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Universities (Building, Equipment
and Collaborative Projects)
Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will establish the revolving loan fund for university building refurbishment, equipment and collaborative projects recommended by the Dearing report; and if he will make a statement on what measures his Department plans to take to encourage support for the scheme among public and private research sponsors. [15322]
Dr. Howells: It is for the Higher Education Funding Council for England to consider, in the light of other forms of finance and support schemes, whether or not to establish a revolving loan fund for university building refurbishment, equipment and collaborative projects, as recommended in the Dearing Report (recommendation 75). The Funding Council has already encouraged other research sponsors to support its joint research equipment initiative: this provides grants rather than loans.
The Government are currently considering, in the light of responses to consultation, the separate recommendation in the Dearing Report (recommendation 34) for a
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revolving loan fund to support infrastructure in a limited number of top quality research departments.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what factors he will take into account when deciding where to locate the HQ of the proposed University for Industry. [15515]
Dr. Howells:
The University for Industry will not require a large physical presence as it will make full use of information and communications technologies and networks to deliver its information, brokerage and commissioning services and it will not itself deliver courses. It is too soon to determine that factors that will be taken into account in locating its administrative centre.
Mr. Stunell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to maintain the free access for research purposes to academic and scientific data stored electronically recommended by the Dearing report; and if he will make a statement. [15587]
Dr. Howells:
We are currently considering the communications and information technology recommendations of the Dearing Report in the light of consultations and wider issues of policy on copyright.
Mr. Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has held with ministers in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the funding of students of dance and drama; and if he will make a statement. [15604]
Dr. Howells:
The Secretary of State for Education and Employment met the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 28 October 1997. The matters they discussed included the arrangements for providing financial support for dance and drama students, which are under review.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the level of fraud carried out by training providers who claim for work that has been undertaken. [15514]
Dr. Howells:
It is not possible to estimate the level of fraud carried out by training providers. Currently the Department for Education and Employment's Financial Scrutiny Unit is investigating 20 cases of alleged fraud or irregularity by training providers. We believe around 5,000 providers deliver training so these cases represent a very small proportion, but one, nevertheless which we seek to eradicate.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list those TECs which have internet sites and what percentage of the total this represents. [15516]
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Dr. Howells:
I understand from the TEC National Council that, at 15 September, 40 TECs had internet sites. This represents 55 per cent. of all English TECs. A list follows:
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Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to the oral Statement by the Secretary of State for International Development, Official Report, 5 November, column 332, if he will instruct officials to serve coffee and tea furnished by suppliers who adhere to fair trade standards in his Department. [15489]
Dr. Howells:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Prime Minister on 13 November, Official Report, column 617.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list each of the overseas trips made by himself and other members of his ministerial team since 2 May, specifying in each case (a) the participating Minister or Ministers, (b) the destination of the trip, (c) the purpose of the trip and (d) the cost of the trip; and if he will make a statement.[15260]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 11 November 1997]: Seventeen overseas trips have been made by the Department for Education and Employment Ministers since 2 May. A breakdown is shown in the following table:
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AZTEC
Barnsley and Doncaster TEC
Birmingham TEC
Bradford and District TEC
CAMSTEC
Central England TEC
County Durham and Darlington TEC
Cumbria TEC
Devon and Cornwall TEC
Focus Central London TEC
Gloucestershire TEC
Greater Nottingham TEC
Hampshire TEC
Hereford and Worcester CCTE
Humberside TEC
Kent TEC
Leeds TEC
Lincolnshire TEC
Manchester TEC
Merseyside TEC
Milton Keynes and North Bucks CCTE
Norfolk and Waveney TEC
North Derbyshire TEC
North London TEC
North Nottinghamshire TEC
Northumberland TEC
Rochdale TEC
Rotherham CCTE
Sheffield TEC
SOLOTEC
Somerset TEC
South and East Cheshire TEC
Southern Derbyshire CCTE
Sunderland City TEC
Surrey TEC
Sussex CCTE
Thames Valley Enterprise
Tyneside TEC
Wakefield TEC
West London TEC.
(18) Costs have not yet been brought to account.
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Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for what reasons the Colchester area was selected, under the Welfare to Work New Deal proposals, for private sector bidding; and if he will make a statement. [15857]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
We have invited the private sector to lead the organisation and delivery of New Deal in a total of ten locations. The competition to identify private sector lead organisations in the two pathfinder areas of Hackney and City and South Humber is complete. The additional eight areas were selected on the basis of a judgment as to where a private sector led partnership would have most to contribute.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many hon. Members responded to his consultation letter on the Government's Welfare to Work proposals; and if he will list those responded. [15856]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
The response to our Welfare to Work proposals has been very encouraging, from hon. Members as well as from employers, voluntary sector organisations and other interested partners. Consultation on the New Deal and other Welfare to Work proposals has been wide ranging and it is not possible to identify from our records which of many representations we have received have been as a direct response to my right hon. Friend's letter.
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