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Duke of York Royal Military School
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Duke of York Royal Military School for the financial year 1999-2000. [106545]
Mr. Kilfoyle: The Chief Executive of The Duke of York's Royal Military School has been set the following key targets for 1999-2000:
To achieve 100 per cent. of GCSE passes at grades A* to G.
To achieve five or more GCSE passes at grades A* to C; 1999-2000 target is 86 per cent.
To achieve 88 per cent. of A level passes at grades A to E.
To achieve three or more A level passes at grades A to E; 1999-2000 target is 80 per cent.
To achieve 34 per cent. of A level passes at Grades A and B.
To achieve 100 per cent. award rate for GNVQ Advances and BTEC National Diploma courses.
To achieve places in higher education for at least 80 per cent. of sixth form leavers.
To achieve a pupil per capita cost of no more than £12,922.
To generate income of at least £475,000.
To achieve at least 270 applications for September 2000 intake.
Helsinki Council
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Annex to the Presidency Conclusions of the European Council held in Helsinki relating to three new military committees under that Council, (a) what is the specific purpose of each and how it relates to the others, (b) what instructions have been sent by the Council to the Secretary General or High Representative of each in respect of his function and duties and (c) what the lines of accountability are. [105131]
Mr. Vaz: I have been asked to reply.
The Helsinki European Council set the framework for the political and military structures that will be necessary for the EU to decide and act on security and defence matters. These bodies are a standing Political and Security Committee (which will handle the full range of Common Foreign and Security Policy issues), the Military Committee and the Military Staff. The incoming Portuguese Presidency was tasked, together with the EU Secretary General/High Representative, to
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carry this work forward. The terms of reference, guidance and accountability for each body will thus be developed in due course.
Concessionary Television Licences
Mr. Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many retirement pensioners in Heywood and Middleton aged 75 or over (a) will benefit and (b) will not benefit from free TV licences. [105198]
Janet Anderson: Figures are not available for the number of people aged 75 or over in Heywood and Middleton. However, as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his pre-Budget statement on 9 November 1999, Official Report, columns 883-91, everyone aged 75 or over will receive their television licence free of charge from this autumn. We shall announce full details of the scheme shortly.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps to ensure that all pensioners receive free TV licences. [105414]
Kate Hoey: As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 9 November 1999, Official Report, columns 883-91, from this autumn, everyone aged 75 or over will receive their television licence free of charge. The Government are introducing this concession for older pensioners because, as a group, they are more likely to rely on television as their window on the world and to be on low incomes. We have no plans to extend the concession to all pensioners, but we are considering the Davies report's recommendations on the existing concessionary television licence scheme in the light of responses to the public consultation and will announce our conclusions shortly.
PRIME MINISTER
Media Policy
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Prime Minister if those dealing with the media in (a) his Office and (b) other ministerial offices, (i) ever, (ii) routinely and (iii) always record conversations with journalists; and for what period (1) unofficial and (2) official recordings are preserved. [106036]
The Prime Minister: It is now standard practice to tape press briefings given by the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman and other Downing street Spokesmen and a written record is circulated around Whitehall Departments, an innovation introduced by this Government. A record is kept on file.
European Defence
Mr. Ottaway:
To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for Defence to the hon. Member for Croydon, South of 10 January 2000, Official Report, column 97W, if he will place in the Library the speech given by his Policy Unit adviser on Europe and
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Defence, Mr. Liddle, to the French-German-UK Seminar at the Institut de Haute Education de la Defense Nationale, Paris in November 1999. [104803]
The Prime Minister:
I am advised that Mr. Liddle's talk was not transcribed. I am therefore unable to consider the hon. Member's request.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Prime Minister what discussions took place between EU Commission officials and the Prime Minister of Turkey on the Ilisu Dam Project during the 48 hours prior to his attendance at the Helsinki Summit. [105592]
The Prime Minister:
I have no responsibility for any discussions which the European Commission officials may enter into. However, I am advised that officials of the Export Credits Guarantee Department and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are not aware of any discussions on the Ilisu Dam project taking place between European Commission officials and the Prime Minister of Turkey during the 48 hours prior to his attendance at the Helsinki Summit.
Higher Education
14. Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the Government's plans are in respect of salaries and conditions in higher education. [103688]
28. Mr. McWalter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on university staff salaries. [103706]
Mr. Wicks: The pay and conditions of staff in higher education are a matter for the employers not the Government. The Bett Report into higher education pay and conditions, published in June 1999, made a number of recommendations for restructuring the sector's terms and conditions. It will be for the higher education employers to consider how these recommendations can be implemented.
Exclusions
15. Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures the Government have taken to support schools in reducing the number of exclusions. [103690]
Jacqui Smith: Last July we issued new guidance on 'Social Inclusion: Pupil Support' which includes practical preventive strategies, based on good practice, to help schools deal with behaviour problems. This is backed up with nearly £500 million over three years for projects to prevent exclusions.
Learning and Skills Council
16. Mr. Miller:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what role will be played by business on the Learning and Skills Council. [103691]
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Mr. Wicks:
As the LSC Prospectus published before Christmas says, business will have a key role in the new Learning and Skills Council. We intend that at least 40 per cent. of the new Council's members will come from the private sector, and we will be looking to people with business experience to chair the national and most local Councils. In addition, the LSC's local arms will work closely with the new Small Business Service on workforce development.
Mr. Love:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans for the Learning and Skills Council. [103713]
Mr. Wicks:
On December 14 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment published a detailed Prospectus for the LSC. Subject to the passage of the Learning and Skills Bill, we expect the Learning and Skills Council to be in full operation from April 2001.
17. Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he is taking to improve the quality of education for secondary school pupils. [103692]
Ms Estelle Morris:
An agenda for raising educational standards for secondary school pupils was laid out by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment at the North of England conference on 6 January.
18. Mr. Bill O'Brien:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what structures exist to facilitate communication between his Department and small businesses. [103693]
Ms Jowell:
My Department communicates with small business primarily through small business representative bodies, and through intermediary organisations like Training and Enterprise Councils, Business Links, National Training Organisations and enterprise agencies.
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