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Unclaimed Benefits

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the interest lost on late claimed and unclaimed social security benefits paid through post offices; and if he will make a statement. [143586]

Mr. Rooker: The information is not available.

Benefit Payments

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of using the LINK electronic banking network for the distribution of social security benefits to recipients who do not possess a bank account; [143580]

Mr. Rooker: When, in 2003, we move to paying benefits directly into bank accounts by Automated Credit Transfer (ACT), we recognise that there will be some people who will be unable to be paid by this method. For these, we are considering what alternative simple electronic money transmission system, which could be accessed at post offices, may be commercially available.

We have had a number of approaches from organisations that are interested in providing this alternative payment system and have listened to their proposals on a commercial in confidence basis. No decisions have been made or agreements reached.

As part of routine liaison with representative groups the Department has discussed a range of issues including how to pay those benefit recipients who are unable to be paid by ACT.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

Funding

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what percentage of the planned total

20 Dec 2000 : Column: 226W

increase in funding in each of the next three years will be met from (a) student fee contributions and (b) parental contributions. [142280]

Mr. Wicks [holding answer 12 December 2000]: Publicly planned funding for higher education is to increase by £412 million in 2001-02, £268 million in 2002-03 and £298 million in 2003-04. The increases in contributions to fees by students or their parents on current planned fee income projections, taking into account increases in student numbers and inflation, are accrued to be £48 million, £26 million, and £24 million, representing 11.6 per cent. of the total increase in 2001-02, 9.7 per cent. in 2002-03 and 8 per cent. in 2003-04.

For the first time in over a decade there will be a real-terms increase in funding per student in 2001-02, which will be sustained in the following two years.

Local Learning and Skills Councils

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the percentage of business representation on each of the 47 local Learning and Skills Councils. [142282]

Mr. Wicks [holding answer 12 December 2000]: Of the members initially appointed to the 47 local Learning and Skills Councils, 46 per cent. have current or recent business experience. In a number of areas, vacancies have been left to allow for additional appointments over the coming months to strengthen further the representation of business people on local Councils, and the representation of other interests as appropriate. When all of these further appointments have been made, we expect that the overall 46 per cent. figure will remain broadly unchanged, and that business representation will be at least 40 per cent. on each local Learning and Skills Council. The initial and expected percentages for each individual local Learning and Skills Council, together with the number of vacancies left open for business people, are contained in the following table:

Region/local LSCCurrent percentage of business people on local LSCs(9)Number of business vacanciesExpected percentage of business people on local LSCs(9)
South East
Berkshire46147
Surrey43--40
Kent/Medway43--40
Oxford/Bucks/Milton Keynes40--40
Hampshire/Isle of Wight43147
Sussex47--47
East of England
Bedfordshire47--47
Cambridgeshire40--40
Essex43--40
Hertfordshire42140
Norfolk43--40
Suffolk43147
North East
Northumberland55147
Tyne and Wear50253
County Durham64--60
Tees Valley36240
East Midlands
Derbyshire46--40
Leicestershire58153
Lincolnshire/Rutland50--47
Northamptonshire31240
Nottinghamshire58--47
West Midlands
Birmingham and Solihull38247
The Black Country46147
Shropshire33347
Staffordshire47--47
Coventry and Warwickshire42353
Hereford and Worcestershire36453
North West
Lancashire40--40
Greater Manchester53--53
Cheshire/Warrington43147
Cumbria50--47
Greater Merseyside47--47
Yorkshire and the Humber
Humberside50--47
South Yorkshire38247
West Yorkshire50253
North Yorkshire38140
South West
Gloucestershire46--40
Wiltshire38140
Somerset38140
The West of England43--40
Dorset50--47
Devon and Cornwall33347
London
London North43--40
London East47--47
London West64--60
London Central69--60
London South45140
Total463746

(9) These figures exclude local executive directors, as they are employees of the Learning and Skills Council.


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Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the services and provision made available by his Department in England for those diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. [142845]

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Mr. Andrew Smith [holding answer 18 December 2000]: The Department does not make direct education provision for those with autistic spectrum disorders. It is for local education authorities, schools and other education and training providers to arrange suitable provision for all those with learning difficulties and disabilities, including those with autism, in collaboration, where appropriate, with other service providers from the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors. The Employment Service is responsible for helping those looking for work, including jobseekers who are disabled. Although there are no programmes specifically for people with autism, there are a range of mainstream and specialist disability programmes which can help people with the disorder.

Commonwealth Education Ministers Conference

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the final UK delegation who attended the Commonwealth Education Ministers Conference at Halifax in November. [142849]

Mr. Wicks [holding answer 18 December 2000]: The delegation was led by Mr. Jack McConnell, Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs in the Scottish Parliament. It had 15 members, eight from the UK and seven from British overseas territories. Others were: Ms Gabriella Pieraccini, private secretary to Jack McConnell; Ms Elizabeth Williamson, Scottish Executive Education Department; Mr. Robert Mace, DfEE; Mr. John Aslen, DfEE; Ms Myra Harrison, DfID; Sir Tim Lankester, Deputy Chair, British Council; Mr. Geoffrey Caston, Chair, Commonwealth Scholarships Commission; the Honourable Milton Scott, Minister of Education, Bermuda; Ms Michelle Khaldun, permanent secretary to Mr. Scott; Ms Constance McHardy, Chief Education Officer, Bermuda; the Honourable J. A. Bodden, Minister of Education, Cayman Islands; Ms Joy Basdeo, permanent secretary to Mr. Bodden; the Honourable Clarence W. Selver, Minister of Education, Turks and Caicos Islands; and Mr. Oliver Mills, permanent secretary to Mr. Selver.

I was also planning to attend but had to withdraw because of parliamentary business.

Standard Spending Assessment

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list, for each local education authority in England, the proposed education standard spending assessment per (a) primary and (b) secondary pupil for 2001-02, together with the equivalent figures for each of the last five years. [142853]

Ms Estelle Morris: The information requested is set out in the following table.

20 Dec 2000 : Column: 227W

SSA per pupil: 1997-98 to 2001-02

£
1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02
PrimarySecondaryPrimarySecondaryPrimarySecondaryPrimarySecondaryPrimarySecondary
LEA nameper 5-10 pupilper 11-15 pupilper 5-10 pupilper 11-15 pupilper 5-10 pupilper 11-15 pupilper 5-10 pupilper 11-15 pupilper 5-10 pupilper 11-15 pupil
City of London3,0177,2453,0949,2363,3419,8373,39424,0413,34814,074
Camden2,9753,7403,1313,9473,3234,1323,4884,3533,6684,537
Greenwich2,8103,6792,9673,8543,1484,0313,2864,2373,4344,428
Hackney3,1794,3303,3274,5583,5144,7173,6624,9183,8155,121
Hammersmith and Fulham2,9553,8273,1284,0813,3054,2623,4654,4463,6554,624
Islington2,9994,0263,1684,2183,3644,4263,5434,6533,7194,904
Kensington and Chelsea2,7113,6303,0473,9463,3154,1273,5534,3643,8484,563
Lambeth3,1074,4033,3074,6613,5214,8803,6785,1383,8455,337
Lewisham2,9363,8893,1114,0883,2934,2733,4164,4393,5654,632
Southwark3,0294,0293,1974,1913,3964,3773,5234,5683,6884,777
Tower Hamlets3,2174,2613,3774,4343,5844,6203,7014,7993,8965,040
Wandsworth2,7793,6702,9003,7973,0823,9473,1864,1013,3334,251
Westminster2,7893,5782,9873,7413,2033,9123,3774,0963,5504,271
Barking/Dagenham2,4293,2132,5613,3772,6933,4972,8033,6602,9623,859
Barnet2,3002,9752,4293,1122,5563,2192,6643,3672,8193,553
Bexley2,2062,8882,3313,0312,4483,1282,5353,2562,6723,416
Brent2,6483,5782,8043,7102,9523,8433,0593,9803,2394,183
Bromley2,1802,8392,2982,9652,4163,0612,5003,1792,6413,350
Croydon2,3613,1252,4963,2882,6253,4142,7313,5592,8793,751
Ealing2,4803,3302,6223,5032,7623,6162,8853,7863,0613,995
Enfield2,3993,1312,5283,2602,6613,3692,7633,5112,9353,725
Haringey2,7623,7212,8923,8493,0493,9773,1724,1603,3634,380
Harrow2,2673,0002,3883,1482,5123,2662,6203,4122,7763,630
Havering2,1762,8532,2932,9932,4063,0982,4943,2242,6333,391
Hillingdon2,2622,9682,3993,1152,5213,2302,6263,3732,7693,545
Hounslow2,4403,1542,5703,3012,7083,4132,8183,5592,9883,769
Kingston upon Thames2,1682,8252,2932,9542,4163,0692,5013,1952,6413,376
Merton2,3143,0302,4513,1862,5763,3112,6773,4512,8313,646
Newham2,7523,6182,9173,8093,0723,9403,1964,1103,3624,333
Redbridge2,3233,0362,4563,1812,5773,2822,6753,4292,8193,626
Richmond upon Thames2,1262,7282,2532,8782,3722,9862,4583,1192,6063,298
Sutton2,2192,8662,3452,9952,4683,0942,5503,1992,6813,361
Waltham Forest2,5633,3992,7033,5302,8453,6502,9463,7853,1174,001
Birmingham2,2402,9602,3703,1132,5093,2452,6233,4112,7333,543
Coventry2,1232,7862,2432,9222,3743,0502,4743,1932,5663,308
Dudley1,9542,5592,0592,6732,1762,7822,2582,9052,3573,024
Sandwell2,1392,8082,2612,9542,3923,0792,4793,2132,5943,353
Solihull1,9612,5402,0532,6482,1692,7562,2502,8742,3392,977
Walsall2,0712,7012,1762,8192,3002,9342,3923,0712,4863,179
Wolverhampton2,1502,8482,2702,9872,4033,1012,4983,2332,6103,363
Knowsley2,3813,1772,4893,3362,6313,4622,7623,6512,8643,761
Liverpool2,2953,0222,4363,1652,5823,3152,7263,5132,8243,643
St. Helens2,0452,6952,1582,8242,2822,9402,3843,0832,4823,206
Sefton2,0382,6622,1532,7892,2742,9022,3833,0562,4713,153
Wirral2,1002,7632,2182,9052,3433,0262,4543,1842,5493,300
Bolton2,0422,6742,1592,8022,2812,9192,3753,0502,4713,161
Bury1,9722,5582,0812,6862,1982,7982,3002,9412,3943,065
Manchester2,3593,1382,5103,3212,6633,4912,7993,6932,9203,816
Oldham2,1022,73222,182,8682,3422,9892,4413,1382,5493,268
Rochdale2,1142,8062,2352,9342,3633,0502,4783,2042,5813,318
Salford2,1392,8142,2592,9702,3873,0942,4883,2442,5943,372
Stockport1,9392,5472,0422,6652,1552,7802,2472,9142,3373,026
Tameside2,0252,6482,1352,7682,2592,8832,3653,0312,4643,157
Trafford1,9932,6032,1032,7262,2222,8552,3102,9792,3973,089
Wigan1,9692,5722,0762,6892,1952,7992,2832,9302,3743,041
Barnsley2,0382,6872,1542,8232,2782,9412,3813,0842,4803,220
Doncaster2,1162,7822,2322,9182,3593,0422,4493,1822,5373,283
Rotherham2,0372,6552,1522,7792,2742,8912,3643,0222,4623,135
Sheffield2,0682,7252,1842,8542,3142,9702,4133,1112,5123,235
Bradford2,1512,8452,2722,9852,4043,1122,5183,2732,6233,407
Calderdale2,0502,6892,1612,8202,2812,9332,3813,0722,4803,195
Kirklees2,0662,7182,1852,8482,3102,9622,4043,0992,5053,229
Leeds2,0412,6802,1562,8062,2832,9222,3833,0662,4803,187
Wakefield1,9882,6032,0972,7282,2162,8442,3142,9822,4093,103
Gateshead2,0742,7362,1882,8542,3152,9772,4193,1242,5173,246
Newcastle upon Tyne2,1712,8462,2962,9982,4313,1252,5463,2962,6533,426
North Tyneside2,0152,6642,1252,7932,2452,9072,3463,0472,4473,164
South Tyneside2,1212,7802,2322,9002,3603,0222,4683,1792,5763,315
Sunderland2,0892,7442,2032,8712,3302,9892,4233,1282,5303,259
Isles of Scilly3,5764,7013,8845,0514,1365,2744,2685,5894,4385,672
Bath and North East Somerset1,9332,4832,0412,6062,1582,7152,2382,8302,3162,927
City of Bristol2,0932,7842,2072,9112,3383,0292,4393,1692,5453,293
North Somerset1,9422,5522,0542,6812,1702,7982,2542,9172,3413,027
South Gloucestershire1,9022,4962,0042,6192,1152,7262,1902,8392,2722,944
Hartlepool2,0982,7542,2082,8752,3312,9892,4453,1532,5503,286
Middlesbrough2,1992,9352,3183,0662,4513,1882,5693,3612,6893,518
Redcar and Cleveland2,1052,7392,2182,8662,3432,9862,4373,1172,5423,253
Stockton-on-Tees2,0662,7072,1742,8372,2952,9512,3913,0952,4903,224
City of Kingston-upon-Hull2,1592,8342,2792,9682,4123,0942,5343,2642,6413,399
East Riding of Yorkshire1,9612,5612,0712,6882,1862,7962,2792,9342,3653,052
North East Lincolnshire2,0772,7282,1872,8492,3122,9732,4293,1352,5373,269
North Lincolnshire2,0392,6732,1552,8062,2782,9252,3753,0732,4643,199
North Yorkshire2,0062,6022,1172,7322,2352,8412,3322,9832,4293,097
York1,9462,5852,0582,7002,1722,8082,2632,9392,3513,040
Bedfordshire2,0552,6962,1792,8352,2852,9332,3903,0812,5223,241
Luton2,2442,9582,3803,1112,4983,2152,6073,3632,7423,523
Buckinghamshire2,0642,7122,1802,8512,2862,9422,3903,0932,5183,251
Milton Keynes2,1332,8132,2522,9562,3653,0542,4623,1922,5973,350
Derbyshire1,9522,5642,0572,6822,1732,7892,2662,9232,3633,047
Derby2,0852,7472,1972,8652,3232,9812,4323,1362,5323,264
Dorset1,9632,5652,0732,6912,1912,7972,2822,9262,3693,035
Poole1,9432,5392,0442,6552,1612,7642,2352,8732,3322,993
Bournemouth2,0332,6502,1482,7742,2712,8842,3613,0152,4483,127
Durham2,0432,6852,1592,8242,2832,9412,3903,0952,4933,220
Darlington2,0372,6832,1452,8102,2652,9232,3793,0782,4703,189
East Sussex2,0942,7532,2262,9102,3363,0072,4453,1662,5773,327
Brighton and Hove2,1732,8472,3033,0012,4183,1012,5283,2562,6703,425
Hampshire2,0072,6302,1242,7762,2292,8692,3273,0142,4513,168
Portsmouth2,1632,8312,2952,9882,4103,0822,5073,2092,6393,366
Southampton2,1792,8882,3103,0362,4243,1332,5343,2962,6793,468
Leicestershire1,9052,5042,0062,6202,1192,7242,2022,8482,2922,960
Leicester2,2082,8982,3323,0352,4703,1672,5773,3272,6933,467
Rutland1,9422,4662,0652,5942,1902,7052,2642,7992,3462,906
Staffordshire1,9352,5332,0372,6532,1512,7592,2372,8842,3293,001
Stoke-on-Trent2,0432,6922,1552,8182,2812,9402,3973,1042,5203,249
Wiltshire1,9882,6022,0922,7312,2092,8452,2922,9712,3833,078
Swindon1,9792,6002,0822,7202,2002,8282,2902,9572,3793,060
Bracknell Forest2,1012,7552,2312,9092,3403,0152,4333,1592,5623,327
Windsor and Maidenhead2,0952,7082,2282,8592,3432,9542,4523,1082,5823,271
West Berkshire1,9912,5932,1182,7332,2202,8202,3202,9602,4523,127
Reading2,1492,9002,2793,0372,3923,1292,5013,2712,6413,465
Slough2,4443,2812,6133,4852,7393,6032,8493,7633,0093,967
Wokingham1,9102,5202,0282,6572,1292,7432,2192,8742,3383,027
Cambridgeshire1,9902,6082,1042,7342,2242,8442,3132,9642,4083,074
Peterborough2,1002,7512,2222,8862,3563,0192,4633,1692,5693,302
Cheshire1,9532,5432,0582,6632,1732,7722,2572,8982,3483,009
Halton2,1302,8122,2352,9462,3693,0682,4803,2242,5923,364
Warrington1,9402,5452,0362,6592,1512,7652,2362,8902,3263,004
Devon2,0252,6672,1372,7942,2582,9122,3453,0382,4373,148
Plymouth2,0342,6442,1492,7732,2742,8912,3863,0432,4803,161
Torbay2,0562,6872,1632,8112,2852,9272,3853,0772,4743,189
Essex2,1032,7612,2282,9072,3373,0012,4413,1472,5723,308
Southend2,1332,8082,2642,9552,3783,0452,4893,2012,6203,363
Thurrock2,2382,9382,3733,0962,4883,1922,5973,3502,7273,511
Herefordshire2,0462,7072,1492,8182,2702,9252,3663,0622,4583,166
Worcestershire1,9572,5582,0512,6642,1682,7722,2562,9022,3463,012
Kent2,1052,7592,2272,9022,3372,9952,4433,1492,5723,313
Rochester and Gillingham2,0932,7502,2052,8762,3132,9702,4173,1172,5473,277
Lancashire2,0272,6632,1382,7832,2592,8962,3613,0432,4573,164
Blackburn2,1752,8332,3042,9952,4423,1242,5483,2772,6423,398
Blackpool2,0402,7062,1682,8722,2892,9822,4043,1322,5003,251
Nottinghamshire1,9682,6102,0772,7092,1962,8182,2912,9622,3853,077
Nottingham City2,2632,9072,3823,1352,5223,2602,6263,4152,7383,545
Shropshire2,0032,6162,1002,7272,2202,8372,3042,9602,4063,083
The Wrekin2,0632,7042,1662,8202,2882,9372,3893,0872,4893,211
Cornwall2,0572,6982,1622,8202,2832,9342,3693,0582,4683,187
Cumbria2,0222,6442,1332,7742,2552,8872,3573,0322,4533,154
Gloucestershire1,9772,5842,0812,7032,1992,8162,2822,9352,3743,045
Hertfordshire2,1352,7882,2572,9272,3703,0232,4743,1702,6053,334
Isle of Wight Council2,1662,8402,2882,9812,3973,0752,5203,2572,6543,442
Lincolnshire2,0412,6752,1492,8022,2692,9142,3593,0412,4553,160
Norfolk2,0422,6752,1532,8022,2762,9092,3783,0512,4773,176
Northamptonshire1,9992,6202,1042,7392,2222,8502,3082,9742,4003,084
Northumberland2,0162,6382,1202,7652,2402,8772,3323,0142,4333,134
Oxfordshire2,0472,6692,1782,8152,2912,9182,3973,0702,5313,237
Somerset1,9962,6202,1052,7472,2262,8592,3102,9842,4053,098
Suffolk1,9832,5992,1002,7242,2222,8332,3132,9602,4053,072
Surrey2,1092,7632,2282,8972,3372,9882,4363,1272,5753,299
Warwickshire1,9602,5722,0632,6852,1822,7942,2672,9182,3623,072
West Sussex2,0432,6742,1592,8102,2672,9032,3663,0452,5003,209
National average per pupil2,1302,7822,2482,9182,3723,0312,4743,1752,5883,314

Notes:

1. 2001-02 figures are provisional and are based on settlement figures which are currently subject to consultation with LEAs.

2. 1997-98 figures are notional for those authorities affected by LGR in 1998.


20 Dec 2000 : Column: 233W

20 Dec 2000 : Column: 233W


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