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Higher Education

Mr. Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his estimate of the annual cost of returning to the full grant system for higher education. [14562]

Dr. Howells: I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

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Trade Union Membership

Mr. Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of the work force are members of trades unions in each member state of the European Union. [14504]

Mr. Ian McCartney: I have been asked to reply.

The following table contains the information sought:

Member stateUnion density, 1995
Austria41
Belgium54
Denmark80
Finland79
France9
Germany29
Greece24
Ireland55
Italy44
Netherlands26
Luxembourgn/a
Portugal26
Spain19
Sweden91
United Kingdom33

Sources:

ILO World Labour Report, 1997-98, OECD Employment Outlook July 1997.

Notes:

All figures for 1995, the most recent consistently available, bar Belgium (1994) and Ireland (1990). Figures for Luxembourg are unavailable. Union density is union members as a proportion of wage and salary earners. Figures are compiled in a variety of different ways across member states and are not strictly comparable in all cases.


DEFENCE

Executive Agencies

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency became operational; what targets have been set for it; what evaluation of it there has been; when he expects further evaluation to take place; and if he will make a statement; [13656]

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Mr. Spellar: The information requested is given in the table; although the hon. Gentleman's questions related to only 40 agencies and trading funds, the information is provided in respect of all 43 of the Department's Agencies and Trading funds, for the sake of clarity and completeness.

AgencyDate of launchDate of evaluation(1)Key targets(2) published in Official Report
(a) Last(a) Date
(b) Next due(b) Column
Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency1 April 1997(b) 2002(a) 20 February 1997 (b) 720
Army Base Repair Organisation1 April 1993(a) Ongoing(a) 10 February 1997 (b) 7
Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency4 April 1995(b) 2000--(3)
Army Training and Recruiting Agency1 July 1997(4)(b) 2002(a) 1 July 1997 (b) 71
Army Personnel Centre2 December 1996(b) 2001(a) 18 March 1997 (b) 505
Army Technical Support Agency16 October 1995(b) 2000(a) 18 March 1997 (b) 506
Defence Animal Centre1 July 1993(a) Ongoing(a) 31 July 1997 (b) 463
Defence Analytical Services Agency1 July 1992(a) Ongoing(a) 1 July 1997 (b) 72/73
Defence Bills Agency1 January 1996(b) 1999(a) 31 July 1997 (b) 440
Defence Codification Agency17 June 1996(b) 1999--(3)
Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency22 November 1994(b) 1999(a) 31 July 1997 (b) 464
Defence Dental Agency1 March 1996(b) 2001(a) 10 July 1997 (b) 529
Defence Estate Organisation17 March 1997(b) 2002(a) 18 March 1997 (b) 514
Defence Evaluation and Research Agency4 April 1995(5)(b) 2000--(3)
Defence Intelligence and Security Centre1 October 1996(b) 2001(a) 31 July 1997 (b) 462
Defence Vetting Agency1 April 1997(b) 2002(a) 20 March 1997 (b) 857
Defence Postal and Courier Service Agency1 July 1992(a) Ongoing(a) 3 July 1997 (b) 257-258
Defence Secondary Care Agency30 April 1996(b) 2001(a) 10 July 1997 (b) 529
Defence Transport and Movements Executive4 April 1995(b) 2000(a) 10 July 1997 (b) 356
Disposal Sales Agency3 October 1994(b) 1999(a) 30 July 1997 (b) 353
Duke of York's Royal Military School1 April 1992(a) Ongoing(a) 30 July 1997 (b) 353
Hydrographic Office1 April 1996(5)(b) 2001--(3)
Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre19 April 1996(b) 2001(a) 31 July 1997 (b) 464
Logistic Information Systems Agency21 November 1994(b) 1999(a) 31 July 1997 (b) 257
Logistic Support Services9 December 1996(b) 2001(a) 9 December 1997 (b) 17-18
Medical Supplies Agency29 February 1996(b) 2001(a) 10 July 1997 (b) 528
Defence Medical Training Organisation1 April 1997(b) 2001(a) 10 July 1997 (b) 527
Meteorological Office1 April 1996(5)(b) 2001(a) 19 June 1997 (b) 256
Military Survey2 April 1991(a) Ongoing(a) 31 July 1997 (b) 463
Ministry of Defence Police1 April 1996(b) 2001(a) 27 October 1997 (b) 662
Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation1 April 1992(a) 1996 (b) 1999(a) 22 July 1997 (b) 528-529
Naval Bases and Supply Agency11 December 1996(b) 2002(a) 28 October 1997 (b) 792-793
Naval Manning Agency1 July 1996(b) 2001(a) 30 July 1997 (b) 354
Naval Recruiting and Training Agency1 April 1995(b) 2000(a) 30 July 1997 (b) 355
Pay and Personnel Agency1 February 1996(b) 2001(a) 23 June 1997 (b) 354
Queen Victoria School1 April 1992(a) Ongoing(a) 30 July 1997 (b) 465
RAF Maintenance Group2 April 1991(a) 1996 (b) 2001(a) 31 July 1997 (b) 465
RAF Personnel Management Agency1 February 1997(b) 2002(a) 30 July 1997 (b) 351
RAF Signals Engineering Establishment22 November 1994(b) 1999--(3)
RAF Training Group1 April 1994(b) 1999(a) 20 March 1997 (b) 859
Service Children's Education1 April 1996(b) 2001(a) 30 July 1997 (b) 354
Ships Support Agency11 December 1996(b) 2001(a) 30 July 1997 (b) 354
Specialist Procurement Services1 June 1997(b) 2002(a) 3 June 1997 (b) 122

(1) Evaluation is taken to mean the periodic review of the Agency, which involves a performance evaluation, the re-visiting of the Prior Options process, and the re-issue of the Framework Document. Initial Policy was this should take place at not more than 3 year intervals, but this was later extended to 5 years, with some specified exceptions. As the process takes a period of some months, only the year in which the review is expected to take place is given. Where the first review is described as "ongoing" the second review would normally be expected to take place 5 years after the re-issue of the Framework Document.

(2) The Date and column at which the Key Targets for FY1997-98 were published in the Official Report. For the sake of clarity and completeness this information has been included for all the Department's Agencies, although the hon. Member's questions did not ask this in all cases.

(3) The 1997-98 Key Targets for these five Agencies have not yet been published in the Official Report.

(4) Formerly Army Individual Training Organisation.

(5) Date of Launch as a Trading Fund; all were previously Agencies.


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