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21 Nov 2006 : Column 68W—continued
The academic year for Further Education colleges in Northern Ireland runs from 1 August to 31 July and the last full academic year for which audited accounts are available is the year ended 31 July 2005. Detailed in the table is the further education DEL grant and education contracts for each of the colleges over the last five years. It includes statutory and non-statutory provision.
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many higher education places have been allocated to (a) East Down Institute of Further and Higher Education, (b) North Down and Ards Institute of Further and Higher Education and (c) Lisburn College. [101359]
Maria Eagle: The full-time higher education places allocated to the three colleges are as follows:
| Number | |
|
North Down and Ards Institute of Further and Higher Education | |
It should be noted that further education colleges are free to create as many part-time higher education places as they choose.
Head Teachers
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) primary and (b) post-primary schools in Northern Ireland are without a permanent head teacher; and if he will make a statement. [100709]
Maria Eagle: The table provides information on current principal vacancies provided by the five education and library boards and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools. They have also advised that if there is a delay in a principal taking up duty, the vice-principal is required to undertake the role of acting principal in accordance with the terms of employment of the vice-principal.
| Nursery | Primary | Post Primary | |
Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to approve the award of a special medal to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service to recognise its contribution to protecting the public during the troubles. [100803]
Mr. Hain: Her Majesty the Queen is advised by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals on all matters to do with honours and medals. My Department has no plans to recommend the introduction of such a medal to the Committee.
Republic of Ireland (Tax Rates)
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effect on the Northern Irish economy of tax rates in the Republic of Ireland. [101618]
Mr. Hanson: Northern Ireland has tax parity with the rest of the UK and tax is a reserved matter for the Chancellor to determine. No specific Government study has been undertaken of the impact on the Northern Irish economy of tax rates in the Republic of Ireland.
School Pupils
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Government's policy is on helping schools in Northern Ireland cope with the growth in the number of pupils whose first language is not English. [100748]
Maria Eagle: The Department of Education's policy for children whose first language is not English or who have significant difficulty with English will be completed and issued for full consultation in December 2006.
The total allocation, for English as an additional language provision in 2006-07, is £3.4 million for some 2,700 children identified as having significant difficulty with English as an additional language. DE has given the five Education and Library Boards earmarked funding of £834,000 for 2006-07 and schools just over £2.5 million through the Common Funding Formula. In addition, £100,000 has been allocated for interpreting and translation services through the Children and Young People's Funding Package to commence establishing access to interpreting services and provide key documents in various languages for teachers, EAL pupils and their parents.
Suspended Sentences
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of convicted criminals given custodial sentences in (a) magistrates and (b) Crown courts in Northern Ireland have had their sentences suspended in each of the last 12 months. [101106]
Mr. Hanson: Custodial and suspended sentences are separate and mutually exclusive disposal categories. Table 1 provides the total number of convicted criminals, the number and percentage of those convicted who were given a custodial sentence and the number and percentage given a suspended sentence at the Crown court for each calendar month. Table 2 provides data corresponding to magistrates courts.
Figures are provided for 2004, the most up-to-date available at present.
It should be noted that data are collated on the principal offence rule: thus only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
| Table 1: Total number of convictions, number and percentage given a custodial sentence and number and percentage given a suspended sentence at the Crown court by month—2004 | |||||
| Crown court | |||||
| Total number convicted | Number given custodial sentence | Percentage of total number convicted given custodial sentence | Number given suspended sentence | Percentage of total number convicted given suspended sentence | |
| Table 2: Total number of convictions, number and percentage given a custodial sentence and number and percentage given a suspended sentence at the magistrates court by month—2004 | |||||
| Magistrates court | |||||
| Total number convicted | Number given custodial sentence | Percentage of total number convicted given custodial sentence | Number given suspended sentence | Percentage of total number convicted given suspended sentence | |
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