| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Further Education (IT)
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what action he is taking to encourage the development of managed learning environments based on IT in further education. [140869]
Mr. Wicks: The further education sector is currently working with learndirect and private sector suppliers of managed learning environments. These suppliers are being encouraged to work towards common standards for their managed learning environments, so that their products will meet the needs of the sector. It is anticipated that the specification work for this will be completed in the summer of 2001.
Further Education Funding Council
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list from the earliest and most recent years for which figures are available the (a) amount and (b) percentage of total expenditure spent on (i) staff costs, (ii) operating expenses and (iii) other expenses of the Further Education Funding Council. [141042]
Mr. Wicks: For the first and last years of available data for the Further Education Funding Council for England, expenditure on pay costs and non-pay costs and the percentage of total expenditure that represents were as
30 Nov 2000 : Column: 828W
follows (the figures for staff costs include all staff and agency employees. Contract staff are included in operational costs):
| 1993-94(25) | 1999-2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Staff costs (£) | 8,607,000 | 13,421,000 |
| percentage of total expenditure | 0.32 | 0.40 |
| Operational costs (£) | 13,134,000 | 11,779,000 |
| percentage of total expenditure | 0.49 | 0.35 |
(25) 16 months
Higher Education Funding Council
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list from the earliest and most recent years for which figures are available the (a) amount and (b) percentage of total expenditure spent on (i) staff costs, (ii) operating expenses and (iii) other expenses of the Higher Education Funding Council. [141043]
Mr. Wicks: For the first and last years of available data for the Higher Education Funding Council for England, expenditure on pay costs and non-pay costs and the percentage of total expenditure that represents were as follows:
| 1995-96 | 1999-2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Staff costs (£) | 5,127,000 | 6,395,000 |
| Percentage of total expenditure | 0.14 | 0.15 |
| Other costs (£) | 6,748,000 | 5,340,000 |
| Percentage of total expenditure | 0.19 | 0.13 |
For the first two years of its operation (1993-94 and 1994-95) the HEFCE's administration costs were not split. From the 1995-96 financial year, the administration budget was split only into pay and non-pay costs. Staff costs include all staff, agency employees and contract staff.
Employment and Social Policy Council
Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what the outcome was of the Employment and Social Policy Council held in Brussels on 27 to 28 November; and if he will make a statement. [141136]
Ms Jowell: Along with my hon. Friend the Minister for Competitiveness, I represented the UK at the Employment and Social Policy Council held in Brussels on 27 to 28 November.
This was a busy Council, the most significant item being the agreement brokered on the Social Policy Agenda, which identifies the main priorities in the field of social policy for the next five years. The agreed text, to be sent to the Nice European Council for adoption, emphasises the goals agreed at the Lisbon Council in March, in particular in the areas of employment, social inclusion and the use of the open co-ordination approach.
Council agreed the three elements of the Autumn Employment Package: the draft Employment guidelines; Recommendations on member states' employment policies and the Joint Employment Report for 2000, prior to the European Council at Nice.
30 Nov 2000 : Column: 829W
The Presidency made a progress report on a proposal for a decision on a community programme providing analytical support for the European Employment Strategy which is being negotiated in working group.
The Presidency presented its progress reports on the work undertaken on simplifying the legislation co-ordinating social security systems for migrant workers and on this year's miscellaneous amendments to Regulation 1408/71. It also presented an interim report on the future of social protection. Council agreed an action programme to tackle social exclusion, providing funding for exchanges of information and best practice in this area.
Council discussed both information and consultation and the European Company Statute; the Presidency published its conclusions on these dossiers without any agreement being reached.
The Council agreed to adopt the community action programme on gender equality and also agreed conclusions on balancing work and family life, following up the Beijing platform for action.
The Council reached political agreement on a compromise proposal on the Physical Agents (Vibrations) Directive, which seeks to protect workers from the effects of vibrations and also agreed to invite the Commission to monitor scientific developments in this field.
Music Tuition (Schools)
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the opportunities for children in state schools to learn to play musical instruments. [139875]
Jacqui Smith: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
Rural Deprivation
Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps the Government are taking to address (a) poor health outcomes and (b) low educational aspirations amongst children in (i) rural and (ii) semi-rural areas. [140676]
Jacqui Smith: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my letter in the Library.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000, Official Report, column 45W, on special advisers, if he will list the destination and the total cost, including travel, accommodation and subsistence allowance, on each of the occasions when departmental or non-departmental special advisers travelled abroad in an official capacity. [135248]
Mr. Robin Cook: I will write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.
30 Nov 2000 : Column: 830W
Sri Lanka
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for a resolution of the divisions in Sri Lanka following the recent elections; and if he will make a statement. [139416]
Mr. Hain: We are appalled at the devastation and misery caused by the conflict in Sri Lanka.
During my recent visit to Sri Lanka on 22 and 23 November, I was able to meet, among others, many Government Ministers, the opposition leader and figures from minority parties. I got the impression that most people are war-weary. I noted that there now seems to be a willingness to take the peace process forward. We urge both sides to work with Norway to achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict through negotiation. The Secretary of State made the same points to President Kumaratung when they met on 28 November.
We stand ready to help, in whatever way we can.
World Trade Organisation
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effect of the new draft Protocol on arrangements for participation by the EU in WTO proceedings on Government practice; and to what Article 7.3 refers. [139902]
Mr. Vaz: The purpose of the draft Protocol is to establish a single procedure for the EU's (the Community and the member states) participation in the WTO. The Protocol is one of several suggestions put forward by the Presidency on the reform of the Common Commercial Policy. We are considering it along with others.
Article 7.3 is intended to ensure that, in a dispute settlement case against one or more member states, the Commission and the member states involved will take steps to avoid calling into question or jeopardising the benefits accruing to the Community and/or the other member states from their membership of the WTO.
EU Intergovernmental Conference
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy towards the last resort clause in the IGC enhanced co-operation discussions, and on how co-operation will be challenged under this principle. [139915]
Mr. Vaz: The Government see a positive role for enhanced co-operation in an enlarged European Union, provided that it is open to all and does not undermine the coherence of the EU, in particular the Single Market.
We have also made clear that it should be the exception, not the rule: and therefore we support a last resort clause. It is for the ECJ to ensure that in the interpretation and application of the EU Treaties the law is observed.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if French Presidency IGC draft, Article 93 TEC, section 4, permits the establishment of corpus juris by qualified majority voting. [139920]
30 Nov 2000 : Column: 831W
Mr. Vaz: As soon as the information can be compiled I will write to the hon. Member, and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on (a) the operations of and (b) his policy on Article 300(6) TEC of the Progress report of the IGC. [139913]
Mr. Vaz: As soon as the information can be compiled I will write to the hon. Member, and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what definition of discrimination and double taxation is used in Article 93 as referred to in the Progress report of the IGC. [139922]
Mr. Vaz: Article 93 TEC of the Progress report on the IGC does not define discrimination and double taxation.
The Government have made clear that they will not accept QMV for tax.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those organisations already extant which could be absorbed into the EU under the principle of enhanced co-operation. [139964]
Mr. Vaz: Enhanced co-operation is intended to allow a group of countries to undertake a particular activity together. It cannot affect the institutional framework of the EU.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy towards including the concept of risk of serious breach, in lieu of actual breach, by a member state of the principles set out in Article 6(1) TEU, as established in Article 7 TEU of the IGC proposals; and if voting rights may be suspended consequently without such breach having occurred. [139904]
Mr. Vaz: There have been various proposals for a new early warning mechanism for Article 7 TEU in the event of a risk of a breach by a member state of fundamental rights. The latest Presidency proposal provides for the Council to address recommendations to the State in question. As in the current Treaty, any suspension of voting rights could take place only if the Council determined that such a breach had taken place. The Government are considering the scope for change to this article.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what definition is used of fundamental freedoms in subsection 1 of Article 181 of the Progress report of the IGC. [139923]
Mr. Vaz: Article 181a of the Progress Report on the IGC does not define fundamental freedoms.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the term "organised civil society" in the context of Article 257 TEC of the Progress report of the IGC. [139921]
Mr. Vaz: The term "organised civil society" has been inserted with the intention of widening the scope of representatives on the Economic and Social Committee.
30 Nov 2000 : Column: 832W
The Government support amendments of the article that will make the Committee more representative of modern society.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on participation by devolved Governments in the IGC. [139781]
Mr. Vaz: The devolved governments have been fully involved in the preparation of the Government's IGC position and have been consulted at every key stage in the negotiations process.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |