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School Meal Services
Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list in ascending order the difference between income and expenditure for school meal services for each county over the last 10 years. [79365]
Ms Estelle Morris: This question cannot be answered in the form in which it has been tabled. Expenditure and income for the school meal service will inevitably vary according to the proportion of children entitled to free school meals and of children attending grant-maintained schools in the area of each Local Education Authority.
Youth Unemployment
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the impact of the New Deal on the number of unemployed young people. [77829]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
Since New Deal Pathfinders were introduced in January 1998, unemployment amongst the
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 636
eligible group has fallen by 35 per cent. compared with a fall of 4 per cent. for those not eligible.
| Aged 18-24 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| over 6 months | up to 6 months | All aged 25 and over | |
| January 1998 | 118.5 | 256.8 | 1,088.5 |
| January 1999 | 77.0 | 250.9 | 1,043.0 |
| Change | -41.5 | -5.9 | -45.5 |
| % change | -35% | -2% | -4% |
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 637
Schools, Watford
Ms Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of his policy on inner-city education on schools in Watford; and if he will make a statement. [78543]
Ms Estelle Morris: The programme announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 22 March 1999, Official Report, columns 21-22 to raise standards in inner cities applies in the first instance in six target areas only. The lessons learnt during the "Excellence in Cities" programme will in time benefit all schools. Watford schools already benefit from our national policies to raise standards and from the significant additional investment which the Government are making in the education system.
Woodcote Infant School, Croydon
Mr. Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received from Croydon LEA concerning the funding of the expansion of Woodcote Infant School, to receive a three form entry per annum. [78713]
Ms Estelle Morris: Croydon Education Authority has submitted applications to the Department under both Annual Capital Guidelines and infant class size policy for the expansion of Woodcote Infant School. The school did not qualify for Annual Capital Guideline funding for 1999-2000 but discussions are continuing between the Department and Croydon Education Authority about what funding will be available from the Department to enable the infant class size limit to be met.
School Regulation
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list in respect of (i) treaty articles, (ii) directives and (iii) regulations concerning tenders and contracts, (a) made and (b) supervised by his Department, the commercial requirements which apply in relation to (1) inspection of schools and (2) fulfilling the functions of named local education authorities and (3) assumption of management responsibilities of individual schools from local education authorities. [78806]
Ms Estelle Morris: The Department for Education and Employment neither makes nor supervises contracts for the inspection of schools, which are the responsibility of Ofsted. The management of maintained schools is the responsibility of each school's governing body, with support as necessary from the local education authority.
The Department is making preparations to let and supervise contracts for the discharge of functions of local education authorities which are failing adequately to discharge their statutory functions. These contracts, including those for consultancy services, are subject to Council Directive 92-50, relating to the co-ordination of procedures for the award of public service contracts. The Directive is made under Articles 57(2) and 66 of the Treaty of Rome. The implementing regulations are the Public Service Contract Regulations 1993 number 3228.
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 638
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much money has been spent to date on the new deal for 18-24 year olds in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire unit of delivery. [78494]
Mr. Andrew Smith
[holding answer 25 March 1999]: Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter form Peter Collis to Mr. Paul Keetch, dated 30 March 1999:
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the largest number of recruits that have been taken on by any one company under the New Deal for Young People. [79433]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. David Maclean, dated 30 March 1999:
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what will be the criteria for inclusion in the extension of the new deal to those aged over 50 years. [78925]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
The new initiative will be open to people aged over 50, out of work for six months or more and on income replacement benefits including Jobseekers Allowance and Incapacity Benefit, and their dependant partners. We intend to consult on the precise eligibility criteria and I will be writing to a number of individuals and organisations shortly.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when the extension of the new deal to those aged over 50 years, announced in the Budget, will be implemented. [78926]
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 639
Mr. Andrew Smith:
We will begin to introduce this new initiative from October 1999 in pathfinder areas with full national implementation in early 2000. Details of the pathfinder areas will be announced by early summer.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of people over the age of 50 years in the Greater London area who have benefited from the New Deal; and if he will make a statement. [78536]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its Chief Executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from Peter Collis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 30 March 1999:
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As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked Leigh Lewis to reply to your question about how much money has been spent to date on the New Deal for 18-24 year olds in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Unit of Delivery. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr. Lewis as Chief Executive Agency. I am replying in his absence.
To the end of February £631,854 has been brought to account in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Unit of Delivery on the New Deal for 18-24 year olds.
I hope this is helpful.
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply to your question about the largest number of recruits taken on by any one company under the New Deal for young people. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
Three quarters of young people joining companies under the New Deal go into unsubsidised jobs. We have no central statistics which break down these job starts by employer not least because the same employer may trade, and recruit, under many different names. As regards subsided job starts, the largest number of starters with a single company is 80.
I hope this is helpful.
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked Leigh Lewis to reply to your question about the number of people over the age of 50 years who have benefited from New Deal in the Greater London area. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mr. Lewis as Chief Executive of the Agency. I am replying in his absence.
The Government Statistical Service figures to the end of January show that 5,032 people over the age of 50 have started the New Deal in Greater London.
You may be aware that in November last year the Employment Service launched 28 New Deal pilots for people over the age of 25. Four of these pilots are based in Greater London and aim to look at innovative ways to help long term unemployed people over the age of 25 back into the labour market.
You will, of course, also be aware that the Chancellor recently announced a further package of help for people over the age of 50 who have been unemployed for more than six months. This includes a cash employment credit for people entering employment, as well as personal adviser and job search support and a training subsidy.
I hope this is helpful.
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