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EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
School Science Laboratories
13. Dr. Gibson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to review the guidance on the design of science laboratories in schools. [94262]
28 Oct 1999 : Column: 979
Jacqui Smith:
The Department has reviewed the guidance on the design of science laboratories in secondary schools. A revised Building Bulletin updating "Science Accommodation in Secondary Schools: A Design Guide" will be published shortly. General guidance on the design and layout of school science rooms for primary schools is offered in Building Bulletin 82, "Area Guidelines for Schools".
16. Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions his Department has had with South Gloucestershire local education authority about the provision of secondary education in Bradley Stoke. [94265]
Ms Estelle Morris:
Officials from the Department have met with South Gloucestershire LEA on several occasions and the provision of places was discussed.
It is the LEA's responsibility to ensure that there are sufficient secondary school places within its area.
The Department has supported capital bids from South Gloucestershire which met the published criteria for basic need.
18. Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions he has held with employers about promoting flexible working arrangements for employees with family commitments. [94269]
Ms Hodge:
We have had discussions with a number of leading employers about how we might work together to promote flexible working arrangements which both benefit the business and enable employees to balance work and home better. We are publishing today a research study showing how such arrangements have helped small and medium enterprises.
19. Mr. Borrow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the provision of post-16 student transport in Lancashire. [94272]
Mr. Wicks:
Decisions on support for transport for post-16 pupils is a matter for local discretion. Lancashire local education authority has withdrawn transport support for all new students except those who meet very strict criteria for "extenuating circumstances".
20. Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made in providing pre-school places for three-year-olds. [94274]
Ms Hodge:
We are well on the way to achieving our aim of doubling the number of free places for three-year-olds by 190,000 by 2002. £40 million has been allocated this year to 57 local education authorities with the greatest social need and 80 per cent. of the places provided are in the private and voluntary sector. This will be followed by £100 million for all local education authorities next year and £250 million in 2001-02. This
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is the first time government has specifically targeted funding on the provision of nursery places for three-year-olds.
21. Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the educational arrangements for pupils excluded from schools. [94276]
Jacqui Smith:
Excluded pupils are likely to be educated in either a pupil referral unit (PRU) or through home tuition by the LEA. Ofsted has a rolling inspection programme of PRUs. LEAs are inspected over the full range of their education responsibilities.
22. Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to review the operation of home to school transport. [94277]
Jacqui Smith:
We will be considering carefully the recommendations of the School Travel Advisory Group which will report later in the autumn.
23. Mr. Pound:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements have been put in place for piloting the new deal for people aged 50 years and over. [94279]
Ms Hodge:
The New Deal 50plus is an important new package of practical help for people aged 50 and over who are looking for work. It offers: a tax free employment credit of £60 per week paid for up to a year to an individual entering full-time work (£40 for part-time work, 16-30 hours per week); an in-work training grant of up to £750; a personal advice service for the individual to provide help with looking for work.
24. Mr. Beith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received about differences in funding per school pupil between Northumberland and other areas. [94280]
Ms Estelle Morris:
My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from Northumberland expressing concern at differences in the Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) per pupil between Northumberland and other local education authorities. We have already acknowledged that there are valid objections to the current SSA formula. The Government, in partnership with local government, have set up a three year programme of research to investigate thoroughly whether there is a better way of determining the distribution of funds which is simpler, more stable, more robust and fairer than the present arrangements.
25. Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received about proposed changes to the admissions criteria for grammar schools. [94281]
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Ms Estelle Morris:
Since June 1997, the Department has received some 200 letters from Members of this House on the subject of grammar schools, and some 2,000 letters and e-mails from other interested parties. There have also been 60 parliamentary questions tabled.
26. Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the future of grammar schools. [94282]
Ms Estelle Morris:
Mechanisms allowing local parents to petition and ballot on the future of grammar schools are now in place. It will be for eligible parents to decide if grammar schools should continue as such.
27. Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to establish nationally validated quality standards for careers education and guidance. [94283]
Mr. Wicks:
We have no plans to introduce standards for careers education and guidance provision. However, on 19 October, we launched the national occupational standards for careers teachers and others who deliver careers education and guidance in schools and colleges. These enable teachers to evaluate their skills and knowledge against recognised national standards and develop careers education and guidance provision.
28. Mr. Grogan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions his Department has had with the Sutton Trust regarding improving access to Oxford and Cambridge universities for students from state schools. [94284]
Mr. Wicks:
Ministers and officials meet Mr. Peter Lampl and Sutton Trust employees frequently to discuss issues of mutual concern, including improving access to universities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be meeting Mr. Lampl on 11 November to discuss summer schools at universities for state school pupils.
29. Mr. Quinn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to implement the proposals contained in the White Paper, "Learning to Succeed". [94286]
Mr. Wicks:
The White Paper contains a broad timetable for the implementation of our proposals. It also sets out a number of issues on which we have asked views by 15 October 1999. Once we have had time to consider those views, we will be publishing detailed proposals for implementation.
Mrs. Ann Cryer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what contribution business will make to the arrangements set out in the White Paper, "Learning to Succeed". [96828]
Mr. Blunkett:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Vale of York (Miss McIntosh), Official Report, column 1079.
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30. Helen Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many new deal places have been started in Yorkshire and Humberside this year. [94287]
Ms Jowell:
In Yorkshire and Humberside, from the beginning of the year to the end of July, 15,230 young people have started New Deal. In the same period there have been 10,590 starts on New Deal for Long Term Unemployed people aged 25+.
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