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Burma

Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Burmese Government concerning the sentence imposed on Mr. James Mawdsley in Burma and his treatment in prison. [118658]

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Mr. Hain: Our Ambassador in Rangoon regularly raises James's case with the Burmese authorities, including the Foreign Minister, Minister of Home Affairs and the Deputy Foreign Minister. The Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, also summoned the Burmese Ambassador in September last year to express our concerns about the case. Our Embassy have sent 43 official notes and one official letter to date.

In particular, we have protested about:

the failure of the Burmese authorities to inform us of his arrest;

the delay over consular access;

the denial of legal representation;

the length of the sentence;

mistreatment in prison;

lack of access to reading and writing material;

length of recreation time;

delay in getting the trial transcript;

delays in receiving food parcels, letters and books.

We will continue to do everything we can to help James and remain in frequent contact with his family.

Serbia and Montenegro

Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the British Government are making contingency plans for intervention if Montenegrin steps towards independence are violently opposed by Serbia. [118253]

Mr. Vaz [holding answer 11 April 2000]: The international community, including the UK, is watching the situation in and around Montenegro closely. It would not be sensible to comment on contingency plans.

Intelligence Service Tribunal

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been made following the expiry of the terms of appointment of the members of the Intelligence Service Tribunal on 15 December 1999; and if he will make a statement. [119095]

Mr. Robin Cook: Lord Justice Mummery has been appointed as President of the Tribunal for a period of five years, following his predecessor's acceptance of an appointment to the post of Intelligence Services Commissioner. Sheriff John McInnes has been re- appointed as Vice President of the Tribunal and both he and Sir Richard Gaskell have been re-appointed to the Tribunal for a further period of five years.

Lord Justice Simon Brown, formerly president of the Intelligence Services Tribunal, has accepted an appointment as the Intelligence Services Commissioner for a period of three years from 1 April 2000.

WALES

Works of Art

Mr. Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent on (a) the upkeep and (b) the purchase of works of art in his Department for each financial year since 1992. [117471]

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Mr. Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts on 4 April 2000, Official Report, column 392W.

In addition, some works of art displayed within my Department are on loan from the National Museum and Galleries of Wales. My Department does not own any works of art, and no expenditure has been incurred since 1992 towards either upkeep or purchase.

Economy

Mr. Barry Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary concerning the state of the Welsh economy; and if he will make a statement. [116231]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular meetings with the First Secretary and discuss a range of issues.

It is the sound policies of this Government that continue to build on our growing economy. The Budget is excellent news for the Welsh economy and will see Wales benefiting from increased spending on a number of valuable services. The health service in Wales will get an extra £99 million in 2000-01 from the Budget. Additionally, Wales will get a £50 million share for education and around £9.1 million for transport.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Computers for Teachers Initiative

Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many and what percentage of teachers have taken up the Computers for Teachers Initiative in England since its implementation; and if he will make a statement on the benefits of the scheme. [118702]

Mr. Wills: To date the DfEE has received some 9,000 applications under this initiative since its launch on 12 January 2000. This represents some 2.3 per cent. of teachers in England in the first three months of the scheme. This initiative is one of a series of initiatives to increase access to computers by teachers and headteachers.

The major financial incentive of up to £500 subsidy on the purchase of quality assured and high specification computer packages will encourage teachers to participate fully in the Information Age. Teacher competence and confidence in their personal use of ICT should be raised as take-up will be conditional on undertaking training in ICT use in the classroom available to teachers through the New Opportunities Fund. This in turn will benefit their approach to the use of ICT in the classroom. In this way, standards will be raised across all subjects, and school administration and management will be improved.

Curriculum 2000

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding is provided for Curriculum 2000 for each local education authority for the financial year 2000-01. [118559]

Mr. Wicks [holding answer 10 April 2000]: Funding of £35 million for the Curriculum 2000 reforms has been included in Education Standard Spending for 2000-01.

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Since local authority funding is unhypothecated, it would not be meaningful to break this figure down to local education authority level.

Capital Allocations (Cleethorpes)

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what has been the total capital allocation since May 1997 to schools in the Cleethorpes constituency; and if he will break down these capital allocations by category. [118654]

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is in the table.

	£000
Capital programme	Amount allocated to schools in the Cleethorpes constituency since May 1997
Surplus Place Removal(11)	882
New Deal for Schools	2,263
Schools Access Initiative	80
Energy Management	13
Class Sizes	1,149
Grant for Voluntary Aided schools	536
Devolved Formula Capital	401
Total(12)	5,324

(11) Although credit approval was allocated in respect of projects to remove surplus places from schools in the Cleethorpes constituency, the local education authorities (LEAs) are not obliged to use the credit approval for those schools.

(12) We have made other capital allocations to the LEAs covered by the Cleethorpes constituency, but it is for the LEAs to decide which schools will benefit from the use of those allocations.

Pupil Behaviour

Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps the Government are taking to help schools improve pupil behaviour. [118678]

Jacqui Smith [holding answer 11 April 2000]: We are making nearly £500 million available over three years to help schools improve pupil behaviour. This is backed up with new guidance on "Social Inclusion: Pupil Support" issued last July which offers schools advice on good practice in tackling pupils' behavioural problems. In addition, the Excellence in Cities initiative includes the provision of Learning Mentors and Learning Support Units to help school better manage disruptive pupils.

And the new Connexions service will complement these initiatives in providing coherent and co-ordinated support for all young people when and where they need it to enable them to participate effectively in appropriate learning.

Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment his Department has made of the impact on standards of educational achievement of poor behaviour in schools. [118677]

Jacqui Smith [holding answer 11 April 2000]: My Department has not carried out an assessment of the impact of poor behaviour on achievement. However, data in the Department's Youth Cohort Study show that in 1997 31 per cent. of truanting pupils gained no GCSEs, compared to only 4 per cent. of non-truanting pupils.

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In addition, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of School's latest annual report, published in February, shows the clear link between standards of behaviour and educational achievement. For example, in the majority of secondary schools pupils have positive attitudes to their lessons and to school; however, in a minority, pupils' attitudes to learning are particularly poor in Year 9 because not enough is done to respond to early indicators of pupil disaffection.

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