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Railways

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers (a) died and (b) were seriously injured while travelling on rail services provided by C2C Rail Ltd and its predecessors in each year from 1976. [19994]

Derek Twigg: Information on rail passenger fatalities and injuries is held by the Health and Safety Executive only on a national and regional basis, not by line or train operator.

Thames Port Development

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely impact on the Thames Estuary fishing industry of the proposed dredging of the Estuary as part of the Thames Port development. [21602]

Dr. Ladyman: The matters considered by the Secretary of State are set out in his minded view letter of 20 July 2005 to the applicant for the proposed port. Paragraphs 31 and 66 of that letter and paragraph 15.2.12 of the inspector's report address the question of the likely impact on the fishing industry in the area.

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he received during the public inquiry into the Thames Port proposal on the impact of the proposed work on (a) biodiversity and (b) the fishing industry, with particular reference to dredging in the Thames. [21603]

Dr. Ladyman: Evidence on potential impacts of the proposed port on biodiversity and on the fishing industry from dredging in the Thames was provided to the public inquiry which was held into the proposed port and on which the inspector reported to the Secretary of State. A significant amount of evidence on these topics was contained in the environmental statement and other submissions provided by the applicant. Evidence was also provided in submissions from a number of organisations and individuals.

Transport Act

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the operation of section 175 of the Transport Act 2000. [20112]

Dr. Ladyman: No regulations have been made under section 175 of the Transport Act 2000.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adult Community Learning

Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the possible effects of the funding settlement for future financial years for adult community learning on (a) course fees, (b) the
 
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choice of courses available, (c) the number of places available and (d) the competitiveness of the UK's skills-based economy. [21380]

Phil Hope: We announced on 21 October that we would safeguard £210 million for learning for personal and community development in 2006/07. On (a) we aim to increase fees in line with our wider fees policy for Further Education which is to work with the sector to establish with individuals and employers that they should pay at least 50 per cent. of course costs by the end of the decade, with safeguards for disadvantaged learners. On (b) there will continue to be a wide range of courses for adults. On (c) we should maintain the number of places in learning for personal and community development funded from the safeguarded budget. On (d) I would not expect any direct impact on the competitiveness of the UK's skills based economy from this type of learning but these courses do have wider benefits both to the individual and to society.

Correspondence

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will to reply to the letter to her dated 30 August from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. Nazia Parveen. [19511]

Beverley Hughes: My right hon. Friend, the Minister for Children, Young People and Families expects to be able to respond to the right hon. Member's letter of 30 August by 26 October. I understand my hon. Friend has received an interim reply explaining that it was necessary to obtain further information for a full reply.

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether (a) she or (b) other Ministers in her Department use an automated signing machine or stamp for ministerial correspondence. [20507]

Bill Rammell: Guidance on handling ministerial correspondence is set out in Handling Correspondence from Members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords, MEPs and Members of Devolved Assemblies: Guidance for Departments" copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Automated signatures may be used in exceptional circumstances, for example when dealing with campaign correspondence, however all replies to ministerial correspondence are cleared by Ministers before being issued. Other than that all correspondence is signed by hand.

Degrees (Braintree)

Mr. Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the working age population in the Braintree constituency hold a qualification at degree level or above. [21381]

Bill Rammell: From the 2004/05 Annual Local Labour Force Survey, the percentage of the working age population in the Braintree constituency that hold a qualification at degree level or above is 21.2 per cent. This compares with 20.1 per cent. for Essex and 25.9 per cent. for England.
 
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Departmental Rebranding

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent on rebranding in (a) her Department and (b) related agencies in each of the last five years. [18079]

Bill Rammell: Spend on rebranding for my Department and related agencies in the last five years, is as follows:

	Department or Agency	Cost (£000)
2001	DfES	56
2001–03	Teacher Training agency	88
2001–03	LSC	45

Education Funding

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of (a) revenue and (b) capital funding for (i) maintained schools, (ii) maintained faith schools and (iii) academies came from public sources in (A) 2004–05 and (B) 2005–06. [16393]

Jacqui Smith: The proportion of revenue funding from public sources to all maintained schools and academies is estimated to be in excess of 97 per cent., both for 2004–05 and 2005–06. The balance of up to 3 per cent. includes the following categories of income: (a) facilities and services (b) catering (c) supply teacher insurance claims and other insurance claims (d) income from contributions to visits and similar activities.

No records are kept centrally which distinguish between faith and non-faith schools. The proportion of capital expenditure from public sources to all maintained schools and academies is estimated to approach 100 per cent., except as noted below. On Academy start up, private sector sponsors contribute up to around £2 million towards an average cost of £25 million. Public sources generally contribute 90 per cent. of Voluntary Aided Schools, with sponsors contributing the remaining 10 per cent.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to change Government funding for (a) Havering college and (b) Havering sixth form college. [20798]

Bill Rammell: On the 21 October I made an announcement, setting out the Government's strategic direction for the learning and skills sector for the coming period. My main purpose for doing so is to ensure the 2006–07 funding allocations process begin with a clear and concise message on the priorities and principles that will underpin funding over the next two years.

In addition, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) published Priorities for Success"—a document that sets out the funding strategy for the next two years in more detail. This document is available on the LSC's website.

Although more funding will be going into the sector, we will focus public funding even more strongly on key priorities of raising participation and achievement for 16–19 year olds and driving down the skills deficit in the
 
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adult workforce and continue to rebalance the contributions of the state, individuals and employers to the costs of learning.

The Chancellor announced in the 2004 spending review settlement for education and skills in April 2004, that there will be over £1 billion of additional investment in the learning and skills sector by 2007–08. We will not know what this will mean for regional and local budgets until allocations are made by the National LSC Office, following receipt of the grant letter from my Department.

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