House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 25 Jun 2003 (pt 10)

25 Jun 2003 : Column 793W—continued

Truancy

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance he has given to local education authorities on truancy reduction initiatives. [120160]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: In addition to the examples of good practice in this area highlighted on our school attendance website www.dfes.gov.uk/schoolattendance

25 Jun 2003 : Column 794W

we have within the last year disseminated guidance on the effective operation of truancy sweeps and issued advice on initiatives to meet specific truancy targets to the 61 areas involved in the Behaviour Improvement Programme. We are also providing expert advice and guidance in reducing truancy to 56 local education authorities with relatively high truancy rates.

This month we are issuing guidance on the legal measures available to secure regular school attendance to local education authorities, schools and magistrates to promote more effective handling of truancy cases. This guidance has been produced jointly with a wide range of partners including the former Lord Chancellor's Department, the Magistrates' Association and the Association of Chief Police Officers.

In the autumn we will be producing updated school attendance guidance for schools and local education authorities as part of a package of training materials designed to help improve behaviour and attendance.

Tuition Fees

Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students in (a) Suffolk, (b) Norfolk, (c) Essex, (d) Cambridgeshire and (e) the Bury St. Edmunds constituency are exempt from tuition fees. [120427]

Alan Johnson: Student support data on the numbers of students contributing to tuition are collected from local education authorities (LEAs) through a voluntary survey. However, the data are only robust enough to be published at the national level. My Department does not collect student support data at the constituency level.

University Admissions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations he has received regarding (a) socio-economic diversity in university admissions and (b) the setting of Government targets on socio-economic diversity in university admissions. [120780]

Alan Johnson: The Department receives many representations on Higher Education, including matters relating to university admissions. The Government have set out their views on targets in this area in "Widening Participation in Higher Education" available in the Library and on the Department for Education and Skills' website at www.dfes.gov.uk/highereducation.

25 Jun 2003 : Column 795W

PRIME MINISTER

Care Standards Act

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Prime Minister which Minister is the appointed Minister under section 23 of the Care Standards Act 2000 in respect of children. [121488]

The Prime Minister: The Minister for Children is the appointed Minister.

Children's Trusts

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Prime Minister which department will be responsible for the implementation of Children's Trusts. [120952]

The Prime Minister: Children's Trusts will bring together education, social care and some health services for children. The policy will continue to be a joint responsibility of the Department of Health and Department for Education and Skills to ensure the full involvement of all three services.

Civil Servants

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Prime Minister how many new entrants to the Civil Service were employed in his Office in each of the last five years; and how many in each year were aged 50 or over. [119820]

The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office gave to him on 24 June 2003.

Devolution

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Prime Minister which Minister will answer for issues relating to the overall devolution settlement in the Commons. [121684]

The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Mr. Leslie), Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Constitutional Affairs, will answer in the House of Commons for issues relating to the overall devolution settlement.

Engagements

Mr. Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 25 June. [121383]

The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Burstow) at Prime Minister's Questions today.

Euro Roadshow

Mr. Flight: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the events he plans to attend as part of the Government's euro roadshow. [121394]

The Prime Minister: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury gave to the right. hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) on 20 June 2003, Official Report, columns 458W–59W.

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Government Reorganisation

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Prime Minister what his estimate is of the total costs of the reorganisation of Government announced on 18 June, assuming all items are implemented as proposed. [121482]

The Prime Minister: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to him during my statement on Changes to Government Departments on 18 June 2003, Official Report, column 369.

Justices of the Peace (Manchester)

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Prime Minister which Ministry in which Department is responsible for Justices of the Peace in Greater Manchester. [121430]

The Prime Minister: The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is responsible for the appointment of Justices of the Peace in Greater Manchester.

Lord Chancellor

Mr. Heald: To ask the Prime Minister whether the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs is barred from returning to legal practice on leaving office due to his holding the office of Lord Chancellor; and if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which a former Lord Chancellor may return to legal practice. [120021]

The Prime Minister: As the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs holds the office of Lord Chancellor for the transitional period, then the convention by which former Lord Chancellors cannot resume legal practice will apply to my right hon. and noble Friend. The rules, set out in the Ministerial Code, relating to the acceptance of appointments after leaving ministerial office, also apply.

Referendums

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those referendums (a) which have taken place and (b) which have been pledged since May 1997; if he will list (i) the votes in favour and (ii) the votes against, and calculate those figures as a percentage of eligible votes; and if he will make a statement on his policy towards identifying criteria for holding referenda. [121466]

The Prime Minister: The list of referendums and associated statistics requested are contained in the following tables.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his statement, Economic and Monetary Union, in this House on 9 June 2003, Official Report, column 415, that the Government propose to publish a draft referendum Bill this autumn.

The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) provides the generic statutory framework for the conduct of referendums in the United Kingdom, or a referendum held in Scotland, Wales, England or Northern Ireland, but there are no criteria for determining when it is appropriate to hold a referendum on a particular issue.

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National and regional referendums since 1997

Year Referendum area Referendum Result

1998 Northern Ireland Do you support the agreement reached at the multi-party talks on Northern Ireland and set out in Command Paper 3883? Yes 676,966 (71.1%)

No 274,879 (29.9%)

Turnout 81%

1998 London Are you in favour of the Government's proposals for a Greater London Authority, made up of an elected mayor and a separately elected assembly? Yes 1,230,715 (72%)No 478,413 (28%)Turnout 34.1%

1997 Wales 1. I agree that there should be a Welsh Assembly; or Yes 559,419 (50.3%)

2. I do not agree that there should be a Welsh Assembly No 552,698 (49.7%)

Turnout 50.1%

1997 Scotland 1. I agree that there should be a Scottish Parliament; or 1,775,045 (74.3%)

2. I do not agree there should be a Scottish Parliament; 614,400(25.7%)

1. I agree that a Scottish Parliament should have tax-varying powers; or 1,512,889 (63.5%)

2. I do not agree that a Scottish Parliament should have tax-varying powers 870,263 (36.5%)

Turnout 60.4%

Mayoral referendums since 1997

Date Council Result

7 June 2001 Berwick-upon-Tweed Yes 3,61 7 (26%)

No 10,212 (74%)

Turnout 64%

28 June 2001 Cheltenham Yes 8,083 (33%)

No 16,602 (67%)

Turnout 32%

28 June 2001 Gloucester Yes 7,731 (32%)

No 16,317 (68%)

Turnout 31%

12 July 2001 Watford Yes 7,636 (52%)

No 7,140 (48%)

Turnout 25%

20 September 2001 Doncaster Yes 35,453 (65%)

No 19,398 (35%)

Turnout 25%

4 October 2001 Kirklees Yes 10,169 (27%)

No 27,977 (73%)

Turnout 13%

11 October 2001 Sunderland Yes 9,375 (43%)

No 12,209 (57%)

Turnout 10%

18 October 2001 Brighton & Hove Yes 22,724 (38%)

No 37,214 (62%)

Turnout 32%

18 October 2001 Hartlepool Yes 10,667 (51%)

No 10,294 (49%)

Turnout 34%

18 October 2001 Lewisham Yes 16,822 (51%)

No 15,914 (49%)

Turnout 18%

18 October 2001 Middlesbrough Yes 29,067 (84%)

No 5,422 (16%)

Turnout 34%

18 October 2001 North Tyneside Yes 30,262 (58%)

No 22,296 (42%)

Turnout 36%

18 October 2001 Sedgefield Yes 10,628 (47%)

No 11,869 (53%)

Turnout 33%

8 November 2001 Redditch Yes 7,250 (44%)

No 9,198 (56%)

Turnout 28%

20 November 2001 Durham (City) Yes 8,327 (41%)

No 11,974 (59%)

Turnout 29%

6 December 2001 Harrow Yes 17,502 (43%)

No 23,554 (57%)

Turnout 26%

24 January 2002 Plymouth Yes 29,559(41%)

No 42,811 (59%)

Turnout 40%

24 January 2002 Harlow Yes 5,296 (25%)

No 15,490 (75%)

Turnout 35%

31 January 2002 Newham Yes 27,263 (68%)

No 12,687 (32%)

Turnout 26%

31 January 2002 Southwark Yes 6,054 (31%)

No 13,217 (69%)

Turnout 11%

31 January 2002 West Devon Yes 3,555 (23%)

No 12,190 (77%)

Turnout 42%

31 January 2002 Shepway Yes 11,357 (44%)

No 14,438 (56%)

Turnout 36%

21 February 2002 Bedford Yes 11,316 (67%)

No 5,537 (33%)

Turnout 16%

2 May 2002 Hackney Yes 24,697 (59%)

No 10,547 (41%)

Turnout 32%

2 May 2002 Mansfield Yes 8,973 (55%)

No 7,350 (45%)

Turnout 21%

2 May 2002 Newcastle-under-Lyme Yes 12,912(44%)

No 16,468 (56%)

Turnout 31. 5%

2 May 2002 Oxford Yes 14,692 (44%)

No 18,686(56%)

Turnout 34%

2 May 2002 Stoke on Trent Yes 28,601 (58%)

No 20,578 (42%)

Turnout 27%

1 October 2002 Corby Yes 5,351 (46%)

No 6,239 (53%)

Turnout 31%

12 December 2002 Ealing Yes 9,454 (45%)

No 11,655 (55%)

Turnout 9.8%

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Next Section

Index

Home Page

Year	Referendum area	Referendum	Result
1998	Northern Ireland	Do you support the agreement reached at the multi-party talks on Northern Ireland and set out in Command Paper 3883?	Yes 676,966 (71.1%)
			No 274,879 (29.9%)
			Turnout 81%

1998	London	Are you in favour of the Government's proposals for a Greater London Authority, made up of an elected mayor and a separately elected assembly?	Yes 1,230,715 (72%)No 478,413 (28%)Turnout 34.1%

1997	Wales	1. I agree that there should be a Welsh Assembly; or	Yes 559,419 (50.3%)
		2. I do not agree that there should be a Welsh Assembly	No 552,698 (49.7%)
			Turnout 50.1%

1997	Scotland	1. I agree that there should be a Scottish Parliament; or	1,775,045 (74.3%)
		2. I do not agree there should be a Scottish Parliament;	614,400(25.7%)
		1. I agree that a Scottish Parliament should have tax-varying powers; or	1,512,889 (63.5%)
		2. I do not agree that a Scottish Parliament should have tax-varying powers	870,263 (36.5%)
			Turnout 60.4%

Date	Council	Result
7 June 2001	Berwick-upon-Tweed	Yes 3,61 7 (26%)
		No 10,212 (74%)
		Turnout 64%

28 June 2001	Cheltenham	Yes 8,083 (33%)
		No 16,602 (67%)
		Turnout 32%

28 June 2001	Gloucester	Yes 7,731 (32%)
		No 16,317 (68%)
		Turnout 31%

12 July 2001	Watford	Yes 7,636 (52%)
		No 7,140 (48%)
		Turnout 25%

20 September 2001	Doncaster	Yes 35,453 (65%)
		No 19,398 (35%)
		Turnout 25%

4 October 2001	Kirklees	Yes 10,169 (27%)
		No 27,977 (73%)
		Turnout 13%

11 October 2001	Sunderland	Yes 9,375 (43%)
		No 12,209 (57%)
		Turnout 10%

18 October 2001	Brighton & Hove	Yes 22,724 (38%)
		No 37,214 (62%)
		Turnout 32%

18 October 2001	Hartlepool	Yes 10,667 (51%)
		No 10,294 (49%)
		Turnout 34%

18 October 2001	Lewisham	Yes 16,822 (51%)
		No 15,914 (49%)
		Turnout 18%

18 October 2001	Middlesbrough	Yes 29,067 (84%)
		No 5,422 (16%)
		Turnout 34%

18 October 2001	North Tyneside	Yes 30,262 (58%)
		No 22,296 (42%)
		Turnout 36%
18 October 2001	Sedgefield	Yes 10,628 (47%)
		No 11,869 (53%)
		Turnout 33%

8 November 2001	Redditch	Yes 7,250 (44%)
		No 9,198 (56%)
		Turnout 28%

20 November 2001	Durham (City)	Yes 8,327 (41%)
		No 11,974 (59%)
		Turnout 29%

6 December 2001	Harrow	Yes 17,502 (43%)
		No 23,554 (57%)
		Turnout 26%

24 January 2002	Plymouth	Yes 29,559(41%)
		No 42,811 (59%)
		Turnout 40%

24 January 2002	Harlow	Yes 5,296 (25%)
		No 15,490 (75%)
		Turnout 35%

31 January 2002	Newham	Yes 27,263 (68%)
		No 12,687 (32%)
		Turnout 26%

31 January 2002	Southwark	Yes 6,054 (31%)
		No 13,217 (69%)
		Turnout 11%

31 January 2002	West Devon	Yes 3,555 (23%)
		No 12,190 (77%)
		Turnout 42%

31 January 2002	Shepway	Yes 11,357 (44%)
		No 14,438 (56%)
		Turnout 36%

21 February 2002	Bedford	Yes 11,316 (67%)
		No 5,537 (33%)
		Turnout 16%

2 May 2002	Hackney	Yes 24,697 (59%)
		No 10,547 (41%)
		Turnout 32%
2 May 2002	Mansfield	Yes 8,973 (55%)
		No 7,350 (45%)
		Turnout 21%

2 May 2002	Newcastle-under-Lyme	Yes 12,912(44%)
		No 16,468 (56%)
		Turnout 31. 5%

2 May 2002	Oxford	Yes 14,692 (44%)
		No 18,686(56%)
		Turnout 34%

2 May 2002	Stoke on Trent	Yes 28,601 (58%)
		No 20,578 (42%)
		Turnout 27%

1 October 2002	Corby	Yes 5,351 (46%)
		No 6,239 (53%)
		Turnout 31%

12 December 2002	Ealing	Yes 9,454 (45%)
		No 11,655 (55%)
		Turnout 9.8%