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9 Dec 2002 : Column 99W—continued

Literacy

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures will be taken to increase the number of 7-year-old children reaching set literacy standards. [85054]

Mr. Miliband: The National Literacy Strategy (NLS) is raising literacy standards in primary schools. In this year's national tests, 84 per cent. of 7-year-olds achieved the level expected for their age—level 2 or above—in reading compared to 80 per cent. in 1998; and 69 per cent. achieved at the upper end of level 2—level 2B or above—compared to 62 per cent. in 1998.

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We remain committed to making further improvements in standards. We have introduced a new intervention programme, Early Literacy Support, to help those children in Year 1 who are already struggling with literacy or at risk of developing literacy difficulties later on. We will also continue to review and refine the literacy strategy in response to the latest research and evidence from our most successful schools.

Mature Students

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial support is available for mature students in higher education in England. [84964]

Margaret Hodge: We have greatly increased the financial support available to mature students. Nearly a quarter of a billion pounds is now spent on support for students with particular financial needs, including mature students, compared to #124 million five years ago. In the academic year 2002–03, in addition to means tested student loans (up to #4,815 in London, #3,905 elsewhere), and tuition fee grants (up to #1,100), full-time mature students can apply for dependants grants (up to #2,225 for an adult or otherwise for an eldest child, more for additional children), an additional dependants grant (#255), child care grant (up to #8,480 for two or more children), school meals grant (up to #275 per child) and travel, books and equipment grant (#510). They can also apply for discretionary support through their HE institution, in the form of #500 access bursaries, hardship funds and hardship loans. A single parent with two children in receipt of the full student loan and maximum child care grant could receive about #15,800 each year, plus discretionary support.

Part-time HE students studying on at least 50 per cent. (or more) of a full-time equivalent course are eligible for means tested fee waivers, student loans of #500 and discretionary help from the hardship funds. There are also generous non means-tested allowances for both full-time and part-time disabled students.

These arrangements are generous but overly complicated. From 2003–04 they will be simplified. A new grant (the Parents Learning Allowance worth up to #1,300) will replace the access bursary, the additional dependants grant and the travel, books and equipment grant and child dependants grant and school meals grant will be replaced by child tax credits and passported free school meals from the Inland Revenue. From 2004–05, hardship funds and loans will be replaced by grants from a new Access to Learning Fund. These streamlined arrangements will in some cases provide students with more help than they currently receive.

NVQs

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people (a) enrolled for and (b) completed national vocational qualifications in (i) plumbing, (ii) bricklaying, (iii) bridge to construction (or intermediate construction award), (iv) painting and decorating and (v) wood occupations, in each year since the establishment of the courses. [83770]

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 5 December 2002]: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

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Performing Arts

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on what basis Government funding is allocated for small specialist performing arts institutions in (a) music, (b) acting, (c) dance, (d) performance technology and (e) sound technology; and if he will make a statement. [82110]

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 21 November 2002]: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is responsible for determining the allocation of grants to higher education institutions. In general, the HEFCE fund similar courses at similar rates irrespective of which higher education institution is providing the course. However, in the case of specialist institutions, additional funding is provided to reflect the nature of the institution and the characteristics of the courses provided. Guidance on the general funding methodology for specialist institutions was published in HEFCE circular 98/10 following advice from the Specialist Institutions Advisory Panel. Criteria for the funding of specialist performing arts institutions were published in HEFCE circular 99/41 and were based on detailed analysis of the costs and characteristics of the provision. The council does not distinguish between the different art forms in its funding methodology, and the amount of additional funding for these institutions varies according to how closely they meet the criteria set out in the guidance. HEFCE have also made public criteria for the funding of very high cost institutions specialising in music, dance and drama. The supplementary funding for specialist institutions is kept under review to ensure that the levels remain appropriate.

Reception Classes

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many four year olds there were in reception classes in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [85432]

Mr. Stephen Twigg [holding answer 5 December 2002]: The information is not available in the form requested.

The percentage of four year olds in classes not designated as nursery classes in maintained primary schools in England between 1993 and 2002 is shown in the table.

Number and percentage(21) of 4-year-olds in classes not designated as nursery classes(22) in maintained primary schools. January 1993–2002—England

Number of 4-year-olds educated in infant classes in maintained primary schoolsPercentage of 4-year-olds educated in infant classes
1993(23)(23)
1994(23)(23)
1995(23)(23)
1996343,40052
1997345,20053
1998351,00056
1999353,90057
2000349,40057
2001(23)(23)
2002(24)358,30060

(21) Number of 4-year-olds in classes not designated as nursery classes expressed as a percentage of the 4-year-old population.

(22) Includes reception and other class provision for 4-year-olds but excludes designated nursery classes.

(23) Not available.

(24) Provisional.


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Since 1998, there has been a Statutory Duty on all LEAs to secure sufficient provision for all four year olds, whose parents want one, in their area. It is for each local education authority in consultation with their early years and child care partnership to plan and organise such provision: places are made available in the maintained, private, voluntary and independent sectors.

Latest figures on under 5s' provision in England were published in Statistical First Release XProvision for children under five years of age in England —January 2002 (provisional estimates)", a copy of which is available from the Library or the Department's website www.dfes.qov.uk/statistics.

School Closures

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research has been done on the impact of closing schools on (a) the educational attainment of former pupils in their new schools, (b) local communities and (c) areas of social deprivation. [85552]

Mr. Miliband [holding answer 5 December 2002]: Decisions on whether to close schools are taken by the local School Organisation Committee or, if the committee cannot agree unanimously, by the independent Schools Adjudicator. Guidance issued by the Secretary of State requires both bodies to consider a range of factors in making their decision. For school closures, the factors include the effect on standards of educational provision, the need to preserve access to a local school for rural communities and access to community facilities, particularly in areas of social deprivation. The Department has not commissioned any research into the impact of school closures. However, where a failing school is closed, it is usual for the former pupils to show greatly increased attainment or better rates of progress at their new schools.

School Laboratories

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the allocations to each local authority from the #60 million School Laboratories for the 21st Century Scheme. [85674]

Mr. Miliband: The table lists the allocations for school laboratories.

#000

LEA Name2000–012001–02
Barking and Dagenham127127
Barnet200200
Barnsley145145
Bath and North East Somerset137137
Bedfordshire246246
Bexley168168
Birmingham555555
Blackburn with Darwen121121
Blackpool103103
Bolton185185
Bournemouth121121
Bracknell Forest9595
Bradford302302
Brent153153
Brighton and Hove134134
Bristol, city of177177
Bromley195195
Buckinghamshire279279
Bury134134
Calderdale154154
Cambridgeshire269269
Camden130130
Cheshire383383
Cornwall275275
Coventry201201
Croydon170170
Cumbria291291
Darlington9393
Derby155155
Derbyshire387387
Devon327327
Doncaster204204
Dorset224224
Dudley195195
Durham289289
Ealing157157
East Riding of Yorkshire209209
East Sussex245245
Enfield194194
Essex657657
Gateshead137137
Gloucestershire319319
Greenwich152152
Hackney108108
Halton115115
Hammersmith and Fulham9898
Hampshire551551
Haringey129129
Harrow111111
Hartlepool9898
Havering159159
Herefordshire118118
Hertfordshire579579
Hillingdon163163
Hounslow166166
Isle of Wight113113
Isles of Scilly5151
Islington105105
Kensington and Chelsea7676
Kent703703
Kingston upon Hull, city of165165
Kingston upon Thames111111
Kirklees233233
Knowsley125125
Lambeth103103
Lancashire591591
Leeds386386
Leicester185185
Leicestershire352352
Lewisham134134
Lincolnshire357357
Liverpool296296
Luton134134
Manchester221221
Medway189189
Merton103103
Middlesbrough115115
Milton Keynes136136
Newcastle upon Tyne170170
Newham171171
Norfolk364364
North East Lincolnshire133133
North Lincolnshire128128
North Somerset138138
North Tyneside141141
North Yorkshire332332
Northamptonshire360360
Northumberland216216
Nottingham150150
Nottinghamshire431431
Oldham174174
Oxfordshire308308
Peterborough144144
Plymouth186186
Poole106106
Portsmouth122122
Reading9696
Redbridge181181
Redcar and Cleveland126126
Richmond upon Thames106106
Rochdale152152
Rotherham195195
Rutland6565
Salford142142
Sandwell194194
Sefton198198
Sheffield260260
Shropshire173173
Slough105105
Solihull160160
Somerset251251
South Gloucestershire166166
South Tyneside126126
Southampton138138
Southend-on-Sea130130
Southwark122122
St. Helens139139
Staffordshire464464
Stockport169169
Stockton-on-Tees145145
Stoke-on-Trent156156
Suffolk358358
Sunderland196196
Surrey450450
Sutton147147
Swindon133133
Tameside159159
Telford and the Wrekin124124
Thurrock108108
Torbay113113
Tower Hamlets152152
Trafford162162
Wakefield201201
Walsall204204
Waltham Forest143143
Wandsworth124124
Warrington149149
Warwickshire282282
West Berkshire132132
West Sussex351351
Westminster107107
Wigan202202
Wiltshire241241
Windsor and Maidenhead117117
Wirral224224
Wokingham128128
Wolverhampton169169
Worcestershire295295
York121121
Total29,99829,998


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