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Assisted Places
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students are on assisted places in the 2001–02 academic year; how much is being spent on these places; and if she will make a statement. [58652]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: There are 12,550 pupils holding places under the Assisted Places Scheme in the 2001–02 academic year at a total estimated cost of £53 million in that year. We are phasing out the scheme in accordance with our 1997 manifesto pledge and using the resources saved to reduce infant class sizes.
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Departmental Budgets
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of her Department's budgets for the current financial year remain unallocated; and under what budget headings this money falls. [59105]
Estelle Morris: £30 million of the Department's 2002–03 budget remains unallocated. This is currently held under the departmental unallocated provision.
Print and Design Costs
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much her Department spent on print and design costs in 2001–02. [59365]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The majority of the Department's print and design is commissioned by its Publicity Division.
The costs of such work placed in the last financial year are as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 7.2 | |
| Design | 2.6 |
| Total | 9.8 |
Regional Organisation
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what regional organisation her Department has; and if she will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002. [58944]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department for Education and Skills works at the regional level through the Government offices for the regions. There are nine Government offices in England: south-east, south-west, London, east of England, East Midlands, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, north-west, and north-east. The Government offices are funded by nine sponsor Departments: the Department for Education and Skills; the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions; the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; the Department of Trade and Industry; the Department for Work and Pensions; the Home Office; the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; the Department of Health; and Cabinet Office. The Regional Co-ordination Unit based in the Cabinet Office has overall responsibility for the Government office network.
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The Department commissions Government offices to deliver a range of regionally focused services across the DfES agenda from early years to adult learning. Government offices also ensure that the Department's work is joined up with the regional implementation of programmes and policies of all sponsor Departments, and with the work of regional stakeholders.
Higher Education Funding
Mr. Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to raise the 10 per cent. postcode premium recognised in higher education funding to 20 per cent. [59292]
Margaret Hodge: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is reviewing the funding it allocates to higher education institutions to recognise the additional costs of recruiting and retaining students from non-traditional backgrounds (the 'postcode premium'). HEFCE is consulting institutions on widening participation; this includes consultation on the appropriate basis on which the postcode premium is allocated. The deadline for institutions to respond is 19 July.
Plans for spending in future years will depend on the outcome of the spending review.
Scottish Executive
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many times her Office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999 broken down by (a) Department approached, (b) subject and (c) date; [59534]
- (2) how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to her Department since May 1999 broken down by (a) Scottish Executive Department, (b) subject and (c) date; [59535]
(3) what plans she has to transfer the administration of reserved powers and functions of the Department for Education and Skills, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within its remit from her Department to the Scotland Office. [59536]
Estelle Morris: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 24 May 2002, Official Report, column 600W.
Committee Mandates
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the mandate of the Tempus Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56718]
Margaret Hodge: The purpose and responsibilities of the Tempus Committee are set out in Council Decision 1999/311/EC of 29 April 1999, which established the third phase of the Tempus programme (Tempus III). The Committee has met twice over the last 12 months. Two officials from the UK attend the Committee meetings. Travel costs for one official are met from Commission resources for the programme. Travel costs for the second
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official and subsistence costs for both officials, incurred by this Department and the Department for Work and Pensions, are in the region of £1,420 per annum. The Committee is currently considering implications for the programme guide for applicants of the Commission's proposal to extend the programme to countries of the MEDA region.
Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of such committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com(2001)783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every such committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the mandate of the Co-ordination Group to promote uniformity of application of the general system for the recognition of higher education diplomas (first general system) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [56754]
Ms Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.
The mandate for this Group is set out in Article 9 (2) of Directive 89/48 EEC as follows:
- A co-ordinating group shall be set up under the aegis of the Commission, composed of the co-ordinators appointed by each Member State or their deputies and chaired by a representative of the Commission. The task of this group shall be
to facilitate the implementation of this Directive,
to collect all useful information for its application in Member States.
The group may be consulted by the Commission on any changes to the existing system that may be contemplated.
The main issues/topics considered at the last meeting were:
- Proposed legislative reforms of the system of recognition of professional qualifications;
State of accession negotiations;
Information points from the Education and Culture DG;
Mobilisation of experts in the context of enlargement;
Notification of the measures transposing Directive 99/42.
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Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".
As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February (Com(2001)783 Final).
As part of the review process, the UK Government has encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.
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