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28 Jan 2004 : Column 402W—continued
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Children's Centres
Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children's centres are planned to open in 2004; and if he will make a statement. [148427]
Margaret Hodge: There are now 61 children's centres in England, all of which are based in disadvantaged areas. Local authorities' strategic proposals are currently being assessed and more children's centres that meet the children's centre core offer have been identified. These will be announced in the next few weeks.
We are currently unable to state how many children's centres will open in 2004 but the exact position will be clearer once local authorities have submitted their implementation plans by the end of May 2004.
Children's Fund
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on changes in the Children's Fund budget made after the mid-year review; and what assessment he has made of the effects of the changes. [148914]
Margaret Hodge: The 2003–04 mid year review of expenditure identified approximately £12.5 million in underspend from quarters 1 and 2.
The Department met representatives from the main voluntary sector organisations involved in the Fund, the LGA and the ADSS on 18 December to discuss the review and assess its impact. Officials then wrote to all Children's Fund partnerships on 19 December 2003. We advised partnerships that where our decision to take back underspends at the mid-year review had compromised their ability to meet contractual obligations, we would revisit them. Furthermore, we set aside some money to assist where there was a likelihood of staff redundancy or premature closure of services. The Children's Fund regional teams have continued to discuss the detailed implications with partnerships and this process will be completed at the end of January.
Disabled Children
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what assessment has been made of (a) disabled children's experience of abuse and (b) the effectiveness of existing systems in protecting disabled children; [150130]
- (2) if he will develop a national strategy for the safeguarding of disabled children through consultation with disabled children and adults and organisations advocating on their behalf. [150131]
Margaret Hodge: The Department for Education and Skills regularly receives correspondence from parents and voluntary groups about issues affecting disabled children including child protection. This has included reports from the NSPCC, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and the National Working Group on Child Protection and Disability, which have influenced policy development. In particular, recent representations from the NSPCC were taken into account by the Disabled
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Children's External Working Group developing standards as part of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services which will be published later this year. We welcome the publication of the recent report from the National Working Group, "It doesn't happen to disabled children: child protection and disabled children", and will consider its recommendations when developing Government policy and guidance on child protection.
The Joint Chief Inspectors' Report "Safeguarding Children", published in October 2002, contained a recommendation that all relevant Inspectorates should ensure that, prior to the next report, appropriate inspection activity had been undertaken on children with disabilities. "Safeguarding Children" asked Chief Inspectors to consider whether there was a need to supplement the planned programme of inspections in any way. In planning for the next children's safeguards review, the Inspectorates have identified that additional activity is required in relation to children with disabilities and special needs and are developing plans to enhance their programmes in this area.
Divorce
Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in the East Midlands were affected by divorce in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [150923]
Mr. Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
The only figures collected centrally relate to the number of children involved at the petition stage of divorce. The total number of children of couples who petitioned for divorce in the East Midlands region in the given periods are:
| Petitions | Children involved | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 12,467 | 7,537 |
| 2002–03 | 12,991 | 7,707 |
Further Education
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the level of funding per pupil in further education in (a) Chorley and (b) Lancashire in 2003–04. [151278]
Alan Johnson: The Department does not collect information on the level of funding per pupil in further education at local or regional level. Mark Haysom, the Learning and Skills Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with details of the average level of funding per pupil in further education in (a) Chorley and (b) Lancashire in 2003–04. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) the national average level of funding per further education student and (b) the level of funding per student for each further education college is in Shrewsbury and Atcham. [151374]
Alan Johnson: The Department does not collect information on the level of funding per pupil in further education at local or regional level. Mark Haysom, the
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Learning and Skills Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with details of the average level of funding per student for each further education college in Shrewsbury and Atcham. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library. Participation funding per full-time equivalent student in further education in England in 2003–04 is planned to be £3,830. This figure does not include funding for capital or funding for other specific initiatives. This figure is consistent with that published in the "Departmental Annual Report 2003".
Higher Education
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the average cost to a student of the decision to undertake higher education, taking into account (a) loss of potential earnings while a full time student and (b) all other costs associated with the decision. [147600]
Alan Johnson: My officials have estimated that the average net present cost 1 of participating in a three-year HE course, starting in 2001–02, is around £29,000 (in 2001 prices). The figure includes:
- (a) direct costs—i.e. contribution towards tuition fees (net of fee remission paid by Government), maintenance support from the family, and Government student loan repayments—of around £12,000 and
- (b) indirect costs—i.e. foregone earnings whilst in HE net of earnings whilst studying of around £17,000.
In undiscounted cash terms, the direct and indirect average costs are around £13,600 and £18,000 respectively. The estimate is based on a hypothetical average individual entering HE at the age of 18, and the costs are averaged across all students.
- 1 Discounted at 3.5 per cent.
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of people in Liverpool who have received higher education in each of the last 10 years. [150151]
Alan Johnson: The latest available information is shown in the table. Figures for earlier years are not held centrally.
| Year of entry | Proportion |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 12.7 |
| 1995 | 14.7 |
| 1996 | 13.4 |
| 1997 | 13.9 |
| 1998 | 14.0 |
| 1999 | 15.9 |
| 2000 | 16.3 |
| 2001 | 17.5 |
| 2002 | 18.2 |
Mature Students
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to modify the age cap on loans for mature students following his decision to introduce a 25-year cut-off period for student loans. [151113]
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Alan Johnson: The age limit is 50 for eligible students meeting the residence requirements. Those aged 50 to 54 at the start of their course can also apply for a student loan provided that they plan to return to work after finishing their course. We have no plans to change these age limits for mature students.
Outstanding loans for mature students are already cancelled when a borrower reaches the age of 65, and we have no plans to change that age limit. Putting a 25-year cap on the loan repayment period allows outstanding loan amounts to be written off after 25 years or age 65, whichever is the earlier.
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