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4 Apr 2005 : Column 1304W—continued

Special EU Programmes Body

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Special EU Programmes Body set up under the Belfast Agreement is a public authority forthe purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [223999]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The Special EU Programmes Body is not a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 23 March 2005, Official Report, column 806W.

Substitute Teachers

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of providing substitute teachers in Northern Ireland in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004; and how much of that cost was due to industrial action relating to progression on the upper pay spine. [224083]

Mr. Gardiner: The total salary cost of providing substitute teachers in Northern Ireland (including employer costs in relation to superannuation and national insurance contributions) was as follows:
Financial year£
2003–0449,291,271.41
2004–0551,656,414.26

 
4 Apr 2005 : Column 1305W
 

Information regarding the reasons for the employment of substitute teachers is not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Teaching

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many students graduated in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years with teaching qualifications; [224155]

(2) how many people in Northern Ireland have gained teaching qualifications in each year since 1997. [223995]

Mr. Gardiner: The number of teacher training qualifications obtained from Northern Ireland higher education institutions in each year since 1997 are as follows:
Students gaining teacher training qualifications at NI higher education institutions 1996–97 to 2003–04

Number of
qualifications obtained
1996–97753
1997–98644
1998–99649
1999–2000635
2000–01700
2001–02716
2002–03772
2003–04779




Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency



The Department publishes annual statistical bulletins on higher education qualifications which are available to download from: http://www.delni.gov.uk/index.cfm/area/information/page/SRHEQualifications

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new teaching posts were created in each of the last five years in Northern Ireland. [224156]

Mr. Gardiner: There is no set level of staffing for schools in the primary or post-primary sectors. Under local management of schools funding arrangements, it is a matter for Boards of Governors of individual schools to decide on the level of staffing in the school.

In terms of the overall supply and demand for teachers the Department uses a statistical demand model to balance the supply with the aggregate level of demands.

University Graduates

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have graduated from university in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997. [223994]

Mr. Gardiner: The number of higher education qualifications obtained from Northern Ireland higher education institutions in each year since 1997 are as follows:
Students gaining qualifications at NI higher education institutions 1996–97 to 2003–04

Number of
qualifications obtained
1996–9711,982
1997–9812,833
1998–9911,625
1999–200011,321
2000–0112,248
2001–0213,076
2002–0313,215
2003–0413,860




Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency




 
4 Apr 2005 : Column 1306W
 

Please note that from 1998–99, the university of Ulster no longer conferred interim awards to students on linked postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma and masters courses.

The Department publishes annual statistical bulletins on higher education qualifications which are available to download from: http://www.delni.gov.uk/index. cfm/area/information/page/SRHEQualifications.

Women's Centres

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure continued funding for women's centres in Northern Ireland. [224090]

Mr. Spellar: I am aware that many women's centres would have faced a financial crisis if the recent £1.1 million short-term funding that I announced on 16 March had not been provided. Women's Centres provide a range of local services in disadvantaged communities and continue to make a major contribution towards peace building and social cohesion. I am establishing a review group to consider the longer-term funding for the women's sector. This group will be led by the Department for Social Development and will report to me and recommend actions within the six-month period of this programme.

Women's Support Network

Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sources of funding his Department has offered to the Women's Support Network following the ending of funding under the Executive Programme Fund. [224154]

Mr. Spellar: The Women's Support Network received £24,613 funding from the Department for Social Development under the short-term Executive Programme Funds in the financial year 2003–04. Since that time the Women's Support Network has secured other public funding and it is currently in receipt of funding provided by OFMDFM, under the Peace II programme. This funding will end in December 2006.

On 16 March I announced that I will establish a review group to consider the longer-term funding for the women's sector. In the meantime I have made available short-term funding of £1.1 million for the sector. The Women's Support Network will be considered under this review.