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Mrs. Taylor: My hon. Friend is right to say that exclusions are a serious problem for the individual children concerned and their families, and for the whole education world. We are concerned that today's figures show a further rise in the number of children permanently excluded from school. It is important that the new guidance now available is looked at by schools and that we have intervention as early as possible, to minimise the number of children who are permanently excluded. It is important to keep children in education and for them to benefit from the education to which they are entitled for as long as possible. Exclusions have to happen on some occasions, but we should be working hard to minimise the number of exclusions and their impact.
Mr. David Heath (Somerton and Frome): I join others in welcoming the innovation of giving two weeks' notice of matters to be discussed.
I note that the European Communities (Amendment) Bill is to be given its Second Reading on 12 November. Can the Leader of the House help me, as I am a new member of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs? The
Committee's first opportunity to take evidence from the Foreign Secretary on the implications of Amsterdam will be on 4 November. It will, therefore, be extremely difficult for the Committee to give adequate consideration to that and other evidence that it may wish to take, and to report back to the House before Second Reading. I should be grateful if the Leader of the House suggested any way in which that aim could be accomplished successfully.
I also have a question about the European parliamentary elections Bill. Can the Leader of the House tell us whether there will be an early introduction of a registration of political parties Bill, as one Bill cannot operate without the other?
Mrs. Taylor:
On Amsterdam, I have had a letter from the Chairman of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs. I received the letter only last night, but I am looking at the Committee's concerns, to see whether there is any way in which we can assist it in its wish to have deliberations. I do not, however, think that we can hold up the Second Reading debate on that basis.
The hon. Gentleman referred to European elections and the system of proportional representation. He is right to say that it requires the registration of political parties. The Government intend to introduce legislation on the issue, and discussions with other parties are going ahead at present.
Mr. David Drew (Stroud):
May I draw to my right hon. Friend's attention early-day motion 343, on the future relationship between the national health service and personal social services?
[That this House believes that overwhelming evidence from all parts of the country demonstrates that patients, service users and carers are suffering as a consequence of the organisational divide which artificially separates health care and social care, and that weaknesses in the community care system and delayed discharges are prime examples of the impact of the current divide on vulnerable individuals, their families and the wider community; notes the Government's decision to set up health action zones and make an extra £300 million available for the NHS as important and welcome developments, but also notes that collaboration and co-operation between health, social services departments and other relevant agencies whilst essential, has too often failed to deliver high quality, seamless and cost effective services; and further believes that the future configuration of the structures established to commission and deliver services should be directed by the needs of patients, service users and carers for accessible and integrated support, that existing health and local authority structures should be replaced by integrated organisations responsible for both health care and social care, and that these organisations should be democratically accountable to their local communities either through direct elections, or management boards which include significant representations from local elected members.]
Will my right hon. Friend find time for the House to debate an issue that affects all hon. Members? Community care is a wonderful idea, but we all know that there are problems with the way in which the health service and
local government social services interact. This is not an attack on local government, but a way in which we can try to bring the two services together.
Mrs. Taylor:
My hon. Friend raises an issue that concerns many people: the need for proper co-operation between health and social services. The Government are not planning to introduce community care authorities to replace the existing structures in health authorities and local authorities, but we are concerned to achieve better co-operation. I know that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health in particular is looking to ensure that that operates in practice and that community care is not blocked by unnecessary regulation or by local authorities and health authorities not working together properly. It is a matter of concern, but I am afraid that I see no prospect of an early debate. I am sure that my right hon. Friends concerned will be willing to listen to any ideas that my hon. Friend may have.
Mr. John Cryer (Hornchurch):
I should like to ask my right hon. Friend for two debates. First, may we have a debate on further education, as distinct from higher education? The further education sector is crushed under the weight of corruption, a lack of accountability and a shortage of funding. Secondly, let me reiterate the calls for a debate on the mining industry. There was a debate last night on the narrow issues of subsidies and coal imports, but there are much broader questions. The coal industry will probably face destruction within 10 years at the hands of Dick Budge and the Conservative Members who flogged it off a couple of years ago.
Mrs. Taylor:
I cannot add to what I have already said in respect of requests for a debate on the coal industry. However, I shall of course bring all comments to the attention of the relevant Ministers. As for further education, the Government are well aware of the financial difficulties that face many further education colleges and the position that we inherited from the previous Government. Ministers are considering the future of further education as a matter of urgency and will be making announcements in the near future.
Mr. Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock):
May I take my right hon. Friend back to her reply to the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) in respect of the Bill giving effect to the Amsterdam treaty? Does she understand that there is cross-party disappointment that it will not be possible for the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs to complete a report before the Second Reading of the Bill on 12 November? That is something that members of the Select Committee and the Government should avoid in future, bearing it in mind that in our general election manifestos we all signed up to enhancing Select Committees. In view of my right hon. Friend's disappointing reply, which means that we shall not have time to produce a report before the Second Reading of the Bill, will she at least give the House an undertaking that the Bill will not proceed in Committee until the Foreign Affairs Committee has been given reasonable time to produce a report?
Mrs. Taylor:
I am not sure that it is impossible for the Foreign Affairs Committee to complete its report. Select Committees have worked hard to meet the deadlines that
Mr. Gerald Bermingham (St. Helens, South):
Will the Leader of the House perhaps consider, not next week but within a short time--bearing it in mind that the Kyoto conference is approaching, Customs and Excise seems to be objecting to the reduction of VAT on insulation material and we hope to put in hand in the near future a large house building programme, which is desperately necessary to house the homeless--finding time for a debate on the building regulations? We need to debate how they stand, how they should be altered and, indeed, how they should be improved.
Mrs. Taylor:
My hon. Friend has combined with some ingenuity a whole range of issues. In respect of his basic point, I am afraid that I cannot find room for a debate on the building regulations in the very near future.
Mr. Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde):
May I ask my right hon. Friend to give serious consideration to a debate on safety at sea, especially in relation to fishermen? My question is prompted by my serious concern over the refusal by the marine accidents investigation branch to sanction the lifting of the fishing vessel, the Sapphire, from the sea bed in the North sea. It is my view, as a member of a fishing family, that we owe it to the families of the men who were drowned when the vessel foundered, that the vessel should be retrieved, as
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