| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
16 May 2006 : Column 911W—continued
Examination Boycott
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action his Department is taking to address the boycott of assessment and examination activity called for by the Association of University Teachers. [68850]
Bill Rammell: It is a matter for higher education institutions (HEIs) to consider how best they can minimise the adverse effects on students of the current dispute, including making contingency arrangements for exams and assessment. HEIs, as autonomous bodies, are responsible for determining their own academic and administrative affairs, including deciding what to pay their own staff. Pay and conditions of service are subject to negotiations between employers, their staff and their representative trade union bodies. The Government play no part in this.
While this is a matter for unions and employers, I am disappointed that this has come to industrial action and that students' progress is being threatened by this dispute. The employers have made an offer of 12.6 per
cent. over three years, which I believe the academic unions should now formally put to their members with a view to ending this damaging dispute.
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the impact of a continued boycott of assessment and examination activity by further and higher education teachers on initiatives to increase the enrolment of overseas students at English universities. [68851]
Bill Rammell: We have made no such assessment. It is a matter for higher education institutions (HEIs) to consider how best they can minimise the adverse effects on students of the current dispute, including assessing any negative impact on the enrolment of students.
The employers have made an offer of 12.6 per cent. over three years, which the Government would encourage the academic unions to formally put to their members with a view to ending this damaging dispute.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what assessment he has made of the impact of strike action by university staff on (a) academic teaching and (b) marking and assessment of university students; [70111]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of students who will not be able to (a) sit examinations and (b) graduate this year as a result of strike action by university staff. [70128]
Bill Rammell: We have made no such assessment or estimate. It is a matter for higher education institutions (HEIs), as autonomous bodies, to consider how best they can assess and minimise the adverse effects of the current dispute. HEIs are responsible for determining their own academic and administrative affairs, including deciding what to pay their own staff. Pay and conditions of service are subject to negotiations between employers, their staff and their representative trade union bodies. The Government play no partin this.
While this is a matter for unions and employers, I am disappointed that this has come to industrial action and that students’ progress is being threatened by this dispute. The employers have made an offer of 12.6 per cent. over three years, which I believe the academic unions should now formally put to their members with a view to ending this damaging dispute.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he is taking to ensure that university examination papers are marked and degrees awarded accordingly in the event of industrial action by university teachers in summer 2006; and if he will make a statement. [68430]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 11 May 2006]: It is a matter for higher education institutions (HEIs) to consider how best they can minimise the adverse effects on students of the current dispute, including making contingency arrangements for exams and assessment. HEIs, as autonomous bodies, are responsible for determining their own academic and administrative affairs, including deciding what to pay their own staff. Pay and conditions of service are subject to
negotiations between employers, their staff and their representative trade union bodies. The Government play no part in this.
While this is a matter for unions and employers, I am disappointed that this has come to industrial action and that students' progress is being threatened by this dispute. The employers have made an offer of 12.6 per cent. over three years, which I believe the academic unions should now formally put to their members with a view to ending this damaging dispute.
Constitutional Affairs
Debt Collectors
Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether her Department uses the services of private debt collectors. [71059]
Bridget Prentice: A key responsibility of my Department is to ensure respect for the orders of the courts and this includes through working in partnership (where appropriate) with the private sector. For example:
The Legal Services Commission instructs private debt collection agencies, where appropriate, to seek information as to the whereabouts of the debtor and/or the collection of the debt.
In April 2006, Regional contracts were let to enable HMCS to employ Approved Enforcement Agents for the execution of warrants.
In Greater Manchester a trial has been undertaken whereby old outstanding fines accounts have been given to private sector partners as an additional enforcement tool available to the magistrates courts when they have exhausted all the mechanisms directly available to them. Officials are currently evaluating the outcome of that trial.
Magistrates
Dr. Vis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many magistrates have been disciplined for discriminatory sentencing in the lastten years. [68123]
Ms Harman: No magistrates have been disciplined for their sentencing decisions in the past 10 years. Like other judicial office holders, magistrates are independent and their decisions as such can only be challenged through the courts, not through a disciplinary process. If a higher court considering an appeal from magistrates was concerned that a sentencing decision appeared to have been reached on an improper basis involving misconduct, whether because of discrimination or for other reasons, it would be possible for the court concerned to refer the conduct of the magistrates, as opposed to their decision, to the Office for Judicial Complaints to be considered on behalf of the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice. Similarly, if in the course of a case magistrates make discriminatory comments or otherwise behave in a way which suggests that they are acting improperly, it is possible for a complaint about their conduct to be made to the Office for Judicial Complaints.
The Office for Judicial Complaints was created on3 April 2006. Previously complaints about magistrates’ conduct were made to the Lord Chancellor. During 2005, 89 complaints were referred to him, of which he upheld 63.
Small Claims
Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps are being taken to provide greater assistance to claimants in the small claims court who are not legally represented. [67150]
Ms Harman: All county courts are now accredited by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) as Assisted Information Points, for the Community Legal Service (CLS) Direct Scheme. Unrepresented claimants and defendants who require legal advice are referred to CLS Direct by court staff. CLS Direct can give free advice to those eligible, or can direct people to other sources of free legal advice/assistance in their local area.
The small claims support service being piloted at Reading provides unrepresented litigants with general information and practical assistance on the small claims process. Evaluation of the results will inform the development of departmental plans for offering further help to unrepresented litigants.
In addition, Her Majesty’s Courts Service has recently embarked on a study to identify ways in which its website can be made more user friendly to litigants in person who are pursuing small claims. It will consider the means of providing better access to information and assistance through a series of gateways linking to help on different aspects of the court process, relevant court leaflets, and signposts to other agencies and sources of advice.
Work and Pensions
Action Teams
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many departmental staffare employed in Action Teams in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) in each Action Team area; and how they will be redeployed when Action Team activity ends in September. [69877]
Mrs. McGuire: There are 472.19 full-time equivalent (FTE) departmental staff undertaking work for or in connection with Action Teams in the UK, of which 45.5 are in Scotland.
The Action Team programme is due to finish in September and Jobcentre Plus district managers are working with human resource teams to plan the re-deployment of staff currently engaged in Action Team activity. This is within the wider context of work force planning across Jobcentre Plus districts. Trade union side have been engaged in these discussions.
Information on the number of FTE staff employed in each Action Team area is in the table.
| Department for Work and Pensions staff employed in each Action Team area | ||
| Region | District | Number |
| Notes: 1. Data excludes management and administrative activity as confirmed data are not available, however, the assumption is that an additional 13 per cent. FTE staff are engaged in this capacity. 2. Data are clerically collected and are provided through the Jobcentre Plus Activity Based Information system. 3. Data are calculated on full-time equivalent staff and not on individuals. Source: Jobcentre Plus Human Resources Directorate. |
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Action Teams for Jobs; and if he will make a statement. [69878]
Mrs. McGuire: Action Teams have been successful in helping more than 162,000 people into work. A review
of Action Teams for Jobs DWP Research Report 328 ‘Review of Action Teams for Jobs’ was published in March 2006 and is available in the Library.
Carers
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what percentage of applicants has been refused carers’ grants on the basis of means-testing in each local authority in each year since the creation of the grant; [70322]
(2) what guidelines his Department issues to local authorities on the means-testing of carers’ grants; [70323]
(3) according to what criteria carers’ grants are awarded. [70324]
Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answers 12 May 2006]:I have been asked to reply.
This Government introduced the carers grant in 1999 to support councils in providing breaks and other services for carers in England. The grant is not paid to individuals but paid each year to councils as a specific formula grant. There are no conditions attached. Individual carers have a right to an assessment of their ability to provide and continue to provide care under section 1 of the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000. Services are not subject to a means test, though local authorities are able to charge for the carers’ services they provide. However, carers cannot be charged for community care services provided to people they care for, including the services provided to enable carers to take a break from caring.
Although there are no conditions attached to the carers grant funding for 2006-07 and 2007-08, the Commission for Social Care Inspection’s delivery and improvement statement will monitor the provision of services to carers. As a result, the Department issues guidance to councils to remind them that the policy intention behind the grant is to support carers.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |