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23 Jun 2003 : Column 544W—continued
Defence Equipment Sales
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, (1) how many (a) requests have been received by DESO from UK companies for special commissions to be paid on sale of defence equipment since 1990 and (b) special commissions that DESO has approved since 1990; and if he will list (i) the countries in which these special commissions were to be paid and (ii) the amount to be paid; [108991]
- (2) in which year the requirement was introduced for UK companies to seek permission from DESO in order to make special commissions on defence equipment sales. [108990]
Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
War Pensions
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the savings to public funds that would flow from his proposed change to the burden of proof for the war pensions scheme. [120005]
Mr. Caplin: If Ministers were to accept the proposals arising from the reviews, it is expected that the new scheme would be broadly cost-neutral. However, there
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would be a better focus of resources on the more severely disabled whose earning capacity had been significantly affected. Those whose conditions were not expected to affect significantly their earnings capacity would receive a lump sum payment rather than a pension, but their cases would be reviewed if, exceptionally, there was a significant and unexpected level of deterioration that affected this judgment.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what kinds of illnesses, at present accepted under the burden of proof for the war pensions scheme, would cease to be accepted under his proposed changes; and if he will make a statement. [120012]
Mr. Caplin: The proposals arising from the reviews of the Armed Forces Pension and Compensation arrangements are currently under consideration by Ministers. Illnesses or injuries would only fail to be accepted under the new scheme proposals where, on a balance of probabilities standard of proof, they were considered not to be caused or significantly aggravated by Service. The Department's decisions on claims would be subject to appeal to an independent tribunal.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Arts Funding (Liverpool)
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding has been made available for arts in Liverpool in each of the last three years; and what it is expected to receive in the current year. [119809]
Estelle Morris [holding answer 17 June 2003]: The following table, supplied by Arts Council England contains the detail for revenue and lottery funding for regularly funded arts organisations (RFOs) in Liverpool. It does not include one-off and project funds. The figures for 2004–05 and 2005–06 are projected figures taken from the allocations announced for RFOs in March this year.
| Year | Grant-in-aid (£s) | Lottery (£s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 4,297,936 | 558,130 |
| 2001–02 | 4,885,342 | 1,014,156 |
| 2002–03 | 4,452,667 | 544,679 |
| 2003–04 | 5,088,990 | (11)— |
| 2004–05 projected | 5,755,739 | |
| 2005–06 projected | 6,290,511 |
(11) Not applicable
Royal Household
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps are in place to ensure that the taxpayer receives good value for money from the sum allocated to the grant-in-aid. [115796]
Estelle Morris: The amount of the grant-in-aid has reduced from £23.9 million to £15.4 million over the past 12 years, a reduction in real terms of 60 per cent. This indicates the Royal Household's overall aim of achieving best value for money.
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As part of the Department's agreement with the Royal Household they are required to provide regular reports on grant-in-aid expenditure on the Royal Palaces; these include a 5-year plan and an annual plan. Quarterly update reports are issued by the Household to the Department commenting on expenditure against the annual plan. These are subject to review by the Department's officials and an independent auditor commissioned by the Department.
All major building contracts are let by competitive tender.
Seaside Regeneration
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of delays in the introduction of new gambling legislation on the regeneration of seaside resorts in the North West. [120468]
Mr. Caborn: We have made no such assessment and remain committed to bringing legislative proposals forward as soon as Parliamentary time permits.
Sustainable Development
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what remit relating to sustainable development is required by her Department's (a) executive agencies, (b) advisory non-departmental bodies, (c) executive non-departmental bodies, (d) tribunals, (e) public corporations and (f) other bodies. [116670]
Mr. Caborn: DCMS has over 60 sponsored bodies including one executive agency (Royal Parks) and two public corporations (BBC and Channel Four). The role of the Department in respect of all environmental matters is to ensure that Government targets are made known to autonomous sponsored bodies and to offer guidance and encouragement towards achievement of agreed targets. It is not the Department's role to direct the way in which sponsored bodies are managed but many, such as the Royal Parks Agency and the National Science Museum, are proactive and take a leading role in sustainability and biodiversity. In the Greening Government First Annual Report a commitment was made to have Cabinet Office NDPB guidance revised to include the requirement for departments to encompass Sustainable Development into the remit of any newly created NDPB. This was done and reported in the Greening Government Second Annual Report.
York Minster
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Heritage Lottery Fund has contributed to York Minster Library; for what purpose this grant was made; and if she will place in the Library a copy of (a) the Minster's grant application and (b) the Lottery Fund's decision on it. [118761]
Estelle Morris: In 1996 the HLF awarded a grant of £967,000 to the Dean and Chapter of York Minster to extend the library to balance the 13th century chapel. The application form and supporting papers contain information that would be considered exempt from disclosure under the Code of Practice on Access to
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Government Information and therefore it would not be appropriate to place these in the House of Commons Library. The Heritage Lottery fund is writing to the hon. Member in more detail regarding this award. I will place in the Library of the House a copy of the minute detailing the Heritage Lottery Fund's decision.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Advertising Campaigns
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost is of the advertising campaign "Those Who Can, Teach". [119985]
Mr. Miliband: The cost of the Teacher Training Agency's advertising campaign "Those Who Can, Teach" was about £5.6 million in 2001–02 and about £8 million in 2002–03. It has contributed to a 13 per cent. rise in recruitment to initial teacher training over the last two years and record numbers of applications from graduates for teacher training next year.
The campaign has been successful in achieving a high level of awareness among the target audience of students (71 per cent.) and career changers (61 per cent.). In each year of the campaign, calls to the Teaching Information Line (TIL) have numbered around 300,000, with half of these registering their interest in becoming a teacher at some point.
School Budget Deficit (Suffolk)
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the budget deficit is for schools in Suffolk in the current financial year. [120424]
Mr. Miliband: Information on school balances is published annually by local education authorities. Data for balances carried forward into the year beginning 1 April 2003 are due to be published by 9 October 2003. As at 31 March 2002, schools in Suffolk had collective surplus balances of £17.799 million.
Child Care
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the average cost of full-time child care in Buckingham; and if he will make a statement. [109242]
Margaret Hodge: The cost of child care reported in the Department for Education and Skills 2001–02 audit shows average costs for Buckinghamshire, the LEA within which Buckingham falls, of £146 per week for full day care. The audits were completed for each local authority by their respective Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships. The audits do not give a further breakdown by constituency.
Working parents, subject to the level of their income, may receive support through the child care element of the working tax credit. Tax credits are targeted at lower and middle income families who may use a range of types of child care. The child care element of the working tax credit provides for up to 70 per cent. of costs of eligible child care. It can pay up to £94.50 a week
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for one child (where the child care cost is £135 or above), and up to £140 a week for two or more children (where the cost is £200).
No Government has provided the kind of direct support for the costs of child care that is delivered by the child care element of the working tax credit. £1 million a day is now spent on supporting parents with child care costs.
The DfES and the Inland Revenue will continue to monitor the cost of child care to ensure good quality, affordable and accessible child care is available for all those who need it.
Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many (a) nurseries, (b) playgroups, (c) childminders, (d) out of school clubs and (e) holiday schemes there were in (i) Leeds metropolitan district and (ii) the Leeds West constituency for each year since 1990. [116020]
Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested. The available information for Leeds local authority is shown in the tables.
Figures for 2001 and earlier years for England and Government Office regions were published in DfES Statistical Bulletin 08/01 "Children's Day Care Facilities at 31 March 2001", which is available in the Library and on the DfES website, www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics. Figures for 2001 for out of school clubs and holiday schemes have recently been revised and are shown in the tables.
| Position at 31 March each year | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Nurseries | 90 | 100 | 120 | 110 |
| Childminders | 1,400 | 1,200 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| Playgroups and pre-schools | 240 | 190 | 130 | 120 |
| Out of school clubs | 100 | 110 | 120 | 120 |
| Holiday schemes | 140 | 400 | 200 | 510 |
(12) Figures have been rounded.
(13) Includes those schemes exempt from registration.
| Position at 31 March each year | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Nurseries | 3,500 | 3,900 | 5,100 | 4,400 |
| Childminders | 5,400 | 4,700 | 5,300 | 4,700 |
| Playgroups and pre-schools | 4,900 | 4,200 | 3,200 | 3,000 |
| Out of school clubs | 2,800 | 2,300 | 2,700 | 2,600 |
| Holiday schemes | 3,800 | 12,400 | 5,500 | 8,400 |
(14) Figures have been rounded.
(15) Includes those schemes exempt from registration.
Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local authorities (a) have and (b) do not have reciprocal arrangements with other local authorities to pay for (i) nursery and (ii) child care facilities. [119694]
Margaret Hodge: This information is not collected centrally.
Although the Department actively encourages reciprocal arrangements, decisions about cross-border funding can realistically be taken only at local level so that proper account can be taken of local needs and
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circumstances. By April 2004, six months ahead of schedule, all three-year-olds will have access to a free early education place irrespective of where they live.
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