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2 Nov 2010 : Column 734W—continued
Schools: Advisory Services
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how much his Department has paid Ten Lifestyle Management for providing information and support services to school leaders in England in each year since 2005; [17034]
(2) whether his Department holds information on (a) the number of (i) schools which subscribed to the key information and support services and (ii) school leaders who used those services in each year since 2005 and (b) payments by schools for those services in each such year. [17035]
Tim Loughton: The Department has not made any direct payment to Ten Lifestyle Management (TLM) for its delivery of The Key. The Key was established as a pilot service to support school leaders in May 2007 with initial set up taking place in late 2005. It was developed and managed by TLM under contract to the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA); a non-departmental public body of the Department.
In the period September 2005 to April 2009 TDA made payments to TLM totalling £4,867,399.
From June 2007 to July 2008, the service was available to 1,000 schools, and it was extended to a further 400 schools in its pilot state until March 2009 when the pilot scheme ended.
Following the end of the pilot and to secure value from the public investment already made, the TDA licensed its then Intellectual Property Right (IPR) for an annual fee for a period of three years (the first year being 1 September 2009 to 31 August 2010) and then an annual royalty based on the profits derived from the system by TLM for a further five years. Subject to this licensing arrangement, TLM have continued to provide the service, operating under a subscription fee system.
During the pilot period, the service was provided free of charge to schools. The Department does not hold detailed information about the number of school leaders who have used the scheme or the amount of payments made for its services. Neither the TDA nor the Department has information on fees charged to date. This information may be available annually in due course in accordance with the terms of the IPR licence.
Schools: Buildings
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to ensure that school buildings may not (a) exceed a specified temperature in summer and (b) fall below a specified temperature in winter. [16333]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 11 October 2010]: Minimum temperatures for classrooms, gymnasia and corridors are given in the Education (School Premises) Regulations, SI No2, 1999. The minimum temperature given for classroom areas is 18°C.
There is no requirement under the regulations for a maximum summertime temperature. However, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 apply to spaces where teachers teach and these include general requirements on reasonable temperatures which are supported by guidance in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) code of practice on the regulations.
Comprehensive guidance on the ventilation of buildings and the avoidance of overheating in schools is available in Building Bulletin 101 'Ventilation of school Buildings' which can be downloaded from:
The Department for Education, together with the Health Protection Agency, has also issued guidance on the operative, management and buildings measures that can be taken to avoid the risk from overheating in existing schools.
The Government are currently reviewing these requirements for schools including the Building/School Premises Regulations and design requirements as part of its wider review on the future of schools capital, as announced by the Secretary of State on 5 July.
Schools: Lancashire
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools in Lancashire have (a) applied for and (b) been granted academy status. [17462]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 14 October 2010]: Six schools in Lancashire have applied for academy status. Five of these schools have received an academy order, enabling them to progress to the next stage. No schools in Lancashire have yet converted to academy status.
Schools: Transport
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received on the merits of subsidising transport for low income students to encourage them to take up preferential places at academy and free schools. [16910]
Mr Gibb: We have not received any representations on the merits of subsidising transport for low income pupils to encourage them to take up preferential places at academy and free schools.
Schools: Uniforms
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to regulate the making of exclusive agreements between schools and suppliers of school uniforms; and if he will make a statement. [16623]
Mr Gibb: There is no legislation that deals specifically with school uniform. Although governing bodies are responsible for deciding whether there should be a school uniform and how it should be sourced, guidance by the Department for Education makes clear that governing bodies should keep the cost of uniform under review, and be able to demonstrate that best value has been achieved. Governing bodies are also asked to ensure that the uniform chosen is widely available in high street shops, other retail outlets and internet suppliers, rather than from an expensive sole supplier. This guidance is reinforced in the School Admissions Code, that schools should not seek to operate as sole suppliers in order to raise funds through the sale of school uniforms, and to ensure that their policies and practices do not disadvantage any children.
Teachers: Training
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what timetable he has set for approving the number of teacher training places to be provided for 2011-12; how many such places were available for 2010-11; and if he will make a statement. [17187]
Mr Gibb: The Department is expecting to make an announcement of the number of initial teacher training places for 2011-12 by the end of December 2010. The Department has asked the Training and Development Agency for Schools to recruit to 35,480 places for 2010-11.
Young People: Vocational Training
Mary Macleod: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure the quality of future vocational training programmes for young people. [17272]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 14 October 2010]: The Secretary of State has asked Professor Alison Wolf to carry out an independent review of vocational education. Professor Wolf will consider the organisation, funding, and target audience for vocational education, and the principles that should underpin the content, structure and teaching methods. She will report in spring 2011, and her findings will inform future developments to improve the standard of vocational education for 14 to 19-year-olds.
In addition, we will publish the Specification of Apprenticeship Standards for England (SASE) under statutory order later this year which will ensure all apprenticeship programmes must:
be developed against National Occupational Standards (NOS);
offer a balance of on and off-the-job guided learning; and
lead to nationally recognised qualifications.
Justice
Arrest Warrants
Michael Ellis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress he has made on his proposals to amend the law on prosecutions for universal jurisdiction offences. [20925]
Mr Blunt: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Mr Clarke) announced in a written ministerial statement on 22 July 2010, Official Report, column 47WS, the Government intend to bring before Parliament at the first opportunity a legislative amendment requiring the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions before an arrest warrant can be issued to a private prosecutor in respect of an offence of universal jurisdiction.
Attorney-General: Sentencing
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to review powers of the Attorney-General under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 in respect of lenient sentences; and if he will make a statement. [21017]
Mr Blunt: The powers of the Attorney-General to refer certain Crown court sentences to the Court of Appeal on the grounds of undue leniency are working well. The coalition Government are following the practice of successive governments to keep the scheme under review by dealing with any proposals to add individual either way offences to the scheme on their own merits.
Coroners: Suicide
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the merits of ensuring that coroners record whether someone who commits suicide had a terminal condition. [20862]
Mr Djanogly:
At the end of an inquest, coroners use either a range of short form verdicts-for example, accidental death, industrial disease, natural causes, suicide-or, in a small number of complex cases, narrative verdicts, which usually describe the circumstances as well as the cause of the death. In addition to providing information to the bereaved family concerned, and to enable a death to be formally registered, these verdicts are used by statisticians so that trends in causes of deaths can be recorded and reported, and any trends in public mortality identified and action taken where appropriate. To introduce further subsets of the short form verdict might cause practical difficulties for the recording function which can be tackled only at considerable expense. However, in taking forward the changes to the
coroner system outlined in my written statement of 14 October 2010, Official Report, columns 37-38WS, we shall be considering the secondary legislation and guidance which governs inquests, and this matter will be considered as part of that work.
Courts: Closures
Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect on the rate of non-appearance by (a) witnesses and (b) defendants of the implementation of his Department's proposed programme of court closures in (i) Staffordshire and (ii) England. [20586]
Mr Djanogly: I am not aware of any evidence to suggest that cost of travel or travel distance to court is a significant cause of defendants or witnesses failing to appear. Defendants and witnesses are expected to attend court when summoned and courts may take into account travel considerations when listing cases. Her Majesty's Courts Service will make use of flexible listing practices to minimise the potential impact of any court closures on increased travel times to court.
Ministry of Justice economists are currently working on the provision of area wide impact assessments that will provide a full assessment of the costs and benefits of each closure. These will include an assessment of the travel impact on court users. We intend to publish the impact assessments alongside the consultations responses, by the end of the year.
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the savings to Her Majesty's Courts Service arising from the proposed programme of court closures. [20619]
Mr Djanogly: As I stated in my reply to this question during my appearance before the Justice Committee on 19 October, estimated savings, assuming closure of all 157 courts included in the proposals, are in the region of £15 million. These savings come from the operating costs associated with each of the courts on which we are consulting, and do not include staffing, judicial and non-cash costs.
I would also add that this figure takes into account an estimated £4 million increase in variable running costs, such as utilities, at neighbouring courts as workload increases following transfer of work from the closing court.
Ministry of Justice economists are currently working on the provision of area-wide impact assessments that will provide a full assessment of the costs and benefits of each closure. We intend to publish the impact assessments alongside the consultations responses, by the end of the year.
Criminal Proceedings: Females
Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he plans to appoint a ministerial champion for women in the criminal justice system. [21193]
Mr Kenneth Clarke:
We currently have no plans to appoint a ministerial champion for women in the criminal justice system within the Ministry of Justice. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department is the ministerial lead on women and equalities for Government. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary
of State for Justice the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr Blunt) has recently had discussions with the Minister for Equalities on the needs of women offenders. The Government are committed to diverting women away from crime and tackling women's offending. We are taking forward an approach to provide effective alternatives to remands for the courts with new women's enhanced bail provision and effective community sentences using the expertise of the voluntary sector through Women's Community Projects. The aim is to meet the distinct and complex needs of women which are linked to their offending.
Family Courts: Bassetlaw
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many family cases at Worksop family court involved parties living in rural Bassetlaw in (a) 2008 and (b) 2009. [20463]
Mr Djanogly: Statistics on family cases for the combined Worksop and Retford family proceedings court are collated centrally by HMCS on an aggregate basis.
Information is not available centrally on the residence of the parties involved, or for Worksop family court separately. This information can be obtained only by analysis of each individual case file which would be possible only at disproportionate costs.
Freedom of Information: Public Expenditure
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on the organisations which receive (a) 50% or more, (b) 75% or more and (c) 90% or more of their income from the public purse and which are not public authorities for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. [21216]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice does not maintain a list of bodies funded (a) 50% or more, (b) 75% or more or (c) 90% or more of their income from the public purse and which are not public authorities for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Over 100,000 public authorities are currently subject to the Act. These are either listed in Schedule 1 of the Act, or covered under section 6 as "publicly owned companies" that are wholly owned by the Crown or a public authority listed in Schedule 1.
The Government are considering a range of options to increase transparency, including extending the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to additional public authorities. The Government will announce their intentions in due course
Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will assess the merits of amending the definition of bodies subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to include organisations which receive 50 per cent. or more of their annual funding from the public purse. [21218]
Mr Djanogly: The Government are considering a range of options to increase transparency, including extending the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to additional public authorities. The Government will announce their intentions in due course.
Ian Tomlinson
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effects of holding the inquest into the death of Ian Tomlinson in the City of London on the timing and cost of the inquest. [21066]
Mr Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice has responsibility for coroner law and policy, but no operational role in the arrangements for inquests. The arrangements for the inquest into the death of Ian Tomlinson are solely for the City of London coroner and his local authority. It is, however, a current legal requirement that an inquest is held within the district of the coroner who has jurisdiction.
Legal Aid: Crime
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's budget is for (a) civil and (b) criminal legal aid for 2010-11. [20410]
Mr Djanogly: There are no separate budgets for civil or for criminal legal aid. Funding for legal aid is met from the overall departmental expenditure limit (DEL). However, we expect to spend around £1.1 billion this year on criminal legal aid, and about £1 billion on civil legal aid.
Magistrates Courts: Nottinghamshire
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases at Retford and Worksop magistrates court were adjourned owing to non-attendance of (a) witnesses and (b) defendants in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009. [20462]
Mr Djanogly: Information is not centrally collected on all adjournments that have occurred in the magistrates courts. This information could be gathered only from court files.
However, information is available on the number of ineffective trials recorded due to non-attendance of either the witnesses or defendants. Ineffective trials are trials that do not go ahead on the scheduled day, due to action or inaction due to the defence, prosecution or court. This results in the trial being rescheduled.
Table 1 provides the number of recorded ineffective trials due to non-attendance for defendants and witnesses in recorded criminal triads for Retford and Worksop magistrates courts.
| Table 1: Number of trials which were "ineffective" due to non-attendance, Retford and Worksop magistrates courts, 2008-09 | |||
| Number of ineffective trials recorded | |||
| Number of trials recorded | Due to non-attendance of defendants | Due to non-attendance of witnesses | |
| Notes: 1. The figures correspond to trials only and exclude all non-attendance when trials did not occur. 2. Witnesses are defined as both professional, police and other witnesses for both the defence and prosecution. Source: Ineffective trial monitoring form, HM Court Service. | |||
Offenders
Dr Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory bodies dealing with offenders on the re-settlement of offenders; and if he will make a statement. [20921]
Mr Kenneth Clarke: I have met with a wide range of statutory and non-statutory bodies over recent weeks to develop proposals for the rehabilitation and sentencing Green Paper. The re-settlement of offenders, including the impact of successfully finding accommodation and employment upon release from custody and its role in reducing reoffending, has been discussed at many of these meetings. We acknowledge the importance of this matter and will set out our proposals in this area in the forthcoming Green Paper.
Offenders: Incentives and Earned Privilege Scheme
Mr Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders in each prison establishment were on each level of the Incentives and Earned Privilege Scheme (a) on the most recent date for which details are available and (b) 12 months prior to that date; and if he will make a statement. [20408]
Mr Blunt: The aim of the IEP scheme is to allow prisoners to earn additional privileges through responsible behaviour, participation in hard work and other constructive activity. Additional privileges will be removed if prisoners fail to maintain acceptable standards. Governors have devolved responsibility to draw up their own IEP schemes although the scheme must operate on at least three tiers: Basic, Standard and Enhanced.
At the end of September 2010 and for the same period 12 months ago, the total number of prisoners in each prison establishment on the minimum three levels of the Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme were as follows:
| September 2010 | September 2009 | |||||
| Prison Name | Basic | Standard | Enhanced | Basic | Standard | Enhanced |
Prisons: Food
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to increase the proportion of domestically produced food supplied to prisons under contracts negotiated by the National Offender Management Service. [20575]
Mr Blunt: The Ministry of Justice does not have targets for domestically produced food at the present time.
The MOJ is working with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and other Government Departments who form part of the Government's strategy for sustainable farming and food. This is intended to encourage the public sector to procure food in a manner that promotes sustainable development and does not discriminate against local and UK suppliers.
Where United Kingdom supplies can meet the specifications set by the Prison Service, the Ministry of Justice will avail of these products wherever this can be achieved without increasing overall costs. The Department is working closely with the supply base to further increase the volume of home grown food used within prisons when compliant with specifications and within budget.
Probation Service: Mental Health
Mrs Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the probation service is taking to meet the needs of offenders with mental health conditions; and if he will make a statement. [19705]
Paul Burstow: I have been asked to reply.
The probation service is reviewing the content of and training for the offender assessment system to improve the identification of offenders with mental health problems. Residents of approved premises access health care in the same way as the rest of the population.
Restraint Techniques
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the membership of the Physical Control in Care (a) Management and (b) Medical Panel Board was in each year since 2004; what professional (i) qualifications, (ii) experience and (iii) affiliations each member had; on what dates the management board has met since 2004; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each such meeting. [20217]
Mr Blunt: The Physical Control in Care Management Board met on 5 November 2007, 26 February 2008, 9 June 2008 and 10 December 2008. Membership of the board was made up of officials from the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Department for Children, Schools and Families, Department of Health, Ofsted, Northern Ireland Office and the Youth Justice Board. The board was chaired by Ministers from both the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The minutes of these meetings are policy-restricted.
The Physical Control in Care Medical Panel Board has produced two reports both of which are in the public domain. The first in 2005 and the second in 2007. All Members that served on the board and their professional backgrounds are listed in the following table.
Squatting
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people squatting in premises were prosecuted for offences related to non-payment of council tax in respect of those premises in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009; [21232]
(2) how many people squatting in premises were prosecuted for offences of robbery in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009; [21233]
(3) how many people squatting in premises were prosecuted for offences related to carrying out unauthorised works to a listed building in respect of those premises in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009; [21234]
(4) how many people squatting in premises were prosecuted for offences of television licence evasion in respect of those premises in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009; [21235]
(5) how many people squatting in premises were prosecuted for offences of criminal damage in respect of those premises in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009; [21236]
(6) how many people squatting in premises were prosecuted for offences of arson in respect of those premises in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009; [21237]
(7) how many people squatting in premises were prosecuted for offences of trespass in respect of those premises in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009; [21238]
(8) how many people squatting in premises were prosecuted for offences relating to using utilities without contacting the suppliers in respect of those premises in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009; [21239]
(9) how many people were prosecuted for breaking and entering where their apparent purpose was to squat in (a) 2007, (b) 2008 and (c) 2009; and how many of these had previously been subject to an anti-social behaviour order. [21240]
Mr Blunt: Data held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database do not contain information about the circumstances behind each case, beyond the description provided in the statute under which proceedings are brought. It is therefore not possible to separately identify whether offences were committed by squatters for: non-payment of council tax; robbery; carrying out unauthorised works to a listed building; television licence evasion; criminal damage; arson; trespass; or using utilities without contacting the suppliers. Similarly it is not possible to separately identify those persons prosecuted for burglary whose apparent purpose was to squat.
Business, Innovation and Skills
AgustaWestland: Government Assistance
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what discussions his Department has had with the South West of England Regional Development Agency on the financial assistance proposed to be provided to AgustaWestland in the Spending Review; [21403]
(2) what representations he has received on the financial assistance proposed to be provided to AgustaWestland in the Spending Review. [21404]
Mr Prisk: Since 2009, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has had a number of discussions with the South West of England Regional Development Agency and other interested parties about possible support for AgustaWestland. Since the election, the Secretary of State has received representations on the future of the UK's rotorcraft industry from the management of AgustaWestland, and its parent company Finmeccanica. In addition, he has also had representations from the right hon. Member for Yeovil (David Laws) in his capacity as the constituency MP.
Aimhigher Scheme
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent evaluation of the Aimhigher scheme his Department has undertaken; and if he will make a statement. [20634]
Mr Willetts: Research undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Excellence (NFER) for HEFCE was published in October 2009. It examined the impact of Excellence Challenge (Aimhigher's predecessor) on the probability of entering higher education for young people who experienced Excellence Challenge in 2001/02, the first year of the scheme. It found that:
Young people from schools with Excellence Challenge with only average levels of attainment at GCSE were more likely than their academic peers from schools without Excellence Challenge to take up a higher education place.
Young people in receipt of Free School Meals were more likely to have progressed to higher education if they attended a school with Excellence Challenge than if they attended a school without
Excellence Challenge. For the 2001/02 cohort, this equated to one additional higher education entrant for every 100 young people eligible for Free
School Meals.
More recent research was published in August 2010. It examined local evaluation conducted by Aimhigher partnerships and made three key findings:
Some Aimhigher participants had improved outcomes in terms of raised aspirations, raised attainment and improved progression.
High levels of learner enjoyment and an increased learner interest in entering higher education.
Involvement with Aimhigher was associated with higher than predicted attainment at GCSE and greater confidence among learners that they were able to achieve.
Charity Research Support Fund
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what level of funding will be provided to the Charity Research Support Fund in each year of the Spending Review 2010 period; and if he will make a statement. [21069]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 1 November 2010]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 21 October 2010, Official Report, column 866-67W, to the hon. Member for North Tyneside (Mrs Glindon).
Departmental Public Expenditure
Dr Phillip Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what mechanisms are in place to ensure that his Department's decisions on regional funding allocations are based on the most recent available population data. [20689]
Mr Prisk: Population data were used as a factor shaping funding allocations to regional development agencies following spending review 2007 and before. Allocations to RDAs following conclusion of spending review 2010 will be determined shortly but are likely to be based on the levels of legal commitment and anticipated closure costs.
Employment Schemes: Merseyside
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) women and (b) employers in Merseyside have taken part in the women and work sector skills pathway initiative. [20968]
Mr Hayes: Between April 2009 and March 2010 68 employers and 279 women from the north-west of England participated in the women and work programme. Data are not available at a sub-regional or constituency level.
European Regional Development Fund
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the future management of funds allocated from the European Regional Development Fund following the ending of regional development agencies. [20413]
Mr Prisk: There have been no meetings specifically scheduled between the Secretary of State Business, Innovation and Skills and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to discuss the future management of ERDF funds following the decision to close the Regional Development Agencies.
Green Investment Bank
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the revenue likely to accrue to the Green Investment Bank from the sale of each additional significant asset referred to in the national infrastructure plan. [21292]
Mr Prisk: To give information on expected proceeds from individual asset sales would prejudice the Government's commercial position in ongoing and future sale processes. However, at an aggregate level, the Government are confident that the asset sales it is considering will be sufficient to provide significant additional funding above the £1 billion allocated to the Green Investment Bank from departmental budgets. It will make further announcements on this funding stream in due course.
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding from each source he expects to be available for the Green Investment Bank in each of the next five years. [21293]
Mr Prisk: As announced in the spending review, the Green Investment Bank will be funded by £1 billion from departmental budgets, and additional significant proceeds of asset sales. The former funding source is for spend in 2013-14. The Government are not able to provide details of the latter funding source as to do so would prejudice the commercial position in ongoing and future sale processes. However, it is anticipated that the use of these proceeds should mean funding for the Green Investment Bank will not be limited to 2013-14, and should be available before that time.
Higher Education Funding Council
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what funding the Higher Education Funding Council plans to allocate from its quality-related grant to the Quality Research Support Fund in 2011-12. [20701]
Mr Willetts: In the recent spending review, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the Government will spend £4.6 billion on science and research programmes in each of the next four years within a ring-fenced budget. Capital and administration spending on science and research have not yet been decided.
In the coming months, Ministers will make decisions on the balance of funding between individual research councils, HEFCE's research and knowledge transfer activities, the national academies and other programmes. Decisions on detailed allocations and specific projects will be taken by research councils, in line with the Haldane Principle, and HEFCE, within its statutory independence.
Higher Education: Anti-Semitism
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent reports he has received on incidents of Jewish students at universities in London being targeted by Islamic extremists; and if he will make a statement. [20243]
Mr Willetts: I have received no reports of incidents of Jewish students attending universities in London being targeted by Islamic extremists. The broader issue of the treatment of Jewish students was discussed at a recent meeting I held with John Mann, the Community Security Trust, the Union of Jewish Students, Universities UK and the Equality Challenge Unit.
There is no place for racism of any form, including anti-Semitism, in higher education. Universities have access to a strong legislative framework and guidance to help them deal effectively with instances of intolerance, racism and harassment in their institutions. Government would expect them to vigorously tackle these issues when they arise and has supported institutions with key guidance on promoting good campus relations in the sector.
Higher Education: Disadvantaged
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what change there has been in the rate of participation in higher education by those living in disadvantaged areas since 2004; and if he will make a statement. [20635]
Mr Willetts: The latest available information from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) estimates that 19% of young people (aged 18 or 19) from low participation neighbourhoods in England entered higher education in the 2009/10 academic year. This compares with 15% in 2004/05, an increase of 4 percentage points.
This information is taken from the HEFCE report, 'Trends in young participation in higher education: core results for England', which was published in January 2010. The key findings of the report and the full report can be found at this link:
Higher Education: Durham
Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people resident in (a) North West Durham constituency, (b) the north-east and (c) England entered (i) higher education and (ii) university in each of the last 13 years. [20859]
Mr Willetts: The latest information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is shown in the table. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will be available in January 2011. Comparable figures for entrants to higher education level courses at further education colleges are not available.
Higher Education: Finance
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what financial impact assessment his Department undertook on the decision to reduce the funding available for teaching in higher education institutions; and what estimate his Department has made of the number of higher education (a) institutions, (b) departments and (c) courses likely to close as a result of this decision. [21341]
Mr Willetts: We will announce the level of higher education funding for academic year 2011-12, including the teaching grant, to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) in its annual grant letter by January 2011. Before bringing forward our proposals for changes to the funding system from academic year 2012-13 to Parliament, we will complete a full assessment of the impact of these changes. We will make this available alongside draft legislation. The Government will undertake a further impact assessment of any wider changes proposed as a result of a higher education White Paper reviewing the framework for HE, and this will be published alongside the White Paper in the winter.
Regarding an estimate of effects on higher education institutions (HEIs), departments and courses, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (Tom Blenkinsop) on 25 October 2010, Official Report, column 135W.
Higher Education: Private Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with (a) US-based and (b) other private providers of higher education in England; and if he will make a statement. [21078]
Mr Willetts
[holding answer 1 November 2010]: I met with US-based provider Laureate on 15 September. Additionally, the Secretary of State, the Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning
and I met with BPP University College of Professional Studies, as a part of a wider meeting with representatives of the higher education sector, on 12 July.
The Government want to make it easier for new providers who can offer excellent teaching and a high quality experience for students to enter the higher education sector. However, this is one of a number of institutional issues in the wake of Lord Browne's independent review of higher education and student finance which requires thorough debate and consultation. We intend therefore to publish a higher education White Paper with detailed proposals to which experts from the sector can react, leading, subject to parliamentary time, to a higher education Bill.
Housing: Construction
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to bring forward proposals to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses in the house-building sector. [20868]
Andrew Stunell: I have been asked to reply.
The Government are committed to reducing the regulatory burden on businesses in the house building sector.
We have abolished HIPs and we are working with the industry to develop an approach to zero carbon homes which balances mitigating the carbon burdens from new development with ensuring the viability of development.
We have adopted a Government-wide "one in, one out" approach to new regulatory burdens across the economy as a whole, and in the spending review we announced that we will reduce the total regulatory burden on the house building industry in England over the spending review period. We will be seeking to work across Government Departments to put in place the mechanisms to achieve this.
I have already initiated a review of the building regulations, to consider options for changes to the building regulations and building control system, including the potential to deregulate. Having sought views from a wide range of interested parties, my officials are now analysing the responses and I am aiming to make a statement on this around the end of the year.
My colleague, the Minister for Housing and Local Government, has also set out his commitment to simplify the regulations for new build housing in England. My Department will be initiating discussions with interested parties shortly about how to simplify other standards (beyond building regulations).
Leukaemia: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Mr Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the relationship between murine leukaemia virus-related virus and myalgic encephalomyelitis. [20350]
Mr Willetts:
The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government supports medical and clinical research. In keeping with the Haldane principle, prioritisation of an individual
research council's spending within its allocation is not a decision for Ministers. Such decisions are rightly left to those best placed to evaluate the scientific quality, excellence and likely impact of scientific programmes.
The MRC is committed to supporting scientific research into all aspects of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), including studies into the biological basis of the condition. In 2009/10 the MRC spent £100,000 on research relating directly to CFS/ME. The Government have not commissioned nor evaluated any research on the relationship between murine leukaemia virus-related virus and CFS/ME.
Manufacturing Industries: Environment
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what (a) grants and (b) other forms of assistance his Department provides to manufacturing firms wishing to improve their environmental performance (i) nationally and (ii) in Lancashire. [20855]
Mr Prisk: The information requested is as follows:
(a) BIS currently does not provide direct grants to manufacturing firms wishing to improve their environmental performance.
(b)(i) However, a number of Government Departments and funded bodies provide specialist support to help manufacturing firms cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies. They include the Carbon Trust, funded by DECC and the Devolved Administrations, DFT, DEFRA , FCO and BIS.
(b)(ii) In Lancashire NWDA provides additional support to local businesses to help them reduce waste, become more energy efficient and generally improve their performance. This support includes the Manufacturing Advisory Service, Improving Your Resource Efficiency programme, grants for improving resource efficiency and the Environmental Advice Service.
Manufacturing Industries: Location
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what financial support from his Department is available for manufacturing firms relocating to larger premises (a) nationally and (b) in Lancashire. [20069]
Mr Prisk: BIS does not currently offer financial support for relocating to larger premises. However, the north-west development agency has developed a £184 million venture capital and loan fund comprising European Regional Development Fund grant and European Investment Bank loan. The fund is due to be launched in November and will provide a range of financial support to SMEs including expanding manufacturing companies.
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