Previous Section Index Home Page

20 Jul 2004 : Column 139W—continued

Children's Centres

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the running costs of each children's centre have been since each was established, broken down by region. [185155]

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 19 July 2004]: The Sure Start Unit does not hold details on the running costs for individual children's centres—this is a matter for local authorities.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions he has had with HM Customs and Excise concerning the ability of local authorities acting as Connexions partnership lead bodies to reclaim VAT charged on services subcontracted to private providers; and if he will make a statement. [185070]

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 16 July 2004]: Guidance on the ability of local authorities acting as Connexions Partnership lead bodies to reclaim VAT on services subcontracted to private providers was given at a workshop for Connexions Partnerships provided jointly with HM Customs and Excise on 20 April. Written guidance was issued to Partnerships on 12 May. We continue to work with HM Customs and Excise to consider, and advise on, individual Partnership proposals.

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what programmes are being implemented by the Connexions Service to engage young people during the summer holiday period. [185357]

Margaret Hodge: The majority of Connexions Partnerships (40 out of 47) are the Lead Delivery Agents for the Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) programme. This provides diversionary and developmental activities for 8 to 19 year olds in school holiday periods. In addition 17 partnerships are involved with the delivery of the Big Lottery Fund's Uproject. This offers a similar range of activities and is
 
20 Jul 2004 : Column 140W
 
aimed at 16 year olds who have no firm plans for their future. The Connexions Service is also responsible for signposting young people to a range of other activities provided by partner organisations.

The programmes comprise quality arts, sports and cultural activities which include an element of learning and self development.

Nursery Education (St. Helens)

Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many nursery places there were in St. Helens in each year from 1997 to 2004. [184624]

Margaret Hodge: The information is not available in the form requested.

Figures on the number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four-year-olds in St. Helens local education authority area are shown in the table.
Number of free nursery education places1,2 taken up by three and four-year-old children in St. Helens local education authority area 1997–2003

Position in January each yearNumber
19973,300
19983,200
19993,200
20003,600
20013,700
20023,900
20033,900


(1) Part-time equivalent number of free nursery education places taken up by three and four-year-old children.
(2) A free nursery education place comprises five two and a half hour sessions of early years education per week, for 33 weeks of the year, usually three terms of 11 weeks.


The latest figures on provision for three and four year olds in England were published in a Statistical Bulletin Provision for children under five years of age in England–January 2003' which is available on the Department's website www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/.

Mr. Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many St. Helens families have been involved in Sure Start schemes. [184625]

Margaret Hodge: Around 2,100 families were seen by the five Sure Start local programmes in the St. Helens local authority area in 2003–04. We expect around 600 families to use the nine neighbourhood nurseries in the area. They offer 370 child care places and we are expecting some 900 children to use these.

Finance and Analytical Services Directorate

Mr. Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding was made available to, and how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by, the Finance and Analytical Services Directorate in 2004–05. [182601]

Mr. Charles Clarke: As at 1 April 2004, 472 staff worked in the Finance and Analytical Services Directorate. The administrative costs allocated to the Directorate for 2004–05 were £19.268 million.
 
20 Jul 2004 : Column 141W
 

Mr. Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding was made available to, and how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by, the (a) Analytical Services Directorate, (b) Secondary Education Group and (c) Standards and Effectiveness Unit in 2004–05, broken down by their constituent parts. [182602]

Mr. Charles Clarke: As at 1 April 2004, 293 staff worked in Analytical Services Directorate (ASD), 179 staff worked in the Secondary Education Group (SEG), and 143 staff worked in the Standards and Effectiveness Unit (SEU). However, as part of the Department's intention to create a stronger strategic capacity, ASD has recently restructured so that around 50 per cent. of analysts are based in the Department's Schools, Children Young People and Families, Lifelong Learning and Higher Education Directorates.

The administrative costs allocated for 2004–05 were:

Learning and Skills Council (London East)

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether all people in the London East Learning and Skills Council region who wish to study for a basic skills qualification in a further education college in the academic year 2004–05 are guaranteed a place; and if he will make a statement. [184293]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: These are matters for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Literacy and Numeracy

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent discussions he has had with business representatives on levels of literacy and numeracy skills of school-leavers. [185214]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have many discussions with a range of business leaders about skills needs at all levels, including regular meetings with the CBI (Confederation of British Industry) and the Sector Skills Councils. I visit bursaries of all subjects on a regular basis.

At the Skills Strategy One Year on Conference on the 7 July, I welcomed the shared statement by the CBI, TUC (Trades Union Congress) and Small Business Council which emphasised the importance of ensuring employers, unions, employees, Government and training providers support the development of skills at basic level and Level 2 to improve employability.

Pupil Referral Units

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the rate of unauthorised absence from pupil referral units. [184434]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department does not collect absence data from pupil referral units.
 
20 Jul 2004 : Column 142W
 

Youth Services

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will publish the Green Paper on the reform of services for young people; which specific services he is seeking to reform; and what recommendations for reform will be included. [185069]

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 19 July 2004]: We plan to work across Government to develop and publish a Green Paper for young people in autumn 2004. The types of service and issues it will address are set out in the Department for Education and Skills: Five Year Strategy for Children and Learners. It is too early to say what recommendations for reform will be included.


Next Section Index Home Page