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Business Rates

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each year since 1978-79 the amount of business rates levied in Scotland in (a) cash terms and (b) current prices. [22402]

Mr. Macdonald [holding answer 12 January 1998]: The available data are:

Net income from business rates

	£ million
Year	Cash terms	Current (1996-97) prices(5)
1978-79	386	1,187
1979-80	458	1,207
1980-81	621	1,383
1981-82	835	1,696
1982-83	929	1,761
1983-84	933	1,690
1984-85	970	1,673
1985-86	1,018	1,665
1986-87	1,104	1,753
1987-88	1,237	1,865
1988-89(6)	1,309	1,849
1989-90	1,191	1,573
1990-91	1,204	1,472
1991-92	1,226	1,409
1992-93	1,214	1,339
1993-94	1,165	1,249
1994-95	1,125	1,188
1995-96	1,258	1,293
1996-97	1,279	1,279

(5) Calculated using the Adjusted GDP deflator at market prices--Source HM Treasury. Base Year is 1996-97.

(6) Non-domestic (Business) rates were not separately identifiable until the introduction of the Community Charge in 1989-90--prior to this domestic and non-domestic rates were collected together. Data for 1978-79 to 1988-89 have been estimated and are therefore not directly comparable with later years.

The figures from 1995-96 onwards are subject to revision. The 1996-97 figure is provisional.

14 Jan 1998 : Column: 234

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Mailshots (Schools)

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the (a) dates and (b) numbers of pages of letters, information and booklets sent in his name to schools and chairmen of schools since 2 May; if he will place copies in the Library; and if he will estimate the costs of sending the materials to schools by (i) first and (ii) second class post. [22575]

Mr. Byers: The table gives the details of the material sent to schools from 2 May to end December. Copies of consultation papers, booklets and circulars are in the Library.

Information on the estimated costs of sending material to schools by first and second class post respectively is not available in the form requested.

14 Jan 1998 : Column: 233

Letters, Information and Booklets sent to Schools(7) since 2 May 1997

Date	Title	Pages	Publication type	Purpose
May	Letter of Introduction from Secretary of State	1	Letter	Information
May	Data Collection on Pupil Absence	5	Leaflet and forms	Data collection
June	Careers Education and Guidance in Further Education Colleges	24	Circular	Guidance
June	Education Act 1997	1	Poster	Guidance
June	Progress on taking forward Dearing Proposals	3	Letter	Information
July	School Governors: A Guide to the Law for County and Controlled Schools	159	Book	Guidance
July	Excellence in Schools + summary + Education: What it Means to You	99 10 10	White Paper	Consultation
July	Publication of Information about Secondary Schools Performance Tables in 1997	9	Circular	Information
July	General Teaching Council: Teaching High Status, High Standards	16	Booklet	Consultation
July	New Deal for Schools 1997-98: Phase 1	6	Letter	Information
July	School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document	31	Circular	Guidance
July	Teachers Superannuation Scheme: Certificate of Notice of Intention to Re-elect to Contract out of SERPS	3	Letter	Information
July	Part 1 GNVQ Arrangements for 1998	1	Letter	Information
July	Data Collection Timetable 1997-98	1	Letter	Information
August	Initial Teacher Training	46	Circular	Guidance
August	Partial Selection and Twice Excluded Pupils Following the Education Act 1997	3	Letter	Information
August	September Pupil Count	2	Letter and forms	Data collection
August	Arrangements for Annual Maintenance Grant for GM Schools in 1998-99	16	Letter	Consultation
September	Teenage Smoking Attitudes Survey 1997	--	Letter	Information
September	The SENCO Guide	54	Booklet	Guidance
September	School Teachers' Pay from 1 September 1997: A Leaflet for School Governors and Teachers	5	Leaflet	Information
September	1997 Secondary School Performance Tables--Forms for Checking Information	15	Letter and form	Data collection
September	1997 National Pupil Absence Tables--Forms for Checking Information	10	Letter and form	Data collection
September	Investing in the Future: Supporting Students in Higher Education--A Summary	7	Leaflet	Information
September	Excellence in Schools	--	Video	Information
September	New Constructional Standards for School Buildings	6	Letter	Information
September	School Leaving Date for 16 Year Olds	7	Circular	Information
October	Excellence for All: Meeting Special Educational Needs	99	Green Paper	Consultation
October	Connecting the Learning Society: National Grid for Learning + summary	28 15	Booklet	Consultation
October	Implementing the National Literacy Strategy	8	Leaflet	Information
October	Annual Schools' Census	16	Letter and Forms	Data Collection
October	Qualifying for Success	30	Booklet	Consultation
October	Inspection Reports on Further Education Colleges and VIth Form Colleges	5	Letter and List	Information
October	Summary Results of the 1997 NC Assessments of: 7 Year Olds in England 11 Year Olds in England 14 Year Olds in England	9 11 7	Leaflets	Information
October	Local Publication and Distribution of Information About the Achievements of Students in Further Education Sector Colleges	5	Letter	Information
October	Local Publication of the 1997 Key Stage 2 National Curriculum Results in Primary School Performance Tables	7	Circular	Information
November	School Governors: A Guide to the Law for Special Schools (1997)	141	Book	Guidance
November	Early Retirement Arrangements for Teachers	12	Circular	Guidance
November	From Targets to Action: Guidance to Support Effective Target-Setting in Schools	31	Booklet	Guidance
November	New Deal for Schools (NDS) 1998-2001: Phase 2	4	Letter	Information
November	1997 National Pupil Absence Tables	4	Booklet	Information
November	Outline Capability Procedure for Removing Unsatisfactory Teachers	3	Letter	Information
November	Supporting Students in Higher Education from 1998-99	2	Letter	Information
November	1997 School and College Performance Tables	9	Booklet	Information
November	1997 National Pupil Absence Tables	9	Booklet	Information
November	1997 National Curriculum Key Stage 3 Non-Core Teacher Assessment	6		Information
December	Independent/State School Partnerships	2	Letter	Information
December	Changes to Pupil Registration Requirements: The Education (Pupil Registration) (Amendment) Regulations 1997 SI No 2624	2	Letter and SI	Guidanace
December	School Governors: A Guide to the Law for Voluntary Aided and Special Agreement Schools 1997	140	Book	Guidance
December	Arrangements for Annual Maintenance Grant for GM Schools in 1998-99	11	Letter	Information
December	Proposed Arrangements for Collecting Statistical Information from Schools (Summary)	2		Consultation
December	Raising Standards for All: The Governments Legislative Plans	3	Leaflet	Information
December	School Security: Dealing With Troublemakers	71	Folder	Guidance

(7)(a) Almost all mailings are sent to both heads and chairs of governors separately, unless clearly of interest to only one party and mainly sent by second class post.

(b) Not all schools will have received all mailings, only those relevant to a school of a given type e.g. all secondary schools, or all voluntary aided schools.

14 Jan 1998 : Column: 235

14 Jan 1998 : Column: 237

Student Fees

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of state for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his policy concerning universities charging students for (a) laboratory fees, (b) library fees, (c) photocopying fees and (d) IT and internet fees. [22368]

Dr. Howells: Under the present funding arrangements, it is for universities to decide what fees to charge students. We have, however, made it clear that top-up fees play no part in our plans for the future funding of higher education. In deciding whether or not to exercise the power to control fees charged by universities under the provisions of the Teaching and Higher Education Bill, my right hon. Friend would consider the circumstances relating to particular types of fee. In particular, he would have regard first to the amount charged and secondly to whether such fees related to an optional service for which students could choose to pay or to essential elements of their courses for which they would be obliged to pay in order to undertake and complete those courses. Small charges for services such as photocopying are entirely a matter for universities.

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