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Education Services
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will list the organisations on the short-list of bodies considered suitable to take over the services of local education authorities and the bodies on the short-list for offering consultancy services; [79022]
- (2) if he will list the criteria used to determine the suitability of organisations to be on the short-list of bodies to take over the services of local education authorities or to offer consultancy services; [79023]
(3) what is the basis for his decision not to include the Local Government Association in the list of bodies suitable to take over the services, or offer consultancy to, local education authorities. [79024]
Ms Estelle Morris:
As I stated in my reply of 22 February 1999, Official Report, column 18, 98 expressions of interest were received for consultancy work and 107 for the delivery of LEA functions. We are currently conducting negotiations and seeking further
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information from a number of selected organisations. It is normal commercial practice not to divulge the names of such organisations, as to do so could jeopardise the chances of a fair competition. DfEE officials have written to the LGA, setting out the reasons why they were not successful at the first stage. We hope to announce in April the lists of those organisations which we intend to use to provide consultancy services or to act as function providers. The criteria on which our selection is based are as follows:
The evidence should demonstrate a track record of work involving
For each strand, applicants were considered on the basis of the evidence they presented on
Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many requests have been received by his Department for hon. Members to bring a delegation to meet a Minister to discuss education funding (a) in the past year and (b) in the last three months; and how many of those requests have been refused. [79030]
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Mr. Mudie:
This information is not recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but Local Education Authorities have been provided with an average 5.5 per cent. increase in funding for education for the coming year, compared with a 2.4 per cent. increase in inflation and a teachers' pay increase of 3.5 per cent.
Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of whether any special schools will close following his Department's programme for action on special educational needs; and if he will make a statement. [79026]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Russell) on 11 March 1999, Official Report, column 314.
Mrs. May:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what date he made the decision to lay (a) S.I., 1999 No. 447 and (b) S.I., 1999 No. 606 before the House. [79028]
Ms Estelle Morris:
Statutory Instrument 1999 No. 447 relating to the Education (Grants for Education Support and Training) (England) Regulations 1998 (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1999 were laid before Parliament on 26 February 1999. S.I. 1999 No. 606 relating to The Education (Education Standards Etc. Grants) (England) Regulations 1999 were laid on 9 March 1999.
Mr. Clappison:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current average waiting time for an application to the Immigration and Nationality Department for a work permit; and what was the average waiting time in each of the previous three years for which figures are recorded. [78661]
Ms Hodge:
Applications for work permits are made to the Department for Education and Employment's Overseas Labour Service. Records are kept on the proportion of applications cleared within four and eight weeks:
Strand 1--improvement action plans.
Evidence provided by the applicant to demonstrate their track record of working with service providers in order to improve service delivery performance.
identifying and prioritising tasks and objectives;
analysing roles and functions within organisations;
development and assessment of the suitability of options and alternative methods of delivery;
detailed implementation and monitoring/management of action plans.
Strand 2--specification preparation and related work
Evidence demonstrating work that requires a proven track record of understanding the type and nature of services provided by LEAs.
Evidence demonstrating that the applicant has prepared service related tender/contract specifications.
Evidence demonstrating the applicant's understanding of the methodology and processes involved in specification preparation.
The quality and nature of the reference sites that the applicant has named for what they consider to be relevant work.
Strand 3--contract and project management
Evidence demonstrating a track record in handling complex contract and project management arrangements.
Evidence demonstrating that they have successfully taken over the management of complex or sensitive contracts or projects at short notice.
Strand 4--financial costings
Evidence demonstrating that the applicant has a track record of establishing base-line service delivery costs.
Evidence demonstrating a track record of undertaking effective efficiency reviews.
Function Providers.
Their track record of providing services related to that strand or comparable services;
A range of more specific evidence was considered for each function strand, and I will write to the hon. Member setting these out.
How their experience made them a suitable candidate for an approved list of suppliers for that function strand;
How they intended to develop the specific capabilities required for that function strand.
| 1998-99 (estimated) | 1997-98 | 1996-97 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proportion cleared within four weeks | 70 | 66 | 73 |
| Proportion cleared within eight weeks | 93 | 91 | 95 |
| Numbers cleared | 73,000 | 62,258 | 53,718 |
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Select Committee Reports
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on (1) what date (a) he and (b) his Department received the leaked copy of the Foreign Affairs Committee First report of Session 1998-99 on Foreign Policy and Human Rights (HC100); and by what method it was received; [77760]
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Mr. Robin Cook:
I refer to my earlier answer to the hon. Member on 4 March 1999, Official Report, column 876.
Mr. Baldry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a list of overseas commercial posts for United Kingdom- based staff, showing in each case the current grading and indicating for each grade the proportion commercial posts represent of all overseas posts at their grade. [78442]
Mr. Fatchett:
I am placing in the Library a list of UK-based overseas jobs with more than 50 per cent. Commercial content. The proportion commercial work represents of the work of all frontline staff overseas at these grades is as follows:
(2) what date (a) he and (b) his Department received the leaked copy of the Foreign Affairs Committee Third report of Session in 1998-99 on European Union Enlargement (HC 86); and by what method it was received. [77835]
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| SMS | 13.9 |
| DS5 | 18.9 |
| DS6 | 46.5 |
| DS7 | 31.0 |
| DS9 | 7.3 |
Frontline work excludes time spent on management or support functions.
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty
Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has tabled for revising the 1990 conventional armed forces in Europe treaty; and when he next expects to discuss them with (a) the UK's NATO allies, (b) former Soviet bloc countries and (c) other European countries. [78748]
Mr. Tony Lloyd: The UK contributed to NATO's comprehensive proposals for adapting the CFE Treaty which were tabled at the negotiations in Vienna during 1998. These proposals, along with ideas from other Treaty parties, are being discussed in Vienna by officials from all 30 States Parties to the Treaty, with a view to signature of an adapted Treaty at the OSCE Summit in November 1999. Other OSCE states are briefed regularly on progress in the talks.
Diplomatic Notes
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about (a) his policy with respect to issuing diplomatic notes to foreign Governments and (b) his policy in respect of the failure of a foreign Government to respond to such a note. [78749]
Mr. Fatchett:
British Embassies and High Commissions use diplomatic notes as a customary vehicle for written communication with Ministries of Foreign Affairs in accordance with accepted diplomatic practice.
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