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Road Maintenance
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the trunk roads on which day-to-day maintenance is carried out by private sector companies. [42186]
Mr. Byers: The Highways Agency has overall responsibility for the management of the whole trunk road network in England. The day-to-day maintenance is, and has been for many years, contracted out to private companies.
Railtrack
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what conditions are attached to the European Commission's agreement to the payment of state aid for Railtrack in administration. [42188]
Mr. Byers: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 170W.
Road Network Management
(Emergency Services)
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Department of Health regarding the impact on the Ambulance Service of his proposals to improve management of the road network. [42184]
Mr. Byers: Discussions on improving the management of the trunk road network have taken place with representatives of the Ambulance Service as part of a cross-organisation review of road incident management.
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the impact on police investigations of his proposal to improve management of the road network. [42182]
Mr. Byers: Discussion on improving the management of the trunk road network are taking place at several levels, involving Ministers, officials and representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers.
Local Authorities
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what discussions he had with (a) the LGA and (b) the ALG on the impact of the banding of local authorities on their ability to recruit and retain staff; [41991]
- (2) what (a) research he commissioned and (b) representations he has received on the impact of the banding of local authorities on their ability to recruit and retain staff. [41992]
Mr. Byers: Discussions with the local government community were held during the preparation and drafting of the Local Government White Paper where the proposals to categorise authorities into four bands were announced.
The White Paper charged the Audit Commission with developing the methodology for Comprehensive Performance Assessment and ultimately categorising
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authorities. The LGA and other key stakeholders are working with them in the development of the methodology and practical trialing with 10 Pathfinder authorities.
The White Paper proposals taken together will enhance the status of authorities as community leaders and will lead to substantial improvement in service delivery. This is the best way of enabling authorities to recruit and retain high quality staff.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the questions tabled by the hon. Member for Cotswold on 12 February refs 37055 and 37057 on NATS, when he will receive an answer. [39760]
Mr. Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 806W, and 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 176W.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Post-GCSE Studies
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements she proposes to facilitate more advanced studies for pupils who have taken GCSE early in a school without a sixth form. [41203]
Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 7 March 2002]: The consultation document "14–19: extending opportunities, raising standards" refers to the value of institutional collaboration, in the use of facilities and teaching staff, and the potential of ICT and interactive learning. The Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth will also help in this respect, by offering online courses and summer schools, and by piloting individual education plans for the most able. The consultation document confirms that further guidance and support materials will be developed.
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list her Department's total expenditure by month in each financial year since 1997–98. [32789]
Estelle Morris: Monthly figures for the Department could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the Treasury has published full, financial year outturns for the years 1997–98 to 1999–2000 in Public Expenditure Analyses (Cm 5101). Provisional financial year outturns for 2001–01 have been provided in Public Expenditure 2000–01 Provisional Outturn (Cm 5243).
Public Bodies (Chairmen)
Mr. Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the appointments made by her Department since 1 May 1997 of chairmen of (a) non- departmental public bodies, (b) commissions, (c) inquiries,
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(d) agencies and (e) task forces; and if she will list their (i) term of office, (ii) salary and (iii) known political affiliation (A) past and (B) present. [33894]
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Mr. Ivan Lewis: The information requested is listed in the following table. Information on political affiliation is not collected.
| Name | Body | Term (years) | Annual salary (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-departmental public bodies | |||
| 1997 | |||
| Clive Booth | Teacher Training Agency | 3 | 15,759 |
| Sir Anthony Tippett | Funding Agency for Schools | 2 | 30,000 |
| Sir William Stubbs | Qualifications and Curriculum Authority | 3 | 47,000 |
| Sir Michael Checkland | Higher Education Funding Council for England | 3 | 37,822 |
| 1998 | |||
| Lord Davies of Oldham | Further Education Funding Council | 3 | 37,014 |
| Norman Dunlop(32) | Engineering Construction Industry Training Board | 1 | 0 |
| Keith Bridge | Education Transfer Council | 2 | 15,000 |
| Sir Anthony Battishill | Student Loans Company | 2 | 67,000 |
| 1999 | |||
| Julie Mellor | Equal Opportunities Commission | 3 | 62,500 |
| Hugh Try(32) | Construction Industry Training Board | 3 | 27,695 |
| Jim Rowland | Engineering Construction Industry Training Board | 5 | 9,232 |
| Sue Maynard-Campbell | Advisory Committee for Disabled People in Employment and Training | 2 | 0 |
| Tim Melville-Ross | Investors in People UK | 3 | 0 |
| Bert Massie | Disability Rights Commission | 4 | 65,600 |
| 2000 | |||
| Alan Pedder | Remploy | 3 | 25,000 |
| Nick Reilly | Adult Learning Inspectorate | 4 | 0 |
| Richard Greenhalgh | National College for School Leadership | 3 | 0 |
| Bryan Sanderson | Learning and Skills Council | 4 | 40,000 |
| Sir William Stubbs(32) | Qualifications and Curriculum Authority | 3 | 42,559 |
| Clive Booth(32) | Teacher Training Agency | 3 | 16,767 |
| Sir Anthony Battishill(32) | Student Loans Company | 1 | 68,400 |
| 2001 | |||
| John Taylor | British Educational Communications and Telecommunication Agency | 1 | 0 |
| David Young | Higher Education Funding Council for England | 3 | 40,000 |
| Keith Beddell-Pearce | Student Loans Company | 3 | 65,978 |
| 2002 | |||
| Richard Handover | Adult Learning Inspectorate | 4 | 9,000 |
| Commissions | None | — | — |
| Inquiries | None | — | — |
| Agencies | None | — | — |
| Task Forces | |||
| 2000 | |||
| Sandy Leitch | New Deal Task Force | 2 | 0 |
| 2002 | |||
| Steve Morrison | Post 16 e-Learning Strategy Task Force | (33)— | 0 |
(32) Denotes a re-appointment.
(33) Until the task force reports.
Fair Trade
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 19 November 2001, Official Report, column 61W, on fair trade goods, if she will review and increase the amount of fairly traded goods purchased by her Department during Fair Trade Fortnight. [35916]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My Department takes every opportunity to encourage suppliers and partners to promote and purchase fair trade products. As the vast majority of goods purchased are via third parties my direct influence to purchase these goods is limited. However I continue to support ethical trading in mainstream business and encourage suppliers and partners to become increasingly aware of fair trade products during Fair Trade Fortnight.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether fair trade products are sold in her Department. [39823]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My Department takes every opportunity to promote fair trade products. Fair trade products are offered for sale by our contracted caterer in all the main Department head office buildings.
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