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Further and Higher Education
Mr. Welsh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the distribution figures across (i) higher and further education institutions in Scotland and (ii) higher and further education courses in Scotland for the Government's target of (a) 750,000 higher and further education places in Scotland, (b) increasing the number of higher and further education places in Scotland by 42,000 and (c) 40,000 full time equivalent places in Scotland by 2001-02. [84876]
Dr. Reid [holding answer 24 May 1999]: The information is not available in the form requested. The table indicates the numbers of students in further and higher education institutions in Scotland, and the distribution across further and higher education courses for 1997-98, the last year for which statistics are available. 42,000 additional student places will be funded over the Comprehensive Spending Review period from 1999-2000 to 2001-02 (40,000 in FE colleges and 2,000 in HE institutions). The distribution of these places between level and mode of delivery will be a matter for the Scottish Further and Scottish Higher Education Funding Councils. We have indicated that institutions should make it a priority to draw additional students from under-represented groups.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
| HE institutions | FE institutions (26) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | |||
| FE courses(27) | 72,923 | 341,941 | 414,864 |
| HE courses | 178,575 | 69,124 | 247,699 |
| Total | 251,498 | 411,065 | 662,563 |
(26) Provisional
(27) It is possible for a student to be enrolled on more than one course in one year. This is particularly relevant to the part time FE sector. Students are counted for each course on which they enrol.
Energy Efficiency
Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve energy efficiency and eradicate dampness in housing. [R] [84142]
Mr. Macdonald:
A new Warm Deal will be introduced on 1 July providing a £500 grant to improve energy efficiency for low income households. This year's budget
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will be £12 million and the scheme will also create up to 400 places under the New Deal. This will be the best measure yet to provide affordable warmth and tackle damp houses in Scotland.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Office for the Supervision of Solicitors
33. Mr. Sutcliffe: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received about the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors. [84162]
Mr. Vaz: The Lord Chancellor's Department receives many representations about the handling of complaints of inadequate professional service by the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors.
The Government have increasing concern about the Office and are therefore bringing forward proposals to amend the Access to Justice Bill, which are aimed at improving its performance.
Freedom of Information
36. Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the implications of the Government's proposals for freedom of information for the work of his Department. [84165]
Mr. Vaz: Neither I nor my predecessor, my hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Hoon) have had any discussions. The Lord Chancellor was actively involved in the collective ministerial discussions which led to the publication of a draft Bill for consultation on 24 May.
Access to Justice
37. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received on the impact of his proposals to increase access to justice on poorer people. [84166]
Mr. Vaz:
The Lord Chancellor's Department has received representations from a wide range of individuals and interested organisations on all aspects of access to justice.
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39. Mr. Luff:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to maintain access to justice for rural communities. [84168]
Mr. Vaz:
Once the Regional Legal Service Committees have established the legal needs of their particular communities, the Legal Service Commission will purchase, as far as possible within the financial resources available, the most appropriate quality assured legal service to meet those needs. Provision and need will then continue to be monitored by the Regional Legal Service Committees for both level and standards of service and adjusted appropriately. Additionally, if necessary, special provision can be made, such as solicitors having to travel to their clients, and the use of telephone advice and outreach services is also being developed to improve access to justice for all.
38. Helen Jones:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the impact of the proposed community legal service on representation at tribunals. [84167]
Mr. Vaz:
It would generally be premature to decide what changes to make in respect of help with tribunal cases until the Government have completed their review of whether tribunal arrangements, including representation, meet our ECHR and EU obligations. Meanwhile, advice and assistance short of representation is, and will remain, available for tribunal cases.
40. Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department since May 1997 how many (a) male, (b) female, (c) white, (d) black and Asian, (e) over 60-year-old and (f) under 30-year-old magistrates have been appointed. [84169]
Mr. Vaz:
The information requested is only available from 1 January 1997 to 31 March 1999 and is as follows:
(a) 1,591 male magistrates appointed
(b) 1,635 female magistrates appointed
(c) 3,021 white magistrates appointed
(d) 95 black and 110 Asian magistrates appointed
(e) 56 magistrates over the age of 60 appointed
(f) 42 magistrates under the age of 30 appointed.
Ogden Tables Working Party
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will implement the recommendations of the Ogden tables working party to set a rate of return of two per cent.; and if he will make a statement. [84932]
Mr. Vaz:
The discount rate to be applied in the calculation of damages for personal injuries and fatal accidents cases affects the interests of both plaintiffs and
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defendants. The Lord Chancellor will be issuing a consultation paper next month canvassing views on how the rate should be set, and reviewed, before deciding whether and how to exercise the power to set the rate conferred on him by Section 1 of the Damages Act 1996.
Mr. Ennis:
To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates sit on the Doncaster Magistrates Bench; and how many of those magistrates reside in the Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency. [84986]
Mr. Vaz:
There are currently 184 magistrates on the Doncaster Bench and of those, 16 reside in the Barnsley, East and Mexborough constituency.
Mr. Ennis:
To ask the Minister of State, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates sit on the Barnsley Magistrates' Bench; and how many of those magistrates reside in the Barnsley, East and Mexborough constituency. [84987]
Mr. Vaz:
There are currently 129 magistrates on the Barnsley Bench and of those, 11 reside in the Barnsley, East and Mexborough constituency.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the court service's performance in introducing the new, unified civil rules and related procedural reforms. [84159]
Mr. Vaz:
Implementation of the Civil Procedure rules took place only four weeks ago, on Monday 26 April. It is therefore a little early to assess the Court Service's performance in detail. However, that the first stage of implementation of the reforms is going well is thanks to the efforts of everyone who worked so hard to achieve implementation on time.
Domestic Fuel Bills
Mr. Forth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Government have made of the effects in percentage terms on average domestic fuel bills of (a) the introduction of competition into the domestic gas market, (b) the reduction in VAT on domestic fuel and (c) the windfall tax, over the period since each measure was introduced. [84660]
Ms Hewitt:
According to latest DTI figures, the combined impact of competition and regulation has reduced the average domestic gas bill by around 16.5 per cent. in
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real terms since competition was first introduced into the domestic gas market in 1996.
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