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12 May 2006 : Column 587W—continued
Water Shortages
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) water shortages and (b) hosepipe bans on (i) municipal floral displays, (ii) cricket pitches and (iii) the Britain in Bloom competition. [66240]
Ian Pearson: The Environment Agency has produced a report, 'Drought prospects 2006', explaining the likely consequences of a continuing rainfall deficit and recommending action by water companies and the public. This report is available on request from the Agency (telephone 020 7863 8710) or from its website: www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Hosepipe bans imposed by water companies affect the watering of private gardens. Some water companies
in South East England have applied to the Secretary of State for drought orders to ban the non-essential use of water. If made, such orders could impact on the watering of parks and sports facilities.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long he expects the hosepipe bans in (a) Thames Water and (b) Three Valleys Water to continue; and if he will make a statement. [66880]
Ian Pearson: The typical duration of hosepipe bans depends on factors such as the amount of water stored in local aquifers, base river levels and reservoir storage. The present bans in Thames Water and Three Valleys Water are likely to continue throughout the summer, and until there is enough rainfall for water companies to be confident they can meet demand for summer 2007.
Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the amount of water likely to be lost due to leaks in pipes owned by water companies over the next decade; and if he will make a statement. [67008]
Ian Pearson: The Director General of Water Services publishes leakage figures annually in the 'Security of supply, leakage and the efficient use of water’ reports. Leakage targets are set by Ofwat, currently up to 2009-10. If all water companies were to meet these targets, total water company leakage would be 3,336 megalitres/day by 2009-10, a reduction of 272 megalitres/day from 2004-05 figures.
Leader of the House
Departmental Staff
David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House what percentage of his private office staff is (a) male, (b) female and (c) disabled. [69151]
Nigel Griffiths: The office of the Leader of the House of Commons has 12 staff, 67 per cent. are male and 33 per cent. female.
The provision of personal information on disability is optional and is held on individual staff files. Owing to the nature and size of the office, providing this information could result in the identification of individuals.
Education and Skills
First Level 3 Qualifications
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2006, Official Report, column 1591W, on first level 3 qualifications, how many 19 to 25-year-olds studying for a first level 3 qualification are paying fees for the course in each region in England. [69569]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 9 May 2006]: The following table shows the number of 19 to 25-year-olds who were studying for a full level 3 or equivalent
qualification(1) in further education in the academic year 2004/05 by region, and the number of those in each region who did not receive any fee remission.
| Region of learner | Level 3 learners | Level 3 fee payers | Percentage of fee payers |
| Notes: 1. We estimate that of the 45,000 19 to 25-year-olds in England who were studying for a full level 3 in 2004/05, 22,000 were studying for a first full level 3 qualification. 2. We do not have estimates for “firstness” at a regional level, due to insufficient sample sizes in the research into prior qualifications in FE. 3. The research suggests that, nationally, there is no difference in the proportion receiving fee remission between first and non-first full level 3 learners. Source: Individualised Learner Record, 2004/05 |
(1)Does not include Access to HE qualifications or wholly privately funded study aims.
Free School Meals
Mr. Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of children in each school in Worcester city (a) receive free school meals and (b) are eligible for free school meals. [67402]
Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the table.
Two sets of figures relating to the number and proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals are given here. The first includes all pupils in the school, regardless of their age. The second includes full-time pupils aged up to (and including) 15 and part-time pupils aged five to 15 (inclusive). This second coverage is as used in the Pupil Achievement Tracker and Ofsted's PANDA reports and provides consistent school level comparisons.
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