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27 July 2010 : Column 1206W—continued
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Cumbria
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effect on schools in West Cumbria of his decision to discontinue the Building Schools for the Future programme. [7174]
Mr Gibb: On 5 July, the Department announced that BSF projects that have reached financial close will continue, together with repeat projects which have outline business case approval prior to 1 January 2010. Sample schemes in projects that have reached close of dialogue are under further consideration. All projects that have not reached close of dialogue will stop with immediate effect. This will impact on the plans for Cumbria BSF projects as follows:
| Projects | |
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Darlington
Mrs Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to inform Branksome, Hurworth and Longfield schools in Darlington of the decision on the funding to be allocated to them under the Building Schools for the Future programme; and if he will make a statement. [5421]
Mr Gibb:
The Department has announced that Building Schools for the Future projects that have reached financial close will continue, together with repeat projects which have outline business case approval prior to 1 January
2010. Sample schemes in projects that have reached close of dialogue are under further consideration. All projects that have not reached close of dialogue will stop with immediate effect. Plans for Branksome, Hurworth and Longfield schools in Darlington to receive BSF funding have been stopped.
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Ealing
Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what estimate he has made of the reduction in public expenditure which will take place in Ealing, Southall constituency as a result of his decisions on the Building Schools for the Future programme; [9556]
(2) what estimate he has made of the likely effect on the number of jobs in the construction industry of his decisions on the Building Schools for the Future programme. [9700]
Mr Gibb: The Secretary of State considered wide-ranging advice from officials on the impact of his decision on the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. This advice did not cover the specific detail of the impact on public expenditure or the number of jobs in the construction industry in Ealing, Southall.
We have not made an estimate of the likely impact of the Secretary of State's decision on BSF on the construction industry. This decision is not the end of capital investment in schools. The Secretary of State announced on 5 July a review of all capital expenditure by the Department for Education. This review will conclude by the end of 2010. Its outcome will help to determine the way in which future capital money will be used by the Department.
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Greater London
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the Building Schools for the Future project at (a) Bishop Thomas Grant school, (b) Dunraven school and (c) La Retraite school in Streatham constituency. [5727]
Mr Gibb: The Department has announced that Building Schools for the Future projects that have reached financial close will continue, together with repeat projects which have outline business case approval prior to 1 January 2010. Sample schemes in projects that have reached close of dialogue are under further consideration. All projects that have not reached close of dialogue will stop with immediate effect. Dunraven school is a sample school and is therefore under further consideration while BSF plans for La Retraite school and Bishop Thomas Grant RC have been stopped.
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what information his Department holds on the costs incurred by the London borough of (a) Brent and (b) Camden in preparing schools in their areas for the Building Schools for the Future programme; [7870]
(2) what information his Department holds on the costs incurred by (a) Hampstead, (b) Jack Taylor, (c) Queen's Park Community and (d) Royal Free Hospital Children's school on preparations for the Building Schools for the Future programme. [7871]
Mr Gibb: Costs incurred by individual local authorities and schools in preparing for Building Schools for the Future are not held centrally. Costs vary for local authorities depending on how they have chosen to manage their BSF projects and the stage they have reached.
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Leeds
Mr Mudie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has for the Building Schools for the Future programme in Leeds; and if he will make a statement; [5559]
(2) if he will take steps to encourage the continued participation of Parklands Girls School in Leeds in the Building Schools for the Future programme. [5560]
Mr Gibb: The Department has announced that Building Schools for the Future projects that have reached financial close will continue, together with repeat projects which have outline business case approval prior to 1 January 2010. Sample schemes in projects that have reached close of dialogue are under further consideration. All projects that have not reached close of dialogue will stop with immediate effect. The Leeds BSF programme, including Parklands Girls High, is unaffected.
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Liverpool
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what assessment he has made of the effects of the cancellation of Building Schools for the Future projects in Liverpool on employment and the economy in the area; [9007]
(2) what discussions he has held with Liverpool City Council on the recent cancellation of Building Schools for the Future projects in Liverpool. [9008]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 19 July 2010]: The Secretary of State considered wide-ranging advice from officials on the impact of his decision on the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
The Secretary of State for Education has had no discussions with Liverpool city council on the recent cancellation of Building Schools for the Future in Liverpool.
A Westminster Hall debate on BSF in Liverpool was held on 30 June 2010.
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Stockton-on-Tees
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the Building Schools for the Future sample schools (a) Ian Ramsey and (b) Bishopsgarth in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees. [7750]
Mr Gibb: On 5 July, the Secretary of State announced that projects within the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme that have reached financial close will continue, together with follow-up projects for which the outline business cases were approved before 1 January 2010. We are considering further projects prioritised locally as sample projects that have reached the stage where dialogue with bidders is closed. All projects that have not reached close of dialogue have been stopped.
Ian Ramsey and Bishopsgarth schools in Stockton-on-Tees are not amongst the sample schemes and therefore will not continue as part of the BSF programme.
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Sunderland
Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what assessment he has made of the effects of his decision to terminate the Building Schools for the Future programme on the number of construction jobs in Sunderland Central constituency; [7118]
(2) if he will take steps to ensure that each school in Sunderland Central constituency which has had a Building Schools for the Future project terminated before completion participates in the new school building programme; [7120]
(3) what estimate he has made of the amount which will be saved by stopping the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme for all schools in Sunderland Central constituency; what estimate he has made of expenditure on payments triggered by break clauses as a consequence of his decision; and if he will take steps to compensate schools in the constituency for money and time they have spent on the BSF programme prior to its cancellation. [7121]
Mr Gibb: On 5 July, the Department announced that BSF projects that have reached financial close will continue, together with repeat project which have outline business case approval prior to 1 January 2010. Sample schemes in projects that have reached close of dialogue are under further consideration. All projects that have not reached close of dialogue will stop with immediate effect. The following projects in Sunderland Central have stopped:
Barbara Priestman
Monkwearmouth
Sunderland pupil referral unit
Southmoor community school
St Anthony's Catholic girls' school
St Aidan's Catholic school
Thornhill-Sunderland
Venerable Bede CE (aided) secondary school.
The Department has launched a comprehensive review of all of its capital programmes to ensure that future capital investment represents good value and strongly supports the Government's ambitions to reduce the deficit. The cancellation of BSF does not represent the end of capital investment in schools. The review will make recommendations to help shape the design of future capital investment in schools.
It is estimated that circa £84 million will be saved by stopping the Building Schools for the Future programme in Sunderland Central constituency. No contracts have been signed for the second wave of the BSF programme for Sunderland metropolitan borough council, and therefore no break clauses will be triggered. There are no plans to compensate schools for money and time spent on the BSF programme.
Bridget Phillipson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what the planned expenditure on the Building Schools for the Future programme in (a) Houghton and Sunderland South constituency and (b) Sunderland would have been for (i) mainstream
provision and (ii) special needs and other non-mainstream provision in each of the next three years had the programme not been discontinued; [7922]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects on schools in Houghton and Sunderland South constituency of his decision to discontinue the Building Schools for the Future programme; [7923]
(3) what estimate he has made of the effects of ending the Building Schools for the Future programme on the number of construction jobs in (a) Sunderland and (b) Houghton and Sunderland South constituency. [7924]
Mr Gibb: Sunderland had two Building Schools for the Future (BSF) projects, the first of which was Wave 1 and this project has received the funding available to it. The second project, in BSF Wave 7, was in the early stages of planning and while an indicative overall funding envelope of £127 million had been determined, the local authority had not submitted its outline business case setting out each school's investment and delivery strategy. For this reason, information in the form requested is not held centrally.
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Telford
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which schools in Telford and the Wrekin are part of his Department's review of the Building Schools for the Future Programme. [5865]
Mr Gibb: The Department has announced that BSF projects that have reached financial close will continue, together with repeat projects which have outline business case approval prior to 1 January 2010. Sample schemes in projects that have reached close of dialogue are under further consideration. All projects that have not reached close of dialogue will stop with immediate effect. All schools in Telford and the Wrekin will be unaffected by the Department's review of the BSF programme. BSF investment in the following schools will continue as planned:
Abraham Darby Academy
Madeley Academy (extension)
Thomas Telford CTC
Adams' Grammar School
Blessed Robert Johnson Catholic College
The Burton Borough School
Charlton School
Ercall Wood Technology College
Hadley Learning Community-Secondary Phase
The Lord Silkin School
Mount Gilbert Special School
Newport Girls High School
The Phoenix School
Southall Special School
Sutherland Business and Enterprise College School
The Bridge Special School
Wrockwardine Wood School.
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Wandsworth
Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) which schools in Wandsworth have (a) received and (b) made use of funding from the Building Schools for the Future programme; [8541]
(2) what the planned dates of (a) financial close and (b) project completion were for each Building Schools for the Future project in the London borough of Wandsworth; [8542]
(3) when Wandsworth borough council was first invited to bid for Government funding for school capital programmes under the Building Schools for the Future programme; [8661]
(4) to which wave of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme Wandsworth borough council was allocated when initially granted BSF funding; and when it was initially expected each school would reach financial close on its projects. [8723]
Mr Gibb: No schools in the London borough of Wandsworth have received funding from the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. The London borough of Wandsworth was invited to join Wave 5 of the programme and responded with its readiness to deliver application in October 2006. It officially joined the programme with its remit meeting in September 2007.
The following table sets out the schools that Wandsworth proposed for capital investment, their expected date of financial close and estimated opening date.
| School | Sample/Non sample | Estimated school financial close | Estimated school opening date |
Building Schools for the Future Programme: Warrington
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) whether his Department had discussions with Warrington borough council before his announcement on the Building Schools for the Future programme; [8000]
(2) what assessment has been made of the effects his decision on the Building Schools for the Future programme will have on levels of educational inequality in Warrington; [8001]
(3) what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of construction jobs in Warrington of his announcement on the Building Schools for the Future programme; [8002]
(4) what representations he has received from Warrington borough council on his decisions not to proceed with plans under the Building Schools for the Future programme in Warrington North constituency; [8003]
(5) what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and (b) Warrington borough council on the relationship between plans to rebuild William Beaumont high school and the development of the Orford Park project in Warrington North; [8004]
(6) what estimate he has made of the effect of the decision on the Building Schools for the Future programme on the number of (a) jobs and (b) apprenticeships in Warrington. [8005]
Mr Gibb: The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with or representations from Warrington borough council about Building Schools for the Future (BSF). Nor has the Secretary of State discussed with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government the relationship between plans to re-build William Beamont high school and the development of the Orford Park project, although departmental officials have been in discussion with Warrington borough council about the impact of the BSF announcement on projects in their area. No assessment has been made of the effects of his decisions on BSF on levels of educational inequality specifically in Warrington.
On 5 July the Secretary of State announced a review of the Department's capital programmes. The review will make recommendations to help shape decisions over future capital investment in schools, to ensure that investment represents good value for money and strongly supports the Government's ambitions to reduce the deficit, raise standards and tackle disadvantage.
The effects of ending the BSF programme on the construction industry were considered by the Secretary of State in coming to his decision. The cancellation of BSF does not represent the end of capital investment in schools or the opportunities for employment in the construction industry. In particular, a more flexible and streamlined approach is likely to make it easier for small and medium-sized enterprises to become involved.
Children: Protection
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the role of children and learners directorates in Government Offices for the Regions in safeguarding children; and what assessment he has made of the effect on safeguarding children of the cessation of such offices. [10801]
Tim Loughton
[holding answer 26 July 2010]: The coalition agreement announced the decision to close the Government Office for London and to review the position of the other eight Government Offices. On 22 July, the
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced the Government's intention in principle to abolish the remaining eight Government offices, subject to using the spending review to resolve consequential issues. A final decision will be made at the end of the spending review in the autumn. In the light of that announcement the six DFE-funded GO-based field forces will also come to an end earlier than planned. The six field forces to end early are: Safeguarding advisers; Children and Learners Strategic advisers; Child Poverty advisers; Teenage pregnancy co-ordinators; Sustainable schools network; and, Healthy schools co-ordinators (jointly funded with DH).
Closing the GO network is in line with the Government's intention to remove administrative layers and simplify accountability across national and local government and service providers, and to reduce public expenditure. This also supports the Government's commitment to empower local authorities by removing top down monitoring, support and challenge. This approach aims to free up local authorities so they can focus on their own improvement agendas.
Local authorities themselves have called for greater freedom to plan and manage their own improvement and to be innovative in how they deliver high quality services for children and young people. We are keen to work with the sector in developing its own, sector-led, models for improvement-for example through the Centre for Excellence and Outcomes which shares good practice round the system and uses specialists seconded from the sector that councils can draw on as and when they want.
The Government are determined to make child protection as effective as can be, with a focus on better frontline services. We will not do anything that will jeopardise or compromise child safety. We are seeking to put responsibility back to frontline services to ensure they have the right level of local scrutiny and accountability to drive up quality and provide the kind of children's services the public want.
Children: South Yorkshire
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to ensure that introduction of the proposed pupil premium does not lead to a reduction in funding for disadvantaged children in South Yorkshire. [9463]
Mr Gibb: The Government are committed to the introduction of the pupil premium for disadvantaged children. The pupil premium will lead to an increase in funding for disadvantaged children as it will be funded from savings found outside the schools budget. The Secretary of State for Education announced a consultation on the implementation of the pupil premium in a written ministerial statement on 26 July 2010.
Communications Skills
Mr Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department plans to hold, together with the Department of Health, events to mark a National Year of Speech, Language and Communication in 2011-12. [8475]
Sarah Teather: Funding for activities in 2011-12 is being considered as part of the Government's spending review. Further details of the spending review can be found at:
Departmental Official Cars
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which Ministers in his Department have used an allocated Ministerial car to travel between the Department and the House of Commons on each day since 21 May 2010. [5543]
Tim Loughton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the use of official cars by Ministers on Tuesday 22 June 2010, Official Report, column 202W.
The Department does not record the details of individual journeys made by ministerial cars.
All travel is undertaken in accordance with the ministerial code.
Departmental Security
Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its non-departmental public bodies spent on security in each year since 1997. [7376]
Tim Loughton: The information requested is a follows:
(a) The information requested is not separately identified within the Department's published resource accounts. The requested information could be obtained through a detailed analysis of contracts with suppliers but this could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
(b) The Department does not obtain information at that level of detail from each of our non-departmental public bodies; this could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Travel
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have been driven by the Government Car Service since the Government took office; and how much each of these persons has received in expenses for use of taxis, buses and underground trains in that period. [7993]
Tim Loughton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 22 June 2010, Official Report, column 202W.
In addition, the Government publish on a quarterly basis, the expenses incurred by the most senior officials which includes use of the Government car service and other travel expenses.
Education Maintenance Allowance
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effect on the number of (a) notices of entitlement issued and (b) payments made from the education maintenance allowance of the proposed reduction in its administration budget. [10385]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 22 July 2010]: Students will notice no impact as a result of savings made to the education maintenance allowance administration budget. Savings have been made as a result of the development of more efficient processing systems. Notices of entitlement and payments in 2010-11 will continue to be issued to current service standards.
Free School Meals
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the number of pupils in each local authority who would have received a free school meal had the 2009 Pre-Budget Report proposal on extending the eligibility criteria been implemented. [10640]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 22 July 2010]: Information is shown in the following table, by local authority and Government Office region, for the estimated number of pupils who would have been entitled to free school meals had the proposal to extend provision been implemented.
Free School Meals: Enfield
Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the educational achievement of pupils in receipt of free school meals in schools in the Enfield local authority area. [6748]
Mr Gibb: Information is published on an annual basis on the performance of all pupils including breakdowns for those eligible for free school meals and these can be accessed on the Department's website. We have made a clear commitment to narrowing attainment gaps between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers through our recently announced pupil premium.
The latest publications containing information on the achievement of pupils eligible for free school meals at local authority level are available at:
(Table 6): Early Years Foundation Stage Profile attainment published on 28 January 2010.
(Table 5): Key Stage 1 attainment published on 8 December 2009.
(Table 5): Key Stage 2 attainment published on 19 November 2009.
(Table 5): GCSE attainment published on 15 December 2009.
Free School Meals: North East
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of pupils resident in (a) the North East and (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency who would have been entitled to free school meals had the proposal to extend provision been implemented. [9473]
Mr Gibb: Information is shown in the following table, by local authority and Government Office region, for the estimated number of pupils who would have been entitled to free school meals had the proposal to extend provision been implemented. The Department does not hold information about eligibility for free school meals by constituency.
Free Schools: Greater London
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many expressions of interest in free school status have been received from schools in London. [8700]
Mr Gibb: The Department has received two Free School proposal forms from schools in Greater London.
GCE A-levels: Disadvantaged
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils eligible for free school meals obtained (a) three, (b) four and (c) five A grades at A level in each of the last 10 years. [5689]
Mr Gibb: The information available is given in the following table.
| Number of year 13 candidates( 1) eligible for free school meals( 2) achieving A grades at A-level( 3) | |||
| 3 or more A grades | 4 or more A grades( 4) | 5 or more A grades( 4) | |
| (1) Candidates aged 16-18 at the end of advanced level study in all schools and colleges. (2) Year 13 candidates that were eligible for free school meals when in year 11. Free school meal eligibility in year 11 is only available for those candidates who were in maintained schools at the end of key stage 4. (3 )GCE and Applied A-levels and Double Awards are included. (4) Candidates achieving 5 or more A grades are also included in the "4 or more A grades" and "3 or more A grades" columns. Similarly, candidates achieving 4 or more A grades are also included in the figures for "3 or more A grades". Source: National Pupil Database. | |||
Figures linking A-level achievements to year 11 free school meal eligibility are not readily available prior to 2006. Figures for earlier years can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
GCSE: Disadvantaged
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) boys and (b) girls eligible for free school meals gained a grade C or above at GCSE in (i) modern languages, (ii) history, (iii) science and (iv) mathematics in each of the last 10 years. [5605]
Mr Gibb: The requested information is provided in the following table for years from 2003. Figures prior to 2003 are not available because attainment data were only matched to pupil characteristics from 2003 onwards.
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