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Pension Schemes

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many non-compliant pension schemes have been named by the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority, broken down by the different types of offence. [50036]

Mr. McCartney: Under pensions legislation, the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra) may publish the details of particular cases as they think fit. Up until June 2001, Opra used its discretion to name six of the most serious cases. Since June 2001, it has decided to publish the names of all schemes against which a penalty has been imposed. 201 such schemes have been named to date.

The table shows a breakdown of offences.

Type of offence	Before June 2001	After June 2001
No auditor	3	32
No actuary	2	1
No statement of investment principles	2	0
Breach of disclosure regulations	3	0
No internal dispute resolution	2	2
No member nominated trustee or director	1	2
No or late payment schedule	—	3
Late accounts or auditors statement	—	125
Late contributions	—	118
No minimum funding requirement valuation	—	5

Note:

The data are shown by offence and not simply by named schemes. About 40 schemes have been named in connection with more than one offence—for example one scheme had committed five different offences. Consequently the total of the figures in the table is more than the total number of schemes that have been named.

Means-tested Benefits

Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how the take-up of means-tested benefits has changed (a) since 1997, (b) since 1998, (c) since 1999 and (d) since 2000. [44245]

Malcolm Wicks: Estimates of take-up of income- related benefits for the financial years 1999–2000 and 1998–99 were published in "Income Related Benefits—Estimates of Take-Up 1999–2000". Estimates for 1997–98 were published in "Income Related Benefits—Estimates of Take-Up 1998–99". Copies of both publications are available in the Library.

Estimates are presented as percentage ranges within which departmental statisticians judge the level of true take-up to lie. The ranges for different years overlap; as a result it is not possible to make firm statements about changes in take-up rates between 1997–98 and 1999–2000.

18 Apr 2002 : Column 1120W

Housing Benefit

Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of new housing benefit claims were determined within 14 days in each year since 1997. [41785]

Malcolm Wicks: Information is not available in the format requested.

Appeal Tribunals

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what policy changes have been made to the conduct of appeal tribunal hearings in the UK as a result of the Tribunal of Commissioners decision in CSDLA/1019/99. [49010]

Maria Eagle: The jurisdiction of appeal tribunals administered by the Appeals Service extends to Great Britain. Northern Ireland has a separate appeal tribunal jurisdiction. This decision is currently the subject of an appeal to the Court of Session. There have been no policy changes in the conduct of tribunal hearings.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Women (Public Appointments)

Linda Perham: To ask the Minister for Women what progress she has made towards increasing the number of women holding public appointments. [50530]

Ms Hewitt: The Government believe that women and men should hold an equal proportion of all public appointments. Public Bodies 2001, published on 14 February, shows that at 31 March 2001, women held 34 per cent. of all appointments to the boards of non-departmental public bodies, nationalised industries, public corporations and health bodies.

The document "Public Bodies: Opening Up Appointments" which was also published on 14 February sets out the targets that individual Government Departments are working towards for increasing the proportion of appointments held by women and the action plans to achieve these targets.

We want to encourage more women to apply for national public appointments. That is why my hon. Friend, Minister for Women in the Cabinet Office, is currently hosting a series of regional seminars to give information and offer practical support.

The seminars aim to inspire women through real- life case studies, provide information about what appointments are available and practical advice on how to go about getting a public appointment. The seminars hosted so far have been very successful, and the programme is being extended. Research will also be conducted into the usefulness of the seminars.

The Women's National Commission is offering women who attend the seminars the chance to join an e-network. This will offer notifications of specific opportunities, occasional workshops and mentors.

18 Apr 2002 : Column 1121W

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Commercial Materials (Schools)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her policy is on the use of commercial materials in schools. [50597]

Mr. Timms: While we welcome business involvement in schools, decisions on the use of commercial materials in this sector are for the schools themselves to make. My Department issued guidelines entitled "Best Practice Principles: Commercial Activities in Schools" last year, to help schools make informed and sensible decisions about this. The guidelines make clear that schools should satisfy themselves that the educational benefits of the commercial activity outweigh the potential disbenefits; that it is free of incentives to children to engage in unhealthy, unsafe or unlawful activities; that explicit sales messages should be avoided wherever possible; and that the level of any branding should be appropriate to the activity.

External Contracts

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) which non-accounting and non- information technology external organisations have won new contracts with (a) her Department and (b) executive agencies in each of the past five years; [38753]

18 Apr 2002 : Column 1122W

(2) which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations which previously held contracts with her Department (a) won new contracts at the culmination of the existing contracts and (b) won new contracts after a period of inactivity with her Department in each of the past five years; [38754]

(3) if she will list the 30 largest contracts awarded by her Department from (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999, (c) May 1999 to April 2000, (d) May 2000 to April 2001 and (e) May 2001 to the latest date, indicating in each case the values of the contracts and the companies with which the contracts were placed. [38755]

Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 28 February 2002]: This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Faith Schools

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the denomination and type of publicly funded Christian schools which are neither Anglican or Catholic; and of these which are teaching creationism. [45762]

Mr. Timms: The available information is shown in the table. Information is not collected about whether or not a school is teaching creationism.

Maintained primary and secondary schools in England by type and denomination—as at January 2001

School name	LEA name	Denomination	Type of establishment
Maintained primary schools
Bearnes Voluntary Primary School	Devon	Christian	Voluntary controlled
Wray with Botton Endowed Primary School	Lancashire	Christian	Voluntary controlled
Warton Archbishop Hutton's Primary School	Lancashire	Christian	Voluntary controlled
Richard Durning's Endowed Primary School	Lancashire	Christian	Voluntary controlled
Cawthorne's Endowed School	Lancashire	Christian	Voluntary aided
Edmund de Moundeford VC Primary School, Feltwell	Norfolk	Christian	Voluntary controlled
Burnsall Voluntary Aided Primary School	North Yorkshire	Christian	Voluntary aided
Kings Cliffe Endowed Primary School	Northamptonshire	Christian	Voluntary controlled
Longworth Primary School	Oxfordshire	Christian	Voluntary controlled
Church Eaton (A) Primary School	Staffordshire	Christian	Voluntary aided
Dauntsey's (Aided) Primary School	Wiltshire	Christian	Voluntary aided
Woodhouses Voluntary Primary School	Oldham	Church of England/Free Church	Voluntary controlled
Blackrod Anglican/Methodist Primary School	Bolton	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Radcliffe Hall Church of England/Methodist Controlled Primary School	Bury	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Hey-with-Zion Primary School	Oldham	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Stansfield Hall Church of England/Free Church Primary School	Rochdale	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Aspull Church Primary School	Wigan	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary aided
Emmanuel Anglican/Methodist Junior School	Sheffield	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary aided
Holy Trinity Primary School	South Gloucestershire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary aided
St. Mark's Voluntary Aided Ecumenical CofE/Methodist Primary School	North Somerset	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary aided
St. Andrew's CofE Methodist (Aided) Primary School	Derbyshire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary aided
New Holland Church of England and Methodist Primary School	North Lincolnshire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Trinity School	Lancashire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Hapton Church of England/Methodist Primary School	Lancashire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Turton and Edgworth CofE/Methodist Controlled Primary School	Blackburn with Darwen	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Wellfield Methodist and Anglican Church School	Lancashire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary aided
Brinscall St. John's CofE and Methodist Primary School	Lancashire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary aided
The Bardney Church of England and Methodist Primary School	Lincolnshire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
The Caistor Church of England and Methodist Primary School	Lincolnshire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
The Brant Broughton Church of England and Methodist Primary School	Lincolnshire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
The Wainfleet Magdalen Church of England/Methodist School	Lincolnshire	Church of England/Methodist	Foundation
Forest of Galtres Anglican/Methodist Primary School	North Yorkshire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Lowe's Wong Junior School	Nottinghamshire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Elston All Saints Primary School	Nottinghamshire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary aided
John Fletcher Church of England/Methodist Junior School	Telford and Wrekin	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Knights Templar Church of England/Methodist Community School	Somerset	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary aided
Hob Hill CofE/Methodist Primary School	Staffordshire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Trinity and St. Michael's VA CofE/Methodist Primary School	Lancashire	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary aided
Haven School	East Sussex	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary aided
Holt Voluntary Controlled Primary School	Wiltshire	Church of England/United Reformed Church	Voluntary controlled
Queen's Park CofE URC Primary School	St. Helens	Church of England/United Reformed Church	Voluntary controlled
Affetside Primary School	Bury	Congregational Church	Voluntary controlled
St. Cyprian's Greek Orthodox Primary School	Croydon	Greek	Voluntary aided
Nutgrove Methodist Community Primary School	St. Helens	Methodist	Voluntary aided
Summerseat Methodist Primary School	Bury	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Wesley Methodist Primary School	Bury	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
St. Andrew's Methodist Primary School	Salford	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Boothstown Methodist Primary School	Salford	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Hurst Methodist Junior School	Tameside	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Leigh Westleigh Methodist Primary School	Wigan	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School	Wigan	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Wakefield Methodist Voluntary Controlled Junior and Infant School	Wakefield	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Bakewell Methodist Junior School	Derbyshire	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Staplecross Methodist Primary School	East Sussex	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Boughton-under-Blean Methodist Voluntary Controlled Primary School	Kent	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
St. Peter's Methodist Voluntary Controlled Primary School	Kent	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School	Lancashire	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Bamber Bridge Methodist Voluntary Controlled Primary School	Lancashire	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Rishton Methodist Primary School	Lancashire	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Oswaldtwistle Hippings Methodist Voluntary Controlled Primary School	Lancashire	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Leyland Methodist Junior School	Lancashire	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Leyland Methodist Infant School	Lancashire	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Burscough Bridge Methodist School	Lancashire	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Holmeswood Methodist School	Lancashire	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
North Meols Banks Methodist (Controlled) Primary School	Lancashire	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Wheatley Lane Methodist Voluntary Aided Primary School	Lancashire	Methodist	Voluntary aided
Gunnerside Methodist Primary School	North Yorkshire	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Melsonby Methodist Primary School	North Yorkshire	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Richmond Methodist Primary School	North Yorkshire	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Rode Methodist VC First School	Somerset	Methodist	Voluntary controlled
Hawkesley CofE/Methodist Primary School	Birmingham	Methodist	Voluntary aided
Holly Hill Methodist CofE Infant School	Birmingham	Methodist/Church of England	Voluntary aided
William Penn Primary School	West Sussex	Quaker	Voluntary controlled
Barrow School	Lancashire	United Reformed Church	Voluntary controlled
Maintained secondary schools
Westminster City School	Westminster	Christian	Voluntary aided
The Coopers' Company and Coborn School	Havering	Christian	Voluntary aided
King Edward VI Handsworth School	Birmingham	Christian	Voluntary aided
King Edward VI Five Ways School	Birmingham	Christian	Voluntary aided
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls	Birmingham	Christian	Voluntary aided
King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys	Birmingham	Christian	Voluntary aided
King Edward VI Aston School	Birmingham	Christian	Voluntary aided
Royal Latin School	Buckinghamshire	Christian	Voluntary controlled
Beaminster School	Dorset	Christian	Voluntary controlled
Davenant Foundation School	Essex	Christian	Voluntary aided
Colchester Royal Grammar School	Essex	Christian	Foundation
St. George's School	Hertfordshire	Christian	Voluntary aided
Cranbrook School	Kent	Christian	Voluntary aided
Lancaster Royal Grammar School	Lancashire	Christian	Voluntary aided
Bourne Grammar School	Lincolnshire	Christian	Voluntary controlled
Market Rasen De Aston School	Lincolnshire	Christian	Voluntary controlled
Lincoln Christ's Hospital School	Lincolnshire	Christian	Voluntary aided
St. Laurence School	Wiltshire	Church of England/Christian	Voluntary controlled
Selwood Anglican/Methodist Middle School	Somerset	Church of England/Methodist	Voluntary controlled
The John Loughborough School	Haringey	Seventh Day Adventist	Voluntary aided

Source:

Register of Educational Establishments.

18 Apr 2002 : Column 1123W

Foundation schools and voluntary schools only may have a religious character. They are designated as such by the Secretary of State under section 69 (3) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (SSFA). City technology colleges are independent schools and therefore cannot be designated as having a religious character.

18 Apr 2002 : Column 1124W

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