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Statemented Children

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what changes have been made to the consent arrangements in respect of placing individual children with a statement in non-approved independent schools since the publication of the Green Paper, entitled "Excellence for all Children: Meeting Special Education Needs". [113916]

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Jacqui Smith: My Department will shortly consult on proposals for the placement of children with statements of special educational needs in independent schools. Earlier consultation had been intended, but we wished to ensure that our proposals for this sector would reflect relevant recommendations arising from the recently published report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the abuse of children in care in North Wales.

Our intention will be to ensure that children are placed only in schools that can both meet their educational needs and safeguard their welfare.

Standard Spending Assessment

Mr. Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the standard spending assessment in (a) cash and (b) real terms for primary and secondary pupils for (i) England and (ii) Northumberland county council for each year from 1990 to 2000; and what is his estimate for 2000-01. [114140]

Ms Estelle Morris: The information requested is shown in the following tables.

Standard Spending Assessment£

Year/Cash figures	Northumberland	England
1990-91
Per primary pupil	1,435	1,539
Per secondary pupil	2,036	2,176
1991-92
Per primary pupil	1,641	1,766
Per secondary pupil	2,377	2,549
1992-93
Per primary pupil	1,743	1,873
Per secondary pupil	2,544	2,724
1993-94
Per primary pupil	1,784	1,921
Per secondary pupil	2,587	2,775
1994-95
Per primary pupil	1,838	1,968
Per secondary pupil	2,566	2,741
1995-96
Per primary pupil	1,825	1,981
Per secondary pupil	2,421	2,630
1996-97
Per primary pupil	1,935	2,053
Per secondary pupil	2,582	2,728
1997-98
Per primary pupil	2,016	2,130
Per secondary pupil	2,638	2,782
1998-99
Per primary pupil	2,120	2,248
Per secondary pupil	2,765	2,918
1999-2000
Per primary pupil	2,240	2,372
Per secondary pupil	2,877	3,031
2000-01
Per primary pupil	2,332	2,474
Per secondary pupil	3,014	3,175

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Real Terms using 1998-99 prices£

Year	Northumberland	England
1990-91
Per primary pupil	1,848	1,982
Per secondary pupil	2,622	2,803
1991-92
Per primary pupil	1,991	2,142
Per secondary pupil	2,883	3,091
1992-93
Per primary pupil	2,046	2,199
Per secondary pupil	2,987	3,198
1993-94
Per primary pupil	2,041	2,197
Per secondary pupil	2,958	3,174
1994-95
Per primary pupil	2,072	2,219
Per secondary pupil	2,894	3,091
1995-96
Per primary pupil	2,000	2,171
Per secondary pupil	2,654	2,882
1996-97
Per primary pupil	2,055	2,180
Per secondary pupil	2,741	2,896
1997-98
Per primary pupil	2,082	2,199
Per secondary pupil	2,724	2,873
1998-99
Per primary pupil	2,120	2,248
Per secondary pupil	2,765	2,918
1999-2000
Per primary pupil	2,190	2,320
Per secondary pupil	2,814	2,964
2000-01
Per primary pupil	2,225	2,360
Per secondary pupil	2,875	3,030

Notes:

1. The figures were calculated using the Treasury GDP deflators published 22 December 1999.

2. 1998-99 has been used as the base year for calculations.

School Places (West Sussex)

Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many extra pupils he expects to enter West Sussex schools over the next 15 years. [114393]

Ms Estelle Morris: This information is not collected by my Department. The latest projections from individual local education authorities, submitted as part of their annual returns on surplus places, relate to 2002-03 for primary pupil numbers and 2005-06 for secondary pupil numbers.

Mr. Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the likely impact of additional housebuilding in West Sussex on provision of school places over the next 15 years. [114392]

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Ms Estelle Morris: It is for local education authorities to plan and keep under review the supply of school places in the light of proposed housing development, so as to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet demand. Regional planning guidance for the South-East will be finalised later this year and this will assist West Sussex Local Education Authority in its planning decisions. Where an LEA can demonstrate growth in need for school places it may apply to the Department for capital funding.

Ofsted

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance he has issued on the appointment of Ofsted inspectors; how many Ofsted inspectors have been appointed in total; and how many of these are members of an ethnic minority. [114164]

Ms Estelle Morris: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not issued any guidance on the appointment of inspectors. The other parts of the question were answered by Chris Woodhead in a written reply to the hon. Member on 28 February 2000. Copies of the letter are in the Libraries.

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the individuals employed or used by Ofsted to undertake inspections of schools, other educational establishments and education authorities, indicating with what private consultancies each is associated. [113659]

Ms Estelle Morris: This is a matter for HM Chief Inspector of Schools and I have therefore asked Chris Woodhead to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.

Child Care Costs

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will estimate the average weekly cost of full-time child care provision for a child aged (a) zero to two and (b) two to five (i) in a nursery place and (ii) with a registered childminder; and what variations exist between average child care costs in each setting in each region in England and Wales. [110548]

Ms Hodge: The Department does not have information on child care payments in the detailed form requested.

DfEE Research Report No. 176 "Parents' Demand for Childcare" includes analysis of weekly household child care payments. For households with pre-school children only, the average (mean) weekly child care payment among those who paid some money for child care was £68. Fourteen per cent. of these households had weekly child care payments over £100.

This analysis covers a range of households, many of which will be using small amounts of paid child care, and includes non-working households. It also covers a range of child care types.

Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he will reply to the question tabled by the hon. Member for Regent's Park and Kensington, North on 14 February (ref. 110548) relating to child care provision. [113925]

Ms Hodge: [holding answer 10 March 2000]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply above.

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PE and Sport

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he is taking to ensure that students on teacher training courses acquire the skills to teach PE and sport to a high standard; and if he will make a statement. [113657]

Ms Estelle Morris: We recognise the need to ensure that initial teacher training (ITT) equips trainees with the confidence and skills they need to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum in all the foundation subjects, including PE. We are addressing issues in relation to PE and sport through our wider reforms to improve the quality and flexibility of ITT provision. The Teacher Training Agency (TTA) is also addressing training in PE and sport as part of its review of the ITT Curriculum and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) Standards.

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he is taking to ensure Ofsted monitors the quality, range and overall level of provision for PE and sport provided by primary and secondary schools. [113658]

Ms Estelle Morris: The requirements for the inspection of schools are a matter for HM Chief Inspector. I have therefore asked Chris Woodhead to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his reply in the Library.

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