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23 Mar 2006 : Column 546W—continued
Ergonomic Desks
Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what research her Department has commissioned on a possible correlation between ergonomic desks and students' learning ability; [59734]
(2) what research her Department has commissioned on the possible effect of school furniture on students' osteopathic health. [59735]
Jacqui Smith: There has been no formal research regarding a possible correlation either between ergonomic desks (or school furniture as a whole) and osteopathic health or students' learning ability but the Department is aware of the importance as a whole of a pupils learning environment, both to their performance and feeling of well being. Informal discussions, however, have been held with the National Back Pain Association in the recent past and we are aware of that organisation's concerns in this regard. Schools are now free to purchase their own furniture and equipment and to determine their own spending priorities. Advice in the Department's 'Furniture and Equipment Purchasing Guide', is therefore given on economically adjustable furniture and it's pro's and con's.
As part of our awareness of ergonomics the Department have developed an ergonomics website which allows teachers, building professionals and even children themselves to determine the correct size of furniture for a particular pupil. The site offers solutions to size mis-match—a major cause of discomfort among pupils. This site has utilised child size data gathered in a 2001 survey jointly funded by the Department.
Examination Fees
Mr. Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the reasons for the change in examination entry fees charged to secondary schools since 1997. [60793]
Jacqui Smith:
Spending on exam fees is 0.7 percent. of school spending in England. The responsibility for monitoring examination fees lies with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), as part of its responsibility for overseeing the examinations system in England. Changes to total spending on examination fees may reflect a number of factors, including increases in the number of candidates taking examinations, or payment of penalty fees for late entries.
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It is important that the examinations system has the investment necessary to ensure it remains robust and secure. However, we also need to be confident that the significant levels of public funding spent on examination fees, by secondary schools and others, provide good value for money. We have therefore asked the QCA to consider what further work it should do in this area.
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Free School Meals
Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils who attend schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire are entitled to free school meals. [60710]
Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the following table.
(35) Includes middle schools as deemed.
(36) Includes dually registered and boarding pupils.
(37) Based upon school level numbers of pupils who had a free school meal on the day of the census in January.
Note:
National figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
Source:
Annual Schools Census
Free School Transport
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will reduce the statutory distances for eligibility for free school transport for children in rural and semi-rural areas. [60568]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 22 March 2006]: The Education and Inspections Bill includes measures that will provide a new entitlement to free school transport for pupils from low income backgrounds:
For primary aged pupils aged over eight, to their nearest school where this is more than two miles from their home; and
For secondary aged pupils to any one of the three nearest suitable schools, where the distance travelled is between two and six miles.
These new entitlements apply to all areas in England. Statutory walking distance for these pupils is currently three miles.
The Bill also includes provisions to allow a small number of local authorities to propose Pathfinder schemes to test innovative approaches to home to school transport to support school choice, reduce the distances pupils are expected to walk to school more widely, and increase the proportion of pupils travelling by sustainable means.
Identity Fraud
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department has taken to raise awareness of identity fraud amongst its staff. [55883]
Maria Eagle [holding answer 3 March 2006]: The Department takes all form of fraud seriously. In terms of relative risk, identity fraud is not the highest risk in the Department's direct relationships with the public but does figure significantly in relationships with key partners.
The Department's partner organisations are primarily responsible for the distribution of funding and will implement processes that safeguard against fraud risks including identity theft. Guidance issued to partners includes steers on validating identity details. My Department is currently undertaking a review of NDPB partner organisations fraud response plans. This review will ensure identity fraud has been reflected appropriately in their respective fraud strategies.
The Department does provide training for front desk staff (receptionists and security guards) dealing with the public face to face. The induction training includes validating whether a person is who they say they are and whether they are allowed on site in their own right or whether they need to be escorted. After the induction, appointees must sign a declaration that they understand what they have been taught, that they know where the assignment instructions are kept should they need to refer to them and that they know who to contact for further guidance.
In respect of administration staff, dealing with verifying identity is part of the Department's work in administering vetting cases and, in HR, when recruiting new members of staff. The Department's Special Investigations Unit also provides fraud awareness training to Divisions on request.
Jodie Marsh
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to deny Jodie Marsh access to schools for which her Department is responsible. [60882]
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Jacqui Smith: Jodie Marsh does not represent the Department for Education and Skills in any way. Decisions about giving people access to pupils in schools are a matter for individual head teachers and governing bodies.
Racism
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 March 2006, Official Report, columns 2229–30W, on racism, how many incidents of racial discrimination there were in schools in the last five years. [60883]
Jacqui Smith: The requirement to record and report all racist incidents in schools came into force in November 1999. Data on racist incidents are not collected centrally by the Department as we believe that local authorities and schools are much better placed to analyse and respond to the issues raised, which will reflect local situations and tensions.
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