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SCOTLAND
Independent Tribunal Service
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland had been waiting for more than (a) three, (b) six, (c) 12 and (d) 18 months for a response from an Independent Tribunal Service appeal, in the year ended 31 August (a) 1998 and (b) 1997. [61918]
Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
| January-December 1997 | |
|---|---|
| 3-6 months | 3,448 |
| 6-12 months | 8,051 |
| 1-2 years | 1,874 |
| 2 years and over | 159 |
| January-August 1998 | |
|---|---|
| 3-6 months | 5,674 |
| 6-12 months | 10,289 |
| 12-18 months | 2,489 |
| 18 months and over | 760 |
Note:
A figure for 18 months is not available for the 1997 data
Source:
Appeals--Data supplied by Analytical Services Division (ASD) from the computer extracts from the Independent Tribunal Service (ITS).
The Government are committed to reducing the unacceptable delays in handling welfare appeals, new arrangements for decision making and appeals will be introduced next year and will provide a more responsive and efficient service for appellants.
We will set stringent, effective targets for the clearance of appeals when the new arrangements are introduced.
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Teachers (Trade Unions)
Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the trade unions representing teaching staff with which his Department has dealings. [62025]
3 Dec 1998 : Column: 242
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The Department has dealings with the following trade unions representing teaching staff:
Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many hours were spent in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools by teachers on permitted trade union activities in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [62028]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
This information is not collected centrally.
Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the ranking of the UK has been in standard international comparative tables for literacy and numeracy in each of the last five years. [62026]
Ms Estelle Morris:
We are not aware of any standard annual comparative tables for literacy and numeracy. However, the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), carried out in 1995, found that in mathematics England's 9 year olds came 10th out of 17 countries; and our 13 year olds came 16th out of 25 countries. In the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), carried out in 1996, British adults came 9th out of the 12 countries for which results are so far available.
This Government are determined to raise standards in schools and also take the issue of basic skills very seriously. That is why we have established the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies which are designed to raise standards to the level of the best. In addition to the wide range of current adult learning opportunities, the Government have set a target in The Learning Age to help 500,000 people a year by 2002.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his e-mail address. [62562]
Mr. Mudie:
The e-mail address for my right hon. Friend and other Ministers in his Department is: http://dfee.ministers@dfee.gov.uk
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if, where a child is admitted in the final term, as an agreed exception under the Regulations of the School Standards and Framework to a reception infant class that already has 30 pupils, it will be mandatory to
3 Dec 1998 : Column: 243
reduce the class size maximum to 30 in the following year; and what advice local education authorities will be given on compliance with the legislation. [61824]
Ms Estelle Morris:
There are two general sets of circumstances in which a child will be treated as an excepted pupil and not count towards the infant class size limit of 30 pupils for every qualified teacher, to apply from the start of the 2001-2002 school year--
The first set of exceptions applies only for the remainder of the school year in which the child was first admitted--even where the child was admitted during the final term of that year. The second set of exceptions enables those pupils to gain the benefit of attending mainstream classes and will be permitted beyond the school admission year--at any time when those pupils attend the infant classes at the mainstream school or outside the special unit. Thus it will only be mandatory to reduce the class size maximum to 30 in the following year if the exception is one within the first group.
On 9 September 1998, the Department for Education and Employment sent guidance (and copies of the relevant Regulations) on the class sizes legislation to all local education authorities in England.
Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research his Department has commissioned into the effect of studying information communications technology on developing children's ability in other subjects; and if he will make a statement. [62114]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
In recent years the Department has commissioned a range of relevant studies and evaluations. These include
As part of the National Grid for Learning, the Department will be initiating further studies in the development and use of ICT within the curriculum.
In addition, the Teacher Training Agency has commissioned a major research study into effective pedagogy for the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in literacy and numeracy in primary schools.
Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research his Department has commissioned into the effect of art and music lessons in developing children's ability in other subjects; and if he will make a statement. [62113]
3 Dec 1998 : Column: 244
Ms Estelle Morris:
My Department has not commissioned any research into the effect of art and music lessons on children's ability in other subjects. This Government believe that art and music are essential parts of every child's education. That is why music and art remain National Curriculum foundation subjects which must be taught by all schools as part of a broad and balanced curriculum.
Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by whom the funding for any public inquiry held by an adjudicator to determine the outcome of proposals for a school organisation plan will be provided. [62306]
Ms Estelle Morris:
Where an Adjudicator wishes to hold a public inquiry, or is required to do so in respect of school organisation proposals published by the Secretary of State, the cost of that inquiry will be met by the Department for Education and Employment. The Local Education Authority or school concerned will be invited to offer accommodation for the inquiry.
Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teacher vacancies there were in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools at the latest date for which information is available by each local education authority. [62304]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
The information requested is shown in the table.
Association of Teachers and Lecturers
Association of University Teachers
National Association of Head Teachers
National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers
National Association for Teachers in Further and Higher Education
National Union of Teachers
Professional Association of Teachers
Secondary Heads Association
Undeb Cenedlaethol Athrawon Cymru/National Association of the Teachers of Wales.
(1) where a child is admitted to the school in certain specified circumstances that could not have been anticipated in planning, for example where he moves into the area outside a normal admission round and cannot find a place at any other suitable school; and
(2) where a child, who is normally educated in a special school or in a unit in a mainstream school for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), attends a mainstream class.
The Impact of IT on Children's Achievements (1992)
Preparing for the Information Age (1997)
The UK ILS Evaluations (1998).
(1) Vacancies are recorded for posts which are full-time, permanent, are not currently filled by someone on a contract of one term or more and have been advertised. Vacancies for head teacher and deputies are included above.
Source:
Form 618G survey January 1998
3 Dec 1998 : Column: 246
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