| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
24 Apr 2006 : Column 887W—continued
Pupil Injuries (Compensation)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been paid in Northern Ireland in compensation claims for injuries received by (a) pupils, (i) on school field trips and (ii) while at school and (b) teachers as a result of (A) assault and (B) accident while on duty in each of the last five years. [63442]
24 Apr 2006 : Column 888W
Angela E. Smith: I have been advised that the information requested is as follows.
Special Educational Needs
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils in Northern Ireland (i) have special educational needs and (ii) are eligible for free school meals; and what the equivalent figures are for the 100 (A) best and (B) worst performing (1) primary and (2) secondary schools. [64176]
Angela E. Smith: The requested information (2004–05) is as follows:
Notes:
1.Figures relate to post primary pupils and pupils in nursery, reception and year 1–year 7 classes in primary schools.
2.Top and lowest 100 performing schools were identified by ranking the percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 and above and Level 5 in Key Stage 2 assessments for primary schools, and by ranking the percentage of year 12 pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grades A*–C for post primary schools.
For nursery class pupils, pupils with a parent in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or income support" was used as a proxy for free school meal entitlement.
24 Apr 2006 : Column 889W
CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
1911 Census
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2006 to Question 49704 how, and in what form, the assurances to which she refers in her answer were given. [51803]
Ms Harman: The 1911 census forms for England and Wales included the following assurance to householders:
'The contents of the Schedule will be treated as confidential. Strict care will be taken that no information is disclosed with regard to individual persons. The returns are not to be used for proof of age, as in connection with old age pensions, or for any other purpose than the preparation of statistical tables'.
Hague Convention 1996
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which countries have (a) signed and ratified and (b) only signed the Hague Convention of 1996 on the International Protection of Children. [62853]
Ms Harman: My hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton), the then Minister, signed the Convention on behalf of the UK on 1 April 2003. The full details of signatures, ratifications and accessions are set out as follows. Up-to-date information is on the Hague Conference website at http://www.hcch.net.
The following signed and ratified:
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Action for Southern Africa Sanitary Appeal
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding has been allocated to the Action for Southern Africa Sanitary Appeal. [64474]
Hilary Benn: DFID has not provided funding specifically to the Action for Southern Africa Sanitary Appeal. DFID has, however, provided funds to the International Organisation for Migration to assist the most poor and vulnerable households displaced as a result of the Government of Zimbabwe's urban clean-up operations and land reform programme. Sanitary products are included in the pack of non-food items which to date have been distributed to nearly 12,000 families, many of whom are affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis in the country.
In the last year, our top priorities have been to address the HIV and AIDS crisis, which is causing over 3,000 deaths every week; to support orphans and vulnerable children, now numbering over 10 per cent. of the total population; and to ensure that poor people across the country avoid serious food shortages. We expect these to remain our priorities in the coming year, with a planned expenditure of approximately 30 million channelled through UN Agencies and non-governmental organisations.
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of a lack of female sanitary products on growth in developing countries via effects on female economic productivity; and what steps he plans take to tackle this problem; [64477]
(2) what steps the Government are taking to tackle rising vaginal infections in developing countries due to a lack of female sanitary products; [64476]
(3) what aid is given for the supply of female sanitary products in developing countries. [64475]
Hilary Benn:
The low availability and high cost of purpose-made female sanitary products for menstrual protection means that they are generally not used by poor women and girls in developing countries. In general, strips of old cloth are used to provide protection during menstruation. Critically, to ensure hygiene, comfort and to lessen vulnerability to reproductive tract infections these cloths must be clean and dry. However, a lack of basic infrastructure such as toilets and clean water combined with social taboos means that it is often difficult and embarrassing to wash and dry these cloths. Women and girls also face problems bathing due to lack of facilities that provide privacy. Consequently damp or even dirty rags are re-used.
24 Apr 2006 : Column 891W
All people deserve the dignity of decent and private sanitation near their home. However, 2.6 billion people do not have it. DFID is working to increase poor people'saccess to clean water and basic sanitation and infrastructure.
Adolescent girls also get inadequate preparation for the changes they face in puberty, including issues around menstrual health and hygiene. The silence around these discussions with young girls is linked to taboos around female sexuality. This is why DFID is supporting work in adolescent sexual and reproductive health. This includes fostering life skills that enable young girls and boys to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and to adopt healthy behaviours that enable them to avoid reproductive track, sexually transmitted infections (including HIV) and unintended pregnancy.
DFID has not made an assessment of the impact of a lack of female sanitary products on economic growth and productivity. We are fully committed to working in ways that enable girls and women to reach their full potential. Investment in sexual and reproductive health is cost-effective. As well as direct health gains, better access to services can enable completion of education and access to economic opportunities by women and girls. This has immediate and longer term payoffs.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |