---

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Means Tests

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if, pursuant to her reply of 13 December 2001, Official Report, column 960W, she will list each financial means test applied under education legislation. [26652]

Margaret Hodge: We apply means tests, either directly or indirectly, for the following educational purposes:

Schools—free school meals (and free milk where available); remission of charges for board and lodging payments on residential school trips; assisted places scheme; music and dance scheme

Post-compulsory Education—education maintenance allowances; learner support funds which are made up of: access funds, child care support funds, residential bursaries; dance and drama awards

Higher Education—student support including: grants towards tuition fees, student loans, including hardship loans; additional grants for students with dependants, including dependants grants, school meals grants and child care grants; hardship funds and bursaries, including opportunity bursaries and access bursaries; loans, hardship funds and fee remission for part-time students.

Sixth Forms

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the schools in the London borough of Wandsworth which have a sixth form. [25901]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: There are seven maintained secondary schools in the London borough of Wandsworth which have a sixth form, as follows:

Ernest Bevin College


Chestnut Grove School


Battersea Technology College


Graveney School


Burntwood School


Elliot School


Southfields Community College.

Healthwise Education Packs

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether she recommends (a) The Primary Schools Drugs Education Pack, (b) Taking Drugs Seriously, (c) Taking Sex Seriously and (d) The Primary Schools Sex and Relationships Education Pack published by Healthwise for use in schools and by school teachers. [26653]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: No. The Department for Education and Skills does not recommend or endorse individual resources. It is for schools to decide which resources are most appropriate to meet the needs of their pupils, in support of a school's personal, social and health education programme. The Learning and Skills Act 2000 places a statutory responsibility on head teachers and governors in devising a school's sex education policy to protect their pupils from inappropriate teaching and materials.

11 Jan 2002 : Column: 1066W

Social Exclusion

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what estimate has been made of the administrative cost to the (a) state, (b) unsuccessful applicants and (c) successful applicants of the competitive grant schemes, provided by her Department and its agencies open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion; [22404]

(2) Skills if she will publish a list of the grants made under the competitive grant schemes administered by her Department and its agencies open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion; [22407]

(3) if she will place in the Library a copy of the application form for each of the competitive grant schemes administered by her Department and its agencies open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion; [22412]

(4) how many different competitive grant schemes administered by her Department and its agencies were open in each of the last 10 years to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion; [22434]

(5) if she will list the competitive grant schemes, administered by the Department and its agencies, open in each year since 1997 to organisations in the voluntary and community sector for the purposes of tackling social exclusion and, for each scheme in each year (a) the number of applicants, (b) the number of successful applicants, (c) the total of grants awarded, (d) the number of pages in the application form and (e) if the grant can be used to fund the core costs of the applicant organisation. [22425]

Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 12 December 2002]: The information is not currently collected by my Department in the form requested. I am placing in the Library of the House copies of the application form for each of the competitive grant schemes that are available.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the circumstances of a joint patrol involving Afghan security forces and British troops, the latter would be in on-the-spot command, in the event of hostile action. [26485]

Mr. Hoon: Under the terms of the agreement between the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the Interim Administration, the ISAF will conduct joint patrols for liaison and familiarisation purposes but also as part of a broad objective of providing reassurance to the local population. The ISAF will also conduct independent patrols.

In patrolling together, the ISAF and Afghan Interim Administration forces will not be under joint command. The unified Command and Control arrangements under Major General McColl are clear and these will provide

11 Jan 2002 : Column: 1067W

ISAF forces with sufficient scope to react appropriately to any attack on them. The ISAF has robust Rules of Engagement which are appropriate to its mission.

These Rules of Engagement are in accordance with international and domestic law.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many troops he plans to deploy in Afghanistan; and when their deployment will be complete; [26348]

(2) if he will make a statement on the timetable for troop deployment in Afghanistan. [26353]

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the UK element of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan to be fully deployed. [26674]

Mr. Hoon: The United Kingdom's contribution to the ISAF in Kabul will total up to 1,800 personnel. In addition and in the short term, we are deploying nearly 300 Army and Royal Air Force personnel to help repair Kabul International airport. This will help us in re-supplying the ISAF and will be of lasting benefit for the Afghan people.

I expect the UK element of the ISAF to be fully deployed by mid-February.

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance he has requested from the US to aid the deployment of ground troops in Afghanistan. [26351]

Mr. Hoon: Assuming that the hon. Member is referring to the deployment of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the United States agreed to our request for practical support for the deployment of the ISAF and they have established a liaison team at the headquarters of the force. I am withholding further details under section 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what UK forces will be deployed in Afghanistan by Friday 11 January; and what the full UK deployment will comprise. [26673]

Mr. Hoon: As of 11 January, UK forces deployed as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan will comprise elements of Headquarters 3 Division and Headquarters 16 Air Assault Brigade, D Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment plus logistic, communications and other enablers.

On current plans, the full UK contribution to the ISAF will comprise up to 1,800 personnel, which in addition to the units already deployed will include the balance of the 2nd Battalion the Parachute Regiment, engineer units plus other logistic enablers.

We will also deploy sufficient personnel to activate and operate Kabul International airport.

Pensions

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many enlisted personnel have retired on a full pension in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [25834]

11 Jan 2002 : Column: 1068W

Mr. Ingram: Information on the number of personnel retiring on full pension, that is those payable on completion of 37 years service, is not identified separately and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

C130 Hercules

Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many C130 Ks and how many C130 Js are equipped with a full Defensive Aids suite; when he plans to equip the balance of the fleet; and how many C130 Ks and C130 Js are adopted for special forces roles. [26352]

Dr. Moonie: I am withholding the information requested in accordance with Exemption 1a of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Rapid Reaction Mechanisms

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what response he has made to (a) OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) requirements for rapid expert assistance and co-operation teams and (b) EU requirements for a rapid reaction mechanism for civil crisis management. [26668]

Peter Hain: I have been asked to reply.

HMG strongly support the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and its missions, and has responded promptly and substantially to the Rapid Expert Assistance and Co-operation Teams (REACT) programme rolled out in April 2001.

The Government support the EU's Rapid Reaction Mechanism which allows for rapid intervention from the European community's budget in situations of emerging or actual crisis.

---