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Keystage 2 (Leaked Results)

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the joint inquiry by her Department and the Office for National Statistics into the leak of keystage 2 results during the week of 11 September will be (a) completed and (b) made public. [23930]

Mr. Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 27 November 2001, Official Report, column 782W.

Teachers' Pay

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what directions she is giving (a) local education authorities and (b) schools on how to finance the higher pay scale for teachers due in 2002. [24016]

Mr. Timms: In England we are consulting on a new special grant to help schools fund the cost of performance points, including points on the upper pay scale. The grant—worth £250 million over the next two financial years—will be allocated to local education authorities using a formula that takes account of the number of teachers on the upper pay scale. Local authorities will be expected to allocate the money to schools in the same way. Schools will be free to decide how much to invest in performance points, taking account of all the resources available to them including special grant.

18 Dec 2001 : Column: 302W

Funding for teachers' pay in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to announce the quinquennial review of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. [24366]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: In accordance with the Government's policy of conducting quinquennial reviews of all non-departmental public bodies, my Department is today beginning a review of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). Following Cabinet Office guidelines, the terms of reference for the first stage of the review will be:

to review the role and functions of QCA as outlined in its remit letter, the efficiency and effectiveness with which they have been carried out and how these functions contribute to the delivery of wider DfES and Government objectives; to consider the likely need for these functions in the future and whether there is a need for any reduction or expansion in the functions undertaken by QCA; to consider what QCA's customers and other interested parties think about its role, performance and responsiveness to their needs; to consider whether continued NDPB status is the best way of delivering these functions or whether some, or all, of the functions could be delivered more efficiently and effectively within an alternative organisational framework, including by another private, public or voluntary body or otherwise within Government; and

to consider the powers, remit, objectives and status of QCA and the membership and role of the Board.

We should welcome comments on those matters to be covered by the review from all those with an interest in the work of QCA. Comments, which may be made public unless respondents specifically request otherwise, should be sent by 28 February 2002 to:

Ellie Reynolds


Department for Education and Skills


E3c


Moorfoot


Sheffield S1 4PQ


or. by e-mail to: [e-mail]

We have asked that this first stage of the review should be completed by spring 2002.

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