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2 Jun 2009 : Column 435W—continued
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the remit is of Sir Roger Singleton in his role as Chief Adviser on the Safety of Children; and for what term Sir Roger Singleton has been appointed. [274250]
Beverley Hughes:
As stated on page 7, paragraph 17 of ‘The protection of children in England: action plan—The Government's response to Lord Laming’, published on 6 May, Sir Roger Singleton has been appointed for a period of three years from 1 April 2009. His remit is set out in the action plan which states that his immediate priorities have been to advise on the development of the Government's action plan and the remit and mode of operation of the new National Safeguarding Delivery Unit. Sir Roger also issued a letter on 5 May that
further elaborates on his remit by setting out his early priorities. The action plan and Sir Roger's letter are available at:
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he plans to take with the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Secretary of State for Justice to implement Lord Laming's recommendations on the setting of explicit strategic priorities for the protection of children and young people. [274257]
Beverley Hughes: As explained on page 29, point 1, of “The Protection of Children in England: Action Plan—“The Government's Response to Lord Laming”, published on 6 May, the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the Home Office, the Department of Health and the Ministry of Justice will work together on strategic priorities for the front line and ensure effective co-ordination through a new ministerial sub-group and the new cross-Government National Safeguarding Delivery Unit. As set out on page 6, in paragraph 16 of the action plan, Sir Roger Singleton, the Chief Adviser on the Safety of Children, will advise Government on strategic priorities and the effective implementation of policy and report annually to Parliament on safeguarding progress, including the delivery of the recommendations from Lord Laming's report.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families who has been appointed to the expert group established to assist Sir Roger Singleton in his role on the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit. [274285]
Beverley Hughes: The membership of the new Chief Adviser’s Expert Group is set out on page 7 of “The Protection of Children in England: Action Plan—The Government’s Response to Lord Laming”, published on 6 May.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to publish new targets for safeguarding children. [274695]
Beverley Hughes: As stated on page 31, recommendation 4, of “The Protection of Children in England: Action Plan—The Government’s Response to Lord Laming”, published on 6 May, subject to the passage of legislation, new statutory targets for safeguarding children will be developed with stakeholders by autumn 2009 and published and implemented as soon as possible thereafter, in consultation with local partners.
Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service in Barnsley to deal with access cases. [276423]
Beverley Hughes: The role of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) in contact cases is to advise the court on what is in the child’s/children’s best interest and safety; but it is for the court to decide on the most appropriate contact, looking at the individual circumstances of case.
Where courts in Barnsley have requested a CAFCASS report in respect of contact applications they have been completed, on average, within 17 weeks in 2008-09. CAFCASS have agreed with the courts in Barnsley to reduce the time taken to deal with these requests to 12 weeks from 1 April 2009.
Children: Social Services
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit will have powers to (a) examine local authority documentation and (b) intervene in children's services departments in local authorities. [274251]
Beverley Hughes: The remit of the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit is explained on pages 7-11 of ‘The Protection of Children in England: Action Plan—The Government's Response to Lord Laming’, published on 6 May. This sets out that the unit will work with Ministers, local authorities, other national partners and with Government regional offices to challenge and support every Children's Trust in the country to deliver the best possible arrangements for keeping children safe. Regional Government office staff will work as part of the unit and, as is the case now, will need to examine some local authority documentation in their role of providing support and challenge. The power to intervene in the case of children's services departments in local authorities remains unchanged and rests with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families.
Education Maintenance Allowance
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of the number of children in households with a projected annual income below £30,810 in 2009-10 who are not in receipt of education maintenance allowance. [277263]
Jim Knight: The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) does not hold information on the household income of all households with children. Therefore it is not possible to calculate how many young people aged 16-19, who are participating in provision that meets the criteria for attracting EMA, could be eligible for EMA based on their household income but do not claim it.
We are currently working to improve our understanding of EMA eligibility through analysis of longitudinal survey data and this analysis will be made available in due course. However I can confirm that around 45 per cent. of 16 to 18-year-olds in full time education currently receive EMA and that, as of the week ending 15 May 2009, 564,897 young people had received an EMA payment so far in this current academic year.
Education: Finance
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of the funds to be allocated by his Department via the devolved formula capital programme in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [276880]
Jim Knight:
My most recent estimate of the funds to be allocated by the Department via the Devolved Formula Capital Programme direct to schools is £1,372 million
in 2009-10 and £591 million in 2010-11. No decision has been taken concerning allocations beyond 2010-11, which is the last year in the current spending review period.
The allocation in 2009-10 includes an advance of 40 per cent. of the indicative funding for 2010-11, with a corresponding reduction in the 2010-11 figure. The advance is part of more than £900 million advanced to local authorities and schools, to stimulate local business and support employment. The 2010-11 allocation will be affected by updated pupil number figures.
Health Education: Sex
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent assessment he has made of effects of sex and relationships education on rates of (a) pregnancy and (b) abortion in those under the age of (i) 16 and (ii) 18 years; and if he will make a statement. [276872]
Beverley Hughes: The recent review of sex and relationships education (SRE) in schools reported that the provision of SRE was patchy and that many young people were not receiving the support they need to make safe and responsible choices about sex and relationships.
As a consequence, we have taken the decision, subject to public consultation, to make Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education (including SRE) statutory. This will raise the priority of PSHE education in schools and ensure a more consistent offer to all young people. In addition, we are taking action to address the key delivery challenges identified during the SRE review, which includes improving the skills and confidence of those who deliver PSHE.
Teenage pregnancy rates are influenced by a range of factors. Increased risk of teenage pregnancy is strongly associated with poverty and poor educational attainment.
In addition, teenage pregnancy rates are influenced by: the quality of SRE young people receive; their access to contraceptive and sexual health (CASH) advice services when they become sexually active; and the extent to which parents talk to their children about sex and relationships. International evidence, as well as evidence from local areas that have made most progress in reducing under-18 conception rates since the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy was launched, shows that comprehensive, age-appropriate SRE, alongside easy access to CASH services, brings down rates.
Middlegate Children’s Home
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will commission a review of the future funding of the Middlegate Children’s Home in Lincolnshire. [277065]
Beverley Hughes: The Government do not fund children’s homes directly. It is the responsibility of local authorities to commission places in children’s homes and to assess the need for, and availability of, sufficient children’s home provision. Local authorities can obtain support in this role from the DCSF Commissioning Support Programme which will offer Children’s Trusts bespoke support based on their needs and focus on key areas of concern.
National Safeguarding Delivery Unit
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) when he expects the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit to be fully operational; [274252]
(2) who will be responsible for appointing staff to the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit; [274260]
(3) which experts from (a) central Government, (b) local agencies and (c) the voluntary sector will be appointed to the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit; and how many regional representatives that unit will have; [274261]
(4) what the planned budget is of the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit; and from which departmental budgets the Unit will be funded. [274284]
Beverley Hughes: Pages 7-11 of “The Protection of Children in England: Action Plan—The Government’s Response to Lord Laming”, published on 6 May, included an explanation of the steps to be taken to establish the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit (NSDU), and noted that it would be operational by 1 July. This makes clear that the unit will be hosted within the Department for Children, Schools and Families and will include expert staff from the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Department of Health as well as local agencies and the voluntary sector. Regional Government office staff will also work as part of the unit.
The precise number of staff, appointment arrangements and budget are in the process of being determined.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families will lead overall on the unit’s establishment, working closely with the Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Department of Health.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) when he expects the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit to make its first annual report to Parliament; [274255]
(2) when he expects the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit to have developed guidance on referral and assessment systems for children affected by (a) domestic violence, (b) adult mental health problems and (c) drug and alcohol misuse; [274259]
(3) when he expects the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit to (a) set and (b) publish a timetable for the implementation of Lord Laming’s recommendations on safeguarding children. [274262]
Beverley Hughes: “The Protection of Children in England: Action Plan—The Government’s Response to Lord Laming”, published on 6 May, states that the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit (NSDU) will support Sir Roger Singleton, the chief adviser on the safety of children, in making his annual report to Parliament on progress on safeguarding and that his first annual report will be made in April 2010. Page 37 of the response sets out that the NSDU will publish its work programme by September 2009 and that the Government expect the production of guidance for the referral and assessment of children affected by domestic violence, adult mental health problems, and drugs and alcohol misuse to be identified as an early priority. The Government’s action plan published on 6 May also includes a timetable for the implementation of all Lord Laming’s recommendations.
Pupils
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what (a) financial and (b) other assistance his Department gives to local authorities in which numbers of children on primary school rolls rapidly increase. [275998]
Jim Knight [holding answer 15 May 2009]: To provide for growth in pupil numbers the Department has allocated over £1.2 billion capital funding to fund extra school places between 2008-09 and 2010-11. Because primary pupil numbers are rising faster in some areas than previously anticipated, the Department are currently considering what additional support it can offer those authorities in greatest need.
School revenue funding to local authorities is based on actual pupil numbers recorded in the January School Census. For 2009-10, an authority’s funding will be based on pupil numbers from January 2009. As a result, increases in pupil numbers up to that point will be reflected in authorities’ revenue funding. In addition, authorities that have significant increases in pupils between April and September of each year may be eligible for an exceptional circumstances grant. For each authority experiencing an increase in overall pupil numbers above 2.5 per cent. between the January and autumn censuses, the grant will be an amount equal to 7/12 of their Guaranteed Unit of Funding per pupil for each pupil above the 2.5 per cent. threshold.
Schools: Admissions
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools in England have fewer than 30 pupils; and if he will make a statement. [276884]
Jim Knight: The requested information is shown in the table.
| Schools with fewer than 30 pupils( 1) . As at January 2009 (provisional)—England | ||
| All schools | Schools with fewer than 30 pupils | |
| (1) Includes solely registered pupils and pupils with other providers (PRUs only). (2) Includes middle schools as deemed. (3) Includes CTCs and academies. (4) Includes general hospital schools. Source:School Census | ||
Schools: Buildings
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools in (a) Leicester and (b) England (i) received new school buildings, (ii) were substantially repaired and (iii) were housed in buildings considered unfit for purpose in each of the last five years; what estimate he has made of his Department’s expenditure on repairs to school buildings in (A) England and (B) Leicester in each such year; and what estimate he has made of the average cost of providing a new (1) primary and (2) secondary school building in the last five years. [274627]
Jim Knight: Where repair expenditure on schools relates to the maintenance of existing assets, it is financed out of revenue funding. Where work involves new buildings or existing buildings are enhanced, it is financed from capital funding. The Department make revenue and capital allocations to local authorities and schools and relies on them to commission work in accordance with their asset management plans.
The Department carried out a survey of new and refurbished schools in July 2007, and the results, for England and Leicester, are shown in the following tables. The Department does not maintain records of buildings that are unfit for purpose.
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