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31 Mar 2003 : Column 537W—continued
Sickness Absence
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many working days have been lost due to illness in his Department in (a) 2002 and (b) each of the preceding five years. [90972]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Sick absence statistics for the Northern Ireland civil servants and the home civil servants in the Northern Ireland Office are recorded separately. Figures for home civil servants within the NIO and are recorded as days absence per are not available in the required format. The information available is as follows:
| Year | Days Sick Absence |
|---|---|
| Per Staff Year | |
| 1998 | 6.5 |
| 1999 | 8.0 |
| 2000 | 9.3 |
| 2001 | 10.0 |
Sick absence statistics for NICS staff in the Northern Ireland Office are analysed by financial year as opposed to calendar year.
The number of working days lost by NICS staff in the Northern Ireland Office due to illness was 16,394 during 2000–01. Comparable figures are not available for earlier years.
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The sick absence statistics for 2001–02 for HCS and NICS staff are to be available inthe near future.
The Northern Ireland Office is committed to managing sickness absence effectively and arange of corporate and departmental initiatives have been and are being taken forwardto reduce the current levels of sickness absence.
Sick absence statistics for the Northern Ireland Administration are analysed by financialyear as opposed to calendar year. Published statistics for Northern Ireland Departments for the financial year 2000–01 are accessible on the Department's website atwww.dfpni.gov.uk/publications.
The number of working days lost by NI Departments due to illness was just under 320,000 during 2000/2001 with the comparable figure for 1999–2000 being just over 315,000. Comparable/accurate figures are not available for earlier years. The sick absence statistics for Northern Ireland Departments during 2001–02 are to be published in the near future and will be similarly accessible on the Department's website.
NI Departments are committed to managing sickness absence effectively and a range of corporate and departmental initiatives have been and are being taken forward to reduce the current levels of sickness absence.
Smoking in the Workplace
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what policy his Department has adopted on smoking in the workplace. [100921]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The Northern Ireland Office has a well established policy on smoking in the workplace which was first introduced in 1991 and a complete ban on smoking, apart from designated smoking rooms, has been in operation in all NIO premises since 1995. The policy has been supported through participation in the annual no-smoking day campaign and various health awareness events where professional and medical advice and information has been made available to encourage staff who smoke to give it up.
In Belfast the Department has recently organised a self help group through the local Action Cancer charity to assist staff who wish to stop smoking.
Within the Northern Ireland Administration smoking is not permitted in any premises occupied by NIGS staff, except in designated smoking rooms. This ban includes public offices, workshops and depots and extends to all areas including single occupancy rooms, training and conference rooms, corridors, toilets, canteens, reception areas and vehicles.
Telephone Helplines
Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many telephone helplines are sponsored by his Department; and which of these helplines are charged at (a) national rate, (b) premium rate and (c) local rate. [95719]
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Mr. Paul Murphy: The Northern Ireland Office sponsors the following Helplines:
| Women's Aid(19) | Local or national rate depending on where call is from |
|---|---|
| Confidential Telephone | Freephone |
(19) jointly funded by NIO, DHSS and the NI Housing Executive
The Northern Ireland administration supports 43 telephone helplines. The table provides a breakdown by charge rate.
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31 Mar 2003 : Column 541W
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Adult Education
Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adult students in further education colleges are studying for (a) a vocational and (b) an academic qualification at (i) level 1, (ii) level 2, (iii) level 3 and (iv) level 4 or above in each of the Learning and Skills Council areas. [104078]
Margaret Hodge: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. John Harwood, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested and will place a copy of his reply in the Library.
Curriculum
Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which core subjects make up the core curriculum of the National Curriculum; and if he will make a statement. [105832]
Mr. Miliband: The core subjects of the National Curriculum are English, mathematics and science. The non-core foundation subjects of the National Curriculum are history, geography, design and technology, modern foreign languages, information and communication technology, art and design, music, physical education and citizenship. There is also a requirement for schools to teach religious education, sex education and careers education as part of the wider school curriculum.
Early Years Education
Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many three-year-olds had free early years education places providing five or more sessions of education per week in each year since 1997, broken down by Local Education Authority. [104599]
Maria Eagle [holding answer 24 March 2003]: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
The latest figures on early years provision in England were published by my Department in the Statistical Bulletin 08/02 "Provision For Children Under Five Years Of Age In England—January 2002", copies of which are available from the Library and my Department's web-site, www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics.
Financial Returns
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the average lifetime financial return of (a) a single female, (b) a married female, (c) a married man, (d) a member of an ethnic minority and (e) those who were on full maintenance support at university. [102531]
Margaret Hodge: The Department has not made any estimates of the average lifetime financial return for the specific groups named. Higher education is a good
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investment and the White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education", highlighted how those with higher education qualifications earn on average around 50 per cent. more than non-graduates. There will inevitably be some variation in individual lifetime returns because graduate earnings are influenced by a number of factors, including subject studied, institution attended, occupational choices, and other personal characteristics and demographic factors.
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what research the Government has carried out to compare lifetime earnings of graduates with those who had the qualifications to go to university but chose not to; [102532]
- (2) what recent estimate he has made of the average lifetime financial return of (a) a university graduate and (b) a person with two A levels. [102539]
Margaret Hodge: The White Paper, "The Future of Higher Education", highlighted how those with higher education qualifications earn on average around 50 per cent. more than non-graduates. Higher education is undoubtedly a good investment. Our estimate of the average additional earnings of those who get two or more 'A' Levels but choose not to go to university is £120,000.
However, nine out of 10 of those who obtain two or more 'A' Levels go to university. We have no analysis of how the small minority of one in 10 differ from the majority, so comparisons should be treated with caution.
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