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Sir John Wheeler: The Department of Finance and Personnel had issued guidance to all Northern Ireland Departments and agencies in respect of the recruitment and appointment of non-permanent employees to the Northern Ireland civil service, covering entry requirements in relation to age, nationality, health, character, knowledge and ability; procedures for vetting; and the implementation of the policy of selection on merit in fair and open competition.
Recruitment to the home civil service in the Northern Ireland Office is subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Order in Council 1991, under which staff whose employment will not exceed 12 months, are exempt from selection on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. No specific guidance is produced for such appointments, subject to checks as appropriate in relation to age, education, nationality, health and character.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what positions in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which his Department is responsible are filled by employees who are employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration
Sir John Wheeler: Employees on temporary contracts are not generally offered employment for a specific period but are retained for as long as required, which in most cases is for 51 weeks. The posts concerned are as follows:
(a) 51 weeks |(b) Less than
|51 weeks
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NI Departments and the NI Office
Casual Veterinary Officer |<1>Industrial Forest
| Worker
Casual Assistant Accommodation Manager |<1>Industrial Farm
| Worker
Casual Typist
Sandwich Course Student
Casual Brucella Tester
Casual Administrative Assistant |Vacation Student
Casual Fisheries Officer II
Casual Assistant Scientific Officer
Support Grade 2
Casual Imports Inspector
Casual Assistant Librarian
Casual Food Technologist
Telephonist
Computer Programme Administrative
Officer
Casual Scientific Officer
Grade IV Short Term Relief Environment
Service
Legal Assistant
Agencies
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Officer
Instructional Officer 1
Support Grade 2
Telephonist
Security Guard
<1> (Contract for maximum of 12 weeks).
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the full terms of employment as specified to employees in his Department and all executive agencies for which he is responsible who are employed on a temporary contract of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks' duration.
Sir John Wheeler: The information has been placed in the Library.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for this year and each of the past five years, how many employees in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which his Department is responsible who have been employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks' duration are re-employed in the same or similar position at a later date.
Sir John Wheeler: This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate costs.
Ms. Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people he expects to employ in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which he is responsible on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks' duration in the next three years, in each case specifying the number of employees who had previously been employed in a similar position on the same contract.
Sir John Wheeler: The Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office, including agencies, employ staff on temporary contracts of up to 51 weeks in order to alleviate the difficulties caused by staff shortages through periods of maternity leave, special leave, long-term illness and special exercises which may arise periodically.
It is not therefore possible to estimate reliable figures of staff who will be employed on such temporary contracts in the next three years.
EDUCATION
University Admissions
Mr. Walden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the proportion of pupils from state schools in the total intake of Oxford and Cambridge universities in (a) 1979, (b) 1985 and (c) 1993 (i) in total, (ii) excluding pupils from selective grammar schools in the state sector and (iii) excluding pupils from selective grammar schools in the state sector and grant maintained schools were applicable.
Mr. Boswell: Detailed information on admissions to individual universities is not collected centrally. It is for each university to decide its own criteria for the admission of students. I understand that the admissions offices of both universities do produce annual statistics along these lines and my hon. Friend might care to speak to them directly.
English Language Teachers
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teachers in England are teaching English as a second language in public sector schools; and if he will make a statement.
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Mr. Robin Squire: In January 1992, the most recent date for which figures are available, there were approximately 900 teachers in maintained secondary schools in England who had timetabled teaching assignments in English as a second language. No figures are available for the number of teachers involved in teaching English as a second language outside the usual timetable or in primary schools.
College Funding
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what regulations apply to further education councils in respect of the funding of colleges.
Mr. Boswell: Under the terms of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, the Further Education Funding Council for England has a duty to secure the provision for the population of its area of sufficient facilities for the full-time further education of 16-to-18 year olds. It also has a statutory duty to secure the provision of adequate facilities for part-time further education of those over 16, and full-time further education of those over 18, and to have regard to the requirements of persons with learning difficulties. Under the Act, the council may give financial support to the governing body of any institution within the further education sector in respect of the provision of facilities for further education. The Secretary of State may make grants to the council subject to such terms and conditions as she may determine.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what procedure is set down for colleges when trying to appeal against a decision of the Further Education Funding Council; (2) what criteria the Further Education Funding Council follows in deciding the amount of funding for each college;
(3) what is the average percentage, per pupil, of funding given to colleges in the West Midlands area;
(4) if the Further Education Funding Council takes into account inflation, (a) for the college itself and (b) in respect of its effect on the parents, students and local community when deciding what percentage of the cost of study to fund.
Mr. Boswell: Details of the allocation of funding to colleges are matters for the Further Education Funding Council. I am therefore asking the council's chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Temporary Contracts
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many employees in (i) her Department and (ii) all executive agencies supervised by her Department have been employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration for this year and each of the past five years, in each case specifying what percentage of the respective total workforce these employees constituted.
Mr. Boswell: The number of full-time equivalent staff employed on temporary contracts covering periods up to 12 months was:
|Per cent. |Per cent.
|DFE |of total |TPA |of total
------------------------------------------------------------
1989-1990 |41 |1.6 |- |-
1990-1991 |29 |1.1 |- |-
1991-1992 |32 |1.2 |- |-
1992-1993 |80 |3.3 |6 |2.0
1993-1994 |71 |3.9 |10 |3.1
1994-1995 |85 |4.8 |17 |5.0
The Teachers' Pensions Agency was established on 1 April 1992.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance has been issued in respect of the recruitment and appointment of non-permanent employees in (i) her Department and (ii) all executive agencies supervised by her Department.
Mr. Boswell: Recruitment and appointment to the Department and to the Teachers' Pensions Agency follows the principal recruitment rules set out in the civil service management code and in the Civil Service Order in Council.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what positions in (i) her Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which her Department is responsible are filled by employees who are employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration.
Mr. Boswell: The number of full-time equivalent staff currently employed on temporary contracts covering periods up to 12 months by grade are:
|DFE|TPA
-------------------------------
Grade 7 |0 |0
HEO and equivalent |1 |0
EO and equivalent |7 |0
AO and equivalent |23 |0
AA and equivalent |34 |13
Total |65 |13
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will publish the full terms of employment as specified to employees in her Department and all executive agencies for which she is responsible who are employed on a temporary contract of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration.
Mr. Boswell: I will write to the hon. Member, sending her a copy of the Department's standard letter of appointment and schedule for casual staff.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for this year and each of the past five years, how many employees in (i) her Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which her Department is responsible who have been employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration are re-employed in the same or similar positions at a later date.
Mr. Boswell: The full information is not available. However, of the current temporary employees on contracts covering periods up to 12 months, six have been previously employed on temporary contracts.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State, how many people she expects to employ in (i) her Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which she is responsible on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks or (b) less than 51 weeks duration in the next three years, in each case specifying the number of employees who had previously been employed in a similar position on the same contract.
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Mr. Boswell: The estimated number of full-time equivalent staff expected to be employed over the next three years on temporary contracts covering periods up to 12 months are:
|DFE|TPA
----------------------
1995-1996 |18 |10
1996-1997 |18 |10
1997-1998 |18 |10
It is not possible to predict the number of employees likely to be re- employed.
Schools Funding
Mr. Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list the aggregate special purposes grant--VAT--paid to grant- maintained schools for each of (a) 1991 92, (b) 1992 93, (c) 1993 94 and (d) 1994 95.
Mr. Robin Squire: This information is now held by the Funding Agency for Schools. I have asked the chairman of the funding agency to write to the hon. Member.
Mr. Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will place in the Library a copy of the independent consultants' study into grant-maintained school spending on VAT made to inform her Department on the level of grant for 1994 95.
Mr. Robin Squire: No. It would not be normal practice to publish reports commissioned to advise Ministers and Government.
Water and Sewerage
Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the cost of her Department's expenditure on water and sewerage in (a) the current year and (b) each of the three previous years.
Mr. Boswell: The total expenditure incurred by this Department in respect of water and sewerage to date in the current financial year and in each of the previous three financial years is:
Year |£ ---------------------- 1991-92 |42,376 1992-93 |67,759 1993-94 |44,750 1994-95 |42,922
The figure for 1992 93 includes increased costs incurred pending the consolidation of London based staff into a single headquarters building.
Student Grants
Mr. Galbraith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans she has to ensure that students grants meet the minimum social security income support threshold; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Boswell: The resources available through the grant and loan are adequate for most students. The total resources available in grant and loan are now almost 50 per cent. higher in cash terms and 19 per cent. higher in real terms than in 1989 90, before loans were introduced.
Column 620
Resources will be increased by a further 2.5 per cent. for the 1995 96 academic year.Income support and housing benefit continue to be available to students in certain groups. The access funds, which will once again be increased for 1995 96, can provide additional assistance to full-time students in particular need.
Chess
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what administrative procedures are involved in the transfer of responsibility for chess from her Department to the Department of National Heritage;
(2) what is the chess budget in her Department;
(3) how many civil servants are responsible for chess in her Department.
Mr. Boswell: My right hon. Friend has no policy responsibility for chess. However the Department has for some years given grant to the British Chess Federation towards the cost of its activities, in acknowledgement of the game's perceived educational benefits. For the financial year 1995 96, the Department has offered the British Chess Federation grant of up to £48,500. An estimated 50 hours of official time per annum is spent on matters relating to the payment of grant to the British Chess Federation.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Temporary Contracts
Ms Harman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what position in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which his Department is responsible are filled by employees who are employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks' or (b) less than 51 weeks' duration.
Mr. Horam: Employees on temporary contracts, regardless of duration, are used only where there is a genuine management need to employ people for a short period rather than to make a permanent appointment. These types of appointment are concentrated in the more junior administrative grades or secretarial staff.
Ms Harman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people he expects to employ in(i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which he is responsible on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks' or (b) less than 51 weeks' duration in the next three years, in each case specifying the number of employees who had previously been employed in a similar position on the same contract.
Mr. Horam: In my Department and in the executive agencies, we adopt a policy of staffing on a permanent basis to deal with expected levels of work, and using temporary contracts to cope with unexpected peaks of activity. It is not possible therefore to give meaningful predictions of temporary staffing levels in future years.
Ms Harman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for this year and each of the past five years, how many employees in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies for which his Department is responsible who have been employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks' or (b) less than 51 weeks'
Column 621
duration are re-employed in the same or similar position at a later date.Mr. Horam: (i) The Department and agencies for which I am responsible did not exist in any comparable form before the 1992 election, so figures for earlier years are therefore not available. The figures since 1992 for my Department are:
51 Weeks
1992: 4
1993: 4
1994: 4
1995: 4
Less than 51 Weeks
1992: 7
1993: 8
1994: 5
1995: 1
(ii) The figures since 1992 for the agencies are as follows: Civil Service College
There were no employees on temporary contracts of 51 weeks. For those on contracts of less than 51 weeks, the figures are as follows:
1992: 0
1993: 4
1994: 6
1995: 1
OHS
There were no employees re-employed on contracts of either up to or exactly 51 weeks.
RAS
There were no employees re-employed on temporary contracts of 51 weeks.
For those on contracts of less than 51 weeks, the figures are as follows:
1992: 10
1993: 4
1994: 2
1995: 0
Chessington Computer Centre
There were no employees re-employed on temporary contracts of 51 weeks.
For those on contracts of less than 51 weeks, the figures are as follows:
1992: 2
1993: 0
1994: 0
1995: 0
COI
There were no employees on temporary contracts of 51 weeks. For those on contracts of less than 51 weeks, the figures are as follows:
1992: 18
1993: 11
1994: 2
1995: 0
HMSO
There were no employees re-employed on temporary contracts of either up to or exactly 51 weeks.
Column 622
Ms Harman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many employees in (i) his Department and (ii) all executive agencies supervised by his Department have been employed on temporary contracts of (a) 51 weeks' or (b) less than 51 weeks' duration for this year and each of the past five years, in each case specifying what percentage of the respective total workforce these employees constituted.
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