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Contaminated Land
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy on contaminated land. [34654]
Mr. Soames: My Department has instituted a land quality assessment procedure for all sites being considered or allocated for disposal. In addition, steps are being taken to prioritise the rest of the defence estate for future assessment work. Decontamination of my Department's land is undertaken where there is a significant risk to
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health and safety or the environment, or where land is being sold. In the latter case, decontamination work is generally limited to the removal of ordnance and other contaminants such as chemical warfare agents, radioactive and microbiological materials in respect of which a civilian contractor could not be expected to have the appropriate expertise.Submarine Allowance
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current level of submarine allowance; what changes he plans to make; and if he will make a statement. [34016]
Mr. Soames: Submarine pay is paid to assist in the recruitment and retention of suitable naval personnel into the submarine service. The levels of submarine pay for 1995 96 are between £8.41 and £13.54 per day, depending on rank and responsibilities, for active submarine service. An additional £5.59 or £8.21 per day is paid to senior rate nuclear propulsion watchkeepers. A reserve band of between £8.05 and £10.72 per day is paid to submariners who have a continuing liability for submarine service after three years in a shore appointment. As I announced on 26 June, Official Report , column 503 , my Department is studying the recommendations of the independent review of service career and manpower structures and terms of service, which included a recommendation that a number of additional pay items, including submarine pay, should be assimilated into the basic pay structure. I shall keep the House informed of progress.
Naval Vessels (Running Costs)
Mr. Trotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the latest available annual running costs for each of the classes of vessel currently in service with the Royal Navy. [34232]
Mr. Soames: The 1994 95 figures for the average annual running costs of each class of vessel currently in service with the Royal Navy are given below. These are an average of the annual operating costs of each individual vessel within a class, based on those vessels' activities over the preceding six years.
Class of Vessel |<1>£ million -------------------------------------------------------------------- Resolution Class Submarine |21 Vanguard Class |<2>- Swiftsure Class Submarine |25 Trafalgar Class Submarine |19.5 Invincible Class Carrier |35 Landing Platform Docks |17 Type 22 Frigate (Batch 1) |17 Type 22 Frigate (Batch 2) |19.5 Type 22 Frigate (Batch 3) |15 Type 23 Frigate |15.5 Type 42 Destroyer (Batch 1) |17 Type 42 Destroyer (Batch 2) |17.5 Type 42 Destroyer (Batch 3) |17 Hunt Class MCMV |3.5 Sandown Class MCMV |2.5 Castle Class Offshore Patrol Vessel |3 Island Class Offshore Patrol Vessel |3 Hong Kong Patrol Craft |1 River Class Patrol Craft |1 Coastal Training Craft |0.5 Royal Yacht |10 Ice Patrol Ship |6.5 Ocean Survey Vessels |6 Coastal Survey Vessels |3 Notes: <1> Figures rounded to nearest half million. <2> Figures not available for VANGUARD Class.
Nimrod (Loss)
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his assessment of the impact on United Kingdom defence capability of the recent loss of a Nimrod R.1 aircraft; what plans he has to replace the aircraft; and what is the estimated cost. [35644]
Mr. Soames: The Nimrod R aircraft which was lost in the Moray firth on 16 May was one of a fleet of three aircraft which provide the UK with an airborne reconnaissance capability, the details of which are classified. The potential loss of capability resulting from the crash is being managed by adjusting the maintenance programme of the remaining two aircraft. Whilst there will therefore be no immediate effect on the United Kingdom defence capability, it is important that the aircraft is replaced as soon as possible. Our plans are to retrieve a reserve Nimrod airframe from storage and have it converted to the reconnaissance role. Contractual negotiations for this work are under way, therefore details of costs are at present commercially sensitive.
Nuclear Submarine Decommissioning (Workshop)
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel from his Department, and of what grades, participated in the NATO advanced research workshop on nuclear submarine decommissioning held in Moscow from 19 to 22 June; and if he will make a statement on the impact of the workshop on the development of his policy on storage and disposal of decommissioned nuclear submarines. [35629]
Mr. Arbuthnot: No Ministry of Defence personnel attended this NATO workshop. Our policy remains that decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines are stored safely afloat at a suitable berth, pending eventual disposal.
Legislative Plans
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legislation he plans to introduce; and if he will make a statement. [35308]
Mr. Soames: The Government's plans for legislation will be announced in the Queen's Speech at the start of the 1995 96 Session.
Rapid Reaction Force (Insurance)
Mr. Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made for insurance facilities for members of the armed forces currently serving with the rapid reaction force in Bosnia. [34811]
Mr. Soames: In addition to the cover given to all personnel as members of the armed forces pension scheme, the following insurance facilities are available to service men serving with the rapid reaction force in Bosnia. Personnel are able to enrol in PAX+ personal
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accident insurance in theatre. Also available are the forces safeguard life insurance scheme and membership of the relevant dependants fund appropriate to their particular branch of the services; these are available in theatre. Prior to embarcation or deployment, and throughout their service career, all personnel are thoroughly briefed on the availability and advisability of taking out life, personal accident and kit cover.Mr. Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made for insurance facilities for the families of members of the armed forces currently serving with the rapid reaction force in Bosnia. [34812]
Mr. Soames: All members of the armed forces, including those serving with the rapid reaction force in Bosnia, are able to obtain personal accident and optional life insurance cover for themselves and their families by enrolling in the PAX+ personal accident insurance scheme. It is a matter for individual service personnel as to whether they take out family insurance and, if so what company, policy and level of cover they choose.
Mr. Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities for insurance arrangements, through PAX+ insurance he is making available to members of the armed forces currently serving with the rapid reaction force in Bosnia. [34813]
Mr. Soames: Like other members of the armed force,s those serving with the paid reaction force in Bosnia can obtain insurance within the PAX+ scheme. The facility to enrol in this scheme is available in theatre. PAX+ provides cover 365 days a year, 24 hours a day whether on or off duty. This scheme, started in 1989, gives a range of benefits covering both death and disability as a result of an accident with the level of cover dependent on the number of units purchased by the service person. PAX+ was set up specifically for service personnel and gives cover for military service up to and including general war. The MOD will refund a proportion of a life premium loading for hazardous duties.
Uranium Projectiles (Eskmeals and Kirkcudbirght)
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received the environmental impact assessment on the trials of depleted uranium projectiles at Eskmeals and Kirkcudbright announced on 1 July 1993. [35819]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The report was received by my officials from the contractor, W. S. Atkins Environment, on 20 January 1995. I have today arranged for a copy of the full report, together with the MOD's response to its findings and recommendations, to be placed in the House of Commons Library.
Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the formation of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency; and what targets he has set for the Agency for 1995 96. [35820]
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Mr. Arbuthnot: The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, was launched as a trading fund on 1 April 1995, and is an enlargement of the former Defence Research Agency, DRA. It remains a defence agency headed by a chief executive who derives his authority from, and is directly accountable to, the Secretary of State for Defence. Its aim is to provide independent, high quality, efficient and cost effective advice and support for its customers, primarily within the MOD. DERA personnel remain civil servants.
The DERA comprises all the MOD's major non-nuclear evaluation and research organisations, in particular those establishments listed below, together with the existing DRA organisation and certain smaller scientific units:
The Director General of Test and Evaluation
The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down The Defence Operational Analysis Centre, West Byfleet
The Centre for Human Sciences
The British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre
The DERA is structured as four operating divisions, supported by a number of service sectors:
The Centre for Defence Analysis
The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment
The Defence Research Agency
The Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation
The Secretary of State for Defence invited John Chisholm to continue as chief executive of the enlarged agency until his present contract expires in 1996.
The targets set for the DERA in 1995 96 are as follows:
(a) To meet profit and cash targets consistent with an average 6 per cent. return in capital employment over a period of three years, the target for 1995 96 being 4.7 per cent.
(b) To achieve divisional utilisation of 68 per cent. in DRA, 49 per cent. in DTEO, 61 per cent. in CBDE, 67 per cent. in CDA and 57 per cent. for the DERA overall.
(c) To achieve on time divisional milestone delivery of 85 per cent. in DRA, 80 per cent. in DTEO and 90 per cent. in CBDE and CDA. (d) From the December DRA 1994 customer survey baseline, while maintaining an overall level of performance at 22 per cent. above average, to improve quality and project management from 4.8 per cent. and 12 per cent. above average to 15 per cent. above average and to conduct similar surveys in DTEO, CDA and CBDE.
(e) To improve scientific quality in the DRA, as measured by the external assessment of the MOD's corporate research programme, by 2 per cent. and to produce similar measures for CBDE and CDA. (f) To meet by 31 March 1996 all the 1995 96 rationalisation project milestones.
(g) To achieve a non-MOD income of £98 million in 1995 96. (h) To achieve formal quality certification to ISO 9000 for an additional five DRA sectors and two DERA service sectors by 31 March 1996.
(i) To have implemented the reward management review project processes in DRA and CDA by 31 October 1995.
(j) To complete by 30 September 1995, a strategic review of all DERA business and project support functions making an assessment of the scope to introduce private capital, outsourcing and market testing and to publish this as part of the corporate plan.
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BMARC
Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) pursuant to his answers of 4 April, Official Report , column 1097 , and 19 June, if he will list the companies other than Astra/BMARC to which the documents discovered on 16 June referred; [30225] (2) on what date he was informed by his Department's police that further documents have been found relating to BMARC and Astra plc; whether these documents included sales documentation of arms exports by BMARC and Astra; and if he will make a statement. [30049]
Mr. Soames [holding answer 22 June 1995]: The documents and files were seized by the Ministry of Defence police, MDP, pursuant to powers given by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. In the case of Marcel (1992 Ch. 225), the Court of Appeal decided that where documents were seized by the police under those powers, the police owed a private law duty of confidence to the owners of the documents and that this private law duty had the effect that no further disclosure of the documents by the police was permitted unless the disclosure was for a purpose contemplated by the 1984 Act, or was necessary in the public interest. The Department has received legal advice that the same principles apply to a description of the documents by categories. Having regard to that advice I do not propose to list or describe the documents seized by the Ministry of Defence police.
A re-sort of the seized property store, expedited by the deputy chief constable of the MOD police, has accounted for all schedules of documents seized from the Astra group of companies by the MDP during the course of corruption investigations involving those companies. All Astra company documents have been returned to the liquidators; other documents belonging to other owners have been or are shortly to be returned to their rightful owners. No papers have been or are being destroyed by MOD police.
Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list under convenient headings the categories of documents and files taken by the staff of his Department from Astra plc or any of its subsidiaries between 1 January 1989 and 31 December 1991; and which of them have been (a) retained and (b) destroyed; [30101] (2) what information he has on the whereabouts of documents relating to the Paveway bomb, as referred to in the minutes of BMARC on 2 November 1988. [30113]
Mr. Soames [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The documents and files were seized by the Ministry of Defence police, MDP, pursuant to powers given by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. In the case of Marcel (1992 Ch. 225), the Court of Appeal decided that where documents were seized by the police under those powers, the police owed a private law duty of confidence to the owners of the documents, and that this private law duty had the effect that no further disclosure of the documents by the police was permitted unless the disclosure was for a purpose contemplated by the 1984 Act, or was necessary in the public interest. The Department has received legal advice that the same principles apply to a description of the documents by
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categories. Having regard to that advice I do not propose to list or describe the documents seized by the Ministry of Defence police. A re-sort of the seized property store, expedited by the deputy chief constable of the MDP police, has accounted for all schedules of documents seized from the Astra group of companies by the MOD during the course of corruption investigations involving those companies. All Astra company documents have been returned to the liquidators; other documents belonging to other owners have been or are shortly to be returned to their rightful owners. No papers have been or are being destroyed by MOD police.Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those occasions on which Ministers were in contact with Ministry of Defence police concerning the affairs of Astra plc between 1989 and 1991, naming the Minister in each case. [30109]
Mr. Soames [holding answer 27 June 1995]: So far as is known, there are none.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who was the person directly responsible for losing the BMARC documents which were found on Saturday 17 June; and who rediscovered them. [30610]
Mr. Soames [holding answer 29 June 1995]: An inquiry has been initiated by the Deputy Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police into the separation by MDP in its property store of documents relating to its investigations into the Astra group of companies. I shall write to the hon. Member when the report is finalised.
Ministry of Defence Police
Mr. Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which Minister in his Department had responsibility for the Ministry of Defence police on 27 January 1993. [30104]
Mr. Soames [holding answer 27 June 1995]: The Ministry of Defence police is an independent police force with full constabulary powers operating under the Ministry of Defence Police Act 1987. The responsibility of the Secretary of State is limited to his general superintendence of MDP under the Act and through the mechanisms of the MOD police committee, delegated to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, who on 27 January 1993 was my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Sir A. Hamilton).
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Training
Mr. Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the results from the training for working leavers survey for the period September 1993 to August 1994 or most recent 12 months for each training and enterprise council area in England and Wales and each local enterprise company area in Scotland broken down to show the number and proportion of leavers who (a) had been entered for a vocational qualification, (b) had obtained a vocational qualification, (c) had failed to obtain a vocational qualification and (d) were awaiting their results; what was the number and proportion of training for work leavers who six months after leaving were (i) in a
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full-time job with their work experience employer, (ii) in a full-time job with another employer, (iii) employed in their own business, (iv) in a part-time job, (v) in voluntary work, (vi) on another Government training programme, (vii) on a full-time education or training course, (viii) unemployed and claiming benefit, (ix) unemployed and not claiming benefit, (x) in a jobclub and (xi) doing something else; what was the number and proportion of training for work leavers who had completed the training agreed in their initial action plan; and if she will make a statement; [34054](2) what were the results of the YT leavers survey for the period September 1993 to August 1994 or the most recent 12 months for each TEC area in England and Wales and each LEC area in Scotland broken down to show the number and proportion of YT leavers who (a) were in full-time work with the same employer, (b) were in full-time work with a different employer, (c) were in part-time work, (d) were on a full-time course at a college/training centre, (e) were on another YT scheme, (f) were doing something else, (g) were unemployed and (h) had obtained a vocational qualification; what was (i) the number of questionnaires issued, (ii) the usable percentage response rate and (iii) the percentage of respondents who were early leavers; and if she will make a statement; [34057] (3) what were the results from the training for work leavers survey on the number and level of NVQs and SVQs gained by people leaving training for work for the period September 1993 to August 1994 or the most recent 12 months, for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, for all leavers, and by ethnic group, disability and gender; and if she will make a statement; [34059]
(4) what were the results of the YT leavers survey for the period September 1993 to August 1994 or the most recent 12 months for each TEC area in England and Wales and each LEC area in Scotland broken down to show the number and proportion of YT leavers who (a) were in full-time work with the same employer, (b) were in full-time work with a different employer, (c) were in part-time work, (d) were on a full-time course at a college/training centre, (e) were on another YT scheme, (f) were doing something else, (g) were unemployed and (h) had obtained a vocational qualification; if she will list (i) the number of questionnaires issued, (ii) the usable percentage response rate; and (iii) the percentage of respondents who were early leavers; and if she will make a statement; [34055] (5) what were the results from the youth training leavers survey on the number and level of NVQs and SVQs gained by people leaving training for work for the period September 1993 to August 1994 or the most recent 12 months, for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, for all leavers, and by ethnic group, disability and gender; and if she will make a statement; [34058]
(6) what were the results of the training for work leavers survey for each region and for Great Britain as a whole, for the period between September 1993 and August 1994 or the most recent 12 months for all leavers and separately for male and female, for each ethnic group, and for those with a disability or health problem, the number and proportion of training for work leavers who (a) had been entered for a vocational qualification, (b) had obtained a vocational qualification, (c) had failed to obtain a vocational qualification or (d) were awaiting their
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results; what was the number and proportion of training for work leavers who six months after leaving were (i) in a full-time job with their work experience employer, (ii) in a full-time job with another employer, (iii) employed in their own business, (iv) in a part -time job, (v) in voluntary work, (vi) on another Government training programme, (vii) on a full-time education or training course, (viii) unemployed and claiming benefit, (x) in a jobclub and (xi) doing something else; what was the number and proportion of training for work leavers who had completed the training agreed in their initial action plan; and if she will make a statement. [34056]Mr. Paice: As this information is contained in a large number of tables, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library.
World Wide Web
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the work her Department has carried out in the last 12 months in making information about her Department available to the public via the Government world wide web server know as "www. open. gov. uk" and her plans and policies to make additional and new information available electronically on the server in the next 12 months. [34675]
Mr. Robin Squire: The then Department for Education created a site on the Government world web server on 24 April 1995 with the launch of "Superhighways for Education" consultation paper on broadband communications. The site had a brief note on the aims and objectives of the then Department for Education. It will shortly carry departmental press notices and the 1994 schools and colleges performance tables. The jobseekers, parents, further education and higher education charters are available on the citizen's charter unit site. In addition, an announcement on the launch of Socrates, the European Community's new education programme, was placed with a UK educational Internet newsgroup. The Department's policy for future use and business potential is under consideration following the recent merger of the Departments for Education and Employment.
Employment Service
Mr. Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the work of the Employment Service in 1994 95. [36080]
Mrs. Gillian Shephard: I am pleased to announce that the Employment Service achieved excellent results in 1994 95. It placed over 1.87 million unemployed people into work, of whom 29.7 per cent. had been out of work for six months or more. It also exceeded its targets for placing people with disabilities and people in inner cities.
The ES has exceeded all but one of its targets this year giving unemployed people a record level of help. Its results in placing people into work are excellent and it has made steady improvements over the last five years.
The targets agreed for 1995 96 will enable the ES to build on its exceptional results last year, and help yet more unemployed people while preparing for the introduction of jobseeker's allowance.
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These targets include placing 1.9 million unemployed people into jobs, of whom at least 560,500 should be people unemployed for six months or more; and 76,000 should be people with disabilities--the highest total yet.Exclusions (Lincolnshire Schools)
Sir Kenneth Carlisle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the numbers of exclusions from Lincolnshire schools for the most recent year for which data are available, and if she will give the figures of the two previous years. [34830]
Mr. Robin Squire: This information is not held centrally.
Nursery Education
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what steps she is taking to ensure that her plans are listed in her press statement to de-regulate standards in respect of child:adult ratios, premises and equipment are consistent with her policy of maintaining standards as found within the current requirements of the Children Act 1989 and other relevant Acts; [35559]
(2) which of the four bodies listed in her answer of 14 June, Official Report, column 520, as favouring introduction of a voucher scheme for pre- school education, advocated or had consented to her plans for de-regulation as described in her oral statement on 6 July, Official Report, columns 517 19; [35556]
(3) by what means she expects to publicise the de-regulated or lower standards of provision for nursery education and play group provision she announced in her oral statement of 6 July. [35558]
Mr. Robin Squire: My right hon. Friend and the Secretary of State for Health are jointly consulting on whether the existing Children Act guidance on child; adult ratios, premises and equipment remains appropriate for institutions registered to exchange vouchers for pre-school education.
In addition, my right hon. Friends and the Secretary of State for Wales announced on 14 July their intention to consult on a new set of school premises regulations. Those regulations apply to all maintained schools, including maintained nursery schools. They will continue to do so.
All essential health and safety requirements in the current Children Act guidance and school premises regulations will be retained.
None of the written responses to the consultation advocated deregulation, but most of them were received before deregulation became an issue for debate. A number of informal requests were made to deregulate existing requirements on child:adult ratios premises and equipment, planning, and publication of statutory proposals to establish nursery places at maintained schools.
My right hon Friend plans to publish a consultation document on quality assurance shortly.
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what means the relevant proportion of voucher value is assigned to four-year-olds
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attending local authority infant schools to be deducted from the value of parental purchasing power arising from her proposed scheme for financial assistance for four-year-olds. [35557]Mr. Squire: The parents or guardians of all four-year-olds will receive a voucher worth around £1,100 with which to purchase three terms of good-quality pre-school education before compulsory school age if they wish.
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultations she initiated with the 74 bodies listed in her answer to the question of the hon. Member for the City of Durham (Mr. Steinberg), of 7 February, Official Report , columns 145-47 , in respect of her plan announced on 6 July for pre-school provision. [35576]
Mr. Squire: The head of the official task force on under-fives wrote to the majority of the bodies listed on the day of the announcement, requesting their views.
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her oral answer to the hon. Member for Stratford-on -Avon (Mr. Howarth), of 6 July, Official Report , column 522, if the value of the proposed education vouchers will be subject to assessment of income support and family credit. [35605]
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her oral statement of 6 July, Official Report , columns 517-19, on pre-school education, what is the average (a) pupil: adult ratio and (b) pupil: qualified adult ratio in (i) reception classes in primary schools, (ii) nursery classes in primary schools, (iii) nursery schools classes and (iv) playgroups. [34110]
Mr. Squire: The available information is shown in the table.
Pupil: staff ratios in maintained nursery schools and nursery
classes in maintained primary schools in England
January 1994
|Teaching staff<1> |All adult staff<2>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nursery schools |19.4 |8.8
Nursery classes |26.8 |11.7
<1> Includes all qualified teaching staff.
<2> Includes all teaching staff and nursery assistants.
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her oral statement of 6 July, Official Report , columns 517 19, what changes are planned in the training of primary and early years' teachers to take account of the expansion of pre-school provision for all four-year-olds. [35510]
Mr. Squire: My right hon. Friend has no plans to revise the criteria for primary ITT courses set out in DFE circular 14/93. We are currently reviewing targets for intakes to initial teacher training for 1996 97 onwards, and the Teacher Training Agency will take account of the Government's plans for the education of under-fives in carrying out its responsibilities for initial and in-service teacher training.
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Teacher Training
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many places in teacher training for primary and early years' teachers were available in (a) 1990, (b) 1992, (c) 1994 and (d) 1995; and what plans she has for an expansion in places for primary and early years' teachers, following her oral statement of 6 July, Official Report , columns 517 19. [35511]
Mr. Robin Squire: The number of places for primary teachers in England for the years requested is as follows:
|1990 |1992 |1994 |1995
-------------------------------------------------
Intake target |11,313|12,078|12,950|12,115
Actual intake |13,155|16,658|13,713|-
The targets did not distinguish between courses specialising in early years --three to seven--and other primary ITT courses. We are currently considering whether the targets for intakes into initial teacher training courses given to the Teacher Training Agency for 1996 97 onwards need to be revised to take account of new information and policy developments. The agency will take the Government's plans for the education of under-fives into account when allocating student numbers from 1996 97 onwards.
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provision is made in the training of primary and early- years teachers for the study of early child development. [35434]
Mr. Squire: The competences expected of newly-qualified primary teachers are set out in DFE circular 14/93. It is for course providers to determine course content, in order to ensure that newly qualified teachers have the ability to teach effectively and to secure effective learning.
Legislative Plans
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what legislation she plans to introduce; and if she will make a statement. [35309]
Mrs. Gillian Shephard: The Government's plans for legislation will be announced in the Queen's Speech at the start of the 1995 96 Session.
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