House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 14 Mar 2005 (pt 6)

14 Mar 2005 : Column 19W—continued

Student Visas

Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many overseas students requiring visas to study in the UK are studying in (a) higher education, (b) further education and (c) other education sectors in the academic year 2004–05. [218422]

Dr. Howells: The latest available figures are for 2003/04 and are given in the table. Corresponding figures for other education sectors are not held centrally.
Number of students from overseas requiring visas in HE and FE institutions

Number

In HE institutions⁽¹⁾ 110,340

In FE colleges⁽²⁾ 33,600

⁽¹⁾Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency. Covers students on HE and FE courses in HEIs in the UK.
⁽²⁾Source: Learning and Skills Council. Covers students in HE and FE courses in FE colleges in England.

	Number
In HE institutions⁽¹⁾	110,340
In FE colleges⁽²⁾	33,600

School Staff (Kent)

Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants were employed in (i) Dartford

14 Mar 2005 : Column 20W

primary and secondary schools and (ii) the Kent local education authority area in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [221100]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: The following table shows the full-time equivalent number of teachers and teaching assistants in maintained schools, pupil referral units and other non-school provision in Dartford constituency and Kent local education authority in January 2000 to January 2004.

Dartford
Kent

FTE Teachers FTE Teaching Assistants FTE Teachers FTE Teaching Assistants

2004

Nursery ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾—

Primary 390 220 5,440 2,820

Secondary 460 60 6,270 910

Special 60 50 430 570

PRU/Other 10 10 60 30

Total 920 330 12,200 4,330

2003

Nursery ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— 10 ⁽³⁾—

Primary 390 190 5,200 2,640

Secondary 450 50 5,730 830

Special 50 70 420 650

PRU/Other 10 10 100 30

Total 900 310 11,460 4,160

2002

Nursery ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾—

Primary 390 160 5,050 2,350

Secondary 430 40 5,750 740

Special 40 60 410 500

PRU/Other 10 10 110 30

Total 870 260 11,310 3,620

2001

Nursery ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾—

Primary 400 90 4,960 1,680

Secondary 410 20 5,850 530

Special 40 60 390 500

PRU/Other 10 10 120 40

Total 860 170 11,320 2,750

2000

Nursery ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾— ⁽³⁾—

Primary 400 80 4,970 1,520

Secondary 400 20 5,810 460

Special 40 50 400 450

PRU/Other 10 ⁽³⁾— 120 40

Total 850 150 11,300 2,470

⁽³⁾0 or less than 5.
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
Source:
Annual School Census, (teaching assistants) and Annual Survey of Teachers in Service and Teacher vacancies (teacher numbers). Figures are as at January of each year.

	Dartford	Kent
	FTE Teachers	FTE Teaching Assistants	FTE Teachers	FTE Teaching Assistants
2004
Nursery	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—
Primary	390	220	5,440	2,820
Secondary	460	60	6,270	910
Special	60	50	430	570
PRU/Other	10	10	60	30
Total	920	330	12,200	4,330

2003
Nursery	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	10	⁽³⁾—
Primary	390	190	5,200	2,640
Secondary	450	50	5,730	830
Special	50	70	420	650
PRU/Other	10	10	100	30
Total	900	310	11,460	4,160

2002
Nursery	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—
Primary	390	160	5,050	2,350
Secondary	430	40	5,750	740
Special	40	60	410	500
PRU/Other	10	10	110	30
Total	870	260	11,310	3,620

2001
Nursery	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—
Primary	400	90	4,960	1,680
Secondary	410	20	5,850	530
Special	40	60	390	500
PRU/Other	10	10	120	40
Total	860	170	11,320	2,750

2000
Nursery	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—	⁽³⁾—
Primary	400	80	4,970	1,520
Secondary	400	20	5,810	460
Special	40	50	400	450
PRU/Other	10	⁽³⁾—	120	40
Total	850	150	11,300	2,470

Teenage Mothers

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of teenage mothers aged under 18 years were in paid employment or full-time education in each year since 1997. [221444]

14 Mar 2005 : Column 21W

Mr. Stephen Twigg: Between 1997–99 and 2002–04 there has been an increase in the proportion of teenage mothers in education, employment or training (EET), from 23.1 per cent. in 1997–99 to 29.7 per cent. in 2002–04.

Data on the proportion of teenage mothers in EET are derived from the Labour Force Survey and are presented as three year averages to smooth out annual fluctuations that can occur due to the small sample size from which the data are derived. Data for 2003–05 will be available in August 2005. EET figures include those in part-time as well as full-time EET.

Under-achievement

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Educationand Skills what steps the Government are taking to assist under-achieving pupils in schools in England. [221600]

Mr. Stephen Twigg: The Primary National Strategy and the KS3 National Strategy (which is developing into a secondary strategy covering the whole 11–16 stage) are designed to raise standards for all pupils by spreading effective teaching and learning to every classroom. Through the national strategies we have provided teachers with a suite of age specific intervention materials which allow children who are struggling to catch up with their peers. Specific programmes, such as the Strategies' English as an Additional Language (EAL) pilot and Aiming High Raising the Achievement of Minority Ethnic Pupils", also address the needs of particular groups of under-achieving pupils which include African-Caribbean pupils, Gypsy and Traveller pupils, pupils from mainly Muslim backgrounds and isolated minority ethnic pupils. In addition, schools now have access to better data on individual pupils and comparative performance than ever before which enables them to identify underperformance and set appropriately challenging pupil targets.

PRIME MINISTER

Arctic Convoys Medal

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Honours and Decorations Committee concerning a medal for veterans of the Arctic convoys. [221282]

The Prime Minister: I have received advice from the Chairman of the Honours and Decorations Committee on this matter. Such advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Iran

Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has held with President George W. Bush on relations with Iran. [221280]

The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) on 21 February 2005, Official Report, column 193W.

14 Mar 2005 : Column 22W

DEFENCE

Tsunami (Military Assistance)

16. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force staff have been involved in delivering humanitarian aid and support equipment to Indonesia after the tsunami. [221305]

Mr. Caplin: I begin by paying tribute on behalf of the whole House to all those civilian and military personnel from the United Kingdom who were involved in the tsunami relief effort in December and January.

The RAF's main contribution has been the airlift of both aid and equipment. Eleven C17 Globemaster loads were delivered to Banda Aceh in Indonesia.

Several hundred RAF personnel have been involved in the operation, in one way or another, most notably from RAF Brize Norton and RAF Lyneham.

Defence Intelligence

19. Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to Defence Intelligence in the last two years, with particular reference to quality, methods of gathering and relevant onward transmission. [221308]

Mr. Ingram: The mission of the Defence Intelligence Staff is to provide timely and highly valued intelligence that will guide departmental decisions on Defence policy and the commitment and employment of the United Kingdom's armed forces; inform decisions on the generation and maintenance of operational military capability, including through the equipment programme; and contribute to wider national intelligence collection and assessment. The Defence Intelligence Staff is continually striving to improve working methods and capabilities to meet both current and future demands. The Butler Review made a number of recommendations, which were accepted by the PM, and we are working to address those specific to Defence Intelligence.

Next Section

Index

Home Page