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24 Oct 2006 : Column 1791W—continued
Schools
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils in Northern Ireland have been found to be in the possession of (a) a weapon and (b) drugs on school premises in each of the last three years. [95527]
Maria Eagle: The Department of Education does not collect the information requested.
From the 2002-03 school year, statistics on the reasons for suspension have been gathered annually from each education and library board and relate to the number of individual suspensions, not to the number of pupils suspended. Specific data on drugs are not collected, but statistics are available for the number of suspensions from schools for possessing, using or dealing in illegal drugs or solvents on school premises. In 2002-03, data on substance abuse were combined with alcohol abuse, but in 2003-04 substance abuse was identified separately. Tables one and two detail the number of suspensions for substance or alcohol abuse from 2002-03 to 2004-05, the latest school year for which figures are available.
| Table 1: Suspensions | |
| Substance or alcohol abuse | |
| Table 2: Suspensions | |
| Substance abuse | |
The reasons for expulsions have been collected since the 2003-04 school year. Again, the available statistics relate to expulsions for possessing, using or dealing in illegal drugs or solvents on school premises. In 2003-04 data on substance abuse were combined with data on alcohol abuse but in 2004-05 substance abuse was identified separately. Tables three and four detail the
number of pupils expelled for substance or alcohol abuse in the 2003-04 and 2004-05 school years:
| Table 3: Expulsions | |
| Substance or alcohol abuse | |
| Table 4: Expulsions | |
| Substance abuse | |
Notifications from schools do not identity carrying an offensive weapon as a specific reason for suspension or expulsion.
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many teachers in Northern Ireland have been the victims of (a) assault and (b) sexual assault in schools in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. [95526]
Maria Eagle: The Department of Education does not collect the requested information.
However, from the 2002-03 school year, statistics on the reasons for pupil suspensions have been gathered annually from each education and library board. The following table illustrates the number of pupil suspensions for physical attacks on staff for the period 2002-03 to 2004-05:
| Number of suspensions( 1) for physical attack on staff by year | |
| Number | |
| (1 )Due to a change in data collection, figures from 2004-05 are not directly comparable with those figures from previous years. | |
It should be noted that these figures relate to the number of individual suspensions and not to the number of pupils suspended.
Information on the number of sexual assaults by pupils on staff is not collected as part of the statistical return.
Statistics are not yet available for the 2005-06 school year.
These figures are available on the Department’s website at http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/21-pupils_ parents-pg/pupils_parents-suspensions_and _expulsions_pg.htm.
Sexual Discrimination
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when regulations will be introduced in Northern Ireland to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the provision of (a) goods, (b) facilities and services and (c) the execution of public functions. [96079]
Mr. Hanson: The Government intend to lay regulations before Parliament in November 2006.
Social Housing
Mark Durkan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the
extent to which a Catholic and a Protestant in equal need of social housing have an equal chance of getting a house; and if he will make a statement. [96077]
Mr. Hanson: The assessment of need for social housing is the same regardless of the religion of an applicant. The time it takes to allocate a house is dependent on a number of factors including level of need, supply, geographic mobility and any special requirements. Clearly in areas of high demand it will take longer to allocate a house than it would in an area of low demand.
Robust methodologies are in place to determine additional social housing requirements and strenuous efforts are being made to provide applicants with accommodation either in their area of choice or nearby.
Special Educational Needs and Disability Order
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Order in Northern Ireland since it was introduced. [96132]
Maria Eagle: The Special Educational Needs and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 came into effect on 1 September 2005. Allowing for the academic year, it is too early to conduct any meaningful evaluation.
The Department of Education is undertaking the annual school census. This census, when completed, will identify the number of children in schools in Northern Ireland with statements of special educational need and facilitate the assessment of the impact of the order on the number of children with special educational needs statements attending mainstream schools. Fort the first time, the census will collect information on the number of children with a disability in mainstream schools.
In addition, the Department of Education has asked the Education and Training Inspectorate to conduct a review of schools’ accessibility plans for children who have a disability. This review will be completed by the end of the current academic year and will provide key information on schools compliance with the legislation.
The education sector has responded positively to the introduction of SENDO by initiating comprehensive training for all staff on the application of the order.
Zebra Mussels
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in tackling the spread of zebra mussels in Lough Neagh. [96310]
David Cairns: There are no practical measures that can be taken to remove zebra mussels from Lough Neagh as evidence shows that they are established and reproducing.
The Department is actively working through an inter-departmental zebra mussel control group to establish the extent and distribution of zebra mussels in Lough Neagh and are developing contingency plans
aimed at understanding the spread of mussels, tracking their future spread, identifying mitigation measures for users and keeping the public aware of issues.
Communities and Local Government
Business Rates
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what average business rates were in England for (a) a hotel, (b) a hostel and (c) a bed and breakfast in the most recent year for which figures are available. [95890]
Mr. Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 May 2006, Official Report, column 369W, and to the answer given on 22 May 2006, Official Report, column 1393W. Neither the Department for Communities and Local Government nor the Valuation Office Agency make estimates of the average rateable value for such businesses.
Commonhold Dwellings
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many commonhold dwellings were created in England in each year since 2002. [95895]
Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
Land Registry does not hold information on the number of commonhold dwellings that have been created. It does, however, hold information on the number of commonhold properties that have been registered since Part 1 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 came into force on 27 September 2004. Since that time, Land Registry has registered eight residential commonhold developments in England, comprising 93 units.
Council Tax
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 10 July 2006, Official Report, column 1543W, on council tax, how many dwellings have value significant code data for the (a) GG code and (b) OS code. [94603]
Mr. Woolas: Out of 22.6 million dwellings in total, at 3 October 2006, the number of dwellings in England that had value significant code data for (a) GG code—Garden where not usual—was 4,877 and (b) OS code—Patio, where value significant (for example, a substantial terrace)—was 3,719.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the council tax liability is of Territorial Army or Reserve Forces members serving abroad if their domestic residence is empty as a result of their tour of duty. [94651]
Mr. Woolas:
The council tax liability of Territorial Army or Reserve Forces members serving abroad will depend, as for any other person who is required to live and work abroad, on whether their home in England is
deemed to remain their sole or main residence as established by case law during their period of absence. If it is, their council tax liability will remain unchanged. If it is not, depending on whether the property is furnished or not, it would be treated as either a second home and be eligible for a discount or a long-term empty property and be eligible for an exemption of up to six months.
Databases (Security)
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many confirmed security breaches of databases controlled by her Department occurred in each of the last five years; whether the breach resulted from internal or external sources in each case; how many records were compromised on each occasion; and what estimate was made of the total number of records accessible to the individuals concerned. [92832]
Angela E. Smith: The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) was created in May 2006. Since that date no such security breaches have been reported.
Departmental Expenditure
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent by her Department on food and alcohol for its staff working out of office in each year since 2001-02. [91916]
Angela E. Smith: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold the information in the form requested which can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
All expenditure is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the procedures are within her Department for authorising (a) foreign visits by departmental staff on official business and (b) away day meetings by departmental staff outside government offices. [94828]
Angela E. Smith: The Department’s procedures are set out in the Staff Handbook which is available electronically to staff at their workstations. These procedures are:
(a) When departmental staff are required to travel abroad on official business.
The recording, authorisation and approval for such travel is subject to the staff concerned using the electronic financial control system Systems and Applications Products—“SAP” which also tracks and checks expenditure. Both authorisation and expenditure on such travel is agreed and paid for within local administrative units.
(b) Away day meetings by departmental staff outside government offices
Authorisation of both expenditure and the venue for such meetings is subject to the approval of a designated
senior official within the local administrative unit. Invoices from the venue concerned are approved for payment by the same official.
Departmental Property
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what properties her Department and its predecessors have (a) owned, (b) rented and (c) occupied at 42-48 Wigmore street, London; how long each property was occupied; what the cost to public funds was in each case; and from whom the leased properties were rented. [94649]
Angela E. Smith: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not own, rent or occupy 42-48 Wigmore street nor has its predecessor Departments owned, rented or occupied the properties.
Departmental Staff
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what new staff posts have been created in her Department and its predecessor in the last 12 months. [94648]
Angela E. Smith: The specific information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. It is the delegated responsibility of individual Directors to organise the number of staff, and management level within the delegated budget available so as to maximise effectiveness, efficiency and economy.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 25 July 2006, Official Report, column 1652W, on departmental staff, how many staff will be moved to 26 Whitehall to backfill the vacated office space; and what the estimated cost is of the changes. [94779]
Angela E. Smith: No staff from Department for Communities and Local Government will now be moved to 26 Whitehall. It has been agreed that 26 Whitehall will be handed back to the Cabinet Office from 1 November 2006. In exchange the Department for Communities and Local Government will take two floors of Stockley House, Victoria, from the Cabinet Office until the end of March 2008. This space will be used as decant space for an ongoing project to move all staff in Eland House and Ashdown House into open plan and consolidate its London headquarters down to just these two buildings.
Mr. Pickles:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether any of the staff in her Department are classed as key workers for the purposes of the (a) low-cost home ownership and (b) shared ownership schemes. [95887]
Yvette Cooper: Staff within the Department for Communities and Local Government are not classed as key workers for the purpose of the low-cost home ownership and shared ownership schemes.
Those classed as key workers for our low-cost home ownership and shared ownership schemes, are as follows:
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