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National Vocational Qualifications
Mrs. Bridget Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the number of NVQs at each level awarded through youth training and training for work in each London training and enterprise council in the last two reporting years. [2302]
Mr. Paice: As the reply will consist of a large amount of data, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my reply in the Library.
Grant-maintained Schools
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what sources of funds she proposes grant-maintained schools will use for expansion as envisaged in clauses 3 and 5 of the Education Bill. [2323]
Mr. Forth: Clauses 3 and 5 of the Education Bill enable grant-maintained schools to expand their capacity by up to 50 per cent. and to add or remove nursery, sixth form or boarding provision without central approval. Where capital funding is required, schools will need to consider the full range of options, including their annual formula-based capital allocations, commercial borrowing and the private finance initiative. As to recurrent funding, the existing mechanism will continue to apply, with the overall resources available being determined through the annual public expenditure settlement.
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Nursery Vouchers
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many nursery vouchers have been spent in the autumn term 1996 in (a) reception classes in primary schools, (b) nursery classes in primary schools, (c) nursery schools and (d) the voluntary sector in the city of Westminster; [1389]
- (2) how many nursery vouchers have been spent in the autumn in (a) reception classes in primary schools, (b) nursery classes in primary schools, (c) nursery schools and (d) the voluntary sector in the London borough of Wandsworth; [1384]
(3) how many nursery vouchers have been spent in the autumn term 1996 in (a) reception classes in primary schools, (b) nursery classes in primary schools, (c) nursery schools and (d) the voluntary sector in the royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea; [1386]
(4) how many nursery vouchers have been spent in the autumn term 1996 in (a) reception classes in primary schools, (b) nursery classes in primary schools, (c) nursery schools and (d) the voluntary sector by Norfolk county council. [1388]
Mr. Robin Squire: The number of nursery education vouchers used in each type of provider in the phase 1 local authority areas to date in the autumn term 1996 is set out in the following table. Information on voucher use broken down between maintained reception classes, nursery classes and nursery schools or between private and voluntary sector providers is not available.
| Number of children attending providers in each sector | Norfolk | Kensington and Chelsea | Wandsworth | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private and voluntary | 613 | 117 | 122 | 106 |
| LEA-maintained | 7,283 | 511 | 1,615 | 669 |
| Grant-maintained | 325 | 41 | 174 | 0 |
| Special schools | 16 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Independent | 204 | 255 | 294 | 112 |
| Local authority day nurseries | 0 | 21 | 4 | 22 |
| Children attending more than one provider | 108 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many nursery vouchers have been spent in the summer term 1996 in (a) reception classes in primary schools, (b) nursery classes in primary schools, (c) nursery schools and (d) the voluntary sector in the city of Westminster; [1391]
- (2) how many nursery vouchers have been spent in the summer term 1996 in (a) reception classes in primary schools, (b) nursery classes in primary schools, (c) nursery school and (d) the voluntary sector in the royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea; [1385]
(3) how many vouchers have been spent in the summer term in (a) reception classes in primary schools, (b) nursery classes in primary schools, (c) nursery schools and (d) the voluntary sector in the London borough of Wandsworth; [1390]
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(4) how many vouchers have been spent in the summer term 1996 in (a) reception classes in primary schools, (b) nursery classes in primary schools, (c) nursery schools and (d) the voluntary sector by Norfolk county council. [1387]
Mr. Squire: The number of nursery education vouchers used in each type of provider in the phase 1 local authority areas in the summer term 1996 is set out in the following table. Information on voucher use broken down between maintained sector reception classes, nursery classes and nursery schools or between private and voluntary sector providers is not available.
| Number of children attending providers in each sector | Norfolk | Kensington and Chelsea | Wandsworth | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private and voluntary | 3,078 | 255 | 444 | 163 |
| LEA-maintained | 4,188 | 597 | 2,043 | 831 |
| Grant-maintained | 156 | 40 | 71 | 0 |
| Special Schools | 21 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Independent | 208 | 154 | 182 | 99 |
| Local authority day nurseries | 0 | 40 | 34 | 47 |
| Children attending more than one provider | 680 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Investors in People UK
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultations she had with (a) small business organisations and (b) Department of Trade and Industry Ministers and officials before selecting new members and reappointing existing members to the board of Investors in People UK. [1226]
Mr. Paice: All new and re-appointed members of Investors in People UK were appointed under the guidelines laid down by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The posts were advertised nationally and all organisations were free to make nominations. Final appointments were made by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment against the requirements of the posts.
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will list those members of the Investors in People UK board whose main business activity involves the running of a small firm; [1227]
- (2) if she will list the members of the Investors in People UK board together with the businesses with which they are associated and the number of employees in each of those businesses. [1228]
Mr. Paice: On the board of Investors in People UK there are a number of directors whose main business activity involves the running of a firm with less than 200 employees. These include:
Mrs. Susan Tood, Mr. Martin Henry, Mr. Nick Hutton, Mr. Carl Hadley, and Mr. Patrick Hall.
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| Member | Business organisation |
|---|---|
| Sir Brian Wolfson | Global Health Alternatives |
| Mr. Don Beattie | The BOC Group |
| Mr. Anthony Dubbins | Graphical, Media and Paper Union |
| Mr. Martin Henry | Lastolite Ltd. |
| Mr. Tom Farmer | Kwik-fit Holdings |
| Mr. Carl Hadley | British Aluminium Wire and Conductor Ltd. |
| Mr. Patrick Hall | E Roland Gurney and Partners Ltd. |
| AHA Construction Services Ltd. | |
| Mr. Howard Hastings | Hastings Hotel Group |
| Mr. John Hazelwood | Birds Eye Walls Ltd. |
| Mr. Nick Hutton | Greenup and Thompson Ltd. |
| Mr. Terry Morgan | British Aerospace Defence Ltd. |
| Mr. Nick Stuart | Secretary of State Representative |
| Mrs. Susan Todd | Polymedia Ltd. |
| Mr. Derek Wanless | National Westminster Bank |
| Ms Mary Chapman | Chief Executive of Investors in People UK |
Public Relations
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much her Department spent on (a) advertising, (b) public relations and (c) entertainment in each of the last five financial years. [1271]
Mr. Robin Squire: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 16 October 1996, Official Report, column 997.
Public Selection
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list, in relation to the proposed selection of pupils for secondary schools by ability or aptitude, as provided in clause 4 and schedule 1 of the Education Bill (a) the purpose for which these two qualities are directed and (b) how these qualities differ from the purposes to which pupils not so selected are to be directed in (i) the same and (ii) other schools. [2331]
Mr. Robin Squire: Different schools have different strengths, and some choose to specialise in particular areas of the curriculum. The provisions set out in clause 4 and schedule 1 of the Education Bill will give admission authorities the flexibility to offer a proportion of places to pupils with particular aptitudes, or of high ability in one or more subjects or generally, without seeking central approval.
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what requests she has received for the imposition of a statutory duty on (a) maintained secondary schools and (b) secondary grant-maintained schools for an annual governors' review to introduce, or vary, selective admission procedures, naming the persons or bodies concerned in each case. [2333]
Mr. Squire: My right hon. Friend has received no such specific request. She is, however, aware that many parents, for whom it is not presently a possibility, wish to have the option of selective education. It is right that schools should consider on a regular basis whether the
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wishes of parents and the needs of children in their areas would be better served by the introduction extension or of selective admission arrangements.
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