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Teacher Vacancies
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research his Department has undertaken into the reasons for which teachers are leaving the profession. [143939]
Ms Estelle Morris [holding answer 8 January 2001]: More teachers are entering than leaving the profession. There were 7,500 more teachers in England and Wales in January 2000 than in January 1998. The Teacher Training Agency nevertheless contributed to the costs of a study by the University of North London on teacher supply and retention in London. This included surveying those leaving teaching posts in six London boroughs in 1998-99, including those moving into other teaching jobs.
The most commonly cited reasons for leaving were school management, hours worked, pupil behaviour, lack of opportunities for promotion and school resources. We are addressing these and other issues raised, including through new professional development opportunities for headteachers and improved support for teachers, for example by the planned recruitment of 20,000 full-time (or equivalent) extra teaching assistants by 2002. A total of £174 million was allocated to local authorities on 3 January to help reduce truancy and indiscipline, and funding per pupil will have increased by over £450 in real terms between 1997-98 and 2001-02.
Education Funding
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received from LEAs on the level of education funding in the local government settlement. [143940]
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Ms Estelle Morris [holding answer 8 January 2001]: My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on the level of education funding in the local government settlement from authorities, schools and parents. We are continuing to increase the general funding available across the country following the Spending Review. In the four years from 1997, funding per pupil will have increased by over £450 per pupil in real terms. Under the last Government, funding per pupil fell by £60 in real terms between 1994-95 and 1997-98.
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if it is his policy to reduce the gap between the funding per pupil in primary and secondary sectors in Worcestershire and the respective national average for both sectors; and if he will make a statement. [144507]
Ms Estelle Morris [holding answer 8 January 2001]: We recognise that the current formula for distributing funding between local education authorities is far from perfect and that is why we are currently conducting a review of local authority grant distribution. The Green Paper on the future of local authority funding makes it clear that the Government are seeking arrangements which will be fair between different parts of the country; are more transparent; and will provide greater predictability and stability. Our objective is to remove the worst of the disparities that exist across the country, by levelling up, not down. We are continuing to increase the general funding available across the country following the Spending Review. In the four years from 1997, funding per pupil will have increased by over £450 per pupil in real terms. Under the last Government, funding per pupil fell by £60 in real terms between 1994-95 and 1997-98.
Curriculum
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in which curriculum subjects truth, kindness, good manners and courage are taught. [144012]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 8 January 2001]: These are virtues which are a responsibility for parents to inculcate in their children. School subjects like RE, Citizenship and Personal, Social and Health education can reinforce this by teaching children the difference between right and wrong, as well as the importance of being good citizens.
United Nations
Mr. Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will take steps to include an understanding of the history and purpose of the United Nations in the study of citizenship in schools. [144030]
Jacqui Smith: Knowledge and understanding of the United Nations is already included in the programmes of study for Citizenship education for secondary schools. From August 2002, Citizenship will be part of the National Curriculum and pupils will be taught about the purpose and workings of international organisations such as the United Nations, NATO, the European Union and the Commonwealth in contemporary society. They will be able to explore the role of the UN in conflict resolution, for example through model United Nations projects.
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This will build on the opportunity that already exists to learn about the UN as part of 'modern world' studies in the History curriculum.
WALES
Bilateral Concordat
Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the bilateral concordat between his Department and the National Assembly for Wales will be published. [144739]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The bilateral concordat between the Wales Office and the National Assembly for Wales has been published today and can be accessed on both the Wales Office and Assembly websites. The Wales Office website address is www.ossw.wales.gov.uk.
Departmental Projects
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the projects undertaken for his Department by (a) outside consultants, (b) academic researchers and (c) university departments since 1 May 1997, giving the total expenditure incurred in each category. [144079]
Mr. Paul Murphy: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
New Deal
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales have gained (a) sustained employment and (b) short term employment as a direct result of the New Deal since January 1998. [144057]
Mr. Hanson: Figures published by the Employment Service on 20 December 2000 show that 16,400 participants in the New Deal for Young People and the New Deal for long-term unemployed had entered sustained employment up to the end of September 2000, while a further 4,400 had undertaken a period of employment lasting up to 13 weeks.
Results from the New Deal for Lone Parents are not presented in the same way. However, 4,100 participants from this programme entered new jobs, while 200 part-time workers increased their working week to more than 16 hours.
Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what categories of submissions from civil servants to Ministers, other than those relating to (a) intelligence and (b) personnel matters, are not circulated to special advisers; [143802]
- (2) what categories of submissions from civil servants are submitted to special advisers before being seen by Ministers. [143803]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Special advisers in the Wales Office have access to material produced by civil servants in accordance with paragraph 14e of the "Model Contract for Special Advisers".
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Non-departmental Public Bodies
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what directions overriding a note of dissent by an accounting officer have been given by the boards of non-departmental public bodies within his Department since May 1997; and if he will place the details of such directions in the Library. [143543]
Mr. Mandelson: The Northern Ireland Office has received no such directions.
Modernising Government White Paper
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much for each financial year from 1998-99 until the latest date for which sums have been allocated his Department has spent and expects to spend on the implementation of the Modernising Government White Paper. [143696]
Mr. Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 21 December 2000, Official Report, columns 245-46W.
Terrorism
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, for each electoral district, the number of individuals that have been warned in the past 12 months that their personal details as compiled by security forces have been found in the possession of persons suspected of being engaged in the preparation and commission of acts of terrorism. [142322]
Mr. Ingram: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Military Intelligence
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in identifying the source of military intelligence documents found in November 1999 in Stoneyford, County Antrim; and how many people have been charged and convicted as a result of this raid. [142324]
Mr. Ingram: The Royal Ulster Constabulary is actively continuing investigations into the source of the military documents found in Stoneyford but this has not as yet been established. Three persons were charged with
"possession of information likely to be of use to terrorists".
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