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1 Feb 2006 : Column 496W—continued
Housing Benefit
Meg Hillier: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many applications for housing benefit extended payments were made in 2004–05; and how many of those applications were successful. [44811]
Mr. Plaskitt: I have been asked to reply.
The information is not available.
Local Government Finance
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead on the rate support grant since its announcement. [47265]
Mr. Woolas: Consultation on the 2006–07 Local Government Finance settlement ran from 5 December to 11 January. During that period the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received 336 written representations. The Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead made no previous written representation; I met a delegation form the council to discuss the settlement on Tuesday 10 January.
All representations received have been considered in reaching the final 2006–07 Local Government Finance settlement.
Official Travel
David Simpson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his air travel in an official capacity cost in each year since he became Deputy Prime Minister. [46634]
Jim Fitzpatrick: All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the 'Ministerial Code and Travel' by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 1995–96 to 2004–05. Information for 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.
During the financial year 2004–05, expenditure on domestic flights by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister was £1,041. Information in respect of my right hon. Friend's domestic air travel taken since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed on 29 May 2002 until 2003–04 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
David Simpson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost was of his official travel in each year since he became Deputy Prime Minister. [46636]
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Jim Fitzpatrick: All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the 'Ministerial Code and Travel' by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
For information on the cost of ministerial vehicles provided to departments in 2004–05 I refer the hon. Member to the letter from Roy Burke, chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) in November 2005. For information for the financial years 2000–01 to 2003–04 I refer the hon. Member to the letters from the chief executive of the GCDA to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) dated 10 January 2005 and to the then hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs dated 13 September 2003. Copies of these letters are available in the Library of the House.
During the financial year 2004–05, expenditure on rail travel by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister was 4,624. Information in respect of my right hon. Friend's rail travel taken since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002 until 2003–04 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 1995–96 to 2004–05. Information for 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.
During the financial year 2004–05, expenditure on domestic flights by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister was £1,041. Information in respect of my right hon. Friend's domestic air travel taken since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed on 29 May 2002 until 2003–04 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
David Simpson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost was of his overnight accommodation while travelling on official duties in each year since he became Deputy Prime Minister. [46637]
Jim Fitzpatrick: All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel' by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, in respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list includes the total cost of travel and accommodation. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 1995–96 to 2004–05. Information for 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.
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EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Adult Education
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what opportunities are made available by her Department in Tamworth constituency (a) to retrain, (b) to reskill and (c) to educate local adult residents to improve their chances of taking up paid employment. [42080]
Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
The Government's Skills Strategy, 21st Century Skills: Realising Our Potential" (July 2003) and Skills: Getting on in business, getting on at work" (March 2005), set out our plans for increasing opportunities for adults to develop their skills for paid employment.
Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 27 January 2006:
I write in response to your recent Parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, where you ask what opportunities are made available by her department in Tamworth constituency to (a) retrain (b) reskill and (c) educate local adult residents to improve their chances of taking up paid employment.
Tamworth and Lichfield College is the principal further education (FE) college serving learners in the Tamworth district. Residents also have the opportunity to study in a number of other FE colleges within accessible travelling distance.
In 2004–05, some 9,500 adults enrolled on programmes of study at Tamworth and Lichfield College across a wide range of subject areas. Particularly large numbers (5,000 enrolments) were to programmes in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). These qualifications are adaptable to many employment sectors, and our regional and local market intelligence shows that, increasingly, employment opportunities will be in higher skilled and more technical jobs where ICT competencies will be an important part of the overall skills profile sought by employers,
In terms of the total employment demand, the health sector is forecast to be Staffordshire's second biggest sector over the next 10 years. Over 1,800 adults enrolled to programmes in Health, Public Services and Care at Tamworth and Lichfield College in 2004–05. College provision, therefore, is supporting residents to take advantage of new and emerging employment opportunities.
In addition to provision to support vocational training and upskilling, Staffordshire local education authority receives funding from LSC for the provision of non-accredited adult and community learning activities across the eight district councils in Staffordshire. The aim of the provision is to engage learners in learning programmes and activities to develop skills for life and personal development. Tamworth and Lichfield College delivers this provision on its Tamworth campus and an additional 17 community venues in the district. In 2003–04 the college enrolled 2,284 learners on 160 adult community programmes.
Learndirect offer a range of flexible learning opportunities though e-learning. The study can take place at the learndirect centres, of which there are 5 in the Tamworth area, or anywhere a learner can access a computer with a good internet connection. Courses include literacy and numeracy, and many are free.
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