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4 Nov 2004 : Column 368W—continued
Software Patents
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the financial contribution of the licensing of software patents to the UK economy in each year from 1974 to 2003. [194755]
Ms Hewitt: Licensing is in essence a private business activity. The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
A-Level Results
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the average A-level points score for (a) school sixth forms, (b) sixth form colleges and (c) general further education colleges in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [193182]
Mr. Miliband: The average GCE/VCE A/AS point score per candidate aged 16 to 18 in 2002 to 2004 is shown in the following table:
| 2001/02 | 2002/03 | 2003/04 (provisional) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All schools | 280.9 | 282.8 | 286.1 |
| Sixth form colleges | 263.1 | 273.8 | 277.0 |
| Other FE sector colleges | 166.5 | 169.0 | 181.2 |
| All schools and FE sector colleges | 254.7 | 258.9 | 265.6 |
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the average A-level points score per pupil for 11 to 18 years schools with sixth forms containing (a) 50 or fewer, (b) 51 to 100, (c) 101 to 150, (d) 151 to 200, (e) 201 to 250 and (f) more than 250 pupils in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [193181]
Mr. Miliband: The average GCE/VCE A/AS point score per candidate aged 16 to 18 in school sixth forms in 2002 to 2004 is shown in the following table:
4 Nov 2004 : Column 369W
Area Cost Adjustment
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which local education authorities receive area cost adjustment in 2004–05. [195921]
Mr. Miliband: The education authorities in the following list received area cost adjustment in their Education Formula Spending Share for 2004–05.
LEAs Receiving Area Cost Adjustment in EFSS for 2004–05.
Children in Care
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are in public care in the West Midlands. [195689]
Margaret Hodge:
At 31 March 2003, 7,120 children were looked after by local authorities in the West Midlands. This figure excludes children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements.
4 Nov 2004 : Column 371W
Foundation Schools
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether a school that a local education authority proposes to close can apply to become a foundation school. [196090]
Mr. Miliband: The governing body of a school which the LEA proposes to close, may seek to change its category to foundation but it must follow the proper statutory process. Publishing proposals for a change of category will not prevent or delay the consideration of any proposals already published for closure.
In deciding both proposals, a School Organisation Committee (SOC) or schools adjudicator must have regard to the Secretary of State's guidance. The guidance makes it clear that the SOC or adjudicator need not delay their consideration of the first proposals in such cases. They may consider the proposed closure first and then take account of that decision when considering the change of category proposals.
Under the new fast track arrangements we are proposing for community and voluntary controlled secondary schools to change category to foundation, the governing body would decide change of category proposals, LEAs will retain the right to publish proposals to close foundation schools and the SOC will continue to decide these.
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