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Severn Flood Defences
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the consultation period being undertaken by the Environment Agency on flood defences on the Tidal Severn will end. [151]
Mr. Morley: The Environment Agency advise that the consultation period will end on 29 July 2005.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Adult Learning
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Government are taking to encourage adults to learn new skills. [314]
Phil Hope:
On March 22 we published our White Paper setting out our policies and progress in improving adult education and skills-entitled Skills: Getting on in
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business, getting on at work. Our aim with this White Paper is to help even more adults to get the skills they need to move from welfare into jobs and to progress in their careers. It builds on the infrastructure established through the national Skills Strategy published in 2003. It announced our plans for further improving adult provision, including the roll out of the National Employer Training Programme, the creation of new Skills Academies to deliver training in each sector, the national roll-out of the entitlement to free tuition to NVQ Level 2, and an improved and extended service to deliver advice and guidance on careers, training and support.
Connexions Service
Mr. O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which Ministers have had responsibility for the Careers Service and the Connexions Service since May 1997; and if she will make a statement on her plans for the Connexions Service. [740]
Maria Eagle: Ministers with responsibility for the Careers Service and Connexions Service since May 1997 have been as follows:
Proposals for Connexions and the delivery of services for 13 to 19-year-olds will be set out in the Youth Green Paper which we intend to publish in due course.
Education Maintenance Allowance
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the cost of extending education maintenance allowances to all students who remain in post-16 education. [275]
Bill Rammell: The following tables show the estimated take up and cost of education maintenance allowances (EMAs). Estimates in Table One are based on the current scheme and the household income thresholds that apply in 2004–05. The second table gives estimates for all 16 to 18-year-olds in post-16 further education and assumes that all are eligible for £30 EMA per week plus bonuses. The tables also take account of drop-out from the scheme.
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Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of Government spending on the education maintenance allowance projected for each year from 2004–05 to 2009–10; and if she will make a statement. [823]
Phil Hope: The following table shows the estimated take up and cost of education maintenance allowances (EMAs) for young people in post 16 further education, projected for each year from 2004–05 to 2008–09. Estimates for 2009–10 are not currently available. These estimates are based on the current scheme and the household income thresholds that apply in 2004–05. The table also takes account of drop-out from the scheme.
Free School Meals
Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what restrictions are applicable to the choice of (a) food and (b) drinks for children in receipt of free school meals. [214]
Jacqui Smith: Since 2001 all school lunches must comply with statutory nutritional standards. Subject to these standards, the contents of individual school meals is a matter for either school governing bodies or local education authorities, depending on whether or not funding has been delegated to schools. DfES has published Healthy School Lunch guidance in which the Secretary of State strongly recommends that the value of a free school meal should be set to enable eligible children to have a standard two course lunch and drink. Schools are strongly encouraged to provide drinking water free of charge. Pupils entitled to free school meals cannot substitute other school food such as breakfast or break-time snacks for food served at lunchtime.
School Truancy
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the truancy levels were in schools in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) England in each year since 1995. [116]
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Jacqui Smith: The information requested is as follows:
(1) Figures have only been published to two decimal places since 2003.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Coal Health Claims
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much had been paid to the Union of Democratic Mineworkers in respect of handling fees for coal health claims up to 31 March. [276]
Malcolm Wicks: As at 31 March 2005, the total paid to UDM solicitors for fees under the schemes was £19 million.
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much had been paid to solicitors in respect of legal fees for coal health claims up to 31 March; and how much had been paid to each of the top 20 firms of solicitors. [277]
Malcolm Wicks: As of 31 March 2005, the total paid in solicitors for fees under the scheme was £493.5 million. The 20 highest paid solicitors under the scheme as at 31 March 2005 were:
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