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Business Rates
Mr. Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 14 November, Official Report, column 323, on local authorities' receipts from business rates on sporting rights, on what he based his estimate of the total business rates paid on sporting rights. [4974]
Mr. Gummer: The total rateable value of sporting rights in England which are severed from the occupation of land is £8.2 million. No figures are available for sporting rights which are not severed and which fall to be valued as part of the land over which they are exercised. For estimating purposes, we took the additional rateable value of such rights across England to be between £2 million and £3 million.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Sports Council
Dr. John Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she received the annual report and accounts of the Sports Council for (a) 1993-94, (b) 1994-95 and (c) 1995-96; if she will publish them; and if she will make a statement. [3866]
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: The Sports Council's annual accounts for the years 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1995-96 were received and laid before Parliament on the following dates:
| Account | Received | Laid |
|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 19 July 1994 | 17 October 1994 |
| 1994-95 | 18 September 1995 | 29 November 1995 |
| 1995-96 | 23 July 1996 | 9 September 1996 |
The Sports Council's last annual report was published in 1993. The council hopes to publish an annual report for 1995-96 in early January 1997.
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Administration Costs
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will publish the administrative cost (i) per pupil, (ii) per school and (iii) per head of population incurred by central Government in each of the five years to 1995-96. [4568]
Mr. Robin Squire: The direct administrative costs incurred centrally by the Department for Education and Employment for staff involved in schools work in England in 1995-96 were:
- (i) £2.46 per pupil
(ii) £750 per school
(iii) £0.41 per head of population
19 Nov 1996 : Column: 489
Special Needs Pupils
Miss Emma Nicholson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what basis extra per capita funding is available for (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils with special educational needs. [4500]
Mr. Robin Squire: When allocating funds to schools under local management of schools schemes, local education authorities may include factors in their formulae which allocate additional funding for non-statemented special educational needs based on proxy indicators of need such as free school meals, or direct indicators of need such as SEN audits. Such factors may be applied to both primary and secondary schools.
Home-school Contracts
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the level of support for home-school contracts following the consultation on circular 6/96; and if she will make a statement. [4501]
Mr. Forth: The principle of home-school agreements is generally supported. Different views are taken on their use in admission arrangements. The proposals in the Education Bill would give school admission authorities the flexibility to decide for themselves.
Small Businesses
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she proposes to take to improve the participation of representatives of small businesses in committees of inquiry, advisory bodies and non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible. [4383]
Mr. Paice: In making appointments to executive non-departmental public bodies the Department conforms with the code and guidance issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Central to the code is the overriding principle of selection based on merit. Where appropriate, ENDPB posts are advertised in the national press and/or details circulated to representational bodies. It is, of course, possible for an individual to nominate anyone for appointment to a post, including themselves. Advisory bodies are exempt from the OCPA code but are encouraged to comply with it when making appointments.
The membership of the Department's only committee of inquiry, the committee of inquiry into higher education, was finalised only after wide consultation, including employers' representative bodies.
19 Nov 1996 : Column: 490
Mrs. Roche:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 4 November, Official Report, columns 378--79, if she will list the members of the Investors in People UK board whose main business activity involves the running of a firm with (a) under 100 employees, (b) under 50 employees, (c) under 20 employees and (d) under 10 employees. [4440]
Mr. Paice:
On the board of Investors in People UK there are two directors whose main business activity involves the running of a firm where the number of employees fall within the categories above. These are:
(a) under 100--Mr. Martin Henry, Lastolite Ltd. and
(d) under 10--Mrs. Susan Todd, Polymedia Ltd.
Bradford City Technology College
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what right of appeal exists for parents refused a place for a child at the city technology college in Bradford; and what representations she has received about the catchment area of the Bradford CTC; [4441]
- (2) what guidance she has issued to the city technology college in Bradford concerning the catchment area of the college; for what reason (a) the BD15 postcode area is included and (b) the BD13 post code area is excluded; how far each is from the college; and if she will make a statement. [4442]
Mrs. Gillan: Dixons city technology college in Bradford recently sought approval from the Secretary of State for an extension to its catchment area. In the light of representations from Bradford LEA, the local diocesan boards and a number of schools in the vicinity, a limited extension was agreed for admissions for the 1997-98 academic year onwards. The extension includes the BD15 post code; coverage of the BD13 post code was not requested. Both these post code areas are some 2.5 miles from Dixons CTC at their nearest point, but BD13 extends further away from the school.
Dixons CTC offer an appeal procedure for parents refused a place for their child. The appeals procedure is explained during the admissions process and written details are automatically given to parents of every unsuccessful pupil.
Education Expenditure
Dr. Hampson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the total United Kingdom education expenditure (a) at current prices, (b) as a percentage of United Kingdom gross national product and (c) as a percentage of total public expenditure in (i) 1966-67, (ii) 1976-77, (iii) 1986-87 and (iv) 1996-97. [2710]
19 Nov 1996 : Column: 491
Mr. Robin Squire: [holding answer 5 November 1996]: Data for 1966-67 are not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Outturn information for 1996-97 is not currently available. Figures for 1995-96 have been substituted.
| 1976-77 | 1986-87 | 1995-96 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total UK public expenditure on education at current prices | £7.8 billion | £18.7 billion | £35.9 billion (est. outturn) |
| As a percentage of GNP | 5.9 per cent. | 4.8 per cent. | 5.1 per cent. |
| As a percentage of total public expenditure | 13.0 per cent. | 11.3 per cent. | 11.9 per cent. |
| Number of pre-16 pupils in the maintained sector | 10.113 million | 7.923 million | 7.957 million |
SCOTLAND
Smallholdings
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assistance his Department gives to encourage smallholdings. [3451]
Mr. Raymond S. Robertson: A comprehensive range of measures to support the agriculture industry in Scotland is available for all sizes of farms, including smallholdings and crofts. Details of grant schemes, sources of advice and other assistance are provided in "Scottish Agriculture: A Guide to Grants and Services", which can be obtained from local offices of the Scottish Office Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.
Oil Rig Construction Sites
Mrs. Ray Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of oil rig construction sites built by the Government which are currently derelict; and if he will list their current owners. [4282]
Mrs. Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to make special funding available to local authorities for the reinstatement of former oil rig construction sites. [4284]
Mr. Kynoch: I have no plans to make special funding available to local authorities for the reinstatement of former oil rig sites.
Mrs. Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to regenerate derelict oil rig construction sites; and if he will make a statement. [4283]
Mr. Kynoch: I am not aware of any derelict oil rig construction sites in Scotland.
19 Nov 1996 : Column: 492
Mrs. Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those oil rig construction sites where the Government have a duty to restore the area's former natural landscape. [4285]
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