Nottinghamshire        |1,821   |2,662   |1,851   |2,687   |1,872   |2,618   |1,883   |2,512            

Oxfordshire            |1,798   |2,624   |1,872   |2,714   |1,934   |2,700   |1,934   |2,579            

Shropshire             |1,774   |2,589   |1,811   |2,625   |1,850   |2,583   |1,862   |2,482            

Somerset               |1,745   |2,547   |1,781   |2,582   |1,833   |2,558   |1,846   |2,493            

Staffordshire          |1,704   |2,489   |1,744   |2,528   |1,792   |2,504   |1,805   |2,401            

Suffolk                |1,726   |2,520   |1,762   |2,553   |1,807   |2,522   |1,820   |2,434            

Surrey                 |1,828   |2,667   |1,857   |2,691   |1,921   |2,684   |1,998   |2,693            

Warwickshire           |1,723   |2,516   |1,754   |2,543   |1,801   |2,516   |1,822   |2,436            

West Sussex            |1,766   |2,578   |1,813   |2,628   |1,918   |2,679   |1,932   |2,575            

Wiltshire              |1,750   |2,555   |1,787   |2,590   |1,824   |2,546   |1,835   |2,455            

                                                                                                        

England                |1,873   |2,724   |1,921   |2,775   |1,968   |2,741   |1,981   |2,635            


Percentage change in unit allowances for          

Education SSA between                             

1992-93 and 1995-96                               

                       |5 to 10 |11 to 15         

--------------------------------------------------

City of London         |28.12   |174.34           

Camden                 |14.98   |-1.16            

Greenwich              |14.04   |3.28             

Hackney                |5.43    |1.93             

Hammersmith and Fulham |11.99   |-0.50            

Islington              |6.94    |0.20             

Kensington and Chelsea |9.23    |6.51             

Lambeth                |3.95    |3.20             

Lewisham               |9.48    |1.85             

Southwark              |9.36    |3.65             

Tower Hamlets          |1.63    |-7.86            

Wandsworth             |4.71    |-3.51            

Westminster            |6.06    |-4.18            

Barking and Dagenham   |7.58    |-2.59            

Barnet                 |6.15    |-4.62            

Bexley                 |8.16    |-1.73            

Brent                  |1.68    |-4.17            

Bromley                |6.89    |-2.47            

Croydon                |6.96    |-0.43            

Ealing                 |2.42    |-3.90            

Enfield                |7.03    |-3.56            

Haringey               |0.50    |-5.03            

Harrow                 |7.66    |-0.44            

Havering               |10.86   |0.85             

Hillingdon             |10.93   |1.18             

Hounslow               |5.94    |-5.06            

Kingston upon Thames   |7.66    |-2.74            

Merton                 |6.21    |-3.28            

Newham                 |2.06    |-7.15            

Redbridge              |7.76    |-1.51            

Richmond upon Thames   |4.30    |-6.54            

Sutton                 |10.00   |-1.87            

Waltham Forest         |5.12    |-3.74            

Birmingham             |0.50    |-7.72            

Coventry               |4.83    |-4.23            

Dudley                 |6.62    |-2.92            

Sandwell               |3.94    |-5.39            

Solihull               |4.44    |-5.34            

Walsall                |4.48    |-5.51            

Wolverhampton          |-0.42   |-8.12            

Knowsley               |6.62    |-0.41            

Liverpool              |2.37    |-6.43            

St. Helens             |6.67    |-2.24            

Sefton                 |6.00    |-3.48            

Wirral                 |4.21    |-4.56            

Bolton                 |2.85    |-6.12            

Bury                   |7.84    |-1.91            

Manchester             |4.99    |-2.41            

Oldham                 |2.25    |-7.71            

Rochdale               |7.08    |-1.01            

Salford                |6.55    |-2.04            

Stockport              |6.36    |-2.40            

Tameside               |2.29    |-6.49            

Trafford               |4.90    |-4.95            

Wigan                  |7.26    |-2.81            

Barnsley               |5.90    |-3.39            

Doncaster              |3.95    |-5.29            

Rotherham              |4.21    |-6.07            

Sheffield              |5.86    |-3.20            

Bradford               |0.79    |-7.01            

Calderdale             |4.86    |-4.39            

Kirklees               |2.57    |-6.14            

Leeds                  |2.78    |-6.34            

Wakefield              |3.64    |-5.81            

Gateshead              |5.96    |-2.54            

Newcastle upon Tyne    |7.20    |-2.53            

North Tyneside         |2.67    |-5.40            

South Tyneside         |5.23    |-3.46            

Sunderland             |6.30    |-3.27            

Isles of Scilly        |6.10    |-5.86            

Avon                   |6.38    |-2.35            

Bedfordshire           |5.20    |-3.72            

Berkshire              |7.19    |-1.51            

Buckinghamshire        |7.67    |-1.21            

Cambridgeshire         |6.33    |-2.49            

Cheshire               |6.69    |-2.99            

Cleveland              |2.42    |-6.45            

Cornwall               |5.26    |-3.85            

Cumbria                |5.23    |-3.89            

Derbyshire             |6.23    |-2.89            

Devon                  |6.62    |-2.46            

Dorset                 |6.96    |-2.28            

Durham                 |5.44    |-3.64            

East Sussex            |9.59    |0.39             

Essex                  |9.56    |-0.17            

Gloucestershire        |6.07    |-3.50            

Hampshire              |7.91    |-0.95            

Hereford and Worcester |6.68    |-2.28            

Hertfordshire          |9.10    |-0.83            

Humberside             |4.06    |-5.42            

Isle of Wight Council  |7.53    |-1.42            

Kent                   |8.95    |-0.51            

Lancashire             |3.99    |-5.04            

Leicestershire         |4.43    |-4.67            

Lincolnshire           |3.51    |-5.86            

Norfolk                |5.14    |-3.81            

North Yorkshire        |5.13    |-4.36            

Northamptonshire       |4.38    |-4.33            

Northumberland         |4.70    |-4.67            

Nottinghamshire        |3.39    |-5.66            

Oxfordshire            |7.55    |-1.73            

Shropshire             |5.01    |-4.13            

Somerset               |5.76    |-2.12            

Staffordshire          |5.92    |-3.51            

Suffolk                |5.42    |-3.40            

Surrey                 |9.30    |0.96             

Warwickshire           |5.73    |-3.17            

West Sussex            |9.41    |-0.12            

Wiltshire              |4.82    |-3.92            

                                                  

England                |5.80    |-3.27            

TRANSPORT

New Driving Test

Mr. Robert Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he plans to give to those bodies concerned with the design of vocational training material on the structure and content of the planned theory test associated with the new driving test which will help them in their planning.

Mr. Norris: Last year, the Driving Standards Agency produced guidance about learning to drive lorries for test candidates and their instructors published in the handbook "Your Large Goods Vehicle Driving Test". A companion book for bus and coach drivers will be published in March. The agency will revise this guidance when details of the new theory test have been decided.


Column 230

M11 Link Road

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a detailed breakdown of amounts paid, estimated and contracted to be paid to all the contractors involved with the M11 link road; if he will list all the contractors and the amounts applicable to each of them; and if he will give a summary of the various purposes to which the amounts relate.

Mr. Norris: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 13 January 1995:

Mr. Steven Norris has asked me to write in reply to your Parliamentary Question about payments to contractors for the A12 Hackney Wick to M11 Link Road since these are operational matters for the Highways Agency.

To date, contracts have been entered into in respect of only one of the four main civil engineering contracts and two of the principal subsidiary contracts.

The details are as follows:

Contract No. 4

Purpose: Construction of Link Road from Eastern Avenue to Green Man.

Contractors: Norwest Holst

Tender price £37.081m

Paid to date £12.000m

Estimated final cost £51.135m

Contract No. 1A

Purpose: Construction of Bridge over railway at Temple Mills, Leyton.

Contractor: Christiani and Neilsen

Tender price £2.291m

Paid to date £3.118m

Estimated final cost £3.397m

Contract No. 2B

Purpose: Advance drainage works.

Contractor: J Murphy & Sons Ltd

Tender price £4.141m

Paid to date £89,061m

Estimated final cost £8.323m

In addition, we have reimbursed London Underground, British Rail and statutory undertakers their costs, including those of employing contractors, for work on or diversion of their services made necessary by the Link Road.

These details are as follows:

Contract No. 2A

Purpose: Work to Railway Bridge No 230 at Dyers Hall Road. SUs British Rail and London Underground.

Estimate £2.3m

Paid £2.69m

Estimated final cost £3.354m

We have paid £2.060m of a total estimate of £8.065m to London Underground and British Rail in respect of other works to their installations, and the other statutory undertakes (the providers of gas, water, electricity and telephone services) have received £4.947m of a total estimate of current work of £15.454m in connection with all the Link Road works except main contracts numbers 1 and 3. A one-off contract was let to an completed by John Lelliott (E) Ltd for the refurbishment of accommodation in Leytonstone House Hospital so that patients could be relocated within the site, away from that part affected by the Link Road. The estimate for these works was £550.000 which is also the sum now paid.

We have three contractors who are paid at agreed rates for various works done such as demolition and securing property. £1.94m has been paid to date.


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