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17 Mar 2004 : Column 370W—continued
National Childcare Strategy
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children have gained from the National Childcare Strategy in Chorley; and if he will make a statement. [161598]
Margaret Hodge: Information on the number of new child care places created in an individual constituency is available only from 1999. Lancashire local authority reported that between April 1999 and December 2003, the latest date for which information is currently available, 1,306 new child care places opened in Chorley constituency. A place typically helps more than one child, as not all children take up places full-time, and we estimate these places will help some 2,300 children. During the same period, Lancashire reported that 620 child care places closed in Chorley, so that the stock of child care places rose by 686.
Neighbourhood Nurseries
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what budget (a) was set for 2003–04 and (b) has been allocated for 2004–05 and 2005–06 by each relevant Government department for neighbourhood nurseries, broken down by English region. [161652]
Margaret Hodge: Under the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative both revenue and capital funding has been made available to local authorities to support the development and delivery of new, affordable child care places in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards. Revenue funding of up to £5,400 for each new child care place created is awarded from when the nursery opens and is paid over a three year period. Capital funding is being provided through the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) and DfES to assist in the creation of new nurseries.
The total budget (revenue and capital) which was set in 2003–04 and current indicative allocations for 2004–05 and 2005–06 for neighbourhood nurseries by English region is given in the table. NOF capital grant is allocated to individual projects and annual spend is determined by the progress in building the nurseries. The figures therefore represent the total NOF capital grant by English region up to the period 2005–06.
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| 2003–04 | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | Total NOF Capital | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | Capital | Revenue | Capital | Revenue | Capital | ||
| Eastern | 3,518,124 | 1,664,488 | 5,558,304 | 170,000 | 3,517,693 | 0 | 6,884,043 |
| East Mids | 4,391,406 | 815,945 | 7,342,813 | 200,000 | 4,131,861 | 0 | 6,649,810 |
| London | 11,817,850 | 4,922,925 | 19,592,251 | 1,351,772 | 12,377,269 | 0 | 15,103,330 |
| North East | 8,500,085 | 1,979,684 | 13,120,272 | 93,300 | 6,895,193 | 0 | 9,991,977 |
| North West | 13,689,459 | 3,053,468 | 22,099,975 | 440,260 | 13,600,256 | 0 | 19,238,032 |
| South East | 4,751,511 | 2,542,230 | 8,262,153 | 0 | 4,923,045 | 0 | 8,431,051 |
| South West | 5,122,601 | 1,496,178 | 9,370,252 | 0 | 5,183,311 | 0 | 9,218,990 |
| West Mids | 7,954,985 | 2,059,416 | 14,479,010 | 240,000 | 8,298,484 | 0 | 12,743,743 |
| Yorks and Humbs | 9,028,856 | 1,712,527 | 14,687,917 | 207,000 | 8,015,647 | 0 | 11,739,025 |
| Totals | 68,774,877 | 20,246,861 | 114,512,947 | 2,702,332 | 66,942,759 | 0 | 100,000,000 |
Nurseries
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new nurseries have been established in Chorley since 1997. [161597]
Margaret Hodge: Lancashire county council is responsible for determining local need for nursery provision in Chorley and holding information on current provision. The only new nursery set up since 1997 under a central government initiative in Chorley, is the Neighbourhood Nursery due to open in May 2004 providing 50 full day care places.
School Funding (Staffordshire)
Mrs. Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much total capital expenditure has been spent on schools in (a) Burton constituency and (b) Staffordshire in each of the last 10 years. [161849]
Mr. Miliband: The majority of capital funding is allocated to local authorities and schools by needs related formulae, linked to locally agreed asset management planning processes. This allows decisions on how these resources should be invested to be taken locally. The following table shows total capital allocations to the Staffordshire local education authority area since 1996–97, the earliest year for which reliable information is readily available.
| Allocation (£000) | |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 3,685 |
| 1997–98 | 7,421 |
| 1998–99 | 25,935 |
| 1999–2000 | 15,549 |
| 2000–01 | 31,145 |
| 2001–02 | 23,096 |
| 2002–03 | 26,601 |
| 2003–04 | 35,529 |
Note:
The allocations include the Voluntary Aided sector.
School Sports Halls (Burton)
Mrs. Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been invested in school sports halls in Burton constituency in each year since 1996, broken down by school. [161850]
17 Mar 2004 : Column 372W
Mr. Miliband: The Department does not hold information on how much has been spent on sports halls. Schools premises investment decisions are based on local education authority asset management planning processes and this information should therefore be available locally.
SEN (Performance Targets)
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to introduce performance targets for pupils with special educational needs. [161233]
Mr. Miliband: All maintained schools are required to set targets for their pupils including those with special educational needs (SEN) by virtue of The Education (School Performance Targets) (England) (Amendment) Regulations which came into force in 2001.
In addition to routine monitoring of a child's progress by their teacher, each child with SEN is expected to have short-term educational and development targets set for them during the course of the year. These targets form part of their individual education plan which should be reviewed on a regular basis before new targets are set.
"Removing Barriers to Achievement: the Government's Strategy for SEN", launched last month, strengthens the focus on pupil progress and achievement. One of the key measures is Mailing and guidance on how schools can make effective use of routine tests, tasks and other forms of assessment to inform target-setting and reporting on pupil progress.
We will also be supporting all schools with pupils working at the very lowest level of the National Curriculum, by promoting the use of P-Scales and providing guidance on moderation to support consistent assessment and collection of P-Scale results in 2005.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Middle East
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to the Israeli Government regarding water supplies to people living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. [161331]
17 Mar 2004 : Column 373W
Hilary Benn: The Government have frequently made representations to the Israeli authorities, both bilaterally and through the European Union, about the destruction of water infrastructure and access to safe water supplies, including as a result of the building of the separation barrier.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the provision of clean water to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. [161330]
Hilary Benn: About a third of West Bank communities still depend on local springs and harvesting cisterns to get their water. It is often not suitable for drinking. Per capita, consumption is decreasing, from 95 cubic metres per year per capita in 1997 to 67 cubic metres per year per capita in year 2000. Figures for subsequent years are not available but the impact of the intifada has increased problems with access to clean water for many families. DFID supports the Palestinian Water Authority in its analysis of available water resources. This includes a project to model the western aquifer and predict the sustainable yields.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the sources of water in the West Bank appropriated by Israel during the construction of the security fence. [161332]
Hilary Benn: The security fence is causing severe problems in access to water for Palestinian civilians and farmers, which is damaging the Palestinian agricultural economy. Once the western section of the Wall is completed, it is estimated that the annual value of agricultural production in the West Bank will decrease by 22.8 per cent. In Qalqilya alone 15 of the city's 39 wells have been confiscated or isolated, representing over one-third of the city's water supply.
DFID supports the Palestinian Water Authority in its analysis of the shared Western Aquifer and the Palestinian Negotiations Support Unit in its preparatory work for final status negotiations on sharing water resources with Israel. This has helped Palestinian analysis of the water sources appropriated by the building of the barrier.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the work of the Parents' Circle in the West Bank and Gaza. [161489]
Hilary Benn: The Parents' Circle provides support to bereaved Israelis and Palestinians who have lost family members as a result of the conflict. It plays an important campaigning and advocacy role, providing lectures for school children and disseminating information on the conflict to the wider general public. Civil society organisations like Parents' Circle can play a useful role in conflict situations by reducing tensions, bringing ordinary people together.
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