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28 Mar 2006 : Column 874W—continued
Kelly Inquiry
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much Lord Hutton received in payment for conducting the inquiry into the death of Dr. David Kelly. [60923]
Ms Harman: Lord Hutton received his salary as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary until he retired on 11 January 2004, when he received his pension. He did not receive additional payment for the inquiry.
Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what factors led to the decision to appoint Lord Hutton to head the inquiry into Dr. David Kelly's death; who took that decision; and who was consulted upon it. [60924]
Ms Harman:
I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
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Substantive answer from Harriet Harman to Norman Baker:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given in response to PQ152676 to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) on 5 February 2004, Official Report, column 1077W.
Legal Aid
Mr. Leech: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was paid in legal aid in the last 12 months for which figures are available in cases requiring family members as defined under section 105 of the Children Act 1989 (a) to seek leave in order to apply for a residence order or a special guardianship order and (b) who have been caring for a child for at least 12 of the previous 36 months to seek leave in order to apply for a residence order or special guardianship order. [59331]
Ms Harman: This information is not held centrally and can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assistance is planned to be given to small firms to help them adapt to legal aid reforms. [61313]
Ms Harman: Lord Carter of Cole's interim report on Criminal Defence Services, published on 9 February, set out a phased transition towards a market-based approach, during which support would be offered to help suppliers either restructure their business or consolidate. This will enable smaller firms to participate in the new procurement regime by increasing their joint capacity, allowing them to benefit from efficiency savings and increase profits. Lord Carter's final report is expected later this spring and it will contain his final recommendations about the nature of support to be provided.
Legal Services Commission
Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the minority impact assessment report commissioned by the Legal Services Commission will be published. [61312]
Ms Harman: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 20 March 2006, Official Report, column75W. The report to which the hon. Member refers has not yet been finalised. The Legal Services Commission intends to publish it in due course.
Residence/Guardianship Orders
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people have sought leave to apply for (a) a residence order and (b) a special guardianship order in the last three months for which figures are available; and how many were family members as defined under section 105 of the Children Act 1989. [59969]
Ms Harman:
Statistical information on the number of applications for leave to apply" for a residence or a special guardianship order is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
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EDUCATION AND SKILLS
2012 Olympics
Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support for the London 2012 Olympic bid her Department provided; and what subsequent action her Department has taken to ensure the delivery of the Games. [61482]
Jacqui Smith: Before the Bid, DfES worked with London 2012 to develop Theme 17.3 'Educational programmes: promoting the Olympic Ideal' in the Candidate File (the Bid document), and made the following commitments:
(iii) To develop a bespoke Olympic strand for the DfES Global Gateway (which supports the development of international school links);
(iv) To launch a 'Young Ambassadors' scheme of enrichment and development activities for young people from deprived areas of the UK to equip participants to serve as volunteers for the Games;
(v) To support the development of the London Olympic Institute by London 2012's successor body, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG);
Since the, DfES has worked closely with partners in the Skills Alliance to ensure that the wide range of skills required to deliver a successful Games are available. In particular, the Department has been working with the Learning and Skills Council, the Sector Skills Development Agency and Sector Skills Councils, to ensure that they are working closely with key organisations, such as the London Development Agency, through the new London Employability and Skills Taskforce that has been established to meet skills needs in London and contribute to a longer-term skills legacy.
The Department is also working with the LOCOG to support their work on a strategy for the recruitment, training and accreditation of volunteers for the Games.
The wider programme of work that DfES is currently developing to maximise the benefits of the Games for young people and learners will also help meet LOCOG's aim of delivering a Games that will inspire young people and propagate the Olympic Ideals.
Adult Education
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of the Learning and Skills Council's total budget for adult learning was spent on first-step learning in the academic year (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05. [58883]
Bill Rammell
[holding answer 16 March 2006]: I have overall responsibility for the LSC; however, the operations of the LSC are managed and overseen by Mark Haysom, the LSC's chief executive. The annual grant letter sets the overall LSC budget for the year; and the annual accounts includes a breakdown of adult programme expenditure, including further education,
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and PCDL (ACL). Allocations below these levels including to first-steps learning and expenditure by academic years, are a matter for the LSC. I therefore have asked Mark Haysom, who has written to my hon. Friend with further information and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
The following table shows the LSC adult programme spend from the LSC for the financial years (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05 taken for the LSC annual accounts.
| Adult programme expenditure (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 2,427,229 |
| 2003–04 | 2,888,486 |
| 2004–05 | 2,998,735 |
Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 23 March 2006:
First-step learning is designed to introduce, or re-introduce adults back into learning and to provide them with the necessary foundation to progress, where appropriate, to a first full level 2. As such first-step learning may be regarded as all learning activity (including skills for life) at pre-entry and national qualification framework (or equivalent) entry level and level 1.
However, individuals engage in learning at these levels for a variety of reasons, not just for reasons of first-step activity. The following table therefore identifies only the percentage of LSC adult programme spend on learning below level 2 (in the academic years 2003/04 and 2004/05) since the LSC does not collect data on learning intention.
| Percentage of adult programme expenditure (£) | |
|---|---|
| 2003/04 | 40.5 |
| 2004/05 | 40.8 |
I understand that Liz Davis, Executive Director of the LSC in Cheshire and Warrington, has extended a number of invitations over the past year or so to meet with her. While I understand that you are extremely busy may I strongly recommend that you meet with Liz at your earliest convenience to discuss these issues and some of the specific initiatives that are taking place within your constituency?
I understand from Liz that the LSC and Warrington Borough Council are working together to develop a strategic vision for adult provision across Warrington and to ensure joint planning for the future.
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