| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Connexions
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what aspects of the Connexions schemes in Cornwall, Devon and Lincolnshire focus on rural issues. [143261]
Mr. Wicks: Both Cornwall and Devon, and Lincolnshire are involved in the piloting of the Connexions Service and are developing their business plans to be in the first phase of delivery of the new service from April 2001.
As part of the piloting of the service in Cornwall and Devon the Local Management Partnerships in both Cornwall and Devon are piloting aspects of a rural outreach service. The aim of this work will be a better understanding of the needs of young people in rural areas and a better targeting of resource towards those young
21 Dec 2000 : Column: 268W
people. Part of the work will explore cross-border working. The key agencies in the area, local communities and young people are all involved in the work.
The Lincolnshire pilot involves a number of strands of activity that take account of the rural nature of the county. For example, the project strand that is looking at the involvement of young people and parents has highlighted the need to bring the service to the client through good help-line services. There is also a particular rural dimension to the issue of raising aspirations in communities where most people earn their living from unskilled agricultural work. In the South Holland district, the prospective Connexions Partnership is involved in the rural action zone. One theme of this is a "rural academy" which aims to provide enhanced educational opportunities by linking the resources of a number of existing schools. Another is to provide laptop computers on free loan through local libraries to encourage the use of internet based resources and services.
Improved Schools
Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which of the top 15 per cent. of most improved (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in England in 1997 to 2000 by region have 50 per cent. or more of pupils in receipt of free school meals; and if he will make a statement on the provision of bonuses for teachers and staff in those schools. [143436]
Ms Estelle Morris [holding answer 19 December 2000]: The names of the schools are listed in the table.
School Achievement Awards will fund staff bonuses at rapidly improving and high performing schools. The first round of awards will be announced before Easter.
21 Dec 2000 : Column: 267W
Sources:
Primary and Secondary Performance Tables 2000
Annual School Census 2000
21 Dec 2000 : Column: 269W
21 Dec 2000 : Column: 269W
School Governors
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the (a) vacancy levels and (b) turnover rate among (i) parent, (ii) LEA and (iii) co-opted school governors; and what principles underlay his proposals for streamlining governing bodies. [143598]
21 Dec 2000 : Column: 270W
Ms Estelle Morris: [holding answer 20 December 2000]: The Department does not routinely collect information on vacancy levels and turnover rates among school governors.
Our proposals for streamlining governing bodies are designed to ensure that they focus on a less "hands on", more strategic approach to their responsibility for raising
21 Dec 2000 : Column: 271W
standards in schools, leaving head teachers to manage the day-to-day business. The Consultation on School Governing Bodies, launched on 18 November, also aims to lighten the executive burdens carried by governing bodies through transferring some--particularly staff- related responsibilities to heads. If those changes are agreed, we believe that it would be possible to have smaller governing bodies on which all the existing stakeholders would continue to be represented.
Remploy Limited
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish the findings of the second stage of the Quinquennial Review of Remploy Ltd. [144126]
Ms Hodge: The Department has completed the Financial Management Survey stage of the Quinquennial Review of Remploy. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library and will be sent to key stakeholders and contributors to the consultation exercise. The report will also be available on the DfEE website, www.dfee.gov.uk/remploy, early in the new year.
This part of the Review considered the relationship between the Government and the Company to ensure that it operates to the highest standards in line with the commitment set out in the Modernising Government White Paper.
As we set out in the Prior Options report we shall undertake a further look at Remploy when we have evaluated the delivery of their new Corporate Plan. We shall aim to begin this review in April 2002.
Departmental Vacancies
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many staff vacancies there were in (a) each directorate of his Department, (b) his Department's Legal Adviser's office and (c) Government offices for the regions on business relating to his Department on 1 July. [143590]
Mr. Wills: The numbers of staff vacancies for each of the Department's Directorates, Legal Adviser's Office and Government Offices for the Regions as at 1 July 2000 are given as follows.
| Staff vacancies | Number |
|---|---|
| Corporate Services and Development Directorate | 6 |
| Employment Equality and International Relations Directorate | 6 |
| Finance and Analytical Services Directorate | 5 |
| Lifelong Learning Directorate | 14 |
| Schools Directorate | 11 |
| Strategy and Communications Directorate | 10 |
| Private Office | 2 |
| Legal Adviser's Office | 0 |
| Government Offices for the Regions (DfEE business) | 37 |
21 Dec 2000 : Column: 272W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |