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Child Benefit
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the combined value of child dependency addition and child benefit for the child of a widowed mother (a) in cash terms, (b) in real terms and (c) as a percentage of average earnings, in (i) November 1979 and (ii) April 1997; and what is his estimate of the equivalent figure in April 2000. [111809]
Angela Eagle: The information is in the table.
| (a) Actual rate of child dependency addition and child benefit (£) | (b) Real value of (a) uprated to April 2000 prices (14)(£) | (c) Actual rate of (a) as a percentage of average earnings (15) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First child | |||
| November 1979 | 11.10 | 31.15 | 11.0 |
| April 1997 | 20.95 | 22.65 | 5.5 |
| April 2000 | 26.35 | 26.35 | n/a |
| Subsequent children | |||
| November 1979 | 11.10 | 31.15 | 11.0 |
| April 1997 | 20.20 | 21.85 | 5.5 |
| April 2000 | 21.35 | 21.35 | n/a |
(14) The Retail Prices Index (all items) has been used as published by the Office for National Statistics.
(15) Average Earnings are taken from the New Earnings Survey (NES) estimates of earnings for all full-time adult employees, as published by the Office for National Statistics.
n/a = Not available.
Note:
The figures are rounded to the nearest 5 pence at each uprating date.
1 Mar 2000 : Column: 304W
Peat Compost
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 21 February 2000, Official Report, column 787W, what percentage of compost used in his Department's estate gardens is peat; when peat compost will be phased out by his Department's estates; and if he will make a statement. [111932]
Mr. Bayley: The Department estates partner Trillium has now confirmed that only peat substitutes are used in the Department. A further re-check of suppliers has been instigated and if any peat usage is found it will be phased out by June 2000.
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Literacy and Numeracy Poster
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the cost of (a) reprinting the recent poster on literacy and numeracy and (b) additional postage. [111952]
Ms Estelle Morris: The cost of reprinting and distributing the "Every lesson counts" posters is £20,000. The cost has been met by the Centre for British Teachers which has a contractual responsibility for proofing and publishing the posters.
Class Sizes (Shropshire)
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many classes of 30 and over for five to seven-year-olds were recorded for schools in Shrewsbury and Atcham (a) in May 1997 and (b) at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement. [111916]
Ms Estelle Morris: The latest available information on infant class sizes in the parliamentary constituency of Shrewsbury and Atcham is shown in the following tables. The class size count for January 2000 is currently being undertaken and provisional national estimates are expected to be published in April.
The Government are well on course to limit all infant classes for five, six and seven-year-olds to 30 or below by September 2001 at the latest.
1 Mar 2000 : Column: 305W
| Position as at January | 1999 | 1997 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of classes with 30 or more pupils | 19 | 31 |
| All classes | 113 | 123 |
| Percentage of classes with 30 or more pupils | 17 | 25 |
| Position as at September | 1999 | 1997 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of classes with 30 or more pupils | 7 | (16)-- |
| All classes | 117 | (16)-- |
| Percentage of classes with 30 or more pupils | 6 | (16)-- |
(16) Information was not collected
Network Consultancy Group
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many meetings of the New Local Government Network consultancy group on new models of local education have been held in his Department; [112006]
- (2) if he will list the councillors who are members of the New Local Government Network research project on new models of local education; [112007]
(3) on what basis his Department is participating in the New Local Government Network consultancy group on new models of local education; [112008]
(4) what staff, material and other support has been extended by his Department to the New Local Government Network consultancy group (a) in the course of its research project on new models of local education and (b) otherwise; [112009]
(5) how many civil servants are members of the New Local Government Network consultancy group on new models of local education; and on how many occasions they have attended meetings of the group; [112010]
(6) what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of his Department's participation in the New Local Government Network's consultancy group on new models of local education. [112011]
Ms Estelle Morris:
One member of the DfEE's staff agreed to be a member of the group established by the New Local Government Network, and has met a member of the secretariat, but has not so far attended any meetings. This involvement was intended to improve the group's understanding of relevant central Government policy and activity. No meetings of the group have been held in the Department and no staff, material or other support extended to the group or to the Network, so there has been no cost to public funds. One of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools is also a member of the group, but has not attended any meetings. The full membership of the group is a matter for the New Local Government Network.
1 Mar 2000 : Column: 306W
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he has taken to support children with dyslexia in schools; and if he will make a statement. [111979]
Jacqui Smith:
Under the Education Act 1996, schools and local education authorities have a duty to identify and make suitable provision for all children with special educational needs, including children with dyslexia. The Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs, which came into effect on 1 September 1994, gives guidance to schools and local education authorities on how to meet this duty. Paragraphs 3:60 to 3:63 provide guidance on specific learning difficulties and have particular reference to dyslexia. The Code is currently being revised to update the guidance and provide examples of good practice, with an increased emphasis on early identification and support.
In recognition of the need for partnership working to address children's dyslexia a seminar was held in July 1999 bringing together the main Government Departments and agencies, and external partners for an exchange of views on the key educational issues. Ways in which individual expertise and resources can be pooled were identified, and a consensus reached over a shared agenda for tackling issues in the areas of early identification, teacher training, and the use of ICT. An informal working group has since been focusing on the training of teachers of children with dyslexia.
To assist schools in recognising dyslexia we have produced simple guidance which provides hints to primary school teachers to help them identify children who may be dyslexic. In addition the Department has recently provided a grant to help the British Dyslexia Association reprint the schools resource pack entitled "Achieving dyslexia friendly schools". Two copies of the pack have been distributed to all local education authorities in England. With funding from the Department, the Dyslexia Institute is undertaking a two year study programme which seeks to evaluate the effects of structured programmes of intervention for seven-year- old pupils who are experiencing specific difficulties in learning to read, write and spell. Two key aspects of the programme are to develop activities that parents can do at home and to share the knowledge and skills of specialist teachers more widely.
Mr. Breed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the projected costs of supplying plaques to schools which receive improvement grants under the New Deal for Schools. [111499]
Jacqui Smith
[holding answer 28 February 2000]: The average cost of a plaque is £29.
Mr. Breed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were the reasons behind the decision to supply plaques to schools which receive improvement grants under the New Deal for Schools. [111498]
Jacqui Smith
[holding answer 28 February 2000]: It is normal practice to acknowledge the source of funding in public building projects. Projects completed with funding from the European Union and National Lottery also have plaques displayed.
1 Mar 2000 : Column: 307W
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