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Special Educational Needs
Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will ensure that the total inclusion policy will not lead to the closure of special schools and nursery units by means of non-referral of pupils. [31247]
Mr. Timms: Decisions about the individual placement of children with special educational needs and the pattern of provision to provide for their needs are determined locally. In promoting the inclusion of children with special educational needs the Government have sought to ensure excellence and choice. Greater inclusion does not mean it will be harder for parents whose children have a statement to secure a place for their child in a special school. Where appropriate local education authorities should name a special school in a child's statement. The Government have underlined that there is a vital and continuing role for special schools. We are encouraging and supporting special schools to become outward looking centres of excellence, their staff working in partnership with their mainstream colleagues.
Schools and Admissions Forums
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many letters of (a) support and (b) opposition she has received to the Government's proposals on (i) schools forums, and (ii) admissions forums. [31385]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 30 January 2002]: Although our proposals for schools forums were first set out in the White Paper "Schools: Achieving Success", a full consultation exercise has not yet been held and only a minimal amount of correspondence has yet been received on this topic. The Department will be undertaking a formal consultation exercise in spring 2002
31 Jan 2002 : Column 487W
on the constitution and functions of schools forums. By 7 November 2001, our school admissions consultation had received 324 responses (78 per cent.) supporting our proposals for mandatory admissions forums, at least to some extent, and 79 replies from those who disagreed.
Class Sizes
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 15 January 2002, Official report, column 222W, on class sizes, if she will list the (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in the Hillingdon local education authority with 31 pupils or more as at January 2001. [31453]
Mr. Timms: The information requested is as follows:
- Maintained primary and secondary schools within Hillingdon local education authority with one or more classes of 31 or more pupils taught by one teacher—January 2001
- Maintained Primary Schools:
- Belmore Primary School
- Bourne Primary School
- Breakspear Junior School
- Colham Manor Infant School
- Coteford Infant School
- Cowley Infant School
- Deanesfield Primary School
- Field End Junior School
- Harefield Infant School
- Harmondsworth Primary School
- Lady Bankes Infant School
- Minet Junior School
- Newnham Junior School
- Newnham Infant and Nursery School
- Ryefield Primary School
- William Byrd School
- Hermitage Primary School
- Brookside Primary School
- Highfield Primary School
- Rabbsfarm Primary School
- Warrender Primary School
- Cranford Park Primary School
- Ruislip Gardens Primary School
- Hillingdon Primary School
- Wood End Park Community School
- Cherry Lane Primary School
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School
- St. Swithun Wells RC Primary School
- Botwell House RC Primary School
- Sacred Heart RC Primary School
- Oak Farm Junior School
- Grange Park Infant School
- Hillside Infant School
- Charville Primary School
- Hayes Park School
31 Jan 2002 : Column 488W
- Maintained Secondary Schools
- Evelyns Community School
- Bishop Ramsey CofE Voluntary Aided Secondary School
- Bishopshalt School
- Vyners School
- Queensmead School
- Uxbridge High School
- The Hayes Manor School
- The Douay Martyrs Roman Catholic School
- Swakeleys School
- Harlington Community School.
Teachers' Pay
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the ratio is between the average earnings of a secondary school head and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear. [31500]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 30 January 2002]: The ratios between earnings and house prices based on the average salaries (provisional) of full-time secondary head teachers in the maintained schools sector in England in March 2000, are as follows:
| Region | Salary to house price(11) ratio |
|---|---|
| Surrey | 1: 3.1 |
| Greater London | 1: 3.6 |
| Yorkshire | 1: 1.2 |
| Tyne and Wear | 1: 1.2 |
(11) The house prices used are the average prices of semi-detached houses sold from January to March 2000.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the ratio is between the average earnings of a primary school head and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear. [31553]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 30 January 2002]: The ratios between earnings and house prices based on the average salaries (provisional) of full-time primary head teachers in the maintained schools sector in England in March 2000, are as follows:
| Region | Salary to house price(12) ratio |
|---|---|
| Surrey | 1: 4.3 |
| Greater London | 1: 4.8 |
| Yorkshire | 1: 1.7 |
| Tyne and Wear | 1: 1.7 |
(12) The house prices used are the average prices of semi-detached houses sold from January to March 2000.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the ratio is between the average earnings of a teacher and the average house price in (a) Surrey, (b) London, (c) Yorkshire and (d) Tyne and Wear (i) three and (ii) 10 years after qualification. [31554]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 30 January 2002]: The ratios between earnings and house price, based on the average salaries (provisional) of full-time regular qualified teachers with three and ten years' service, who were in service in the maintained schools sector in England in March 2000, are as follows.
31 Jan 2002 : Column 489W
| Salary to house price(13) ratio | ||
|---|---|---|
| Region | Qualified in 1996, with three years' service by March 2000 | Qualified in 1989, with ten years' service by March 2000 |
| Surrey | 1: 8.0 | 1: 5.8 |
| Greater London | 1: 8.6 | 1: 6.5 |
| Yorkshire | 1: 3.0 | 1: 2.2 |
| Tyne and Wear | 1: 3.1 | 1: 2.3 |
(13) The house prices used are the average prices of semi-detached houses sold from January to March 2000.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average earnings of a teacher are in (a) Surrey and (b) London. [31557]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 30 January 2002]: The average earnings (provisional) of full-time regular qualified teachers in the maintained schools sector in Surrey and London in March 2000 (latest available) were as follows.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Surrey | 24,700 |
| Greater London | 27,300 |
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total external spend by his Department was on private finance initiative consultants in each of the last four years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by his Department over this period; and if he will make a statement. [31040]
Mr. MacShane: Over the last four years 10 consultancy firms have been engaged to support private finance initiative projects. Total expenditure has been as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 986,645 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,192,086 |
| 2000–01 | 356,640 |
| 2001–02 | 81,740 |
Detailed information about the average cost of each consultant could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Gibraltar
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the establishment of joint Anglo/Spanish bodies with responsibility for issues concerning Gibraltar will require the consent of the (a) Government of Gibraltar and (b) people of Gibraltar in a referendum. [30671]
31 Jan 2002 : Column 490W
Peter Hain: Discussions under the Brussels Process are aimed at overcoming all the differences between the UK and Spain over Gibraltar and at promoting co-operation on a mutually beneficial basis. The Government will stand by the commitment to the people of Gibraltar set out in the preamble of the 1969 Gibraltar Constitution.
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what talks have taken place under the Brussels Process regarding the possibility of joint Anglo/Spanish sharing of the policing of Gibraltar. [30627]
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the creation of a joint Anglo/Spanish body with responsibility for (a) Gibraltar's airport and (b) Gibraltar's foreign affairs will be discussed under the Brussels Process. [30669]
Peter Hain: Discussions under the Brussels Process will continue to include economic, cultural, touristic, aviation, environmental matters and the issue of sovereignty.
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has for the celebration for the 300th anniversary of British presence in Gibraltar. [30701]
Peter Hain: The 300th anniversary of the British presence in Gibraltar will fall in 2004. An announcement regarding celebrations will be made at the appropriate time.
Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a referendum on a bilateral agreement between the UK and Spain under the terms of the Brussels Process will be called only with the consent of the Government of Gibraltar; and if a bilateral agreement between Britain and Spain under the terms of the Brussels Process will lapse if rejected by voters in Gibraltar in a referendum. [30623]
Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) on 12 December 2001, Official Report, column 853W.
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the Chief Minister of Gibraltar. [31056]
Peter Hain: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and I met the Chief Minister of Gibraltar most recently on 25 January. We discussed various proposals to meet his concerns, invited him to stay in close touch, and await his response.
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