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Ion Exchange Resin
Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many modified magnox flasks and resin catch tanks are being used at Rosyth and Devonport to store ion exchange resin. [17633]
Mr. Arbuthnot: This is a matter for the chief executive of the Ships Support Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from R. V. Babington to Mr. Alan Simpson, dated 26 February 1997:
I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the numbers of modified magnox flasks and resin catch tanks presently being used at Rosyth and Devonport to store ion exchange resin, as this is related to my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Ships Support Agency.
The details you have requested are:
Rosyth Royal Dockyard: Thirty nine resin catch tanks are presently being used;
Devonport Royal Dockyard: Twenty eight resin catch tanks and eleven modified magnox flasks are presently being used.
Territorial Army Centre, Cardiff
Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on the recent refurbishment of the Territorial Army centre in central Cardiff; and what compensation arrangement has been negotiated as a result of the changes required by the proposals for the new national stadium. [17411]
Mr. Soames:
The total cost of the rebuild of the Territorial Army centre at Park street, Cardiff, which was completed in July 1994, was £2.041 million. In return for our vacating this site to allow for the redevelopment of the national stadium, the Welsh Rugby Union will make provision for facilities for the Army cadet force detachment within the new stadium complex and construct a new TA centre elsewhere within Cardiff. This will be larger than the current site and will, therefore, be capable of housing an additional unit. Its construction will
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be at no cost to the Ministry of Defence. The Welsh Rugby Union has also indicated that it will provide an advertising hoarding within the national stadium for reserve force recruiting for a period of 10 years.
Grant-maintained Schools
17. Mr. Mark Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the performance of grant-maintained schools. [16069]
Mr. Forth: The performance of pupils attending grant-maintained schools has improved year on year.
Jobseeker's Allowance
18. Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many applicants for the jobseeker's allowance have been denied benefit since the inception of the allowance. [16071]
Mr. Forth: An estimated 96,000 claims for jobseeker's allowance have been refused since 7 October 1996.
Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people currently in receipt of jobseeker's allowance have placed restrictions on their availability for work by virtue of (a) physical and mental limitations and (b) caring responsibilities. [17601]
Mr. Forth: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Robert Horne to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 26 February 1997:
Mr. Howarth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what benefit sanction will be imposed on a jobseeker's allowance claimant who is given a jobseeker's direction to apply for a specific part-time vacancy of less than 24 hours per week if (a) he refuses to apply for the vacancy in question, (b) he agrees
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to apply but is not offered the job and (c) he is offered the job which he then refuses; and if she will make a statement. [17624]
Mr. Forth:
A fixed-length sanction of loss of benefit for two weeks--or four weeks if a separate fixed-length sanction has already been imposed within the previous 12 months--will be imposed if, without good cause, a JSA claimant refuses or fails to carry out a reasonable jobseeker's direction to apply for a particular job of less than 24 hours per week. No sanction will be imposed if the jobseeker carries out the direction but is not offered the job, nor if he is offered the job and then refuses it.
Guidance is issued to Employment Service jobcentres that staff should be particularly careful before giving a jobseeker's direction in respect of a job of less than 24 hours a week. Jobseekers should be directed to apply for such jobs only if this would improve their prospects of finding further work, or the job is sufficiently well paid to enable them to leave JSA altogether.
19. Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on schools funding in East Sussex in 1997-98. [16072]
Mr. Robin Squire:
East Susssex's 1997-98 education standard spending assessment is £151.4 million--an above average increase of some £7 million, or 4.8 per cent. It is up to the authority to ensure that the increase in spending power that we are providing reaches its schools.
20. Mr. Brian David Jenkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the change in the number of children in primary classes of over 30 since 1992; and what is the current figure as a percentage of all children in primary classes. [16073]
Mr. Robin Squire:
From 1992 to 1996, the number of children in single-teacher primary classes of over 30 rose by 358,000. In 1996, 31.8 per cent. of primary children were in such classes, compared with 35.3 per cent. in 1979.
21. Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make it her policy to increase the number of grammar schools. [16074]
Mr. Forth:
The Government's policy is to encourage more grammar schools wherever parents want them, because that will promote choice, diversity and higher standards.
28. Mr. Bernard Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received regarding the future of grammar schools. [16082]
Mr. Forth:
My right hon. Friend receives a range of views on this as on other matters. The Government welcome the high standards which many grammar schools achieve. They are committed to retaining the existing
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grammar schools, and supporting the development of new ones, as an important element in promoting diversity and choice for parents.
22. Mr. Pearson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to tackle the repairs backlog in schools. [16075]
Mrs. Gillan:
It is for local education authorities and school governors to assess the need for maintenance work in respect of school premises which they own and maintain.
23. Mr. Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the implications for employment policy of the changing balance between part-time and full-time work. [16076]
Mr. Forth:
Both full and part-time jobs are increasing. We shall continue with the policies under which 900,000 more jobs have been created and unemployment has fallen by over 1 million since 1992.
24. Dr. Goodson-Wickes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provisions she has made for the proper teaching of children with dyslexia. [16077]
Mrs. Gillan:
The special educational needs code of practice offers guidance on the assessment of a dyslexic child. The Department supports training for teachers of dyslexic pupils through the grant for education support and training programme and is consulting over the national curriculum for initial teacher training, which has a particular focus on literacy.
The Secretary of State has asked me, in the absence of the Chief Executive, to reply to your question about the number of people who are currently claiming Jobseeker's Allowance and who have placed restriction on their availability for work by virtue of physical or mental condition or caring responsibilities.
Unfortunately, we do not hold information on the number of people, with either a physical or mental condition or who have caring responsibilities, who have agreed with an employment adviser a pattern of availability which included restrictions. The only information held is on the number of claims referred to the adjudication authorities where there is a doubt on availability because of a restriction and the number of decisions made.
This information, together with statistics on the other adjudication officer decisions and disallowance rates, is contained in a published document entitled "Analysis of Adjudication Officer Decisions". This provides information on all the main entitlement questions arising on claims. The latest information related to the quarter ending 30 September 1996. The first information relating to Jobseeker's Allowance will be in the publication for the quarter ending 31 December 1996. This is expected to be published by the end of March 1997 and copies will be placed in the Library.
I hope this is helpful.
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