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Teachers' Pensions
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment who are the members of the teachers' pension scheme long-term examination working group; when it last met; when it is due to meet next; and when its final report is due to be submitted to ministers. [79823]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Working Group is made up of representatives of:
- Department for Education and Employment
- Government Actuary's Department
- Chairman and Secretary of the Teachers' Panel of the Teachers' Superannuation Working Party
- National Union of Teachers
- Association of Teachers and Lecturers
- National Association of Head Teachers
- Secondary Heads Association
- National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers
- National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education
- Secretary of the Employers' Panel of the Teachers' Superannuation Working Party
- National Employers' Organisation for School Teachers
- Sixth Form Colleges' Employers' Forum
- Association of Colleges
- Universities and Colleges Employers Association
- Grant-maintained Schools Advisory Committee
- Independent Schools Council.
The Working Group last met on 10 December 1998. I have received the Working Group's report and am currently considering its conclusions and recommendations. No dates have been set for further meetings of the Working Group.
School Meals
Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much was spent by Derbyshire county council local education authority on subsidising school meals in each of the last 10 years. [79618]
Ms Estelle Morris: The following table shows the difference between expenditure and income for all school catering services from 1990-91 to 1997-98. Comparable figures are not available before that date. From the financial year 1997-98, Derbyshire was reorganised into two local authorities, Derby and Derbyshire: figures for both are shown. Expenditure on, and income from, the school meal service will vary from year to year according to--among other factors--the proportion of children taking up an entitlement to free school meals.
13 Apr 1999 : Column: 168
Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish the (a) total expenditure on, and (b) income from the local education authorities' school catering services in (i) Derbyshire, (ii) Nottinghamshire, (iii) Staffordshire, (iv) Surrey and (v) Hertfordshire in (1) 1994-95, (2) 1995-96, (3) 1996-97 and (4) 1997-98. [79619]
Ms Estelle Morris: The following table shows total gross expenditure and total income for school catering from 1994-95 to 1997-98. Expenditure and income for the school meal service will vary according to the proportion of children entitled to free school meals.
| Expenditure | Income | |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-95 | ||
| Derbyshire | 22,906 | 9,700 |
| Derby | ||
| Staffordshire | 17,318 | 9,784 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | ||
| Surrey | 11,891 | 8,950 |
| Hertfordshire | 14,833 | 9,749 |
| Nottinghamshire | 19,892 | 8,346 |
| 1995-96 | ||
| Derbyshire | 21,803 | 9,384 |
| Derby | ||
| Staffordshire | 17,532 | 11,559 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | ||
| Surrey | 11,259 | 8,985 |
| Hertfordshire | 14,430 | 10,138 |
| Nottinghamshire | 17,316 | 8,113 |
| 1996-97 | ||
| Derbyshire | 21,306 | 9,199 |
| Derby | ||
| Staffordshire | 17,846 | 10,910 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | ||
| Surrey | 11,640 | 9,867 |
| Hertfordshire | 13,265 | 10,747 |
| Nottinghamshire | 17,399 | 8,159 |
| 1997-98 | ||
| Derbyshire | 16,729 | 8,191 |
| Derby | 4,544 | 1,997 |
| Staffordshire | 13,728 | 9,011 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 5,027 | 2,668 |
| Surrey | 12,301 | 10,315 |
| Hertfordshire | 14,313 | 14,526 |
| Nottinghamshire | 18,765 | 9,177 |
Environmentally Friendly Industries
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in what ways the University for Industry will be used to encourage the growth of new
13 Apr 1999 : Column: 169
environmentally friendly industries through the provision of training programmes which relate to environmental services and waste management. [79891]
Mr. Mudie:
Environmental technology and services form one of four key sectors identified as initial priorities for Ufl Ltd's early activity. The growth rate in this sector is strong and there is considerable potential to create jobs, win exports and protect the environment. Ufl development work will target the 5,000 or so companies in these markets, many of which are small and recently established. They are likely to need high quality learning materials in a range of areas including general business and organisation capabilities, and technical, management, finance and export skills.
Mr. Willetts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment on what occasions he has met members of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee; and what was discussed at each meeting. [79707]
Mr. Mudie:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met the Governor of the Bank of England and other members of the Monetary Policy Committee in December 1997. They discussed a range of issues relating to employment and education.
Mr. Willetts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of those individuals currently participating in each New Deal option other than subsidised employment he estimates will move on to unsubsidised employment. [79822]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
I expect a significant proportion of young people on New Deal to move into unsubsidised employment from the Full Time Education and Training (FTET), Voluntary Sector (VS) and Environmental Task Force (ETF) options. Thus far, relatively few young people have completed this part of the New Deal process as participants can spend up to a year on FTET and six months on VS and ETF.
Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what instructions he has issued to job centres to withdraw notices of vacancies advertised at less than the national minimum wage. [79698]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
Responsibility for the subject of these questions 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. Tim Boswell, dated 13 April 1999:
13 Apr 1999 : Column: 170
Mr. Wilshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish a list, including names and dates, of all meetings that (a) he, (b) his officials, (c) his advisers and (d) his PPS have held during (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999 with people who work for political lobbying firms or for businesses that are members of the Public Relations Consultants Association. [79651]
Mr. Mudie:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 9 March 1999, Official Report, column 168. The requirements of the Ministerial Code also apply to Parliamentary Private Secretaries when attending any meetings in an official or semi-official capacity.
As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has asked me to reply direct to your question regarding the instructions that have been issued to Jobcentres to withdraw notices of vacancies advertised at less than the national minimum wage. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
Guidance has been issued to Jobcentres and other relevant parts of the Employment Service explaining that, from 1 April, they must only process and display vacancies which comply with the requirements of the National Minimum Wage Act and its associated
regulations. All Jobcentre Managers have been instructed to check that this guidance is being followed. Vacancy takes in Jobcentres will explain the requirements of the legislation to any employers who may seek to offer rates below the National Minimum Wage.
I hope this is helpful.
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