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25 July 2006 : Column 1472W—continued
| Ill-health retirements by diagnosis( 1) | |||
| Diagnosis | 2002-03( 2) | 2003-04( 2) | 2004-05( 2) |
| (1) Figures are for ill-health retirements from all education sectors in England and Wales pensionable under the Teachers' Pensions Scheme. (2 )Each year covers the period 1 October to 30 September. (3) Less than 5. Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5. Source: DfES medical advisers. | |||
Tuition Fees
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to the Government in the year of introduction of raising tuition fees by (a) £1,000 and (b) £100 where the payment of tuition fees is deferred until graduation. [81111]
Bill Rammell [holding answer 29 June 2006]: Estimates of the costs to Government of tuition fee loans for full-time undergraduates in England are based on the assumption that 9 per cent. of students are charged a fee of £2,000 and 91 per cent. of students are charged a fee of £3,000 ie the average fee for new students will be £2,910. For an average fee of £3,010.The additional costs in the 2006/07 academic year would be around £5 million,(1) and for an average fee of £3,910, the additional costs for the same academic year would be £70 million or more. In each case, we have used our existing assumptions: that a tuition fee loan is available to meet the full cost of tuition fees, that the total cost of providing tuition fee loans over their lifetime is 33 per cent. of their face value, and that 80 per cent. of eligible students take them up. These estimates are approximate as significant changes in the fee level would be likely to have an effect on assumptions.
The maximum fee cannot be raised by more than inflation until 2 January 2010
and only then with the approval of both Houses of Parliament.
(1) Cost estimates rounded to the nearest £5 million.
Vocational Training
Mr. Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans the Government have to improve vocational training for young people in Houghton and Washington East. [82283]
Phil Hope: The new specialised Diplomas will provide an exciting, aspirational and stretching programme of learning for young people of all abilities and backgrounds, including the most able, who enjoy learning in a practical environment. A new statutory entitlement to study for a Diploma will be in place for all 14 to 19-year-olds from September 2013.
Apprenticeships are the main programme for young employed people seeking vocational qualifications at Level 2 and Level 3. Other opportunities are also being developed, including a pilot programme that started in April this year aimed at encouraging 16-18 year olds in jobs without training to gain a Level 2 qualification, whether academic or vocational. For those over 19 and without either basic skills or a first Level 2 qualification we have put in place the Train to Gain service to deliver high quality flexible qualifications in the workplace.
In addition, the Department has introduced a presumption that sixth form proposals from high performing specialist schools wishing to take up a vocational specialism will be approved. Such proposals will be supported by capital investment from a new 16-19 capital fund, administered by the Learning and Skills Council. The aim of the initiative is to engage
successful schools in the delivery of high quality vocational learning in line with the 14-19 Implementation Plan. This will be complemented by a new Further Education presumption arrangement announced in the recent FE White Paper that will prioritise 16-19 capital investment in high performing colleges wishing to expand to deliver the new specialised Diplomas.
The local Learning and Skills Council can provide details of any local initiatives that are available in the Houghton and Washington, East area.
Weapons in Schools
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) expulsions and (b) temporary exclusions from schools there have been for the possession of (i) knives and (ii) firearms in each year since 1996. [86436]
Jim Knight: The requested information is not available.
Only two years of data relating to the reason for exclusion are currently available. The first year for which information on the reason for exclusion is available relates to the 2003/04 academic year. Exclusions data for 2004/05 academic year were published in June 2006.
Tables showing the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions by the reason for exclusion in 2003/04 and 2004/05 have been placed in the Library. There is not a specific category relating to possession of knives or firearms.
Youth Clubs
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the merits of child personal security in youth clubs where people over 18 years may attend a youth club as a user of such clubs; and if he will make a statement. [86495]
Mr. Dhanda: In considering the standards of provision, the Department would expect local authorities to take account of the Statutory Guidance on the Duty to Safeguard and Promote the Welfare of Children under section 11 of the Children Act 2004. This guidance sets out local authority responsibility for making arrangements to ensure their normal functions are discharged having regard to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in their area. This includes all types of local authority services, including those provided by district councils.
Local authorities can also use DfES guidance issued to the education service on safer recruitment as a basis for developing procedures on checks for staff and volunteers. They should have clear policies and practices for the protection of children and young people in place and understood.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agricultural Support
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total budget was in 2005-06 for agricultural support in England; and what the administrative costs were of distributing it. [86864]
Ian Pearson: The total budget for agricultural support in England in 2005-06 was £2,045,088,000. This was administered by the Rural Payments Agency, whose administrative costs were budgeted at £228.96 million for 2005-06.
Air Conditioning
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department (a) has evaluated and (b) plans into the contribution to future climate change emissions made by air conditioning in domestic homes. [84070]
Ian Pearson: DEFRA's Market Transformation Programme (MTP) has undertaken some limited research to estimate the contribution of air-conditioning in domestic homes to future carbon emissions. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given him on 13 July 2006, Official Report, column 1979W.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has undertaken some research on the market penetration of domestic air conditioning, based on data from the USA, as part of its work to develop proposals for amending Part L of the Building Regulations, which it consulted on in July 2004.
Many “domestic” air-conditioners sold through trade supply routes are actually used in non-domestic buildings, and many sales are not captured by market survey statistics. This means there is uncertainty about their environmental impact. Although a growth in sales of domestic air-conditioners seems likely, their impact is small compared to that of air-conditioning in non-domestic buildings.
At present, the MTP does not plan any further research specifically on air-conditioning in domestic homes, and it is not aware of any current or planned research being undertaken by other programmes or organisations on the contribution to climate change.
Air Quality
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the air quality in Brent; and if he will make a statement. [87723]
Mr. Bradshaw:
Local authorities have a duty, under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995, to review and assess the current, and likely future, air quality in their areas. Where local authorities consider that one or more of the nationally prescribed air quality objectives for each of the seven pollutants is unlikely to be met by the relevant deadline, they must declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), covering the area where the problem is expected. These local authorities must then take action, along with other agencies and
organisations, to work towards meeting the air quality objectives. The Mayor has responsibility for ensuring the Local Air Quality Management regime is undertaken appropriately by London boroughs.
Following the first round of reviews and assessments, the London borough of Brent declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in respect of nitrogen dioxide and particulates (PM10) in April 2001. In fulfilment of its obligations, Brent carried out a further assessment of the existing, and likely future, air quality within the existing AQMA in the borough, and submitted a report to my Department in September 2003. The report concluded that the AQMA, as declared, was still justified. Brent has an action plan in place for their AQMA.
The second round of reviews and assessments started in 2003. London boroughs had to submit their Updating and Screening Assessments (USA) by December 2003, and were expected to submit either a detailed assessment (where further investigation was required) or a progress report by December 2004. The London borough of Brent submitted their USA to my Department in October 2004. They concluded that further investigation (detailed assessment) was needed in respect of the likely exceedences of benzene, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and PM10 objectives. The detailed assessment was submitted to my Department in April 2006 and the Mayor of London in March 2006. The report concluded that additional AQMAs are required for nitrogen dioxide and PM10.
The third round of review and assessments has now started and local authorities were asked to submit a new USA by the end of April 2006. Brent's USA has been received and my officials are currently assessing the report. The Mayor of London has also received a copy of Brent's USA.
Area-based Initiatives
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) budget and (b) expenditure was for administration on each area-based initiative for which his Department and its predecessors have been responsible in each year since 1997. [87525]
Ian Pearson: The Department does not maintain a separate record of expenditure for administrating geographically targeted Government interventions, it is included in the overall administration costs. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Bovine TB
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the definition of sound science is by which he will determine the Government's response to its consultations on methods to control bovine tuberculosis. [87112]
Mr. Bradshaw: I will base any decision on badger culling on a sound scientific and practical foundation. By “sound science” I mean the evidence from the available science base and the outcomes from the on-going TB research programme.
British Waterways
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department will sign the long-term contract with British Waterways recommended in the quinquennial review in 2004. [87404]
Barry Gardiner: The 2004 Policy Review of British Waterways made a number of recommendations associated with increasing clarity of purpose, measurement of performance and long-term funding arrangements.
We are currently discussing with British Waterways, how these might be achieved in practice. The aims are to establish a more robust funding and performance framework to maintain waterways at a sustainable level, give clarity on expectation on income and efficiencies and certainty of funding over the medium term. The intention is for this framework to be in place for the next Comprehensive Spending Review period.
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