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23 Jan 2006 : Column 1913W—continued
Free School Milk
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schoolchildren who would qualify for free school milk if they lived in a local authority area which participates in the School Milk Subsidy Scheme do not receive free school milk. [43871]
Jacqui Smith:
The information requested is not collected centrally.
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Fruit
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) deaths and (b) injuries have been caused in schools by fruit in each of the last 10 years. [43363]
Jacqui Smith:
The Government do not collect such data.
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Good Practice
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2005, Official Report, column 1778W, on good practice, what information she has received from Ofsted on the extent to which faith schools have adopted the good practice published on www.teachernet.gov.uk/faithschools; and what assessment she has made of the impact of the adoption of the good practice on outcomes in terms of educational achievement. [41851]
Jacqui Smith: Ofsted do not assess the extent to which faith schools have adopted the good practice published on www.teachernet.gov.uk/faith schools. It is not part of the inspection framework. Our primary aim in publishing the examples of good practice is to show faith schools ways in which they can be inclusive and contribute to community cohesion. We have not made any assessment of the impact on pupils' achievement in those faith schools that have adopted the good practice.
Graduate Tax
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the merits of a graduate tax. [43074]
Bill Rammell: The issue of a graduate tax was discussed in a departmental paper of 8 December 2003, prior to the debates on the Higher Education Bill in 2004 when the Government legislated to introduce variable fees rather than a graduate tax. The main reasons were because variable fees provide a guaranteed source of additional income for HE institutions independent of Government; and generate a higher level of revenue for universities with lower short and medium term public expenditure implications. Graduates will also know exactly what their higher education will cost them at the outset. We have made no further assessment since then. The paper is available on our website at:
Greenhouse Gases
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to reduce its emission of greenhouse gases. [43082]
Maria Eagle: The Department is taking the following steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
An internal review of energy usage and procedures to manage the estate is under way.
We have registered with the Carbon Trust who have confirmed we have qualified for an energy audit on three of our five headquarters buildings and to receive advice on a full carbon management programme.
Home Education
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many parents (a) in England, (b) in each region and (c) in each local education authority are educating their children at home. [42067]
23 Jan 2006 : Column 1916W
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many parents in Tamworth constituency are educating their children at home. [43469]
Jacqui Smith: Parents may exercise their right to educate their children at home on a temporary or permanent basis. We do not collect information about the numbers of children whose parents provide education at home, and it would be impractical to do so given the transient nature of some of this type of provision.
Indoor Airborne Chemicals
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to issue guidelines to schools on acceptable (a) levels and (b) maximum concentrations of indoor airborne chemicals for children aged 4 to 11 years. [43192]
Jacqui Smith: DfES will shortly be issuing a new Building Bulletin 101, Ventilation of School Buildings", see www.teachernet.gov.uk/iaq. This document will give the standards on ventilation for new school buildings for compliance with Approved Document F on Ventilation of the Building Regulations. Its performance standards are based on maximum concentrations of a number of pollutants including relative humidity, carbon monoxide, total volatile organic compounds, nitrogen dioxide and ozone and relate these back to a maximum carbon dioxide concentration and minimum ventilation rate. The new standards will come into force on 1 April 2006 at the same time as the new Approved Document F of the Building Regulations. The new standards are broadly in line with the requirements for minimum ventilation rates for all schools which are laid down in the Education (School Premises) Regulations SI No.2 1999, (http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1999/19990002.htm)
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to educate primary school teachers about the possible risks of indoor airborne chemicals. [43193]
Jacqui Smith: Qualifying to teach" sets out the professional standards for qualified teachers. All primary teachers are trained to teach science. The standards include planning and delivering lessons that are safe (Standard 3.1.3 and 3.3.8) and working within the legal and other frameworks that apply to teachers (Standard 1.8). These frameworks include health and safety legislation and advice.
List 99
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) which categories of (a) ban and (b) partial ban from working in schools can be applied to people included on List 99; [43656]
(2) what categories of (a) ban and (b) partial ban from working in schools can be applied to people included on List 99. [43771]
Ruth Kelly:
My statement, and the accompanying report, of 19 January set out clearly the Government's analysis of, and response to, issues concerning child protection and List 99, together with the action we are currently taking.
23 Jan 2006 : Column 1917W
Ministerial Meetings
Mr. Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements she has for regular meetings with the Education Minister in the National Assembly for Wales to discuss education issues and share best practice. [44486]
Bill Rammell: The Department for Education and Skills continues to work closely with colleagues in each of the devolved Administrations. We are committed to the principle of good communication with each other, in accordance with the Devolution Memorandum of Understanding.
National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth
Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many members of the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth there are in each maintained secondary school in (a) North East Lincolnshire and (b) North Lincolnshire. [42674]
Jacqui Smith: This information is shown in the following table. Membership of the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth (NAGTY) is available to pupils aged 11–19 in the top 5 per cent. nationally.
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