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8 Mar 2004 : Column 1357W—continued
Mathematics/Physics A-levels
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students sat the A-level examination in (a) mathematics and (b) physics in 1993; and what proportion were in private sector schools. [158608]
Mr. Miliband: The information requested is as follows:
- (a) The total number of A-level entries in mathematics in England in 1993 was 62,616, 21.6 per cent. of which were in independent schools.
- (b) The total number of A-level entries in physics in England in 1993 was 34,467, 21.3 per cent. of which were in independent schools.
Minister for Children
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional responsibilities (a) the Minister for Children has assumed since October 2003 and (b) it has been decided the Minister for Children should assume but which she has not yet taken on. [157158]
Margaret Hodge: Since October 2003, I have assumed responsibility for the Children and Family Court Advice and Support Service (CAFCASS). Responsibility for CAFCASS transferred to my Department from the Department of Constitutional Affairs on 12 January 2004.
I am not aware of any plans to extend my responsibilities as the Minister for Children, Young People and Families.
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New Deal for Schools
Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money was received by Northamptonshire county council at each stage of the New Deal for Schools. [159312]
Mr. Miliband: The table shows the information requested for Northamptonshire local education authority.
| Allocation | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 712,000 |
| 1998–99 | 2,309,000 |
| 1999–2000 | 2,590,000 |
| 2000–01 | 8,384,000 |
New Schools (Greater London)
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the new schools agreed to be built in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough. [158457]
Mr. Miliband: The majority of capital support is allocated to schools and local education authorities (LEAs) by formula, and they decide how to invest it in line with their asset management plans. The Department does not, therefore, have complete information about all the capital investments in each school; this should be held locally. Tables have been placed in the Libraries which set out the capital support made by this Government to each London LEA since 1997–98, in total and by programme, including devolved formula capital grants to each school.
In addition to the funding programmes indicated overleaf, the Department will also invest significantly in secondary education facilities through Building Schools for the Future (BSF). The aim of this new approach is to rebuild and renew secondary schools in every part of England within 10 to 15 years from 2005–06, subject to future spending decisions. During the course of BSF, we therefore expect London authorities to receive large-scale investment to transform their secondary school buildings. We have already approved funding in principle for BSF projects in Newham and Waltham Forest for 2005–06, and we are also working on a BSF pathfinder project involving Greenwich, Southwark and Lewisham.
Popular Schools
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been allocated to the Expanding Successful and Popular Schools programme; how many applications have been made for funding under this programme; and how many applications have been successful. [159788]
Mr. Miliband: In August 2003, the Department announced that incentive and support funding for the expansion of successful and popular secondary schools would be available from 2004–05. To date, we have
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received seven applications for funding under this programme, two from local education authorities (LEAs) and five directly from schools.
Provision of this funding is dependent on agreement to statutory proposals to expand a school by the local School Organisation Committee (SOC), or failing agreement by the SOC, by the Adjudicator. We are not aware that any of these seven proposals has yet been determined.
Where applications have the support of the LEA and are agreed, we will provide incentive funding of £500,000 (£400,000 if the school does not have a sixth form). Where applications are not supported by the LEA, we will provide the full funding required. We are currently working with the five schools in this position to determine the level of support needed to provide 21st century buildings for the additional pupils.
Post-16 Education (Gloucestershire)
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with (a) Gloucestershire county council and (b) Gloucestershire Learning and Skills Council on the local education authority's post-16 review; and if he will publish the relevant correspondence. [159391]
Mr. Miliband: The Secretary of State has had no discussions with Gloucestershire county council or Gloucestershire Learning and Skills Council on the local education authority's post-16 review. Nor has the Secretary of State exchanged any correspondence with either of these bodies on the matter.
Any proposals to re-organise sixth form provision published by the local education authority as part of this review will be decided locally by the local School Organisation Committee, or the Schools Adjudicator if the Committee cannot agree unanimously. The Secretary of State will play no part in the decision-making process.
Postgraduate Education
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students participated in postgraduate education in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) social class and (b) age. [157494]
Alan Johnson: Figures for postgraduate enrolments by social class are not held centrally. The available figures split by age are given below.
| Age | 1997/98 | 1998/99 | 1999/2000 | 2000/01 | 2001/02 | 2002/03 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 1,465 | 1,379 | 1,392 | 1,381 | 1,443 | 1,655 |
| 21–24 | 76,346 | 77,508 | 80,468 | 85,548 | 92,304 | 103,762 |
| 25+ | 269,196 | 285,071 | 287,277 | 293,821 | 298,104 | 308,833 |
| All | 347,007 | 363,958 | 369,137 | 380,750 | 391,851 | 414,250 |
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
Prince's Trust Report
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will meet the Prince's Trust to discuss the findings of its report, "Reaching the Hardest to Reach". [159496]
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Margaret Hodge: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets the Prince of Wales on an occasional basis. My right hon. Friend has received a copy of the report "Reaching the Hardest to Reach" and it is being considered by Ministers.Ministers and officials in the Department for Education and Skills are in regular contact with the trust to discuss areas of mutual interest and co-operation, including the trust's work on reaching disaffected young people.
Private Schools (Expansion)
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria will be used in assessing whether to grant permission for a private school to expand. [158756]
Mr. Miliband: Section 162 of the Education Act 2002 requires independent schools to gain approval from the Secretary of State before increasing the maximum number of pupils within the school. The approval process takes into account the findings of recent inspections, or the school's plans for building work, which are subject to building regulation controls. Approval confirms that issues such as overcrowding or understaffing will not compromise the health, welfare and safety of pupils.
School Cricket Facilities
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many state schools (a) have (i) cricket nets and (ii) cricket squares and (b) play inter-school cricket fixtures. [159330]
Mr. Stephen Twigg: This information is not held by the Department. Local education authorities and schools would need to expend additional resources were they to be asked to supply the information.
School Federations
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school federations have been established. [159786]
Mr. Miliband: The Department is currently providing pump-priming funding for 29 Federation pilots involving around 150 schools. However, schools can (and do) federate without applying to the Department and without pump-priming funding. We do not hold centralised records for these federations.
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