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Child Support Assessments
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many child support assessments had been concluded before the 1995-96 financial year; how many were concluded during that year; and how many applications were being processed but had not been concluded at the end of that year. [29022]
Mr. Mitchell: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Hugh Bayley, dated 15 May 1996:
Mr. Frank Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average full maintenance assessment made by the Child Support Agency. [29349]
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support assessments.
In 1993/94 and 1994/95 financial years a total of 456,278 child support assessments were concluded.
The number concluded for financial year 1995/96 is 127,876.
The number of applications that were being processed but had not been concluded at the end of March 1996 is 409,659.
It may be helpful for you to know that this information is regularly updated and copies are placed in the Library.
Mr. Mitchell: Administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.
16 May 1996 : Column: 515
Letter from Miss Ann Chant to Mr. Frank Field, dated 15 may 1996:
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Child Support Agency maintenance assessments.
In cases where the absent parent has earned income the average full maintenance assessment is £38.92. When absent parents on benefit are included the average figure is £23.43. These figures are based on a 5% sample of cases as at 30 November 1995.
I hope you find this helpful.
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Examination Results
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the average point scores (A*=7) for (a) English language, (b) GCSE mathematics and (c) both subjects together of each individual 20th group of (i) all 15-year-olds, (ii) boys only and (iii) girls only, when ranked in each case by their average point scores in each of these subjects, indicating the average point score of each group for all GCSE subjects and its average number GCSE entries per pupil in each case, together with the number of pupils in each group for all such pupils (1) in England, (2) in the local education authority maintained sector, (3) in the grant-maintained sector, (4) in the whole maintained sector and (5) in the independent sector for 1992 and 1995. [28607]
Mr. Paice: The data are contained in a number of tables which will be placed in the Library. The tables for 1992 and 1995 show the average point scores (A*=7) for (a) GCSE English language, (b) GCSE mathematics, (c) both subjects and (d) all GCSEs together of each group (i) of all 15-year-olds, (ii) boys only and (iii) girls only, when ranked in each case by their average point scores in each of these subjects, indicating the average point score of each group for all GCSE subjects and its average number of GCSE entries per pupil in each case, together with the number of pupils in each group for all such pupils (1) in England, (2) in the local education authority maintained sector, (3) in the grant maintained sector, (4) in the whole maintained sector and (5) in the independent sector. For English and mathematics separately there are eight groups, and for both subjects together there are 15 groups.
Grant-maintained Schools
Mr. Booth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the academic performance of children at grant-maintained schools in London. [28967]
Mrs. Gillan: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mr. Deva) on 20 March, Official Report, column 223.
Smoking
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to publicise to children in school the link between smoking and cancer. [29228]
16 May 1996 : Column: 516
Mr. Robin Squire: Education about the harmful effects of tobacco is a statutory requirement as part of national curriculum science. The Department has issued guidance to schools on their contribution towards ensuring pupils are aware of the health risks associated with smoking, and to teachers on addressing smoking within the school curriculum and on their contribution towards ensuring pupils are aware of the health risks associated with smoking, and to teachers on addressing smoking within the school curriculum and on appropriate smoking education materials.
Student Loans Company
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the savings to date the Student Loans Company has made from out-sourcing arrangements with the SHL software computer system, compared with the use of in-house services; and if she will make a statement. [29530]
Mr. Forth: This is a matter for the Student Loans Company. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Unemployment (Merseyside)
Mr. Parry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the measures taken by her Department to assist the unemployed in Merseyside. [29289]
Mr. Forth: In Merseyside, as elsewhere, the Employment Service and training and enterprise councils will continue to deliver a wide range of employment, enterprise and training programmes to help people find the best and quickest route back to employment.
Poverty and Racism
Mr. Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to take up the finance being provided by the European Union for programmes to tackle poverty and racism; and what amount is being offered. [29661]
Mr. Forth: The Government have recently agreed, in conjunction with other member states, the Commission's guidelines for its new EMPLOYMENT-INTEGRA initiative, which is designed to help vulnerable groups to enter the labour market. The UK will receive an additional 43.9 million ecu to support action under that initiative.
PRIME MINISTER
Lichfield
9. Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the effects of the Government's policies on the people of Lichfield. [28487]
The Prime Minister: Lichfield has benefited fully from the Government's policies to provide the foundation for sustainable economic growth and improving living standards.
16 May 1996 : Column: 517
Scott Inquiry
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from Sir Richard Scott, concerning the Government response in the media to the publication of his report into military exports to Iraq. [29507]
Engagements
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 16 May. [28650]
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 16 May. [28651]
The Prime Minister: This morning, I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Committee on Standards in Public Life
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to receive the second report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and if he will make a statement. [30147]
The Prime Minister: The second report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, under the chairmanship of Lord Nolan, is being published today as Command Paper 3270 and copies of the report have been placed in the Vote Office and the Library of the House. I should like to thank Lord Nolan and his colleagues for their continuing commitment and effort in discharging their important remit.
The second report covers further and higher education bodies, grant-maintained schools, training and enterprise councils, local enterprise companies and registered housing associations. I welcome the fact that the committee found these to be
I should like to join Lord Nolan and his colleagues in putting on record the Government's appreciation and admiration of the dedicated unpaid service of so many thousands of volunteers in these local public spending bodies. This inquiry confirms the continuing vitality of voluntary service as one of the great strengths of the British system. This voluntary local commitment, channelled through a clear policy framework set by central Government, provides a successful formula for delivering high-quality service to meet local needs.
"organisations in which very many voluntary Board members and paid staff work hard, maintain high standards and achieve good results.".
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