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11 Nov 2005 : Column 800W—continued
Office for Disability Issues
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the level of publicity for his Department's recent consultation on the establishment of the Office for Disability Issues; and whether this process was compatible with the Cabinet Office code of practice for public consultations. [22185]
Mrs. McGuire: The consultation referred to was an informal exercise, and was publicised in the disability press and on a number of disability related websites. In addition I wrote to over 60 leading disability organisations notifying them of the exercise, and issued a press release. We contacted a range of interested organisations and individuals using contact details held by this Department, and Central Office of Information, passing on information about the consultation, and asking them to cascade the information further.
Officials are currently analysing the results of this consultation exercise; and once this analysis is complete, the results will be published. I am confident that the publicity for this exercise was compatible with the Cabinet Office code of practice for public consultations, although it was not a formal consultation exercise, and therefore was not subject to the code.
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EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Adoptions
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adoptions of (a) children under three years and (b) all children have been completed in each of the last five years. [18842]
Maria Eagle: The number of adoption orders made for all children in England and Wales for 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2003 (latest figures available) is set out in the following table. A breakdown of these figures by age could be provided at only disproportionate cost.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 4,987 |
| 2000 | 5,086 |
| 2001 | 5,384 |
| 2002 | 5,485 |
| 2003 | 5,354 |
Source:
Office for National Statistics
Statistical information on the total number of adoptions is included in the Statistics Series "Marriage, divorce and adoptions", Volume FM2, published by the Office for National Statistics. A copy of this publication is available in the House of Commons Library and on the Office for National Statistics' website at:
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many adoptions were completed in the last 12 months in each local authority area. [18843]
Maria Eagle: Information on all adoptions that were completed in the last 12 months by local authority area is not collected centrally.
However, information is available on the number of looked after children, by local authority area, adopted in 2003–04. This information may be found in table 18 of "Children Looked After by Local Authorities, Year Ending 31 March 2004" available on the Department's website at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000569/vweb01–2005_2.pdf.
Departmental Skills Development Plan
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which individual is responsible for developing and implementing her Department's Skills Development Plan. [23847]
Maria Eagle:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 2 November 2005, Official Report, column 1074W. In the Department of Education and Skills, the Human Resources Director is responsible for ensuring the development and implementation of the DfES Skills Development Plan.
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Gershon Review
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many full-time equivalent employee reductions as a result of the Gershon review have been made; what (a) cost savings relating to IT projects and (b) total value of efficiency savings (i) were achieved in 2004–05 and (ii) are expected to be achieved in 2005–06; and if she will make a statement. [23992]
Maria Eagle [holding answer 2 November 2005]: As at September 2005 my Department had made 774 full-time equivalent employee reductions. Further progress will be reported in the Department's Autumn Performance Report.
In 2004–05 my Department realised efficiencies of some £30.56 million in procurement of ICT related goods and services. My Department has an efficiency target for 2007–08 but no intermediate targets.
We do however expect to realise significant efficiencies through our IT related programmes. Progress will be reported in the Department's Autumn Performance Report. The Department has an efficiency target for 2007–08 but no intermediate target for 2005–06.
Learning and Skills Council
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list in ascending order the percentage change in 16 to 18 years participation budgets for education in Learning and Skills Council sub-regions between 2003–04 and 2004–05. [20290]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 21 October 2005]: The Department allocates funds for further education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector, including 16 to 18 years participation, to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) working through 47 local offices. The LSC was established in 2001 bringing the planning and funding of post-16 education together under one body within a framework set by Government.
In 2003–04 the LSC spent £2,073 million on 16 to 18 years provision nationally. In 2004–05 this increased to £2,342 million—an increase of 9 per cent.
My Department does not hold figures at local or regional levels. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive has responded to you with further details about the specific issues you have raised. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. John Grogan, dated 9 November 2005:
I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills referred to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) by Bill Rammell regarding the percentage change in 16 to 18 years and adult participation
- budgets for education in local Learning and Skills Councils and Regions between 2003–04 and 2004–05.
The LSC allocates funds for further education through the 47 local Learning and Skills Councils. The funds are allocated on an academic year basis.
The attached spreadsheets show the distribution of the FE funding in ascending order by local Council and at regional level showing the cash and percentage variance between 2003/04 and 2004/05.
11 Nov 2005 : Column 805W
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list in ascending order the percentage change in the adult participation in further education budgets for each Learning and Skills Council sub-region between 2003–04 and 2004–05. [20291]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 21 October 2005]: The Department allocates funds for further education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector, including adult participation, to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) working through 47 local offices. The LSC was established in 2001 bringing the planning and funding of post-16 education together under one body within a framework set by Government.
In 2003–04 the LSC spent £1,756 million on adult participation nationally. In 2004–05 this increased to £1,847 million—an increase of 10 per cent.
My Department does not hold figures at local or regional levels. Mark Haysom, the council's chief
11 Nov 2005 : Column 806W
executive has responded to you with further details about the specific issues you have raised. A copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. John Grogan, dated 9 November 2005:
I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills referred to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) by Bill Rammell regarding the percentage change in 16 to 18 years and adult participation budgets for education in local Learning and Skills Councils and Regions between 2003–04 and 2004–05.
The LSC allocates funds for further education through the 47 local Learning and Skills Councils. The funds are allocated on an academic year basis.
The attached spreadsheets show the distribution of the FE funding in ascending order by local Council and at regional level showing the cash and percentage variance between 2003/04 and 2004/05.
11 Nov 2005 : Column 807W
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