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EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Jobseeker's Allowance
Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if a claimant issued with jobseeker's direction to attend an employment or training programme will suffer benefit sanction if (a) he leaves the programme early and (b) is asked to leave by reason of misconduct. [27104]
Mr. Forth [holding answer 29 April 1996]: The only employment programmes and training schemes in connection with which claimants will normally receive a benefit sanction if they leave early without good cause or as a result of misconduct will be those prescribed for the purposes of section 19 of the Jobseeekers Act 1995. These are jobplan workshops, 1-2-1, workwise, restart courses and, in two pilot areas, project work. However, it may on occasion be appropriate to give an individual a jobseeker's direction to take up a place on a non-prescribed programme to which sanctions will not normally be applicable. Such a direction would be given only if it were reasonable in the jobseeker's circumstances, if it were given with a view to assisting him to find employment or improving his prospects of being employed, and if other prescribed employment programmes and training programmes were not appropriate. Whether such a claimant received a benefit sanction if he left the programme early or through misconduct, having been directed to attend, would depend on the specific terms of the direction.
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Nursery Voucher Scheme
Mr. Mills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the number of local education authorities which (a) will and (b) will not benefit in (i) financial and (ii) qualitative terms in respect of nursery education from her nursery voucher proposals. [26422]
Mr. Robin Squire: All local education authorities have the opportunity to benefit from extra funding via the nursery education voucher scheme if more four year-olds attend their schools or attend for more terms before compulsory school age; and all LEAs have the opportunity to build upon existing good practice and raise standards in the context of the desirable outcomes for children's learning developed by the School Curriculum Assessment Authority.
Postgraduate Bursary and Studentship Rates
Mr. John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will announce the postgraduate bursary and studentship rates for the academic year 1996-97. [27707]
Mr. Forth: The main maintenance rates under the Department's own postgraduate awards scheme for certain professional and vocational courses in the academic year 1996-97 will be as follows (1995-96 rates are shown in brackets):
| 1996-97 | |
|---|---|
| £ | |
| Bursaries | |
| London | 3,460 (3,375) |
| Elsewhere | 2,735 (2,665) |
| Parental home | 2,065 (2,015) |
| Studentships | |
| London | 5,845 (5,695) |
| Elsewhere | 4,645 (4,525) |
| Parental Home | 3,420 (3,335) |
These represent increases of 2.6 per cent. on the current year's rates. The relevant supplementary allowances will be increased broadly in line.
Investors in People
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many small firms (a) are
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currently participating in investors in people and (b) have achieved the standard (i) in total and (ii) in each parliamentary constituency. [27008]
Mr. Paice [holding answer 29 April 1996]: At 29 February 1996, a total of 13,987 small firms in the UK--that is those employing fewer than 200 employees--had made a formal commitment to achieve the investors in people standard; 2,385 small firms are already recognised as having achieved the standard. This gives a total of 16,372 small firms participating in investors in people.
| Region | Commitments | Recognitions |
|---|---|---|
| East Midlands | 1,315 | 150 |
| Eastern | 1,248 | 110 |
| London | 1,926 | 142 |
| Merseyside | 424 | 102 |
| North West | 1,923 | 246 |
| Northern | 472 | 126 |
| South East | 1,837 | 219 |
| South West | 1,280 | 380 |
| West Midlands | 1,305 | 252 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 1,089 | 217 |
| Wales | 633 | 145 |
| Scotland | 457 | 203 |
| Northern Ireland | 61 | 25 |
Dental Services
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps are being taken by her Department to develop postgraduate training and continuing medical education in dentistry; and if she will make a statement. [26992]
Mr. Malone: I have been asked to reply.
Since October 1993, it has been a requirement that all new graduates who wish to enter the general dental services take part in one year's vocational training. The continuing professional development of the 18,500 dentists who provide general dental services is organised by dental postgraduate deans and directors. Subject to certain conditions, GDS dentists who attend courses approved by postgraduate deans and directors may claim a postgraduate education allowance for up to two courses per financial year.
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Shipping (English Language)
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what factors underlay his decision not to require that passenger and freight ships operating in British waters should use English as a single designated working language. [26296]
Mr. Norris: Our legislation requires that crews on passenger ships on domestic services understand English or that there are adequate arrangements for transmitting orders in a language they understand. Further legislation is being considered, for all UK ships and all other passenger ships operating to or from the UK, requiring effective oral communication between all crew members and adequate means of communication, in the English language, between the ship and shore-based authorities. The ability of crew members to communicate effectively with each other is already monitored by the Marine Safety Agency.
Many ships which operate in UK waters do not call at UK ports, and international action is, therefore, also needed. The revised international convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers, which will be implemented by 1 February 1997, builds on existing international standards and requires every master, mate and officer in charge of watchkeeping on a vessel of 500 gross tonnes and over to have an adequate knowledge of the English language to communicate with other ships and with coast stations.
Aviation Standards
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the countries that have been visited by (a) his Department and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority to assess that country's compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards; and if he will make a statement. [26753]
Mr. Norris: At the Department's request, the CAA visited Belgrade in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1995 and Bulgaria earlier this year. We have increased the Department's budget to allow for about three such visits this financial year.
Visits to assess compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation--ICAO--standards can be arranged only with the agreement of the foreign aviation authority concerned. The need for the UK to arrange such a visit will depend on whether assessments have been, or are being, undertaken in the country concerned by other organisations, such as the Joint Aviation Authorities. In addition, ICAO, has recently launched its own assessment programme. The Department is paying for CAA inspectors to join ICAO teams to visit a number of countries later this year; the details have yet to be finalised.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of inspections which have been undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority in (a) Jamaica, (b) Colombia, (c) Dominican Republic, (d) Gambia, (e) Peru, (f) Philippines, (g) Poland, (h) Swaziland, (i) Trinidad and Tobago, (j) Turkey,
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(k) Uruguay, (l) Venezuela, (m) Zaire and (n) Zimbabwe. [26752]
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the United Kingdom airports serviced by airlines flying to or from (a) Jamaica, (b) Colombia, (c) the Dominican Republic, (d) Gambia, (e) Peru, (f) the Philippines, (g) Poland, (h) Swaziland, (i) Trinidad and Tobago, (j) Turkey, (k) Uruguay, (l) Venezuela, (m) Zaire and (n) Zimbabwe. [26752]
Mr. Norris:
The United Kingdom airports currently serviced by airlines flying to or from those countries are listed in the table. In addition, charter services may operate from UK airports to those countries on an ad-hoc basis, as and when applications are made.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the consultations being undertaken by (a) his Department and (b) the CAA with (i) Jamaica, (ii) Colombia, (iii) the Dominican Republic, (iv) Gambia, (v) Peru, (vi) the Phillippines, (vii) Poland, (viii) Swaziland, (ix) Trinidad and Tobago, (x) Turkey, (xi) Uruguay, (xii) Venezuela, (xiii) Zaire and (xiv) Zimbabwe concerning the commencement or increase in flights to and from the United Kingdom. [26751]
(a) Jamaica
London Heathrow (Air Jamaica), London Gatwick (British Airways)
(b) Colombia
London Heathrow (British Airways)
(c) The Dominican Republic
None
(d) Gambia
None
(e) Peru
None
(f) the Philippines
London Heathrow (British Airways), London Gatwick (Philippine Airlines)
(g) Poland
London Heathrow (British Airways, British Midland and LOT Polish Airlines)
(h) Swaziland
None
(i) Trinidad and Tobago
London Heathrow (BWIA, British West Indies Airways)
(j) Turkey
London Heathrow (British Airways and THY Turkish Airlines), London Gatwick (British Airways), London Stansted (THY Turkish Airlines)
(k) Uruguay
None
(l) Venezuela
London Heathrow (British Airways and Viasa)
(m) Zaire
None
(n) Zimbabwe
London Gatwick (British Airways and Air Zimbabwe).
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Mr. Norris: Air service negotiations undertaken by the Department of Transport with these countries are listed in the table. A representative from the CAA is usually present at such negotiations.
(i) Jamaica
Negotiations were held on 24 to 26 January 1996 and it is expected that a further round will be held later this year.
(ii) Colombia
Negotiations were held in September 1995. No talks are currently planned.
(iii) The Dominican Republic
Negotiations were held in 1951. No talks are currently planned.
(iv) Gambia
Negotiations were held in February 1992. No talks are currently planned.
(v) Peru
Negotiations were held in 1969. No talks are currently planned.
(vi) the Philippines
Negotiations were held on 7 to 8 March 1996 and it is anticipated that a further round will be held later this year.
(vii) Poland
Negotiations were held in January 1995. No talks are currently planned.
(viii) Swaziland
We have no record of negotiations with Swaziland and none are currently planned.
(ix) Trinidad and Tobago
Negotiations were held in December 1987. No talks are currently planned.
(x) Turkey
Negotiations were held in June 1992. No talks are currently planned.
(xi) Uruguay
Negotiations were held in 1970. No talks are currently planned.
(xii) Venezuela
Negotiations were held in March 1992. No talks are currently planned.
(xiii) Zaire
Negotiations were held in 1974. No talks are currently planned.
(xiv) Zimbabwe
Negotiations were held in July 1989. No talks are currently planned.
Mr. Norris: My reply to the hon. Lady on 7 March 1996, Official Report, column 309, set out our procedures for checking that foreign aircraft operating in the UK comply with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
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