House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 10 Nov 2003 (pt 20)

10 Nov 2003 : Column 73W—continued

Condover Hall School

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what discussions his Department has had with the Royal National Institute for the Blind on the closure of Condover Hall School; [134358]

(3) what discussion his Department has had with Shropshire county council LEA regarding the closure of Condover Hall School; [134360]

(4) how many children are taught at Condover Hall School; [134361]

(5) how many teachers he estimates will lose their jobs when Condover Hall School closes; [134362]

(6) what provision is being made to continue the education of the children taught at Condover Hall School when it closes. [134363]

Margaret Hodge: There are many schools in England, approved to make provision for pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties and severe learning

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difficulties which are able to provide services for multi-disabled pupils. We understand from the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) that its school, Rushton Hall, provides education services very similar to those provided at Condover Hall. Other schools which provide services for mulit-sensory disabled children, but with different patterns of residential provision are: St. David's Unit at the West of England School, Exeter; and the Royal School for the Blind in Liverpool. Liden Lodge School in the London borough of Wandsworth is also developing support for multi-sensory disabled children.

Official at the DfES have had no discussions to date with Shropshire county council about the closure of Condover Hall School. We do of course stand ready to discuss the matter with any interested party, including local education authorities which currently make use of the school, if asked to do so.

Officials have however asked the RNIB to clarify its plans for the closure of Condover Hall School, and in particular to explain how the RNIB intends to ensure that appropriate and realistic plans for the placement of children currently attending the school are in place. We are currently awaiting a response.

Condover Hall School currently has 34 pupils of statutory school age. There are no primary age pupils. Six pupils are in year 13 and are due to leave school at the end of the summer term 2004. In addition there are 12 young adults, aged from 19–24, in the Adult Education Centre at Condover Hall School.

Condover Hall School currently has 11 teachers, including the Principal and Deputy Headteacher. Nine teachers are employed in the main school and two in the Adult Education Centre. RNIB has stated its intention of exploring opportunities for redeployment of staff currently employed at Condover Hall.

It will be for the home LEA of each child currently placed at Condover Hall to decide, based on the special educational needs of that child, the most suitable placement for them following the closure of the school.

Connexions

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Connexions personal advisers were allocated to (a) information and advice in schools and colleges, (b) targeted preventative work in schools and colleges and (c) information and advice to those not engaged in education or training in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04, in each Connexions region; and if he will make a statement. [134110]

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 23 October 2003]: Statistics relating to the specific areas listed in this question are not available from Connexions partnerships. Partnerships are required to show the percentages of total expenditure on both pre-16 and post-16 work. These figures include staff as well as other costs and give some indication of the balance of expenditure on young people during compulsory education and beyond. It can be assumed that the majority of pre-16 expenditure is devoted to young people wholly engaged in learning.

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The role of the personal adviser is very broad, covering initial information and advice through to more in-depth support. The specific roles of personal advisers within schools and colleges are determined via a partnership agreement signed between each institution and the partnership. This is a further reason why it is not possible to supply information in the forms requested.

Analysis of Connexions grant spend

Percentage of grant spentby age group

April 2002–March 2003 April 2003–June 2003⁽⁸⁾

Partnership 13–16s 16–19s 13–16s 16–19s

Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire 46 54 49 51

Berkshire 46 54 47 53

Surrey 52 48 52 48

Kent and Medway⁽⁹⁾ 56 44 — —

Sussex 58 42 51 49

South Central 51 49 53 47

London

West London 44 56 47 53

Central London 32 68 42 58

North London 46 54 51 49

East London 51 49 51 49

South London 38 62 38 62

East of England

Norfolk 58 42 58 42

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 57 43 50 50

Suffolk 42 58 40 60

Bedfordshire and Luton 46 54 46 54

Hertfordshire 53 47 53 47

Essex, Southend and Thurrock 49 51 52 48

South West

Gloucestershire 51 49 42 58

Wiltshire and Swindon 40 60 48 52

West of England 62 38 57 43

Somerset 45 55 50 50

Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole 54 46 53 47

Cornwall and Devon 41 59 43 57

West Midlands

Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin 65 35 65 35

Staffordshire 48 52 42 58

Black Country 40 60 46 54

Birmingham and Solihull 47 53 48 52

Coventry and Warwickshire 63 37 63 37

Hereford and Worcester 54 46 54 46

East Midlands

Derbyshire 62 38 62 38

Nottinghamshire 60 40 54 46

Lincolnshire and Rutland 42 58 40 60

Leicestershire 45 55 45 55

Northamptonshire 36 64 50 50

Yorks and the Humber

York and North Yorkshire 55 45 54 46

West Yorkshire 53 47 53 47

Humber 45 55 44 56

South Yorkshire 45 55 45 55

North West

Cumbria 41 59 41 59

Lancashire 54 46 52 48

Greater Manchester 50 50 50 50

Greater Merseyside 44 56 45 55

Cheshire and Warrington 58 42 58 42

North East

Northumberland (started 1 April 2003) 0 0 49 51

Tyne and Wear 45 55 45 55

County Durham 57 43 56 44

Tees Valley 44 56 44 56

England total 49 51 50 50

	Percentage of grant spentby age group
	April 2002–March 2003	April 2003–June 2003⁽⁸⁾
Partnership	13–16s	16–19s	13–16s	16–19s
Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire	46	54	49	51
Berkshire	46	54	47	53
Surrey	52	48	52	48
Kent and Medway⁽⁹⁾	56	44	—	—
Sussex	58	42	51	49
South Central	51	49	53	47

London
West London	44	56	47	53
Central London	32	68	42	58
North London	46	54	51	49
East London	51	49	51	49
South London	38	62	38	62

East of England
Norfolk	58	42	58	42
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough	57	43	50	50
Suffolk	42	58	40	60
Bedfordshire and Luton	46	54	46	54
Hertfordshire	53	47	53	47
Essex, Southend and Thurrock	49	51	52	48

South West
Gloucestershire	51	49	42	58
Wiltshire and Swindon	40	60	48	52
West of England	62	38	57	43
Somerset	45	55	50	50
Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole	54	46	53	47
Cornwall and Devon	41	59	43	57

West Midlands
Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin	65	35	65	35
Staffordshire	48	52	42	58
Black Country	40	60	46	54
Birmingham and Solihull	47	53	48	52
Coventry and Warwickshire	63	37	63	37
Hereford and Worcester	54	46	54	46

East Midlands
Derbyshire	62	38	62	38
Nottinghamshire	60	40	54	46
Lincolnshire and Rutland	42	58	40	60
Leicestershire	45	55	45	55
Northamptonshire	36	64	50	50

Yorks and the Humber
York and North Yorkshire	55	45	54	46
West Yorkshire	53	47	53	47
Humber	45	55	44	56
South Yorkshire	45	55	45	55

North West
Cumbria	41	59	41	59
Lancashire	54	46	52	48
Greater Manchester	50	50	50	50
Greater Merseyside	44	56	45	55
Cheshire and Warrington	58	42	58	42
North East
Northumberland (started 1 April 2003)	0	0	49	51
Tyne and Wear	45	55	45	55
County Durham	57	43	56	44
Tees Valley	44	56	44	56
England total	49	51	50	50

⁽⁸⁾ The latest available information

⁽⁹⁾ Details not available for Q1 2003–04

Source:

Partnerships' Income and Expenditure Tables

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Departmental Energy Use

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much (a) electricity and (b) other energy his Department has used in each year since 1997 (i) in total and (ii) per square metre; what the projected use is for each of the following years for which forecasts are made; what plans he has to reduce usage; and if he will make a statement. [135051]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: In response to parts (a) and (b) parts (i) and (ii) of this question, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by Defra on 3 November 2003 (Official Report column 404W). Targets for future energy use on the Government Estate are being developed under the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.

Recent and planned changes to our estate due to the rationalisation of the use of our headquarters buildings have meant that we cannot accurately predict our energy consumption in the near future. My Department remains committed to reducing energy use as part of our own sustainable development plan, and as part of the government-wide programme to improve performance in this area.

Domestic Violence

Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to ensure that the findings of the Government's "Safety and Justice" consultation on domestic violence are included in the outcome of the "Every Child Matters" consultation process. [134911]

Margaret Hodge: Responses to "Safety and Justice: The Government's Proposals on Domestic Violence" are currently being analysed and will be considered by Ministers shortly. I shall ask for details of those responses to "Safety and Justice" which have a bearing on our proposals for improving services to children and young people, as set out in the Green Paper "Every Child Matters", to be considered together with the responses received to that Green Paper.

Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether issues relating to domestic violence will be included in the remit of the proposed Commissioner for Children. [134998]

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Margaret Hodge [holding answer 28 October 2003]: The Government set out in the Green Paper 'Every Child Matters' our intention to legislate for the appointment of a Children's Commissioner as a new voice for all children and young people, especially the disadvantaged. The Commissioner would ensure that the views of children and young people are heard, and report to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on progress against the outcomes for children set out in the Green Paper. Further details on the remit and responsibilities of the Commissioner will be made available in the light of the consultation which runs until 1 December.

Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how cross-departmental policy implementation on issues relating to children and domestic violence will be organised. [135007]

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 29 October 2003]: Cross-departmental issues relating to domestic violence, including those affecting children and young people, are overseen by the Inter-Ministerial Group for Domestic Violence chaired by Baroness Scotland of Asthal. Baroness Ashton of Upholland represents the Department for Education and Skills on the Inter-Ministerial Group.

When necessary, issues relating to domestic violence and children and young people will be considered by the children, young people and family services Cabinet Committee MISC9 chaired by the Chancellor. The Secretary of State for Education and Skills has Cabinet-level responsibility for both policy and delivery of services for children and young people and is a member of MISC9. He is also chair of the Cabinet sub-Committee MISC9(D) which is responsible for ordinating the delivery of services to children, young people and families. I am a member of both MISC9 and MISC9(D).

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