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Private Finance (Merseyside)
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of local private sector participation in the Merseyside Objective 1 1994–99 programme with reference to the role outlined in the Single Programming Document. [38365]
Ms Keeble: The involvement of the private sector was positively encouraged as part of the partnership implementing of the 1994–99 Merseyside Objective 1 programme, and a representative from the Liverpool chamber of commerce was appointed as the private sector co-ordinator to the programme. The financial tables in the programme also included a private sector contribution and we expect this to be fully delivered.
Congestion Charging
Mr. Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will approve the general plan for the spending of the net proceeds from the proposed London congestion charging scheme. [41286]
Mr. Jamieson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has today approved the general plan.
In deciding to approve the plan, my right hon. Friend has had regard to the relevant statutory requirements. In particular, paragraph 16(1) of Schedule 23 to the GLA Act 1999 provides that "the net proceeds of the scheme shall, during the scheme's initial period 10 years beginning with the coming into force of the scheme be available only for application for relevant transport purposes". And "relevant transport purpose" is defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 23 as "any purpose which directly or indirectly facilitates the implementation of any policies or proposals set out in the Mayor's transport strategy". Paragraph 16(5) of Schedule 23 provides that "the net proceeds of charging schemes may only be applied for purposes which provide value for money".
My right hon. Friend has had regard to all the representations to Ministers about the general plan including those set out in the letter of 2 November 2001 from Councillor Kit Malthouse of the City of Westminster to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also had regard to those representations about the general plan submitted to Transport for London (TfL), to TfL's report which they submitted to the Mayor on 8 February about those representations, and to the Mayor's comments on them set out in his letter of 18 February to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is satisfied that the general plan is consistent with the Mayor's transport strategy (which he has considered previously). He is also satisfied that the general plan enables the net proceeds to be applied for purposes which provide value for money. In this regard, my right hon. Friend considers that the general plan and the transport strategy are consistent with the Government's 10-year transport plan.
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EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Entertainment Costs
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list for 1997–98 and each subsequent financial year the amount spent by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies in respect of hotel and other similar privately provided accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) other persons; if she will list the proportion of this cost incurred in respect of (x) food and (y) alcohol in each case; and if she will list the average cost per hotel room or similar unit of accommodation provided in each case. [34387]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 14 February 2002, Official Report, column 560W.
Focus Groups
Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many focus groups her Department has convened since June 2001; and if she will list the topics discussed; [36579]
- (2) if she will place a copy of the discussions held with focus groups convened by her Department since June 2001 in the Library. [36580]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department commissions research involving focus groups for two main purposes: to help develop and evaluate publicity campaigns; and to understand the attitudes to education and skills issues of key groups, like teachers, parents, students and others affected by the Department's policies.
Research projects involving focus groups convened since June 2001 covered: adult basic skills; higher education; modern apprenticeships; science year; Connexions; young persons' communications; information, advice and guidance branding; matriculation diploma; dads and sons booklet; child care recruitment; foundation degrees; and the money to learn booklet.
I have placed a copy of the report of research into attitudes of key groups to modern apprenticeships in the House of Commons Library. I will place in the Library the report of research into attitudes to various higher education issues in due course when the research and report are completed. All those other research projects which have been completed and which involve focus groups are commercial in confidence as they tested creative work commissioned from advertising agencies as part of the development of advertising campaigns.
Capita
Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what information concerning individual learning account holders has been deleted from electronic databases held by Capita; [36942]
- (2) when Capita took the decision to delete information relating to individual learning account holders; whether she was informed of such action; and if she will make a statement. [36943]
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John Healey: The only information concerning individual learning account holders deleted from the individual learning account centre system has been that resulting from regular housekeeping such as to remove inaccurate information, duplicated entries or data input in error.
Rural Schools
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funds the rural school grant scheme has to distribute in 2001–02; and by what means these will be distributed. [37627]
John Healey: The Department does not fund a rural schools grant scheme. However, rural schools can benefit from a number of programmes, including those that aim to help small schools. The school standards grant of £7,000 for 2001–02 is paid via local education authorities (LEAs) to schools with 100 pupils or less. There is also the small schools fund worth a total of £80 million a year, guaranteed until 2004. It is allocated to LEAs according to the number of primary and special schools with 200 pupils or less and secondary schools with 600 pupils or less. LEAs have to devolve at least 95 per cent. of the money to schools, either using the Department's threshold for small schools or by setting their own, lower thresholds. The funding is particularly intended to support collaborative projects, such as shared bursars or pooled
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administrative staff. An element of it can be spent on extending hours of existing administrative staff, buying in staff cover or investing in ICT equipment.
Circulars
Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the circular documents that were sent by the Department for Education and Employment to (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools between 1 May 1997 and 6 June 2001; and how many pages each document contained. [38802]
Mr. Timms: The following table 1 shows the total number of documents sent to schools between 1 May 1997 and 6 June 2001. The full lists of titles are contained in tables 2 and 3, updating the list placed in conjunction with a parliamentary answer given to the hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) on 6 April 2001, Official Report, column 313W.
| Items Primary | Items Secondary | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98(13) | 86 | 85 |
| 1998–99 | 96 | 115 |
| 1999–2000 | 146 | 164 |
| 2000–01(14) | 64 | 63 |
(13) From 1 May 1997
(14) Up to 6 June 2001
| Page number | |
|---|---|
| April 2001 | |
| The National Numeracy Strategy: Professional Development Pack: 3 and 4 | 811 |
| Parent governor representatives on local authority committees dealing with education: notification of guidance | 1 |
| Policy and Consultation Note on Formula Allocation | 16 |
| The School Organisation Proposals by the Learning and Skills Council for England Regulations 2001 | 15 |
| Key Stage 1–3 Regulations | 3 |
| School Teachers' Pay 2001–02. (Confirmation of pay settlement) | 7 |
| May 2001 | |
| Key Stage 3 National Strategy: Framework for Teaching English: Years 7, 8 and 9—Management Summary | 13 |
| Response to the Consultation on School Governing Bodies (letter from Jacqui Smith) | 2 |
| Briefing note on organising teacher training | 2 |
| Developing Early Writing—The National Literacy Strategy (booklet and CD) | 169 |
| Spectrum 42 | 12 |
| Survey of Absences in Schools | 5 |
| Page number | |
|---|---|
| April 2001: | |
| Parent governor representatives on local authority committees dealing with education: notification of guidance | 1 |
| Policy and Consultation Note on Formula Allocation | 16 |
| The School Organisation Proposals by the learning and Skills Council for England Regulations 2001 | 15 |
| Key Stage 1–3 Regulations | 3 |
| School Teachers Pay' 2001–02 (confirmation of pay settlement) | 7 |
| Key Stage 3 National Strategy—Publication Summary | 1 |
| Key Stage 3 National Strategy—Letter from Secretary of State | 2 |
| May 2001 | |
| Key Stage 3 National Strategy: Framework for Teaching English: Years 7, 8 and 9—Management Summary | 13 |
| Response to the Consultation on School Governing Bodies (letter from Jacqui Smith) | 2 |
| Child Protection: Handling Allegations against Teachers and Other Staff: appointment of Coordinators | 2 |
| Briefing note on organising teacher training | 2 |
| Key stage 3 National Strategy: Framework for teaching English: Years 7, 8 and 9 | 75 |
| Spectrum 42 | 12 |
| Survey of Absences in Schools | 5 |
| Key Stage 3 National Strategy: Framework for Teaching Mathematics: Years 7, 8 and 9 Management Summary | 11 |
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