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27 Feb 2006 : Column 517W—continued
Compensation Claims
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what was the total amount paid out by schools in compensation claims in 2004–05. [52104]
Jacqui Smith:
My Department does not collect this information.
27 Feb 2006 : Column 518W
Computers
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the ratio of children to computers was at each primary school in (a) Kingston and Surbiton, (b) London and (c) England in each of the past 10 years. [53006]
Jacqui Smith: The Department does not collect the data requested for questions (a) and (b) . The national figures for computer to pupil ratios in primary schools in England from 1995 to 2005 are as follows:
| Computer to pupil ratios in primary schools | |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1:19 |
| 1998 | 1:17.6 |
| 1999 | 1:13.4 |
| 2000 | 1:12.6 |
| 2001 | 1:11.8 |
| 2002 | 1:10.1 |
| 2003 | 1:7.9 |
| 2004 | 1:7.5 |
| 2005 | 1:6.7 |
A survey was not completed in 1997 and there are no national figures for that year.
Connexions
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment she has made of the performance of Connexions Partnerships. [52323]
Maria Eagle: Nationally, Connexions met its last operational target to reduce the proportion of young people not in education, employment or training by 10 per cent. between November 2002 and November 2004. The next set of formal targets is in 2006.
Of course, performance varies across the country and we continue to monitor progress at individual partnership level. Individual partnerships are subject to periodic formal reviews of performance by their Government Office and during these reviews, weak areas of performance are explored and if appropriate, remedial actions are agreed.
Government Office reviews also cover the progress that a partnership is making in addressing any areas for improvement identified by Ofsted.
As Connexions is integrated into children's trusts, performance will be monitored and inspected as part of the wider processes for judging the overall effectiveness of services for children, young people and families.
Creationism
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her policy is on the teaching of creationism as a subject in schools; and if she will make a statement. [49613]
Jacqui Smith:
Neither creationism nor intelligent design is taught as a subject in schools. The national curriculum programme of study for science at key stage
27 Feb 2006 : Column 519W
4 covers evolution. It sets out that pupils should be taught that the fossil record is evidence for evolution" and also how variation and selection may lead to evolution or extinction". Pupils should however be taught about how scientific controversies can arise from different ways of interpreting empirical evidence". Also, the biblical view of creation can be taught in RE lessons, where pupils are taught to consider opposing theories and come to their own, reasoned conclusions. Therefore, although creationism and intelligent design are not part of the national curriculum, they could be covered in these contexts.
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Departmental Projects
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list (a) individuals and (b) companies who have (i) donated money to and (ii) sponsored projects run by her Department where the sum provided was more than £100,000 since 1997; and which projects were supported in each case. [47299]
Bill Rammell: Individuals and companies that have donated money to and sponsored projects run by the Department for Education and Skills, where the sum provided is more than £100,000 since 1997 and the projects supported are listed in the following table.
27 Feb 2006 : Column 521W
Departmental Recruitment/Staff
Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many job advertisements were placed by her Department (a) in total, (b) in print newspapers and magazines and (c) on a recruitment website in each year since 1997; and at what (i) total and (ii) average cost in each case. [50747]
Maria Eagle: The information requested is not collected centrally in the required format and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total number of civil service posts is in (a) her Department and (b) the Office for Standards in Education; and what the numbers were in July 2004. [50114]
Maria Eagle: The total number of civil servants currently employed in my Department is 3,784. At 1 July 2004 the number was 4,460.
HM Chief Inspector, Maurice Smith, has written to the hon. Member insofar as the question relates to Ofsted, and a copy of his letter has been placed in the House Library.
Letter from Maurice Smith, dated 14 February 2006:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
You asked what the total number of civil service posts was in the Office for Standards in Education; and what the numbers were in July 2004.
Our establishment figure for 2004–05 was 2,814 however our actual staffing did not reach this figure because we immediately implemented reductions once the Government's efficiency plans became clear. Our total full time equivalent staffing figure as of 31 December 2005 was 2,280. The equivalent figure at 31 July 2004 was 2,557.
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