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8 Dec 2004 : Column 523W—continued
Training Courses
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) cost to the Department, (b) title and (c) location was of each training course organised by his Department for its staff in each financial year since 1997–98. [200391]
Charlotte Atkins: The information is not collected centrally in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what financial penalties were paid in each financial year since 1997–98 to training providers by the Department for training courses prepared for its staff which were subsequently cancelled at the Department's request. [200411]
Charlotte Atkins: The Department was formed 29 May 2002, so the information in this answer only relates to the period from that date. We are not aware centrally of any financial penalties borne by the Department as a result of cancellation of work prepared by external suppliers.
LEADER OF THE HOUSE
Departmental Advertising
Keith Vaz: To ask the Leader of the House in which Muslim newspapers the Department advertises; and what kinds of advertising the Department places in Muslim newspapers. [201707]
Mr. Hain: The Privy Council Office provides administrative support for my Office.
My Office does not have a policy of advertising in either the local or national media.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Leader of the House how many written questions for his Office were unanswered when Parliament prorogued; and how many of the unanswered questions were tabled in each of the previous months of the 2003–04 Session. [201555]
The three questions were tabled in September 2004.
Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Leader of the House how many appeals were made by civil servants to the Civil Service Commissioners regarding special advisers in his Office between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 and when each appeal was lodged. [201376]
Mr. Hain:
None.
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Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Leader of the House (1) if he will list the attributable interviews that his Department's special advisers gave to (a) newspapers, (b) journals, (c) books and (d) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004; [201423]
(2) if he will list the attributable (a) articles and (b) contributions that his Office's special advisers made to (i) newspapers, (ii) journals, (iii) books and (iv) other media in their official capacity between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004. [201448]
Mr. Hain: All special advisers' contacts with the media are conducted in accordance with the requirements of "the Code of Conduct of Special Advisers".
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Age Discrimination
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his Department's policy is towards age discrimination. [200828]
Mr. Charles Clarke: My Department's commitment not to discriminate unfairly on the grounds of age is set out clearly in its equal opportunities policy.
The DfES aspires to be an exemplar equal opportunities employer, creating a workplace that values diversity, is free from any form of unfair discrimination including age, and where all staff have an equal opportunity to meet their aspirations, realise their full potential and improve their life chances.
My Department already allows its staff to remain in employment until the age of 65 and will be reviewing all of its HR policies and practices to take account of the introduction of legislation on age discrimination. My officials monitor the Department's progress to ensure that we are succeeding and will also ensure that all managers and staff are made aware of the new legislation and its implications for the Department.
Building Schools for the Future
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the local authorities which applied for wave (a) 2 and (b) 3 of the Building Schools for the Future programme whose bids were not accepted for prioritisation; and if he will make a statement. [202291]
Mr. Miliband: Building Schools for the Future is our long-term programme to provide 21st-century facilities for all secondary pupils. We invited local authorities to submit proposals for wave 1 of Building Schools for the Future and/or expressions of interest for the rest of the programme, including waves 2 and 3, All local authorities with secondary schools did so.
It is our ambition that, by 2011 and subject to public spending reviews, 60 per cent. of all authorities should have major rebuilding or remodelling projects (at least three schools), and that all the others will have the resources to tackle their secondary schools in greatest need (at least one school). By 2016, our ambition is that major rebuilding or remodelling projects (at least three
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schools) will have started in every authority. In 15 waves from 2005–06, we aim for every secondary school that needs it to be replaced or upgraded,
The following lists alphabetically local authorities that have expressed interest in being included In Building Schools for the Future and that win be prioritised from wave 4 onwards.
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