10 Oct 2007 : Column 595Wcontinued
Public Holidays
Andrew Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what measures have been taken to ensure that (a) employers and (b) employees are aware of the changes in statutory holiday entitlements and what the statutory holiday entitlements are, and during what dates, during the transitional period of their introduction. [155806]
Mr. McFadden:
The Government undertook two full consultations on the proposals to increase the holiday entitlement, holding a number of regional meetings and working closely with unions and employer organisations. Specific efforts were made to engage small businesses and employers in key sectors likely to be particularly affected. The ability to receive email updates on the proposals was offered and over eight thousand people requested updates on progress. The proposals also attracted considerable media coverage on a number of occasions.
Detailed guidance for employers and workers, including an interactive calculator for holiday entitlements, has been placed on the Business Link and Direct.gov websites respectively, with supporting material on BERRs own website.
Northern Ireland
Departments: Flowers
Mr. Hoban:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by his Department on flowers in the last 12 months. [153065]
Mr. Woodward:
The Northern Ireland Office, excluding its agencies and Executive NDPBs, spent £21,102 on flowers in 2006-07 (this is the last 12 months for which audited expenditure figures are available).
10 Oct 2007 : Column 596W
Wales
Lone Parents
8. Mr. Mackay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of lone parents with children aged between five and 16 years in Wales he expects to move into work as a result of the Government's proposed changes to the benefit regime. [156173]
Mr. Hain:
The UK Government's goal is to increase the number of working lone parents in the UK by 300,000.
Rail Services
9. Mrs. Betty Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Minister and the Secretary of State for Transport on railway services in Wales. [156174]
Huw Irranca-Davies:
My right hon. Friend and I regularly meet with ministerial colleagues both in Whitehall and the Assembly Government to discuss issues affecting Wales, including rail services.
Clean Coal
10. Mr. Hollobone:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the future for clean coal in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [156175]
Mr. Hain:
Clean coal is central to our goal of developing a diverse energy supply in Wales, which dramatically reduces our carbon emissions.
Animal Health Measures
11. Mr. Harper:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the cross-border variations in emergency animal health measures. [156176]
Huw Irranca-Davies:
The Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for DEFRA on a range of issues, including animal health measures.
The recent crises in animal health and our Government's reaction prove the seriousness with which we take these issues, and that the procedures in place to deal with such sudden events are working well.
Heroin
12. Mr. Crabb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last discussed the average street price of heroin in Wales with the Home Secretary. [156177]
Huw Irranca-Davies:
Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on matters affecting Wales including such matters as drug-related crime.
10 Oct 2007 : Column 597W
RAF St. Athan
Mark Pritchard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made on infrastructure projects in support of the Defence Training Review project at RAF St. Athan; and if he will make a statement. [156148]
Mr. Hain:
Negotiations between the Ministry of Defence, the Welsh Assembly Government and Metrix are continuing on delivering Package 1 quickly, and in addressing the remaining affordability issues to deliver Package 2.
On 3 October the Welsh Assembly Government announced that public exhibitions are under way on obtaining the public's views on improving access to Cardiff airport, demonstrating their commitment to improving the road infrastructure to the airport and which will no doubt also benefit the DTR at St. Athan.
10 Oct 2007 : Column 598W
Children, Schools and Families
Schools: Crimes of Violence
Mr. Laws:
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many assaults there were on school teachers in 2005-06 which led to exclusions, broken down by (a) by category of assault and (b) local education authority; and if he will make a statement. [154523]
Kevin Brennan:
Information on the number of assaults on school teachers is not collected centrally.
The Department does collect information on the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions from schools due to physical assault against an adult. The latest information is shown in the following tables.
However, due to underlying changes in the data collection, information on the reasons for exclusion is only available for maintained secondary schools for 2005-06.
Maintained secondary schools( 1, 2) : number of fixed period exclusi ons by reason of exclusion 2005- 06 by local authority area |
| | Number of fixed period exclusions |
| | Physical assault against a pupil | Physical assault against an adult | Verbal abuse/ threatening behaviour against a pupil | Verbal abuse/ threatening behaviour against an adult | Bullying | Racist abuse | Sexual misconduct |
|
England( 3)
|
62,670
|
8,240
|
12,730
|
79,370
|
5,270
|
3,370
|
2,620
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
North East( 3)
|
2,650
|
370
|
590
|
3,560
|
230
|
130
|
110
|
841
|
Darlington
|
165
|
27
|
65
|
294
|
(5)
|
9
|
6
|
840
|
Durham
|
644
|
62
|
109
|
864
|
45
|
14
|
15
|
390
|
Gateshead
|
68
|
3
|
13
|
113
|
22
|
5
|
0
|
805
|
Hartlepool
|
62
|
9
|
44
|
133
|
14
|
7
|
6
|
806
|
Middlesbrough
|
127
|
22
|
26
|
188
|
15
|
9
|
7
|
391
|
Newcastle upon Tyne
|
292
|
58
|
42
|
393
|
27
|
9
|
16
|
392
|
North Tyneside
|
176
|
21
|
44
|
229
|
19
|
14
|
13
|
929
|
Northumberland
|
453
|
53
|
74
|
468
|
26
|
15
|
16
|
807
|
Redcar and Cleveland
|
144
|
22
|
30
|
152
|
9
|
4
|
5
|
393
|
South Tyneside
|
164
|
21
|
55
|
232
|
19
|
19
|
13
|
808
|
Stockton-on-Tees
|
148
|
30
|
47
|
292
|
13
|
5
|
11
|
394
|
Sunderland
|
211
|
43
|
39
|
206
|
16
|
16
|
(5)
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
North West( 3, 4)
|
8,480
|
1,240
|
1,780
|
11,730
|
700
|
490
|
380
|
889
|
Blackburn with Darwen
|
195
|
36
|
26
|
226
|
11
|
19
|
9
|
890
|
Blackpool
|
233
|
42
|
51
|
221
|
7
|
6
|
7
|
350
|
Bolton
|
410
|
77
|
87
|
630
|
22
|
30
|
23
|
351
|
Bury(4)
|
334
|
24
|
105
|
369
|
45
|
15
|
13
|
875
|
Cheshire
|
980
|
85
|
221
|
1,335
|
41
|
31
|
31
|
909
|
Cumbria
|
659
|
69
|
165
|
943
|
61
|
27
|
31
|
876
|
Halton
|
110
|
25
|
24
|
186
|
13
|
(5)
|
11
|
340
|
Knowsley
|
116
|
23
|
26
|
169
|
11
|
12
|
9
|
888
|
Lancashire
|
1,357
|
158
|
213
|
1,688
|
106
|
78
|
59
|
341
|
Liverpool
|
301
|
44
|
50
|
269
|
31
|
28
|
4
|
352
|
Manchester
|
753
|
229
|
164
|
1,009
|
70
|
38
|
43
|
353
|
Oldham
|
264
|
48
|
66
|
435
|
10
|
37
|
12
|
354
|
Rochdale
|
287
|
29
|
43
|
289
|
51
|
17
|
13
|
355
|
Salford
|
261
|
52
|
39
|
400
|
16
|
17
|
12
|
343
|
Sefton
|
73
|
23
|
29
|
115
|
11
|
13
|
17
|
342
|
St. Helens
|
114
|
37
|
36
|
287
|
11
|
3
|
4
|
356
|
Stockport
|
425
|
55
|
77
|
650
|
35
|
28
|
12
|
357
|
Tameside
|
408
|
40
|
68
|
555
|
38
|
28
|
7
|
358
|
Trafford
|
200
|
27
|
55
|
302
|
12
|
18
|
11
|
10 Oct 2007 : Column 599W
10 Oct 2007 : Column 600W
877
|
Warrington
|
218
|
24
|
61
|
516
|
5
|
16
|
8
|
359
|
Wigan
|
324
|
48
|
101
|
563
|
28
|
9
|
17
|
344
|
Wirral
|
462
|
46
|
74
|
575
|
60
|
20
|
29
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
Yorkshire and the Humber
|
7,430
|
1,140
|
1,450
|
10,280
|
550
|
460
|
330
|
370
|
Barnsley
|
207
|
22
|
29
|
250
|
15
|
11
|
9
|
380
|
Bradford
|
860
|
159
|
120
|
1,091
|
54
|
73
|
50
|
381
|
Calderdale
|
356
|
45
|
61
|
381
|
25
|
31
|
13
|
371
|
Doncaster
|
386
|
50
|
78
|
708
|
21
|
18
|
20
|
811
|
East Riding of Yorkshire
|
543
|
77
|
123
|
750
|
24
|
19
|
26
|
810
|
Kingston Upon Hull, City of
|
389
|
123
|
60
|
716
|
27
|
40
|
12
|
382
|
Kirklees
|
558
|
90
|
134
|
862
|
39
|
26
|
11
|
383
|
Leeds
|
1,043
|
200
|
160
|
1,470
|
91
|
76
|
44
|
812
|
North East Lincolnshire
|
265
|
47
|
51
|
360
|
29
|
9
|
19
|
813
|
North Lincolnshire
|
282
|
31
|
30
|
309
|
24
|
12
|
8
|
815
|
North Yorkshire
|
494
|
86
|
132
|
952
|
48
|
27
|
34
|
372
|
Rotherham
|
434
|
35
|
152
|
576
|
24
|
25
|
14
|
373
|
Sheffield
|
841
|
86
|
173
|
862
|
77
|
40
|
26
|
384
|
Wakefield
|
607
|
55
|
97
|
776
|
34
|
42
|
33
|
816
|
York
|
162
|
30
|
45
|
214
|
13
|
10
|
9
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
East Midlands( 3)
|
5,290
|
750
|
970
|
6,500
|
520
|
250
|
200
|
831
|
Derby
|
179
|
37
|
45
|
248
|
41
|
20
|
10
|
830
|
Derbyshire
|
684
|
76
|
74
|
845
|
76
|
32
|
18
|
856
|
Leicester
|
502
|
70
|
108
|
560
|
41
|
15
|
20
|
855
|
Leicestershire
|
755
|
83
|
166
|
1,054
|
72
|
40
|
31
|
925
|
Lincolnshire
|
625
|
78
|
136
|
695
|
62
|
38
|
34
|
928
|
Northamptonshire
|
1,114
|
134
|
195
|
1,423
|
73
|
46
|
39
|
892
|
Nottingham
|
379
|
109
|
71
|
355
|
40
|
13
|
17
|
891
|
Nottinghamshire
|
1,034
|
159
|
167
|
1,299
|
107
|
47
|
35
|
857
|
Rutland
|
13
|
4
|
8
|
20
|
9
|
(5)
|
0
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
West Midlands( 3)
|
7,060
|
890
|
1,230
|
8,080
|
650
|
410
|
290
|
330
|
Birmingham
|
1,733
|
214
|
213
|
1,216
|
176
|
99
|
68
|
331
|
Coventry
|
383
|
63
|
82
|
433
|
46
|
21
|
9
|
332
|
Dudley
|
482
|
41
|
114
|
626
|
56
|
31
|
38
|
884
|
Herefordshire
|
170
|
15
|
33
|
274
|
3
|
4
|
4
|
333
|
Sandwell
|
351
|
77
|
73
|
378
|
28
|
23
|
12
|
893
|
Shropshire
|
320
|
36
|
43
|
372
|
47
|
9
|
11
|
334
|
Staffordshire
|
282
|
29
|
69
|
301
|
13
|
23
|
14
|
860
|
Solihull
|
967
|
72
|
221
|
1,325
|
80
|
31
|
17
|
861
|
Stoke-on-Trent
|
362
|
56
|
57
|
409
|
25
|
52
|
17
|
894
|
Telford and Wrekin
|
348
|
50
|
55
|
512
|
21
|
4
|
17
|
335
|
Walsall
|
334
|
52
|
40
|
335
|
21
|
22
|
10
|
937
|
Warwickshire
|
528
|
45
|
109
|
806
|
51
|
49
|
24
|
336
|
Wolverhampton
|
296
|
56
|
34
|
358
|
35
|
17
|
23
|
885
|
Worcestershire
|
506
|
87
|
88
|
734
|
45
|
25
|
22
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
East of England( 3)
|
6,250
|
700
|
1,360
|
8,930
|
540
|
430
|
290
|
820
|
Bedfordshire
|
372
|
67
|
101
|
611
|
45
|
33
|
13
|
873
|
Cambridgeshire
|
477
|
36
|
110
|
559
|
63
|
30
|
24
|
881
|
Essex
|
2,022
|
211
|
388
|
2,807
|
135
|
116
|
77
|
919
|
Hertfordshire
|
929
|
109
|
293
|
1,326
|
95
|
97
|
62
|
821
|
Luton
|
249
|
48
|
36
|
303
|
14
|
16
|
10
|
926
|
Norfolk
|
649
|
65
|
92
|
1,194
|
67
|
48
|
51
|
874
|
Peterborough
|
377
|
21
|
84
|
308
|
28
|
25
|
14
|
882
|
Southend-on-Sea
|
126
|
19
|
55
|
227
|
8
|
6
|
10
|
935
|
Suffolk
|
822
|
111
|
170
|
1,216
|
74
|
31
|
16
|
10 Oct 2007 : Column 601W
10 Oct 2007 : Column 602W
883
|
Thurrock
|
230
|
16
|
30
|
379
|
13
|
31
|
12
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
London( 3, 4)
|
8,630
|
1,260
|
1,630
|
6,920
|
770
|
350
|
400
|
|
Inner London( 3, 4)
|
2,850
|
500
|
490
|
1,900
|
230
|
70
|
110
|
202
|
Camden(4)
|
190
|
41
|
50
|
175
|
9
|
9
|
7
|
201
|
City of London
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
204
|
Hackney
|
290
|
42
|
39
|
134
|
16
|
4
|
(5)
|
205
|
Hammersmith and Fulham
|
77
|
7
|
9
|
30
|
4
|
0
|
3
|
309
|
Haringey
|
288
|
55
|
32
|
198
|
8
|
0
|
21
|
206
|
Islington
|
151
|
32
|
28
|
109
|
27
|
5
|
3
|
207
|
Kensington and Chelsea
|
49
|
15
|
18
|
44
|
5
|
(5)
|
0
|
208
|
Lambeth
|
236
|
20
|
38
|
145
|
15
|
(5)
|
6
|
209
|
Lewisham
|
362
|
62
|
54
|
231
|
30
|
11
|
13
|
316
|
Newham
|
516
|
84
|
78
|
277
|
50
|
10
|
26
|
210
|
Southwark
|
166
|
28
|
57
|
113
|
14
|
(5)
|
6
|
211
|
Tower Hamlets
|
192
|
56
|
34
|
183
|
31
|
9
|
4
|
212
|
Wandsworth
|
186
|
24
|
25
|
144
|
10
|
(5)
|
6
|
213
|
Westminster
|
142
|
35
|
25
|
118
|
11
|
14
|
9
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
Outer London( 3)
|
5,790
|
760
|
1,140
|
5,020
|
540
|
280
|
300
|
301
|
Barking and Dagenham
|
113
|
31
|
21
|
162
|
(5)
|
3
|
15
|
302
|
Barnet
|
424
|
50
|
64
|
227
|
17
|
18
|
36
|
303
|
Bexley
|
404
|
41
|
71
|
373
|
18
|
16
|
16
|
304
|
Brent
|
518
|
81
|
63
|
314
|
64
|
13
|
5
|
305
|
Bromley
|
170
|
20
|
43
|
166
|
7
|
11
|
18
|
306
|
Croydon
|
248
|
44
|
63
|
171
|
21
|
5
|
19
|
307
|
Ealing
|
326
|
15
|
72
|
243
|
52
|
37
|
9
|
308
|
Enfield
|
442
|
72
|
121
|
374
|
35
|
16
|
41
|
203
|
Greenwich
|
537
|
50
|
140
|
577
|
50
|
32
|
30
|
310
|
Harrow
|
319
|
27
|
65
|
206
|
23
|
10
|
10
|
311
|
Havering
|
219
|
23
|
37
|
170
|
33
|
29
|
15
|
312
|
Hillingdon
|
192
|
34
|
34
|
258
|
27
|
22
|
13
|
313
|
Hounslow
|
258
|
33
|
50
|
256
|
29
|
6
|
11
|
314
|
Kingston upon Thames
|
115
|
10
|
24
|
136
|
5
|
4
|
(5)
|
315
|
Merton
|
236
|
49
|
33
|
191
|
12
|
5
|
4
|
317
|
Redbridge
|
332
|
25
|
71
|
258
|
30
|
10
|
12
|
318
|
Richmond upon Thames
|
131
|
25
|
45
|
223
|
18
|
6
|
11
|
319
|
Sutton
|
289
|
26
|
58
|
263
|
40
|
25
|
11
|
320
|
Waltham Forest
|
514
|
106
|
69
|
448
|
61
|
13
|
21
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
South East( 3)
|
10,630
|
1,170
|
2,330
|
14,220
|
840
|
610
|
350
|
867
|
Bracknell Forest
|
136
|
15
|
11
|
168
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
846
|
Brighton and Hove
|
316
|
41
|
73
|
579
|
25
|
18
|
19
|
825
|
Buckinghamshire
|
490
|
32
|
74
|
465
|
30
|
35
|
19
|
845
|
East Sussex
|
793
|
72
|
161
|
1,201
|
35
|
36
|
15
|
850
|
Hampshire
|
1,748
|
211
|
430
|
2,420
|
148
|
89
|
65
|
921
|
Isle of Wight
|
126
|
25
|
43
|
292
|
8
|
8
|
7
|
886
|
Kent
|
1,913
|
179
|
360
|
2,000
|
172
|
116
|
60
|
887
|
Medway
|
555
|
53
|
117
|
608
|
28
|
36
|
29
|
826
|
Milton Keynes
|
215
|
23
|
35
|
234
|
22
|
10
|
0
|
931
|
Oxfordshire
|
614
|
93
|
121
|
1,186
|
50
|
43
|
23
|
851
|
Portsmouth
|
451
|
30
|
74
|
406
|
17
|
22
|
(5)
|
870
|
Reading
|
83
|
14
|
56
|
134
|
7
|
3
|
0
|
871
|
Slough
|
89
|
16
|
17
|
36
|
12
|
3
|
8
|
852
|
Southampton
|
538
|
88
|
84
|
741
|
41
|
13
|
11
|
936
|
Surrey
|
1,248
|
101
|
334
|
1,682
|
144
|
100
|
45
|
869
|
West Berkshire
|
156
|
20
|
55
|
227
|
17
|
4
|
3
|
938
|
West Sussex
|
921
|
120
|
239
|
1,458
|
63
|
53
|
20
|
868
|
Windsor and Maidenhead
|
113
|
10
|
18
|
150
|
10
|
6
|
5
|
10 Oct 2007 : Column 603W
10 Oct 2007 : Column 604W
872
|
Wokingham
|
122
|
27
|
27
|
229
|
10
|
6
|
11
|
| | | | | | | | |
|
South West( 3)
|
6,240
|
710
|
1,400
|
9,160
|
480
|
240
|
270
|
800
|
Bath and North East Somerset
|
228
|
21
|
70
|
297
|
28
|
9
|
5
|
837
|
Bournemouth
|
147
|
25
|
21
|
196
|
3
|
12
|
0
|
801
|
Bristol, City of
|
627
|
110
|
91
|
741
|
43
|
18
|
20
|
908
|
Cornwall
|
435
|
42
|
105
|
609
|
44
|
23
|
23
|
878
|
Devon
|
1,022
|
109
|
244
|
1,768
|
84
|
27
|
32
|
835
|
Dorset
|
387
|
24
|
75
|
358
|
14
|
12
|
15
|
916
|
Gloucestershire
|
651
|
45
|
182
|
896
|
37
|
22
|
38
|
420
|
Isles of Scilly
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
802
|
North Somerset
|
255
|
18
|
60
|
231
|
26
|
7
|
4
|
879
|
Plymouth
|
254
|
34
|
26
|
362
|
13
|
12
|
18
|
836
|
Poole
|
151
|
17
|
38
|
492
|
3
|
(5)
|
5
|
933
|
Somerset
|
734
|
104
|
185
|
1,464
|
48
|
19
|
42
|
803
|
South Gloucestershire
|
315
|
30
|
89
|
533
|
39
|
20
|
10
|
866
|
Swindon
|
281
|
40
|
51
|
265
|
21
|
14
|
18
|
880
|
Torbay
|
193
|
23
|
34
|
251
|
19
|
7
|
(5)
|
865
|
Wiltshire
|
561
|
67
|
127
|
695
|
57
|
37
|
37
|