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12 July 2006 : Column 1875W—continued
School Orchestras
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of secondary schools have a school orchestra. [84523]
Jim Knight: This information is not collected centrally.
Pupils (West Lancashire)
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school age children normally resident in the West Lancashire district council area are being educated outside the local education authority area. [83566]
Jim Knight: The information requested has been provided in the following table.
| Number of pupils( 1 ) residing within West Lancashire Local Authority District | Number of pupils( 1) residing within West Lancashire Local Authority Attending schools outside of the Local Authority District | Percentage of pupils( 1) residing within West Lancashire Local Authority Attending schools outside of the Local Authority District | |
| (1) Maintained Primary and secondary schools .includes pupils aged 5 to 15 years, solely registered or main registration of dually registered pupils, excludes boarders (2) Includes primary and middle deemed primary (3) Includes secondary and middle deemed secondary Source: Schools census 2006 provisional | |||
Sure Start
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the performance of the Sure Start programme in West Lancashire in reaching new families and children in the relevant local area. [83636]
Beverley Hughes: There are three Sure Start children's centres up and running in West Lancashire offering services to 1,037 children under five and their families including 217 childcare places. We do not currently collect data on the number of families and children accessing children's centre services.
One of the Sure Start Children's centres in the West Lancashire constituency was based on the Tanhouse and Digmoor Sure Start Local Programme (SSLP) and data returns provided by the SSLP show the following information. The programme offers services to 520 children under four and their families. Between July 2002 and June 2003 the SSLP submitted monthly data returns reporting significant contact (that is, a home visit or attendance at a centre-based activity) with 200(1)
new children. Between July 2003 and December 2004 the SSLP reported significant contact with an additional 75(2) children.
Source:
(1) Sure Start Local Programme data returns July 2002 to June 2003.
(2) Source: Sure Start Local Programme data returns July 2003 to December 2004. During this period data was collected quarterly and the figure records only new children seen in the months in which returns were submitted.
Teachers (Bristol)
Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the pupil to teacher ratio was for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Bristol local education authority in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) the most recent school year for which figures are available. [84608]
Jim Knight: The following table shows the pupil to teacher ratio in maintained primary and secondary schools in Bristol local authority, January 1997 and January 2005 (the latest year for which information is available at local authority level). Information for England is also given to enable comparison.
It is anticipated that local authority level pupil to teacher ratios for January 2006 will become available in September.
| Pupil:teacher ratios( 1) in maintained primary and secondary schools in Bristol local authority and England, January 1997 and 2005 | ||||
| Pupil:teacher ratio | ||||
| Primary | Secondary | |||
| Bristol local authority | England | Bristol local authority | England | |
| (1) The pupil:teacher ratio is the full-time equivalent number of pupils divided by the full-time equivalent number of qualified teachers. Dually registered pupils are excluded. Source: Annual School Census | ||||
Vocational Training
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what links exist between his Department and the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training; and if he will make a statement. [84288]
Phil Hope: The Department’s links with the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) are at the following levels:
(i) Occupying the UK seat on the CEDEFOP management board
(ii) Chairing the steering group of the UK Refernet steering group, which brings together key stakeholders to manage research and exchange of information for CEDEFOP in the UK
(iii) Co-ordinating the CEDEFOP study visits programme in the UK
These roles are carried out by DfES officials.
Mr. Hayes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what projects are funded by the EU in the UK to develop credit systems for vocational
education and training, as advertised in Official Journal C144 20 June 2006 p.19; and what his policy is on UK participation in this project. [84293]
Phil Hope: The Official Journal reference constitutes a call for proposals, with a deadline of 16 August, so as yet there are no funded projects.
We are committed to the development of a flexible European credit system to recognise learners’ achievements, and to participating actively in this project. To that end, the UK is represented on a Technical Working Group, set up by the European Commission, to explore all relevant issues.
Defence
Afghanistan
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the threat posed by non-Iraqi insurgent veterans of the Iraq conflict entering Helmand Province. [83702]
Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 July 2006, Official Report, column 698W.
Colombia
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 10 May 2006, Official Report, column 298W, on Colombia, if he will list the Colombian military units whose personnel have been provided with UK bespoke counter narcotics training. [83816]
Mr. Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 10 May 2006, Official Report, column 298W.
I am withholding information on the details of this bespoke training because its disclosure would be to the detriment of the safety of individuals, the prevention and detection of crime and international relations.
Defence Analytical Services Agency
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why the Defence Analytical Services Agency has suspended its statistics on global deployment of service personnel (TSP 06). [83968]
Mr. Ingram [holding answer 11 July 2006]: TSP 6: Global location of UK regular forces is a DASA publication which shows the distribution of service personnel posted overseas. The publication was suspended at the end of 2002 when conflicts were identified with data from other sources in the department.
TSP 6 was reinstated on the 12 September 2005. This showed the posted location of UK regular forces at the
1 April 2005. TSP 6 is published quarterly and copies are available in the Library of the House and at; www.dasa.mod.uk.
Defence Medical Services
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he will take to attract and retain (a) medical officers and (b) healthcare professionals in the Defence Medical Services. [84482]
Mr. Watson: Manning levels in the Defence Medical Services (DMS) vary across different specialities and services, In some areas we are very well manned, while in others we are experiencing shortfalls.
The Ministry of Defence is taking active steps to address shortfalls through a package of pay and non-remunerative measures, including such schemes as “Golden Hellos” targeted at enhancing direct recruitment in areas of shortfall. In terms of overall remuneration, we aim to ensure that DMS pay is comparable with the NHS. The Government are currently considering the recommendations of the independent armed forces pay review body’s (AFPRB) 2006 supplementary report on the pay of Service Medical and dental officers, and an announcement on the pay award will be made once this process is complete.
Nurses and Allied Health Professionals in the DMS arc currently covered by the main armed forces 2006 pay award of three per cent., which was implemented from 1 April 2006. As recommended by the AFPRB, we are now in the process of examining the scope for changing Nursed and Allied Health Professionals pay structures to ensure that military pay remains comparable with the new NHS agenda for change pay structure.
Pay can only go some way towards addressing manning shortfalls. Non-remunerative measures are equally as important. Examples of non-remunerative initiatives include: the introduction of new pension arrangements which are designed to encourage retention; looking at alternative means of meeting operational commitments (for example, by working closely with allies and partners on operations overseas and by using DMS civilian medical and dental practitioners and agency staff); and development of the Ministry of Defence hospital unit concept to build a stronger military ethos.
Draft Bills
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what draft Bills have been produced by his Department since October 2005; how many were (a) examined and (b) are planned to be examined by (i) a Departmental Select Committee and (ii) a Joint Committee; which draft Bills are still to be produced by his Department; when each is expected to be published; how many clauses each has; and if he will make a statement. [81286]
Mr. Watson: The Ministry of Defence has produced no draft Bills since October 2005.
Announcements on future legislation and future draft legislation which will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny will be included in the Queen’s Speech.
Helicopters
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how long it would take to train a qualified (a) civilian and (b) army helicopter pilot to the level where he or she is competent to fly patrols in hostile environments in light commercial helicopters; [83637]
(2) how long it takes to train (a) an RAF, (b) a Royal Navy and (c) an Army helicopter pilot to full operational status; [83638]
(3) whether there is scope for training an Army helicopter pilot to full operational status where he or she is competent to fly patrols in hostile environments in a light commercial helicopter in a shorter period of time than normal in periods of high urgent demand for such pilots. [84309]
Mr. Watson: Military helicopter pilots undergo different phases of training, which vary in type and duration according to which service and type of aircraft is involved. All military helicopter pilots undergo an initial period of elementary fixed-wing training. This is followed by basic and advanced rotary-wing training at the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury. The final phase of training involves pilots undertaking operational conversion flying at their single-service front-line or training units.
The average number of weeks taken to train helicopter pilots of each service from start to until they are able to fly operationally, including initial fixed-wing training, is as follows:
| Service | Weeks |
Professionally qualified civilian helicopter pilots would need to develop the relevant low-level flying and tactical skills in order to attain the required competence for operational flying in hostile environments. It is estimated that such training would take approximately 20 weeks.
Army helicopter pilots are always trained to full operational status. They do not operate light commercial helicopters but are trained to fly military light utility helicopters, such as the Lynx, in hostile environments as part of the mandated training programme described. Military helicopter training is not shortened or hastened to meet operational demands. It is vital that each training phase is completed and that the syllabus is fully achieved in order to produce the high standards that military flying demands.
Hospital Ships
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what frontline hospital ship capacity (a) is available and (b) is planned to be available to the fleet. [83613]
Mr. Ingram: RFA Argus is designated as the frontline Primary Casualty Reception Ship. She is equipped with a hospital complex which includes two operating theatres and has up to 100 beds for casualties. No decisions have been made on the future provision of a deployed maritime medical capability.
HQ Land Forces/Adjutant-General
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) service and (b) civilian manning levels in (i) HQ Land Forces and (ii) Adjutant-General’s Department are, broken down by function; and what the planned manning levels after merger and relocation to Andover are. [83697]
Mr. Ingram: There are currently 597 military and 759 civilian posts at HQ Land Command in Wilton and 325 military and 470 civilian posts at the Adjutant-General’s headquarters in Upavon, of which approximately 250 are support staff across both sites. It is expected that 677 military and 837 civilian posts will transfer from Wilton and Upavon to the new Land Forces headquarters. In addition, we expect that 103 military and 51 civilian posts currently based at other sites will move to the new headquarters, and that 140 military and 152 civilian posts currently based at Wilton and Upavon will move to other sites. On current plans, 105 military and 240 civilian posts will be removed.
I will write to the hon. Member with a breakdown of current military and civilian posts at HQ Land Command and the Adjutant-General’s headquarters and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
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