House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 12 Sept 2005 (pt 40)

12 Sept 2005 : Column 2374W—continued

Summer School Scheme

Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding will be allocated to the proposed summer school scheme; and if she will make a statement. [8855]

Beverley Hughes: Schools and local authorities (LAs) already have access via the School Development Grant to funding for study support activities, which may include summer schools. In addition, we have recently announced our plans for all schools to offer extended services from 8 am to 6 pm all year round. Start-up funding of £680 million will be made available, in addition to the £160 million already committed.

School Exclusions

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were (a) suspended for a time and (b) permanently expelled from a school in Essex in each of the past five years, broken down by local authority. [14130]

Beverley Hughes: Data on fixed period exclusions (suspensions) were collected for the first time in summer 2003 and so are not available prior to 2003–04.

The information requested on permanent exclusions and on fixed period exclusions for 2003–04 is shown in the table:
Maintained primary secondary and special schools⁽⁸¹⁾. Number of permanent and fixed period exclusions 1997–98 to 2003–4

Essex
Southend
Thurrock

Number of permanent exclusions⁽⁸²⁾ Number of Pupils with one or more episodes of fixed period exclusion⁽⁸³⁾ Number of permanent exclusions⁽⁸²⁾ Number of Pupils with one or more episodes of fixed period exclusion⁽⁸³⁾ Number of permanent exclusions⁽⁸²⁾ Number of Pupils with one or more episodes of fixed period exclusion⁽⁸³⁾

1999–2000 180 — 30 — 40 —

2000–01 200 — 30 — 50 —

2001–02 210 — 30 — 40 —

2002–03 170 — 30 — 30 —

2003–04 180 5,910 30 630 10 820

⁽⁸¹⁾Includes middle schools as deemed.
⁽⁸²⁾Source: Annual Schools Census.
⁽⁸³⁾Source: Termly Exclusions Survey.
Note:
Data have been rounded to the nearest 10.

12 Sept 2005 : Column 2375W

	Essex	Southend	Thurrock
	Number of permanent exclusions⁽⁸²⁾	Number of Pupils with one or more episodes of fixed period exclusion⁽⁸³⁾	Number of permanent exclusions⁽⁸²⁾	Number of Pupils with one or more episodes of fixed period exclusion⁽⁸³⁾	Number of permanent exclusions⁽⁸²⁾	Number of Pupils with one or more episodes of fixed period exclusion⁽⁸³⁾
1999–2000	180	—	30	—	40	—
2000–01	200	—	30	—	50	—
2001–02	210	—	30	—	40	—
2002–03	170	—	30	—	30	—
2003–04	180	5,910	30	630	10	820

Taxis

David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 6 July 2005, Official Report, column 446W, on taxis, what estimate she has made of the cost of answering the question. [12591]

Bill Rammell: There is no central record of taxis usage and an assessment of the staff time and associated costs required to provide an answer was estimated to be significantly in excess of the disproportionate cost threshold of £600.

Teachers

Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what financial provision has been made to allow schools to provide temporary cover when teachers take advantage of planning, preparation and assessment time from September. [14189]

Beverley Hughes: Last year we worked with a sample of LEAs and schools to assess the costs of implementing PPA time. It was as a result of that work that the minimum funding guarantee for the current year was set at 5 per cent. for primary and nursery schools and 4 per cent. for secondary and special schools. The funding settlement was welcomed by members of the Workforce Agreement Monitoring Group—the signatories to the national agreement on work force reform. It is the view of all members of the group that there is enough money in the system for all schools to implement this reform in full.

As part of the funding arrangements from 2006–07, all schools will continue to be guaranteed a minimum increase in their per pupil funding. In autumn 2005 the Government expect to set the guarantee for 2006–07 and 2007–08 at a level covering anticipated average cost

12 Sept 2005 : Column 2376W

pressures on schools in each year, including the full year costs of implementing work force reform, subject to a final assessment of those pressures.

Television

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will issue guidance on how many hours per day children between the ages of five to 15 should watch television. [11558]

Beverley Hughes: The Government currently have no plans to issue guidance on the amount of time per day that children aged five to 15 should watch television. We are aware of some studies which have found links between excessive television watching and obesity, disruptive behaviour, and poor educational performance in children. Parents are best placed to regulate their children's television viewing and to ensure that they lead a balanced, healthy lifestyle. To achieve that objective, the Government are working to increase the information available to parents. Through, for example, Extended Schools; our Youth Green Paper proposals; the Healthy Schools Standard; school sports and PE within the curriculum; and volunteering and mentoring in schools linked to PSHE within the curriculum, we are also working to increase the opportunities available for children and young people to participate in a range of constructive activities as an alternative to watching television.

Undergraduate Students

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) science, (b) mathematics and (c) modern foreign languages undergraduate students there were in each year between 1994 and 2004; and what proportion of these students were from (i) the UK, (ii) the EU and (iii) other overseas nations in each year. [11097]

Bill Rammell: The latest information is given in the table:
Undergraduate students⁽⁸⁴⁾at English HE Institutions 1994/95–2003/04

Of which: percentage from

Subject studied⁽⁸⁵⁾ Total students UK EU Other overseas Total

1994/95 Science 85,745 95 3 2 100

Mathematics 58,855 94 2 4 100

Modern Foreign Languages 23,030 91 7 1 100

1995/96 Science 89,650 94 4 2 100

Mathematics 61,760 93 3 4 100

Modern Foreign Languages 27,245 89 9 3 100

1996/97 Science 95,075 94 4 2 100

Mathematics 65,370 93 3 4 100

Modern Foreign Languages 26,470 87 10 3 100

1997/98 Science 98,380 93 5 2 100

Mathematics 68,895 92 4 5 100

Modern Foreign Languages 25,190 85 11 3 100

1998/99 Science 98,725 93 5 2 100

Mathematics 73,365 92 3 4 100

Modem Foreign Languages 22,801 84 12 4 100

1999/00 Science 98,045 93 4 2 100

Mathematics 77,115 92 3 4 100

Modern Foreign Languages 21,595 82 13 5 100

2000/01 Science 96,695 93 4 2 100

Mathematics 85,840 92 3 5 100

Modern Foreign Languages 21,330 80 14 7 100

2001/02 Science 94,640 94 4 3 100

Mathematics 91,870 91 3 6 100

Modern Foreign Languages 22,160 80 13 7 100

2002/03 Science 118,105 94 3 3 100

Mathematics 105,690 90 3 8 100

Modern Foreign Languages 41,158 83 10 7 100

2003/04 Science 141,820 95 2 3 100

Mathematics 118,965 90 2 8 100

Modern Foreign Languages 43,295 86 9 6 100

⁽⁸⁴⁾Based on a count of students as at December 1st in each academic year.
⁽⁸⁵⁾In 2002/03, changes were made to the method used to allocate students to subjects of study, which means that figures for 2002/03 and 2003/04 are not comparable with those for earlier years. Science includes Biological and Physical Sciences.
Note:
Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5, so components may not sum to totals.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

12 Sept 2005 : Column 2377W

			Of which: percentage from
	Subject studied⁽⁸⁵⁾	Total students	UK	EU	Other overseas	Total
1994/95	Science	85,745	95	3	2	100
	Mathematics	58,855	94	2	4	100
	Modern Foreign Languages	23,030	91	7	1	100

1995/96	Science	89,650	94	4	2	100
	Mathematics	61,760	93	3	4	100
	Modern Foreign Languages	27,245	89	9	3	100

1996/97	Science	95,075	94	4	2	100
	Mathematics	65,370	93	3	4	100
	Modern Foreign Languages	26,470	87	10	3	100

1997/98	Science	98,380	93	5	2	100
	Mathematics	68,895	92	4	5	100
	Modern Foreign Languages	25,190	85	11	3	100

1998/99	Science	98,725	93	5	2	100
	Mathematics	73,365	92	3	4	100
	Modem Foreign Languages	22,801	84	12	4	100

1999/00	Science	98,045	93	4	2	100
	Mathematics	77,115	92	3	4	100
	Modern Foreign Languages	21,595	82	13	5	100

2000/01	Science	96,695	93	4	2	100
	Mathematics	85,840	92	3	5	100
	Modern Foreign Languages	21,330	80	14	7	100

2001/02	Science	94,640	94	4	3	100
	Mathematics	91,870	91	3	6	100
	Modern Foreign Languages	22,160	80	13	7	100

2002/03	Science	118,105	94	3	3	100
	Mathematics	105,690	90	3	8	100
	Modern Foreign Languages	41,158	83	10	7	100

2003/04	Science	141,820	95	2	3	100
	Mathematics	118,965	90	2	8	100
	Modern Foreign Languages	43,295	86	9	6	100

Universities

Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of young people in England (a) currently attend and (b) are applying for a place at university; and if she will make a statement. [13432]

Bill Rammell: The Department uses the Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR) to assess progress on increasing first-time participation of English students aged 18–30 in higher education towards 50 per cent.: the latest provisional figure for 2003/04 is 43 per cent.

The latest figures published by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) on applicants for

12 Sept 2005 : Column 2378W

2005/06 entry, shows that applicants from England to full-time undergraduate courses have increased by 9 per cent. to 344,000. But for a number of reasons, it is not possible to say exactly what effect this will have on the HEIPR: the HEIPR only covers students entering HE by age 30, and excludes those with prior HE experience; part-time students contribute to HEIPR, but these are excluded from the UCAS figures; and it is final acceptances, not applicants, which are important.

Mr. McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Scottish students have enrolled at English and Welsh universities in each of the past three years. [13452]

Bill Rammell: Data on the number of Scottish students enrolled in English and Welsh HE institutions are given in the following table.
Scottish domiciled students enrolled on undergraduate courses HE institutions in England and Wales 2001/02 to 2003/04

Full-time
Part-time

First Degree Other undergraduate First Degree Other undergraduate Total(3)

2001/02 5,800 305 380 1,885 8,365

2002/03 5,835 295 410 1,785 8,325

2003/04 5,730 310 400 1,850 8,285

Note:
Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5, so components may not sum to totals.
Source:
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

	Full-time	Part-time
	First Degree	Other undergraduate	First Degree	Other undergraduate	Total(3)
2001/02	5,800	305	380	1,885	8,365
2002/03	5,835	295	410	1,785	8,325
2003/04	5,730	310	400	1,850	8,285

Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of young people in England (a) participated in university education in the academic year 2004/05 and (b) are expected to participate in university education in the academic year 2005/06; whether the Government expects to meet its 2010 target for university participation for 50 per cent. of the young people in England; and if she will make a statement. [14065]

Bill Rammell: The provisional participation rate among 18 to 30-year-olds for 2003/04 (the latest year for which data is available) is 43 per cent. The Department's expenditure plans allow for continuing increase in HEIPR in the period to 2007–08, but we do not publish forecasts for individual years.

The target we have published is to make progress towards a participation rate of 50 per cent. among 18 to 30-year-olds by 2010. We expect to continue to make progress towards this target. It has strategic importance for the UK economy because independent forecasts show that the majority of jobs created over the next decade and beyond will be in sectors with high graduate employment rates.

12 Sept 2005 : Column 2379W

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of school-leavers in (a) England, (b) Teesside and (c) the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency went to university in the last period for which figures are available. [12524]

Bill Rammell: The latest available figures on participation by constituency were published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England in January in Young Participation in England", which is available from their website at: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2005/05_03/. Participation rates for constituencies based on this work, showing figures for the years up to 2000, are given on the supporting POLAR website (www.hefce.ac.uk/polar).

The Department uses the Higher Education Initial Participation Rate (HEIPR) to assess progress on increasing first-time participation of English students aged 18–30 in higher education towards 50 per cent.: the latest provisional figure for 2003/04 is 43 per cent. The HEIPR is not calculated at constituency level.

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