---

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Music Standards Fund

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was paid to each local education authority in England from the Music Standards Fund in each year since 1999. [9886]

Mr. Timms: The amounts paid to each LEA from the Music Standards Fund for each year since 1999 are contained in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library.

The figures for 2001–02 represent the grant allocated from the Music Standards Fund to each LEA and not amounts actually paid as we are still in the 2000–01 financial year.

29 Oct 2001 : Column: 529W

Ministerial Meetings

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the official meetings between Ministers and officials in her Department and representatives of the Local Government Association since 7 June, indicating in each case which representatives were present. [7491]

29 Oct 2001 : Column: 530W

Mr. Timms [holding answer 15 October 2001]: Details of meetings between Ministers and officials of the Department for Education and Skills and representatives of the Local Government Association are set out in the table.

Minister present	Local Government Association representatives	Date
Secretary of State; Stephen Timms	Graham Lane; David Wilcox	25 June 2001
Secretary of State; Stephen Timms	Graham Lane; Ronnie Norman	2 July 2001
Baroness Ashton	Graham Lane (Way Forward Group on School Governance)	3 July 2001
Secretary of State	Sir Jeremy Beecham	18 July 2001
Secretary of State	Sir Jeremy Beecham	30 July 2001
Margaret Hodge; John Healey	Graham Lane; David Wilcox; Ian Mearns	19 September 2001
Ivan Lewis	Graham Lane; David Wilcox; Richard Marbrow; Angela Roberts; Don Rule	25 September 2001
Stephen Timms	Graham Lane; David Cornwell; David Wilcox; Ronnie Norman	26 September 2001

Tuition Fees

Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will estimate the cost of the abolition of tuition fees in the 2002–03 financial year; what plans she has to review the impact of tuition fees on entry levels into higher education from social classes D and E; and if she will make a statement. [9078]

Margaret Hodge: The estimated cost of abolishing student contributions to tuition fees in England and Wales in the financial year 2002–03 would be £270 million in cash terms. This figure represents only a proportion of the full year cost. The full year cost, for academic year 2002–03, would be £410 million in cash terms setting aside any implications for student support. We are currently reviewing the student funding arrangements. We need to ensure that we have an appropriate balance between the contribution made by students, their families and the state to support our ambitions to widen access and participation in higher education. A range of policy options is being considered. No decisions have been taken.

Anglia Polytechnic University

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applicants were accepted for a place at the Anglia Polytechnic University at the beginning of the current academic year and in each of the previous three academic years for (a) full-time courses and (b) part- time courses. [9733]

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 26 October 2001]: The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has not yet published final figures for the number of accepted applicants at Anglia Polytechnic University this year. The latest published figures show that, by the end of June, applications for 2001 entry were 10,738, an increase of 13.8 per cent. on the same time last year.

Final figures for accepted applicants to full-time undergraduate courses in previous years are given in the first table; UCAS does not cover applicants to part-time undergraduate courses.

The available data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) for entrants to part-time courses are given in the second table; final figures for 2000–01 will be available in December.

Accepted applicants via UCAS to full-time and sandwich undergraduate courses at Anglia Polytechnic University

Year of entry	Number(17)
1998	1,942
1999	2,144
2000	1,893

⁽¹⁷⁾ Covers first degrees and HND courses. Each applicant can make up to six applications

Entrants⁽¹⁸⁾ to part-time undergraduate⁽¹⁹⁾ Courses at Anglia Polytechnic University

Academic year	Entrants
1998–99	3,678
1999–2000	4,665

⁽¹⁸⁾ Based on a census count as at December 1

⁽¹⁹⁾ Covers first degree, HND, HNC and other undergraduate courses

Source:

Higher Education Statistics Agency's student record

School Financing

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she plans to announce her proposals to introduce a new system of finance for schools; and if she will make a statement. [10632]

Mr. Timms: As part of the review of local government funding we have set up two working groups, with local government and schools partners, to develop proposals for a new LEA and school funding system. We will be in a position to make proposals for the new system by the summer of 2002.

University Staff

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 22 October 2001, Official Report, columns 42–44W, on university staff, when the information was first made public; and in what format. [10219]

29 Oct 2001 : Column: 531W

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 25 October 2001]: This information was first made public in the answer given on 22 October 2001, Official Report, columns 42–44W.

Learning and Skills Councils

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of employees (a) there are, (b) were transferred from the former training and enterprise councils, (c) were transferred from the former Further Education Funding Council, (d) were recruited directly from local authorities and (e) were recruited directly from private sector employers in each of the local learning and skills councils. [10291]

Margaret Hodge: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. I have therefore asked John Harwood, the Council's Chief Executive, to write to my hon. Friend and to place a copy of his reply in the Library.

Education SSA

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what factors will be included in the standard spending assessment formula for education in Worcestershire; if she will consult on the formula prior to its introduction in April 2003; and if she will make a statement. [10796]

Mr. Timms: We expect that the new education funding formula for schools will consist of an amount per pupil, with enhancements for authorities where significant deprivation adds to education costs, and a separate enhancement for areas where schools need to pay more to recruit and retain staff. The Government will consult widely on the formulae for services funded through the local government finance system, including that for education, prior to the introduction of a new system in April 2003.

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what transitional arrangements she plans to make during the move to a new standard spending assessment formula for education in Worcestershire from April 2003; and if she will make a statement. [10797]

Mr. Timms: There will be no changes to the current formula for education standard spending assessments before 2003–04, when we will be introducing a new system of funding assessments for schools and local education authorities. We have no plans to pay transitional grant in 2002–03.

Pupil Performance

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the relative performance of year seven and year eight pupils in secondary and middle schools in the last three years. [11029]

Mr. Timms: We do not have data on which to base a statement.

29 Oct 2001 : Column: 532W

Key Stage 1

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information is (a) collected by her Department and (b) published on the performance of individual schools at key stage 1; and what plans she has to widen publication. [11034]

Mr. Timms: At key stage 1, my Department collects individual pupil level data for task and test results in English and mathematics and teacher assessment results in English, mathematics and science. These results are aggregated at national level and published, together with the key stage 2 and 3 results, in a Statistical Release and included in the autumn package of pupil performance information that is sent to schools. Results aggregated at local education authority level are also published nationally. The key stage 1 results are not published at school level and there are no plans to widen the publication of these results.

---