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26 Apr 2004 : Column 805W—continued
Local Education Authorities
Mr. Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local education authorities have been taken over by an improvement team in each year since 1997. [167576]
Mr. Miliband: Following agreement with the local authority in question, we have used various models of intervention to address poor performance in education services depending on the local circumstances. On the occasions where these models include the outsourcing by authorities of various education functions to another body, statutory directions have been used to enable that outsourcing to take place. Directions have been issued to the following nine local education authorities to contract out differing ranges of functions:
1999—Hackney LEA;
2000—Islington LEA;
2001—Bradford, Haringey, Leeds, Southwark, Walsall and Waltham Forest LEAs;
2002—Hackney 1 , Swindon and Walsall 1 LEAs; and,
2003—Southwark 1 LEA.
1 second directions.
Non-outsourcing solutions have frequently been adopted. They have included (sometimes in combination) the restructuring of internal management; partnerships
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with other local education authorities; partnership boards involving local stakeholders and members with external and independent expertise in the local education authorities' strategic decision making processes; and the establishment of predominantly private sector brokerage alongside a partnership board.
None of the interventions have resulted in a local education authority being "taken over" by an improvement team or any other body. Whatever the model adopted, the local education authority has retained overall responsibility and accountability for the quality of its education services.
Mothers with Learning Difficulties
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what level of IQ would as a general rule indicate that a pregnant woman, without a partner, is so severely learning disabled her child should be removed at birth for adoption; whether the support and help of the woman's parents would be a factor in the decision; and if he will make a statement; [165102]
(2) what his policy is on the care of children whose parent or parents have moderate learning difficulties; and if he will make a statement; [165103]
(3) what support is offered to mothers with learning difficulties to assist them to retain care of their children; and if he will make a statement; [165104]
(4 what (a) redress and (b) support is available to pregnant women with learning difficulties who are faced with the forced removal of their child at birth for adoption; and if he will make a statement. [165105]
Margaret Hodge: A general duty is placed on local authorities by section 17 of the Children Act 1989 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under 18 who are in need by providing a range of services appropriate to meeting those needs.
Assessments undertaken by local authorities of children who may be in need focus on the needs of the child, the capacity of the parents and wider environmental factors, rather than solely on the characteristics of the parents. Whether or not any particular child is considered to be in need will depend upon the individual circumstances, taking all relevant factors into consideration.
The White Paper "Valuing People" (2001) recognises that "social services have a duty to safeguard the welfare of children and in some circumstances a parent with learning disabilities will not be able to meet their child's needs. However, we believe that this should not be the result of agencies not arranging for appropriate and timely support". This means that the removal of children from parents with learning difficulties should be rare, but may be necessary in particular instances.
Learning disability, whether moderate or severe, does not necessarily indicate that a person will be unable to care for their child, with adequate support where necessary. Factors such as communication skills and social functioning are also important.
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Later this year there will be a conference on parenting, run by parents with learning disabilities, and supported by the Government and the learning disability voluntary organisation CHANGE.
National Childcare Strategy
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how many children in Birkenhead have gained from the National Childcare Strategy; and if he will make a statement; [166303]
(2) how many child care places have been created in Birkenhead since 1997. [166334]
Margaret Hodge: The Department is unable to provide details of child care places for Birkenhead. However, from April 1999 to December 2003 Wirral Local Authority created 5,245 new child care places helping 9,597 children. Taking into account however, the stock of child care places in Wirral increased by 3,158 in this period.
Between 1999 and December 2003 the Government's National Childcare Strategy has helped 1.67 million children by creating 925,000 child care places nationally.
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New Deal for Schools
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) how much funding each school in Manchester, Gorton has received from the New Deal for Schools; [167445]
(2) how much public funding has been spent on repairing schools in Manchester Gorton in each year since 1997. [167454]
Mr. Miliband: Table A shows the schools in the Manchester Gorton constituency that benefited from investment through the New Deal for Schools (NDS) programme, which ran between 1997–98 and 2000–01.
Since 2001 the majority of capital support has been allocated to schools and local education authorities 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 capital investment at constituency level. Table B sets out the capital support made by the Department to Manchester Local Education Authority since 1997–98, in total and by programme (including all allocations through NDS mentioned in table A).
Year | School | Project details | Grant awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | St. Peters | Urgent maintenance works | (38)928,000 |
| Birchfields Primary School | Improved Security | (38)1,448,000 | |
| 1999–2000 | Stanley Grove Primary School | Replacement of HORSA unit | 275,000 |
| Wilbraham Primary School | Replacement of HORSA unit | 350,000 | |
| Wright Robinson Sports College | Boiler replacement | 1,001,000 | |
| 2000–01 | Wright Robinson Sports College | Replacement of defective window frames (Phase 1) | 459,200 |
| Whalley Range 11–18 High School | Public Private Partnership Project | 1,185,862 | |
| Whalley Range 11–18 High School | Provision of two additional classrooms and administration offices | 82,344 | |
| Gorton Mount Infant School | Upgrading of toilets | 195,000 | |
| Heald Place Primary School | Upgrading of toilets | 195,000 | |
| St. Agnes CofE Primary School | Roofing | 724,400 | |
| Wright Robinson Sports College | Various school—upgrading technology rooms | 270,000 |
(38) For NDS 1 the £928,000 and £1,448,000 grant allocated was for Manchester local education authority (LEA) wide projects, part of which was used for building maintenance work and improved security at each of two schools in the Manchester Gorton constituency. The LEA will be able to say how much was allocated to each school.
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To date we have allocated £30.3 million capital funding for 2004–05 and 2005–06.
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