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Teacher Assaults
Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many school teachers were (a) physically and (b) verbally abused by (i) pupils and (ii) parents in the Province in each of the last five years. [22661]
Angela E. Smith: The Department of Education does not collect the requested information. However in relation to pupils, from the 2002–03 school year, statistics on the reasons for suspensions have been gathered annually from each Education and Library Board. The following tables illustrate the number of suspensions for verbal abuse of, and physical attacks on, staff for the 2002–03 and 2003–04 school years:
It should be noted that these figures relate to the number of individual suspensions not to the number of pupils suspended. These figures are also available on the
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Department's website www.deni.gov.uk/facts_figures/education_stats/suspension_stats.htm. Statistics are not yet available for the 2004–05 school year.
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many instances there have been of attacks on teaching staff in schools in Northern Ireland during the course of their work in each of the last five years. [22855]
Angela E. Smith: The Department of Education does not collect the requested information. However, from the 2002/03 school year, statistics on the reasons for suspensions have been gathered annually from each Education and Library Board. The following tables illustrate the number of suspensions for verbal abuse of, and physical attacks on, staff for the 2002/03 and 2003/04 school years:
| Reason for suspension | ||
|---|---|---|
| Verbal abuse of staff | Physical attack on staff | |
| Male | 1,683 | 320 |
| Female | 343 | 45 |
| Total | 2,026 | 365 |
| Reason for suspension | ||
|---|---|---|
| Verbal abuse of staff | Physical attack on staff | |
| Male | 1,867 | 281 |
| Female | 403 | 39 |
| Total | 2,270 | 320 |
It should be noted that these figures relate to the number of individual suspensions not to the number of pupils suspended.
These figures are available on the Department's website at:
Statistics are not yet available for the 2004/05 school year.
Teenage Smokers
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of (a) female and (b) male secondary level sixth formers at schools in Northern Ireland are estimated to be smokers. [22854]
Angela E. Smith: Information for sixth form pupils is not available. However, the Continuous Household Survey results for 2004–05 showed that 29 per cent. of 16 to 24-year-olds smoke.
University Admissions
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is his policy to offer financial support to enable people in Northern Ireland to return to university following redundancy. [22792]
Angela E. Smith:
There is no specific financial support targeted at people returning to university after redundancy. A comprehensive package of student support is available for all eligible students entering
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higher education including means tested fee remission and bursaries aimed at less well off students, as well as maintenance loans. This support is available for students undertaking their first primary degree.
Winter Fuel Payments
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have received winter fuel payments in (a) Strangford and (b) all other constituencies in the Province; and if he will make a statement. [22818]
Mr. Hanson:
The following table shows the number of awards of winter fuel payments for 2004–05 which is the latest year for which the information is available. Strangford constituency has been highlighted in italic.
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