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9 Dec 2008 : Column 90W—continued
Specialised Diplomas: Disadvantaged
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of (a) male and (b) female pupils eligible for free school meals are studying for the 14-19 diplomas. [240616]
Jim Knight: In summer 2009 we will have information about the proportions of pupils entered for Diplomas, broken down by gender and free school meals for those pupils sitting examinations in 2009.
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of (a) male and (b) female pupils studying for the 14-19 diplomas are eligible for free school meals. [240617]
Jim Knight: In summer 2009 we will have information about the proportions of pupils entered for Diplomas, broken down by gender and free school meals for those pupils sitting examinations in 2009.
Teachers: Absenteeism
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the estimated cost to local authorities was of teachers' (a) absence and (b) sick leave in each of the last five years. [240608]
Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.
The number of teaching days taken as sickness absence by full and part-time teachers in England in the calendar years 2000 to 2007 can be found in Table 13 of the School Workforce Statistical First Releases, January 2008 (Revised) at the following web link:
Teachers: Male
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of (a) teachers and (b) classroom assistants in (i) primary, (ii) maintained secondary, (iii) pupil referral units and (iv) special schools are male. [240636]
Jim Knight: Figures for the number of full-time regular qualified teachers in local authority maintained schools by phase, grade and gender, January 1997 to 2006 are published in table D2 of the School Workforce Statistical First Release, January 2007 (Revised) at the following web link:
March 2007 figures will be available on the 11 December.
This table provides pupil referral units and special schools together and these can not be provided separately.
Information on the gender of teaching assistants is not collected centrally.
Teachers: Part-time Employment
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what consideration his Department gives when issuing guidance to the time teachers will be required to spend familiarising themselves with new information. [241871]
Jim Knight: To be familiar with current guidance, and to take account of changes to it, is a routine part of any job. In this regard teaching is no different to any profession.
In developing guidance, the Department always prioritises the impact on front line staff.
(a) as straightforward as possible;
(b) has been consulted on and/or discussed with our Social Partners, and/or the Implementation Review Unit where appropriate;
so as to minimise any burden on the work force and maximise the effectiveness of the guidance.
Teachers: Retirement
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers in the maintained sector will reach retirement age in each of the next five years. [240598]
Jim Knight: Under the Teachers’ Pensions Scheme (TPS) regulations there is no fixed retirement age. There is a normal pension age of 60, or 65 for new entrants from 1 January 2007, but teachers may retire with employer agreement from age 50 under the premature retirement arrangements, 55 under the actuarially reduced pension arrangements and from age 60 or 65 under normal age retirement. Teachers can continue to contribute to the TPS until age 75.
The following table provides an estimate of the number of full-time qualified regular teachers in service in England in 2007, broken down by age from 55, (i.e. five years before the normal pension age of 60). This is the latest information available.
| Full-time regular qualified teachers broken down by age. Coverage: England—2007, provisional | |
| Age | Number |
| Note: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100. Source: Annual survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies, 618g, and Database of Teacher Records. | |
Written Questions
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will estimate the cost to his predecessor department of preparing the answer of 17 April 2007, Official Report, columns 549-52W, on GCSE. [241663]
Jim Knight: Our records do not state the time spent preparing the answer of 17 April 2007, Official Report, columns 549-52W.
However, a good estimate would be six and a half hours (approximately £180).
Young People: Obesity
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department issues to schools on reducing obesity levels among persons aged under 16 years; what recent representations he has received on the issue; and if he will make a statement. [241140]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives strategy sets out what the Government will do to reduce obesity but also calls on all parts of society to act. Schools have a vital part to play in helping children achieve and maintain a healthy weight. The Department has made available guidance and resources to help schools provide a healthy environment by providing nutritious school lunches, improving participation in high quality PE and sport opportunities, helping children learn about health through personal, social, health and economic education and practical activities such as cooking. Guidance and support is also provided to the 90 per cent. of schools that are currently participating in the national healthy schools programme, which promotes a whole-school approach to health, for example Guidance for Schools on Healthy Eating, and Physical Activity Guidance. Guidance from this Department and the Department of Health is issued to schools on how they can support the National Child Measurement Programme, which collects essential height and weight data on primary school pupils in Reception and Year 6.
DCSF and DH Secretaries of State recently met with a diverse coalition of people including parents, nongovernmental organisations, supermarkets and representatives of the food industry who have agreed to join the Change4Life movement. Change4Life will create an unprecedented coalition for better health which will help families to eat well, move more and live longer.
Young People: Refuges
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will fund an increase in emergency refuge accommodation for young people in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement. [240491]
Beverley Hughes: The provision of emergency accommodation for young people who need it is the responsibility of local authorities. Support services for runaways should be determined and run through local children’s trusts and other stakeholders, according to focal service needs. Where local partners agree that a refuge is a useful and appropriate form of emergency accommodation provision in their area, it is our expectation that this is funded by the relevant local authorities.
In order to support local authority children’s services in their provision of emergency accommodation my Department is funding research which will identify successful and cost effective commissioning models using services provided by the voluntary sector, and by helping commissioners at every level understand more about young people’s perceptions of different models of emergency accommodation.
In 2008-09, my Department will also be providing £114,500 to the St. Christopher’s Fellowship, which runs the London Refuge, in the form of a development grant to help them find more sustainable forms of funding.
Justice
Freedom of Information
12. Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Government's policy on freedom of information. [240236]
Mr. Wills: The Government believe the Freedom of Information Act has been effective legislation in improving the scrutiny and accountability of government. They keep their implementation under constant review to ensure its effectiveness.
17. Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he next plans to review the guidance issued by his Department to public authorities on their duties under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [240241]
Mr. Wills: The Ministry of Justice published updated guidance on its website in May 2008 to assist public authorities in handling Freedom of Information requests. This guidance will continue to be reviewed on a regular basis.
Community Sentences
13. Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to promote the more effective use of community sentences by judges and magistrates. [240237]
Mr. Hanson: The Government want community sentences to be tough, effective and visible. That is why we announced on 1 December 2008 that that all offenders performing unpaid work as part of a community order must wear high visibility jackets with the distinctive logo 'community payback'.
We are also promoting the intensive delivery of community sentences which can include punishments such as curfew and Community Payback as well as positive measures like drug treatment.
Public Office: Misconduct
14. Mr. Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the common law offence of misconduct in a public office. [240238]
19. Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the common law offence of misconduct in a public office. [240243]
24. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the common law offence of misconduct in a public office. [240248]
Mr. Straw: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Rochford and Southend, East (James Duddridge), New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne), Wellingborough (Mr. Bone) and the right hon. Member for Bracknell (Mr. Mackay) during Justice oral questions.
Child Protection Court Fees
15. Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the effects of the increase in child protection court fees paid by local authorities. [240239]
Bridget Prentice: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him during Justice Topical questions earlier today.
Custody Licence Scheme
16. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects the custody licence scheme to end. [240240]
Mr. Hanson: The end of custody licence scheme was introduced as a temporary measure. We are working extremely hard to expand capacity in prisons. The moment I judge it is safe and operationally sustainable to so do, we will end ECL.
Family Courts
20. John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans his Department has to increase transparency and accountability in the family courts. [240244]
Bridget Prentice: This is an important area of policy about which people have strong views, and one that we are examining with care and consideration. That is why we have consulted twice on how we could improve transparency in family courts. The response paper to the last consultation, including further details of the pilot to provide written judgments when a final order is made in family cases, will be published soon and details of it will be announced to Parliament.
Parliamentary Privilege
21. Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals further to define in statute the law relating to parliamentary privilege. [240245]
Mr. Straw: I have no plans to do so.
Prisoners
22. Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with HM Prison Service on increasing the amount of purposeful activity for prisoners. [240246]
23. Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with HM Prison Service on increasing the amount of purposeful activity for prisoners. [240247]
Mr. Hanson: The Government are committed to increasing the amount and quality of purposeful activity in prisons, by:
The expansion and further development of links with private sector employers to increase the range of constructive work and training available to prisoners;
The delivery of a comprehensive range of interventions designed to address offending behaviour;
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