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3 Feb 2005 : Column 1038W—continued

Road Accidents

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the length of time a driver has had a licence is recorded at motorway accidents. [211884]

Mr. Jamieson: Road collision reports compiled by the police do not include this information. However, the Department has carried out research on novice driver accidents. This indicates that, although young novice drivers are more at risk than other drivers in all or most situations, motorways do not present them with a disproportionately higher risk than other road types.

Rural Transport

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what initiatives his Department has introduced since 2001 to support transport provision in rural areas. [213108]

Charlotte Atkins: In the period covered by the financial years 2000–01 to 2004–05 we have made available a total of £221 million in Rural Bus Subsidy Grant to help local authorities to support new and enhanced rural bus services. In the same period awards totalling £81 million have been made to local authorities for projects submitted under the Rural Bus Challenge scheme.

A number of other initiatives have been of particular relevance to transport provision in rural areas. In 2002 we extended eligibility to Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) to a wide range of community transport operations. Some 700 community transport groups are now claiming the grant, many of them in rural areas. Last year we introduced changes to regulations making it easier to provide flexible and demand responsive bus services and making these services eligible for BSOG. We have also issued guidance to authorities on the introduction of accessibility planning which provides a framework for improving accessibility in rural areas and elsewhere.
 
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Transport for London

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and Transport for London on the definition of rail services in London. [213332]

Mr. McNulty [holding answer 1 February 2005]: There is no Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and Transport for London on the definition of rail services in London.

The Railways Bill which is currently under consideration by Parliament, defines a London railway passenger service" as

In addition, for the purposes of network modification procedures, the Railways Bill defines excluded London service" as a service that is

The exact role of the Mayor in respect of some or all London railway passenger services has yet to be finalised. Last year's Railways White Paper (The Future of Rail, 15 July 2004, Cm 6233) identified a number of areas where a greater role for the Mayor would be considered. Once that work is complete it is intended to publish a Memorandum of Understanding setting out the Mayor's role. The Future of Rail White Paper also made it clear that there would be full consultation in respect of any Mayoral role beyond the GLA boundary.

Welsh Language Scheme

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department's Welsh language scheme was approved by the Welsh Language Board; and on what date the scheme was implemented. [211337]

Charlotte Atkins: The former Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions agreed a scheme with the Welsh Language Board that was published on 17 July 2001. Following machinery of Government changes in June 2002, the Department for Transport has continued to operate a Welsh language scheme on this basis. An updated version will be published later this year.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adult Learning Inspectorate

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the expenditure of the Adult Learning Inspectorate was in each year since its establishment; and what the estimated budget for the next financial year is. [211940]


 
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Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Adult Learning Inspectorate became operational on 1 April 2001. Its expenditure was £17.1 million in 2001–02, £24.5 million in 2002–03, £27.8 million in 2003–04 and estimated expenditure for 2004–05 is likely to be £27.6 million. The estimated budget for 2005–06 is £28.2 million. The reason for the increase in expenditure between 2001–02 and 2002–03 is because the ALI was building up to full capacity with substantial increases in inspection activity for both DfES and Jobcentre Plus.

Advance Level Qualifications (Examinations)

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) research she has commissioned and (b) discussions she has had on devising examinations which can identify performance over the full range of grades envisaged for advance level qualifications in the Tomlinson Report"; and if she will make a statement. [213876]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: We will be publishing a White Paper, containing our response to the Final Report" of the Working Group on 14–19 Reform, led by the former Chief Inspector of Schools, Sir Mike Tomlinson, in the near future.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for developing qualifications and advising Ministers on the mechanisms for grading.

Apprenticeships

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what work is being conducted on integrating apprenticeships into the diploma framework in the Tomlinson Report; and what discussions she has had with employers about this proposal. [213877]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: A White Paper on 14–19 reform will be published shortly. It is envisaged that apprenticeships will continue to form an important part of high quality learning provision for young people and will be fully integrated into any new arrangements. The Secretary of State regularly talks to employers and others on apprenticeships and related matters.

Looked-after Children

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of cared for children who received an official police caution in each year between 1997 and 2004. [212080]

Margaret Hodge: The following table shows the number of children looked after for at least 12 months for the years ending September 2000 to 2003 and who were convicted or subject to a final warning or reprimand during the year. Information was not collected centrally for the years between 1997 and 1999. The data are only available in this form—it is not possible to separate out the figures for those receiving a final warning of reprimand.
 
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Number at 30 September

England2000200120022003
Number of children looked after for at least 12 months42,20043,40044,10044,900
Of these:
Number of children aged 10 or over at 30 September25,70027,00028,20029,100
Of these:
Number convicted or subject to a final warning or reprimand during the year2,8002,8002,7002,800




Source: DfES




Environmental Education

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the value is of her Department's financial support to non-governmental organisations involved in environmental education in 2004–05; what the budget for this purpose in the current year is; and if she will make a statement. [213123]


 
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Derek Twigg [holding answer 1 February 2005]: As stated in our Sustainable Development Action Plan for Education and Skills, we believe that environmental issues and sustainable development need to be embedded in policies throughout the education system. A number of our funding streams to NGOs include funds for environmental education to support, for example teaching resources, continuing professional development, and some core costs, giving a total of £983,100 in 2004–05.


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