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Children's Homes

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are accommodated in (a) public children's homes, (b) private children's homes and (c) voluntary organisation children's homes. [189451]

Margaret Hodge: Data are not collected on the number of children accommodated in children's homes by the individual categories requested. However, the total number of children placed in children's homes at 31 March 2003 was 6,600.

The term 'children's homes' is defined here as including homes and hostels, secure units, and residential schools that are dual registered as children's homes.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average cost of placement of a 15-year-old in (a) private children's homes and (b) local authority run children's homes was in the last year for which figures are available. [189463]

Margaret Hodge: Figures on the average cost of placement of a 15-year-old are not held centrally. The only figures we have available relate to the average cost for all children in children's homes in 2002–03. The average weekly cost of a placement in a private children's home was £1,846 and in a local authority run children's home the average weekly cost was £1,812.
 
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Civil Service (Job Losses)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which services within his Department will be (a) affected by and (b) subject to job losses consequent on the cuts in the civil service announced in the Spending Review. [189644]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer he received from my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 16 May 2004, Official Report, column 1658W.

Class Sizes

Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans the Government has to set lower statutory number limits for (a) infant, (b) junior and (c) nursery classes. [189276]

Mr. Miliband: We have no plans to introduce statutory class size limits for nursery or junior classes, nor do we plan to change the current statutory limit of 30 for infant classes. We introduced the infant class limit because research indicates that restricting infant class sizes to 30 allows teachers to spend more time with individual pupils, and may benefit them in those early years of school when they need to acquire basic skills.

Council of Ministers

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) if he will provide a written ministerial statement outlining the key points on the agenda for each of the Council of Ministers' meetings at which his Department is represented in advance of each meeting; [188214]

(2) if he will provide a written ministerial statement outlining for each meeting of the Council of Ministers at which his Department is represented as soon as is practicable following that meeting (a) the key items of discussion, (b) the positions of the Government on those items, (c) the key positions taken by other member states that Ministers consider should be noted by hon. Members and (d) any preliminary discussion on the timing and the agenda of the following meeting. [188215]

Dr. Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 13 September 2004, Official Report, column 1451.

Departmental Recycling

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the latest available 12 month figures are for the proportion of the Department's redundant documentation, waste paper and card that is recycled; and if he will make a statement on the Department's recycling policy. [188698]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: Of the total waste generated by my Department during 2003–04 17.7 per cent. of clean paper and cardboard is recycled.

My Department already has in place a "green housekeeping policy statement". The Waste Management Strategy is being developed in accordance with the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government estate.
 
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Early-years Teacher Training

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Government's policy is on the training of early years teachers; and if he will make a statement. [187367]

Margaret Hodge: It is a regulatory requirement that a qualified teacher must be involved in early years' education in each maintained setting. It is also set out in Sure Start Unit guidance to local authorities that they should work towards and beyond having one qualified teacher to every ten non-maintained settings. The Sure Start Unit is, therefore, providing the Teacher Training Agency with additional funding to expand the number of primary training places with an early years' specialism. We are also funding local authorities to ensure that all Foundation Stage practitioners, including early years' teachers, receive an average of four days training and development a year.

Education (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many free books have been provided for pre-school children in York. [188945]

Margaret Hodge: We do not hold details on the number of free books made available in York. The Sure Start Unit are funding the Bookstart scheme for the year 2004–05 to deliver a bag with two baby books to every six to nine month old baby in England. The pack also includes a booklet explaining how and why it is important to share books with young children, a booklist and an invitation to join the library. On 12 July the Chancellor announced an extension to this scheme to give packs to children at 18 months and three years old. This is in addition to children's access to books through local libraries.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will propose changes to the education maintenance allowance regulations to allow pupils who by the time they are 15 years old have successfully completed their GCSEs to qualify for education maintenance allowances while continuing their A level education. [188322]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have received a number of representations on this subject. Allowing younger students who have completed their GCSEs to receive EMA is an option we are looking at for future years. In my view there are arguments both for and against such an extension, and I will want to take views from stakeholders in coming to a decision.

Educational Courses

Mr. Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to increase the opportunities for older people to take educational courses which do not lead to a qualification. [188548]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: Our plans were set out in the White Paper "21st Century Skills; Realising Our Potential" published in July 2003. We are committed to safeguarding a wide range of opportunities for which do not lead to a qualification, including for older people.
 
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This is why we have agreed a budget with the Learning and Skills Council of £207.4 million in 2004–05 for adult and community learning secured through local education authorities, compared with £206 million in 2003–04. Over half (51 per cent.) of learners on these courses are aged 55 or over.

English Domiciled Students

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of English domiciled students in secondary education aged 18 years from each local education authority were accepted through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service to full-time undergraduate courses in each year since 1994–95 for (a) each local education authority and (b) each region. [189478]

Dr. Howells: The available information is taken from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) and covers 18 year old applicants accepted through UCAS to full-time first degree and HMD courses.

The participation rates calculated are based upon all 18 year olds, not just those who have been in secondary education. The population numbers are estimates and can be volatile from year to year, hence participation rates should be used only as a guide to the long term trend in participation in a particular area.

Tables containing the figures have been placed in the House Libraries.

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