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EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Sure Start
Mr. Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent progress has been made on the Sure Start projects introduced to date. [113174]
Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
Of the 60 Sure Start trailblazer programmes that were announced in January 1999, 53 have now received approval and are now starting to help young children and their families. The remaining seven will follow shortly. In November 1999, we launched the second wave of Sure Start by inviting a further 69 areas to start work to develop local programmes. All of these are now working on drawing up outline plans. This brings the number of Sure Start programmes so far announced to 129.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proportion of poor children will be covered by the Sure Start programme when the roll-out is complete. [113783]
Yvette Cooper
[holding answer 9 March 2000]: I have been asked to reply.
Sure Start are committed to establishing 250 local Sure Start programmes in areas of disadvantage by March 2002. On the basis of the 60 Sure Start trailblazers now in place, it is estimated that when fully rolled-out the programme will cover 18 per cent. of children under four in England living in households in receipt of income- based benefits.
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Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the qualifying conditions will be for retired people to acquire computers under the computers within reach scheme for the purposes of lifelong learning. [114115]
Mr. Wills:
The Government are making £15 million available for a scheme, "Computers Within Reach", to evaluate arrangements for those who cannot afford new computers to acquire reconditioned computers for use in the home for the purpose of improving their employment prospects, for lifelong learning or for their children's homework. Eligible recipients for computer packages under this scheme are expected to be those in receipt of a range of benefits including Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance, and may include those for whom state pensions are the main source of income.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000 what was (a) the number of occasions on which couriers were used to distribute news releases from his Department and (b) the total cost of using couriers to distribute news releases. [113969]
Mr. Wills
[holding answer 10 March 2000]: Prior to April 1998, the DfEE distributed hard copies of press notices via the Central Office of Information delivery service. After April 1998, all press releases have been distributed electronically via the News Distribution Service managed by the Central Office of Information. Couriers are not used purely to distribute press releases. It is however impossible to separate the times when couriers were used as the only practical means of sending out sensitive material which may have had press releases attached.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the (a) national, (b) regional and (c) local newspapers and media bodies to which his Department sent news releases during the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000. [113995]
Mr. Wills
[holding answer 10 March 2000]: Due to the sheer numbers of media who will have received DfEE press releases, it is not possible to provide a list. Press releases are available to all the media via the News Distribution Service, managed by the Central Office of Information, and the internet. Targeted distribution will rely on the subject and content of the specific press release.
Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress is being made towards a national roll out of the New Deal for Disabled People. [114688]
Ms Hodge
[holding answer 16 March 2000]: We expect to make an announcement very shortly.
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Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what discussions he has had with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on (a) state aid for pig farmers and (b) monetary compensation to farmers for currency fluctuations; [114683]
(2) what discussions he has had with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on compensation for farmers for currency adjustments; and if he will make a statement. [114947]
Mr. Andrew Smith:
My right hon. Friends the Chancellor and the Agriculture Minister discuss many issues. All relevant issues receive continuous close attention.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his estimates for migration from London to the south-east of England over the next five years. [114428]
Miss Melanie Johnson
[holding answer 13 March 2000]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
| 2001 | 2006 | |
|---|---|---|
| Inflow | 82.3 | 82.8 |
| Outflow | 54.1 | 54.8 |
| Net | 28.2 | 28.0 |
Athletic Events (Funding)
Mr. Faber: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about capital funding for facilities for major athletics events; and if he will make a statement. [113946]
Mr. Andrew Smith
[holding answer 14 March 2000]: No recent discussions have taken place between the Treasury and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about capital funding for facilities for major athletics events. Any additional needs will be considered as part of the current spending review.
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Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross domestic product was spent on the Investing in Britain Fund in the financial years (a) 1998-99 and (b) 1999-2000; what estimate he has made for (i) 2000-01 and (ii) 2001-02; and if he will make a statement. [114705]
Mr. Andrew Smith
[holding answer 15 March 2000]: The Investing in Britain Fund provides for the renewal and modernisation of the UK's public sector capital stock. Figures for capital investment as a percentage of gross domestic product are shown in Table B6, Annexe 2 of the pre-Budget Report (Cm 4479). These figures will be updated in the forthcoming Financial Statement and Budget Report.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the economic implications of the entry of dot.com companies into the FTSE 100. [114997]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
Changes in the composition of the FTSE 100 reflect market valuations of UK companies.
As the Prime Minister explained in a recent speech, the challenges and opportunities presented by the growth of e-commerce apply to all businesses, in all sectors of the economy. The Government recognise the importance of these developments and have set a target of making the UK the best place for e-commerce in the world by 2002.
Mr. Dobbin:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to allow local authorities greater access to the financial markets. [114911]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
There are currently no plans to allow local authorities greater access to the financial markets.
Mr. Russell Brown:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of ECOFIN on 13 March. [115740]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
The Paymaster General attended the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers.
The Commission presented its action plan for improving financial management and procedures. The Council recommended granting discharge in respect of the 1998 financial year.
The Stability programmes of Luxembourg, France and Portugal were agreed.
The Presidency announced that the ECOFIN Ministers would be invited to attend the Lisbon European Council on employment, economic reform and social cohesion. ECOFIN agreed a report to the Lisbon Council which emphasised the importance of sustainable growth, macroeconomic stability and economic reform in promoting a dynamic, innovative and socially inclusive European economy.
17 Mar 2000 : Column: 353W
The Commission presented their report on the taxation of aviation fuel.
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