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Percentage of pupils (1) achieving 5+ GCSEs at A*-C or the equivalent | Percentage of pupils (1) achieving 5+ GCSEs or vocational GCSEs at A*-C (a) | Percentage of pupils (1) achieving 5+ GCSEs or vocational GCSEs at A*-C, when Religious Studies is excluded (b) | Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ GCSEs at A*-C, when Religious Studies is excluded (c) |
| (1) Prior to 2005, statistics were based on pupils aged 15. In 2005, statistics based on pupils reaching the end of Key Stage 4 were introduced, which aimed to take better account of the attainment of pupils learning at different rates. Since 2009, all figures have been based exclusively on pupils reaching the end of Key Stage 4. Source: School and College Performance Tables | ||||
Further years can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Figures for 2010 are revised, all other years are final.
GCSE: Religious Education
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils (a) were entered for GCSEs in religious education and (b) passed such examinations at grades A* to C in each year since 1997. [31287]
Mr Gibb: The information requested is given in the following table.
| Religious education | ||
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Number of pupils entered for full GCSE | Number of pupils achieving A*-C in full GCSE |
In addition to the full GCSE courses shown in the table above, religious education is the most popular subject to be taken as a short course GCSE. In 2010, 228,435 pupils entered the short course religious education GCSE, 118,133 of whom achieved grade A*-C.
These figures include all schools. Data for 1996/97 to 2006/07 are based on pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year. Data for 2007/08 onwards are based on all pupils at the end of key stage 4.
The latest available figures are published on the departmental website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000985/index.shtml
Geography: Education
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he intends to respond to Ofsted’s report on geography in schools; and if he will publish his response. [41192]
Mr Gibb: We welcome the Ofsted report “Geography, Learning to make a world of difference” which was published by Ofsted on 4 February 2011, and the recommendations that it makes to schools.
We want pupils to learn a core set of knowledge and skills at school, and a child’s education is diminished without a sound understanding of geography. It is clear that some subjects of which all pupils should have a good grasp, are now less popular choices at GCSE. The English Baccalaureate will therefore recognise the work of pupils who achieve an A*-C in a humanity GCSE such as geography.
In addition, our review of the National Curriculum will take a root and branch look at how we can put a clearer focus on content and the essential knowledge that all children should acquire while leaving heads and teachers free to decide how to teach this most effectively.
Holocaust Educational Trust
Mr Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to encourage schools to participate in the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust. [37543]
Mr Gibb: This Department greatly values the important contribution the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET) makes to educating young people about the lessons of the Holocaust. That is why this Department funds the HET’s “Lessons from Auschwitz project” which gives the opportunity for two students (aged 16-18) from every school/sixth form college in England to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is a matter for the devolved Administrations to decide whether to encourage their schools to participate in the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust.
Languages: Education
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent estimate he has made of the average number of hours of foreign language teaching primary school children receive per week. [37941]
Mr Gibb: Research published by the Department in July 2009 measured the amount of time spent in class per week teaching languages. In 2006, between 24% (in year 6) and 30% (in year 3) of primary schools taught around half an hour of languages per week, while 29% (in year 4) and 36% (in year 6) taught around an hour per week. In 2007, the median figure was 35-40 minutes per week and in 2008 40-45 minutes per week.
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Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department provides for the teaching of modern foreign languages in primary schools. [37943]
Mr Gibb: The Department has provided funding to local authorities to support the teaching of languages in primary schools until March 2011. This totalled £32.5 million in 2010-11. At least two-thirds of this money is devolved to schools.
The Department has provided funding to CILT, the National Centre for Languages, to support the teaching of languages in primary schools. In 2010-11, this totalled £1.6 million.
The Department has provided funding to the Training and Development Agency for Schools to run a primary initial teacher training (ITT) course in a languages specialism involving some 900 trainees a year in 40 ITT providers. This totalled £1.67 million in 2010-11.
Missing Persons: Children
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on dealing with children who run away from home. [39781]
Tim Loughton: Guidance for local authorities on dealing with children who run away from home and care is provided in the document “Statutory guidance on children who run away and go missing from home or care” published in 2009. It is available on the DFE website at:
www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/safeguarding/a0066653/young-runaways
Outdoor Science
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the conclusions and recommendations of the report “Outdoor Science” by the Association for Science Education Outdoor Science Working Group. [39861]
Mr Gibb: The Government are committed to improving the standard of science education. We recognise the value of fieldwork in enhancing and enriching the experience of teaching of the sciences and welcome contributions to developing good practice which can be shared with schools and teachers. The Department is currently undertaking a review of the National Curriculum including science. This review will provide the ASE the opportunity to feed in their recommendations and conclusions.
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education
Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many officials of his Department have been appointed to work on the internal review of personal, social, health and economic education. [36623]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 27 January 2011]: One full-time official is planning the review of PSHE. This official is supported by the policy team which has responsibility for PSHE and pastoral care. This team has six officials.
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Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 13 December 2010, Official Report, column 572W, on schools: health education, when he plans to publish the (a) terms of reference and (b) participants in the internal review of personal, social, health and economic education; and if he will make a statement. [37988]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 4 February 2011]: Decisions relating to the process and time scale for the internal PSHE Review have not yet been taken. The Department for Education is currently considering options and further information will be available in due course.
GCSE: Physical Education
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many GCSEs in physical education were (a) undertaken and (b) passed at grades A* to C in each year from 1995 to 2010. [33166]
Mr Gibb: The information requested is given in the following table:
| Physical education | Number of pupils entered for full GCSE | Number of pupils achieving A*- C in full GCSE |
These figures include all schools.
Data for 1994/95 to 2006/07 are based on pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year.
Data for 2007/08 onwards are based on all pupils at the end of Key Stage 4.
The latest available figures are published on the departmental website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000985/index.shtml
Public Appointments
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) women and (b) men have been appointed to public duties by his Department since May 2010. [35397]
Tim Loughton: Information on key public appointments made since May 2010 is published in individual press releases. These should include information on remuneration. Press releases are available at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/inthenews
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In addition, information on the gender of those serving on the boards of public bodies is published annually. Information for the 2010-11 period will be published in due course.
Pupils: Disadvantaged
Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much additional funding for schools in Nuneaton constituency he expects to be provided through the introduction of the proposed pupil premium. [34745]
Mr Gibb: The deprivation pupil premium for 2011-12 will be allocated to local authorities and schools with pupils that are known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM) as recorded on the January 2011 School Censuses. Each pupil known to be eligible for free school meals will attract £430 of funding which will go to the school or academy via the local authority or the Young People’s Learning Agency if the pupil is in a mainstream setting or will be managed by the responsible local authority if the pupil is in a non-mainstream setting.
The January 2010 School Censuses allow an estimate of the number of pupils known to be eligible for FSM to be made. In Nuneaton in January 2010 there were 2,035 pupils known to be eligible, which would give rise
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to a pupil premium of £875,050. However, these are estimates only and are not necessarily indicative of how the pupil premium will be distributed. The number of eligible pupils in 2011 could be higher or lower.
Notes:
1. The numbers, rounded to the nearest 5, are based on FSM full-time equivalent pupils in maintained primary schools, secondary schools, academies and maintained special schools who were in reception to year 11 at the January 2010 School Census. Please note suppressed figures for schools with FSM counts less 3 have not been included in these totals.
2. The above estimates do not include FSM-eligible pupils in Pupil Referral Units: those recorded on the Alternative Provision census (i.e. funded through the Dedicated Schools Grant via local authorities but educated in non-maintained special schools, further education establishments, etc.) or those that are not following the national curriculum although these pupils are eligible for the pupil premium if they are aged between four and 15 years.
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in receipt of free school meals (a) attend schools and (b) are resident in Mid Sussex constituency. [38837]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 7 February 2011]: Information on free school meal eligibility is shown in the following table. The answer includes full-time pupils aged 0 to 15 and part-time pupils aged five to 15 known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals.
| Maintained nursery, primary (1) , state-funded secondary (1,2) and special schools (3) : school meal arrangements (4,5) , Mid Sussex, January 2010 | |||
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Number on roll (4,5) | Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (4,5) | Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals |
| (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies. (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools, excludes general hospital schools. (4) Includes sole and dual (main) registrations. (5) Includes pupils who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part-time attendance and are aged between five and 15. (6) Based on pupils' postcode as reported in School Census. Source: School Census | |||
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the levels of attainment of pupils eligible for free school meals in (a) Wells constituency and (b) England; and if he will make a statement. [38987]
Mr Gibb: We are determined to close the attainment gap between pupils from poorer and wealthier backgrounds and want to see more resources being spent on the education of children from deprived backgrounds. The Pupil Premium will provide additional funding specifically linked to pupils eligible for free school meals with the primary aim of boosting attainment. We will also ensure that schools have to account to parents for how they have used the Premium to achieve this.
The latest available information for the 2009/10 academic year is provided in the following tables.
| Percentage of pupils achieving the expected level at key stage 2 in English and mathematics, and reading, writing and mathematics attending maintained schools (1) in Wells parliamentary constituency (2) and England by free school meal eligibility, 2009/10 | ||||
| Pupils eligible for free school meals | Pupils not eligible for free school meals | |||
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Percentage achieving the expected level in English and mathematics | Percentage achieving the expected level in reading, writing and mathematics | Percentage achieving the expected level in English and mathematics | Percentage achieving the expected level in reading, writing and mathematics |
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| (1) Pupils attending maintained schools only (including city technology colleges and academies). (2) Overseas pupils are excluded from the parliamentary constituency figures. They are however included in the national figures. Source: National Pupil Database (amended data) | ||||
| Percentage of pupils (1,2) achieving five or more A*-C grades at GCSE and equivalent, and five or more A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics GCSEs attending maintained schools (3 ) in Wells parliamentary constituency (4) and England by free school meal eligibility, 2009/10 | ||||
| Pupils eligible for free school meals | Pupils not eligible for free school meals | |||
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Percentage achieving 5+ A*-C grades | Percentage achieving 5+ A*-C grades including English and Maths GCSEs | Percentage achieving 5+ A*-C grades | Percentage achieving 5+ A*-C grades including English and Maths GCSEs |
| (1) Pupils at the end of key stage 4 in the academic year. (2) In 2009/10 iGCSEs have been counted as GCSE equivalents and also as English and mathematics GCSEs. (3) Pupils attending maintained schools only (including city technology colleges and academies). (4) Parliamentary constituency figures do not include pupils recently arrived from overseas. They are however included in the national figures. Source: National Pupil Database (amended data) | ||||
Schools: Discipline
Ms Bagshawe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to reduce the burden of administration on schools in respect of disciplinary matters. [39692]
Mr Gibb: We are clear that schools should be trusted to apply the most appropriate approaches to behaviour and discipline. By stripping away unnecessary regulation and prescription and by reducing the amount of paperwork and bureaucracy we will free teachers to re-assert their authority. As part of this approach, we are slashing the amount of guidance on behaviour and bullying that teachers are expected to read from over 700 pages to under 100 pages.
Schools: North Yorkshire
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent representations he has received on school transport in North Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [39228]
Mr Gibb: The Government have received five representations specifically about North Yorkshire county council’s consultation on its policy to withdraw free school transport to faith schools. One representation was from my hon. Friend, three from parents and one from a head teacher of a school.
Home to school transport policy has remained largely unchanged since the 1944 Education Act when the social, economic and education landscape was very different. The Department is carrying out a review of home to school transport. As part of that we are considering how best practice can be spread to all local authorities, and will make further announcements in due course.
Schools: Religious Practice
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many schools have applied to the Local Authority Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education for permission to opt out of the requirement to provide a daily act of collective Christian worship (i) in England and (ii) in Suffolk since the establishment of such a requirement; and how many such applications were awaiting a determination in the latest period for which figures are available; [35217]
(2) which schools in Suffolk have applied to the Local Authority Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education for permission to opt out of the requirement to provide a daily act of collective Christian worship since the establishment of such a requirement; and which applications were awaiting a determination in the latest period for which figures are available. [35218]
Mr Gibb: There are no national data available about schools which have applied to the Local Authority Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education for permission to lift the requirement to provide a daily act of Christian collective worship. Therefore, we cannot provide data on schools making such a request either at a national or a local level.
Schools: Vocational Guidance
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of the services to be provided by the all-age careers service will be available (a) online, (b) via a helpline and (c) in the form of face-to-face meetings with a qualified adviser; and if he will make a statement. [33015]
Mr Gibb: The all-age careers service will be accessible through a range of channels to reflect individual need. The online and helpline provision will be accessible to all young people and adults. Face-to-face careers guidance will be prioritised for those with the greatest need. We are developing the detail of the new service in discussion with local authorities, schools and the careers sector.
Alongside this, schools will take responsibility for securing access to independent, impartial careers guidance, whether from the all-age service or other high quality
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careers guidance services. They will have freedom to fulfil this responsibility in ways that best suit the needs of their students.
Social Workers
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the incidence of (a) physical and (b) verbal abuse against child protection social workers. [40327]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education does not collect this information; it is held by organisations that employ social workers.
As outlined in the General Social Care Council's Code of Practice for Social Care Employers, it is the responsibility of employers of social care workers to have in place clear policies and procedures for minimising the risk of violence. Employers of social care workers are also expected to have procedures in place for staff to report any incidences of physical or verbal violence against them and to support staff who have experienced such incidences in the course of their work.
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the average number of children on the case load of a child protection social worker; and if he will estimate the change in the size of the average caseload in each of the next five years. [40328]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education does not collect information on the caseloads of child protection social workers; this information is held by the organisations that employ them and whose responsibility it is to manage caseloads.
In its 2009 Workload Survey, the Social Work Task Force reported that the number of cases held by social workers varied considerably. Over 700 social workers and managers working in local authority children's services departments took part in this survey. 44% of the children's and families' social workers and managers who participated in the survey held 15 active cases or fewer, 23% held between 16 and 20 cases and 24% reported holding over 20 active cases. The remaining 9% of participants in the survey provided no information on the number of cases they held.
The Social Work Task Force's Workload Survey can be accessed at:
http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/s/social%20workers%20workload%20survey.pdf
Between 2008-09 and 2009-10, referrals to Children's Services Departments have risen, as has the volume of assessments carried out by children and families' social workers. The Department for Education does not hold information on how this increase has impacted on caseloads. Further information on the volume of referrals and assessments can be found in Professor Munro's February 2011 interim report, available at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/munroreview/
Special Educational Needs: Academies
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department has taken to ensure adequate provision of special educational needs services in the transfer of schools to academy status. [14005]
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Mr Gibb: The Department is conducting a wide-reaching review of school funding from 2012-13, with the aim of a consultation by late spring 2011. This review will include the longer term funding of academies and the funding of services for vulnerable groups, including those with special needs.
With the help of the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA), the DFE has undertaken a small survey of open academies to inform immediate thinking in this area. We also intend to work with partners such as the YPLA and the Special Educational Consortium on the issue of monitoring the impact of academy conversions on the provision of special educational needs services for the longer term.
St Luke's School: Finance
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the (a) capital costs, (b) revenue costs and (c) number of additional pupil places arising from the decision to permit St Luke's School in Hampstead and Kilburn constituency to proceed with its application to create a free school; and if he will make a statement. [39866]
Mr Gibb: There will be some capital costs involved in establishing St Luke's school and work is currently under way to finalise these costs. St Luke's, like all free schools, will receive revenue funding at a rate that is equivalent to maintained schools and academies in their local authority. If the St Luke's school is established, it is proposing to admit 15 pupils per year, providing places for a total of 105 pupils when fully operational.
Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward proposals to remove the requirement on head teachers to apply to the local authority Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education in order to enable their school to opt out of the requirement to provide a daily act of collective worship of a wholly or mainly Christian character. [33522]
Mr Gibb: Collective worship in schools is one of the longest-standing traditions of the school system. It is also one that encourages pupils to reflect on the concept of belief and the role it plays in the traditions and values of this country.
We believe that it is wholly consistent with our culture of tolerance and inclusivity to celebrate the traditions of this country—which are, in the main, Christian—while recognising and celebrating those of others in our diverse society.
The law as it stands allows schools the flexibility to apply to have the requirement for broadly Christian collective worship lifted, where such a course is justified, while meeting the need for accountability to the local community. We therefore have no plans to bring forward proposals to remove the requirement on head teachers to apply to have the determination for wholly or mainly Christian collective worship lifted.
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Sure Start: Ashfield
Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many Sure Start places were provided in Ashfield constituency in 2009-10; and how many such places he expects to be provided in 2010-11. [31283]
Sarah Teather: Since March 2008 Nottinghamshire has had a total of 58 children's centres providing access to services for 41,128 children under five and their families. Nine of these centres are in the Ashfield constituency, providing access to services for 5,540 children under five and their families.
Figures for the number of children under five and their families actually attending and using children's centres are not collected centrally. Local authorities have a duty under section 5D of the Childcare Act 2006 to provide sufficient provision of children's centres.
Teachers
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future of the qualified teacher status standards. [39860]
Mr Gibb: In the Schools White Paper ‘The Importance of Teaching’ we said that we will review existing measures of teacher performance and conduct, including the current professional standards for teachers and the General Teaching Council for England's (GTCE) code of conduct and practice, to establish clear and unequivocal standards. As part of that review we will look at the standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England.
Teachers: Pensions
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme there are. [40116]
Mr Gibb: The latest available information taken from data submitted last year by the Department to the independent commission on public sector pensions shows that the Teachers’ Pension Scheme has 637,042 active members, 419,687 deferred members and 511,364 pensioner members in the scheme.
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assumptions he has made in respect of the dropout rate from the Teachers’ Pension Scheme attributable to (a) potential increases in contributions and (b) its indexation against the consumer prices index; what assessment he has made of the effects of the dropout rate on the future viability of this fund; and if he will make a statement. [40360]
Mr Gibb: At the spending review the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated that some additional members, amounting to 1% of the value of the paybill, would optout of all the public service schemes as a result of the proposed increase in pension contributions.
Further consideration of the effects of this policy on the opt-out rate will be made as part of the process of determining the distribution of increases in contributions across members of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. The Government are engaging with employee representatives on the principles to apply across public service schemes,
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and wish to implement change in a way which minimises increases in opt-out rates. The Government are already committed to implementing contribution increases in a progressive way so that higher earners pay higher rates than lower earners.
No assessment has been made of the number of additional members that might optout as a result of the change in indexation.
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the pension entitlement will be of a member of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme who retires after 30 years’ full-time service on a salary of (a) £10,000, (b) £15,000, (c) £20,000, (d) £25,000, (e) £30,000, (f) £40,000 and (g ) £50,000 if the pension is updated in line with (i) the retail prices index and (ii) the consumer prices index. [40367]
Mr Gibb: Pension entitlement under the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) is calculated through reference to pensionable service and average salary. Full details of the calculation of pension entitlement under the TPS are provided on the TPS website, and be accessed using the following link:
http://www.teacherspensions.co.uk/members/members9.htm
Annual pension payments will increase annually in line with legislation. I cannot give figures for these increases because I cannot predict the size of future changes in any indexation measure.
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the likely savings to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme of the proposed indexation according to the consumer prices index (a) in 2010-11 and (b) in the next (i) 10, (ii) 20, (iii) 25 and (iv) 30 years. [40440]
Mr Gibb: The Government have not made any separate estimate of the change in central Government expenditure (a) in 2010-11 or (b) in the next (i) 10, (ii) 20, (iii) 25 and (iv) 30 years for the Teachers' Pension Scheme as a result of the change to indexation of public service pensions and benefits in line with the consumer prices index.
However, the overall estimated savings in annually managed expenditure over the forecast period for public service pension expenditure were made available in answers to the right hon. Member for Stirling (Mrs McGuire) on 27 July 2010, Official Report, column 1193W; and the Office for Budget Responsibility, responsible for forecasting expenditure on public service pensions, has included the change to indexation in line with the consumer prices index in its methodology.
Vocational Guidance
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department has developed a transition plan for the change from existing careers advice services to the new all-age careers advice service. [39490]
Mr Gibb:
We are aiming to set out more detail shortly on the arrangements for the all-age careers service, including how the service will be delivered, which should help local authorities—and schools—develop their own
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plans for transition. We are working with the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, and other organisations with an interest in careers guidance, on the development of the new service and the transitional arrangements that will be needed to provide access for young people to careers guidance in advance of the establishment of the all-age careers service.
Vocational Guidance: Training
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to increase the training, professional development and skills of those who give careers advice in schools; and if he will make a statement. [35476]
Mr Gibb: The Government have accepted recommendations of the Careers Profession Task Force, set out in their report, “Towards A Strong Careers Profession” and published in October 2010. The Government are working with the Careers Profession Alliance and other sector organisations to implement these recommendations, which include a focus on ensuring all careers advisers have the initial training and continuing professional development to carry out their role effectively, within a strong careers profession.
Wirral Schools Private Finance Initiative
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have participated in the Wirral schools private finance initiative in the last five years; and what the names are of such schools. [40969]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 15 February 2011]: Nine schools have participated in the Wirral schools private finance initiative in the last five years. They are:
Bebington high sports college
South Wirral high school
Wallasey school
Park high school
Wirral grammar school for girls
Hilbre high school
Weatherhead high school media arts college
Prenton high school for girls
Leasowe primary school
Business, Innovation and Skills
Billing
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on how many occasions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have met representatives of the independent providers of bill payment services since 30 September 2010. [41925]
Mr Davey: My scheduled meeting with PayPoint in April will be the first such meeting since 30 September 2010.
Business: Electricity
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits of a smart electricity grid for business in the UK; [41766]
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(2) what assessment his Department has made of the extent of opportunities for businesses which may be created by the development of a smart electricity grid in the UK. [41767]
Mr Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' officials have made no formal assessment but are aware of the potential opportunities and benefits and are monitoring the situation closely in conjunction with officials in the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
Carbon Emissions
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to promote low carbon technology exports. [41852]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) promotes UK low carbon technology exports through its core services for businesses, such as trade missions, trade shows and exhibitions both overseas and in the UK. For example, UKTI organised an environment and water trade mission for UK businesses with low carbon solutions in India for the week commencing 7 February 2011.
UKTI is leading the UK’s low carbon 2010/11 campaign to ensure there is increased awareness of the UK’s low carbon ‘Know How’. In the last six months we have undertaken a range of promotional activities in our priority markets of China, India, Brazil and west coast North America.
Carbon Emissions: North East England
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to support the development of low-carbon technology in the North East. [41740]
Mr Prisk: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is taking a number of steps to support the development of low carbon technology in the North East.
BIS has provided up to £20.7 million to support the manufacture of electric vehicles and associated battery production at the Nissan plant in Sunderland.
BIS (together with the Department for Transport) has made £2.4 million available under the Government’s Plugged-In Places programme to the North East, with a further £1.5 million made available out to 2013. This funding will see around 1,300 vehicle charging points being installed across the North East over the next three years.
BIS is funding the National Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) in Blyth. In particular, Narec is receiving £11.5 million for an offshore wind blade test site, £18.5 million for an offshore wind turbine test site and £10 million for a marine drive train facility.
BIS has funded (thorough the North East Regional Development Agency) the Tees Valley Industrial programme, which has committed £42 million for industrial transformation, particularly in the areas of low carbon and advanced manufacturing.
Departmental Contracts
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many providers classified as outstanding who have been exempted from inspection for eight years will no longer receive direct contracts under the Skills Funding Agency’s proposals relating to minimum contract value. [39602]
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Mr Hayes [holding answer 16 February 2011]:As a part of our commitment to free further education (FE) colleges and training organisations from stifling bureaucracy, we announced in “Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth” in November 2010 that we would suspend inspections for those FE colleges that were judged by Ofsted to be ‘outstanding’ and pledged to extend this to training organisations.
We will introduce a minimum contract level (MCL) in the 2011/12 academic year as part of our commitment to create a streamlined and more efficient FE system. In an environment of declining budgets, it becomes increasingly difficult for small providers to operate without realising the efficiencies of shared services or economies of scale through collaboration or sub-contracting. The Skills Funding Agency also needs to become more efficient and streamlined.
Where there is a risk of specialist provision being lost or a significant impact on choice available in a particular area due to the introduction of the MCL, the Skills Funding Agency will consider on a case by case basis whether alternative arrangements need to be made. Due to the nature of the contract that they have with the Skills Funding Agency, general FE and specialist colleges will be exempt from the application of the MCL.
We do not hold information centrally on the number of further education colleges and training organisations that have been judged to be ‘outstanding’ and that are below the MCL and so I have asked the chief executive of the Skills Funding Agency to write to the hon. Member to provide these details with a copy being placed in the House.
Departmental Manpower
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff have left his Department's employment since May 2010. [42310]
Mr Davey: Between the 1 May 2010 and 17 February a total of 591 staff left the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (including UK Trade & Investment). These staff had a combined FTE of 500.37.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff his Department employed on the latest date for which figures are available. [42391]
Mr Davey: On the 17 February the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (including UK Trade & Investment) employed 3,250 staff. These staff had a combined FTE of 3,146.43.
Mr Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department in May 2010. [42407]
Mr Davey: On the 1 May 2010 the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (including UK Trade & Investment) employed 3,641 staff. These staff had a combined FTE of 3,595.49.
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Departmental Offices
Mr Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) setting up and (b) maintaining his Department's offices in the English regions in the financial year 2011-12. [41545]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 17 February 2011]: A budget of £3.5 million per annum has been estimated. This includes salary and associated administrative costs.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy to locate the new regional offices of his Department in premises currently occupied by regional development agencies or Government offices for the regions. [42035]
Mr Prisk: The Department intends to locate the new local offices in existing BIS or BIS agency premises. The exact locations for the teams are still being determined and some will have dual locations to provider wider geographic coverage. It is not currently possible to confirm when decisions on locations will be made.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of establishing his Department's new regional offices. [42037]
Mr Prisk: A budget of £3.5 million per annum has been estimated. This includes salary and associated administrative costs.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of closing regional development agencies; and what proportion of such costs arise from (a) redundancy, (b) premises and (c) other costs. [42038]
Mr Prisk: I refer to the answer given on 19 January 2011, Official Report, column 833W, covering total costs including redundancies. There are no estimates of the cost of closure for premises at present as alternative use may be made of some buildings now occupied by regional development agencies.
Educational Maintenance Grant
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects Student Finance England to reply to the constituent of the right hon. Member for Birkenhead, K D Bennett, on when she will receive her maintenance grant for the 2010-11 academic year. [41529]
Mr Willetts: I understand that the Student Loans Company, which administers the Student Finance England service, contacted Ms Bennett on 16 February to inform her that payment of her maintenance grant for the 2010/11 academic year has now been made.
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Employment: Graduates
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to assist graduates in finding employment. [41649]
Mr Willetts: The Department's major contributions to graduate employment are our policies to stimulate growth, which will create more jobs in the long term. We have encouraged universities and colleges to prepare undergraduates for the workplace, and all universities have now set out in employability statements the support they give their students. We continue to encourage employers to invest in students and graduates by offering work experience and internships, which help them to develop valuable skills and boost their employment chances.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many graduates have secured a place through the Graduate Talent Pool since its inception; and how many such places were based in Coventry. [41650]
Mr Willetts: The Graduate Talent Pool is designed as a service to put graduates in touch with employers offering internships. Since its launch, over 29,000 vacancies have been advertised on the site, and there are currently 2,325 internship vacancies. Early evaluation found that overall, 22% of graduate respondents secured and undertook an internship, which would suggest up to around 1,440 actual internships were undertaken by graduates who registered in the first six months of the scheme. We do not routinely collect data on how many opportunities are taken up, and cannot say how many places were based in Coventry.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future of the Graduate Talent Pool. [41651]
Mr Willetts: As part of our programme to get Britain working, we continue to encourage employers to invest in students and graduates by offering work experience and internships which help them to develop valuable skills and boost their employment chances. We are considering the long term future of the Graduate Talent Pool.
Environment Protection
Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) if he will take steps to encourage the (a) production and (b) distribution of environmental products in Redditch; [41681]
(2) what estimate his Department has made of the contribution to the economy of the manufacture of environmental products; and what steps he is taking to increase that contribution. [41682]
Mr Prisk: According to research commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), low carbon and environmental goods and services sectors in the UK were worth £112 billion in 2008/09. They are growing at around 4% per annum to 2015.
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The Government have implemented a wide range of policies to encourage the development production, and uptake of low carbon, environmental goods and services.
BIS, the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have recently established a Green Economy Council, to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing business as we transition to a greener economy. These Departments will also publish a Roadmap to a Green Economy this spring, which will provide greater clarity and certainty for business investment decisions.
BIS has also recently accepted a proposal for a Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, which is looking to drive business growth in Redditch and throughout the county.
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 February 2011, Official Report, column 957W, on environment protection, what the dates of his discussions with ministerial colleagues were; which Ministers were involved; whether the discussions were part of a formal meeting; whether minutes or notes were taken; what the outcomes of the discussions were; and whether the discussions are ongoing. [41936]
Mr Prisk: BIS Ministers are having ongoing discussions with ministerial colleagues about our efforts to build a green economy. The content of the Roadmap to a Green Economy was discussed at the following meetings. Notes were taken.
19 January: Minister of State for Business and Enterprise and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
24 January: Deputy Prime Minister; Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills; Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change; Secretary of State for Transport; Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Chief Secretary to the Treasury; Minister of State, Cabinet Office; Minister of State for Housing and Local Government.
10 February 2011: Deputy Prime Minister; Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills; Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change; Secretary of State for Transport; Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Economic Secretary to the Treasury; Minister for Government Policy; Minister of State for Housing and Local Government.
16 February 2011: Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills; Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change; Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Minister of State for Business and Enterprise; Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. This discussion was part of a formal meeting of the Green Economy Council.
EU Internal Trade
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what further steps he plans to take to complete the single market in the EU. [42796]
Mr Prisk:
The Government will publish their response to the Commission consultation on the Single Market Act on 28 February 2011. In this we argue that reforms to the single market should be seen as part of a wider strategy to encourage growth across the EU. We recommend that the Commission focus its efforts on those actions
28 Feb 2011 : Column 295W
that will have the greatest positive impact on growth. Specifically, we recommend that the Commission takes action to:
Improve the single market in services;
Modernise the single market so as to enable businesses and citizens to take advantage of advances in digital technology; support the development of a single market in energy and low carbon; facilitate innovation; and help businesses trying to trade with the rest of the world; and
Support small and medium enterprise growth and ensure that the single market works for citizens.
Copies of the consultation response will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Exports: Israel
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase the number of small and medium-sized enterprises which export to Israel; and if he will make a statement. [R] [41961]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) provides expert trade advice and practical support to UK-based companies wishing to export their products and services worldwide, and not just to Israel. With 2,400 staff and a presence in 96 countries, UKTI can assist small and medium-sized enterprises on every step of the exporting journey—whatever stage of their development. Through a range of unique services, including participation at selected trade fairs, outward and inward missions and bespoke market intelligence, UKTI can help UK small and medium-sized enterprises to penetrate foreign markets and understand overseas regulations and local business practices, helping them to increase their market penetration into new and existing markets, such as Israel.
Green Investment Bank
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2011, Official Report, column 387W, on the Green Investment Bank, what his definition is of significant additional funding; and what indicative range he expects proceeds from asset sales to fall within at an aggregate level. [42990]
Mr Prisk: To give information on expected proceeds from asset sales could prejudice the Government’s commercial position in ongoing and future sale processes, I will make further announcements on this funding stream in due course.
Green Investment Bank: Finance
John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what role the Green Investment Bank will have in (a) encouraging and (b) administering marine technology funding. [42726]
Mr Prisk: The Green Investment Bank (GIB) will have a wide remit to tackle financing issues affecting the deployment of green infrastructure.
We do not currently envisage the bank providing funding for research and development.
Marine energy technologies are expected to play an important part in our future energy mix, and the
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Government are already providing funding to research, develop and demonstrate these technologies. In due course, when these technologies are more mature, it is possible that the bank could help to finance their deployment.
We will make a detailed announcement on the GIB in May.
Higher Education
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of the Government's funding proposals for tuition fees on the number of students applying to enter higher education. [41630]
Mr Willetts: The Department has commissioned a number of projects which have examined the impact of tuition fees. Reports are available at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/research
Evidence suggests that students are sensitive to price changes but they can be offset by comparable changes in the provision of grants and loans.
Analysis of the 2006 reforms of tuition fees and student support in the UK found that an increase in tuition fees by £1,000 per annum—holding all other factors constant—would be expected to lead to a 4.4 percentage point decline in participation. However, in addition, it was found that a £1,000 per annum increase in grants increases participation by 2.1 percentage points while a £1,000 per annum increase in loans is associated with a 3.2 percentage point increase in participation.
Higher Education: Admissions
Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what deadlines he has set for the submission and approval of access agreements with universities; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the time provided for universities to meet these requirements. [42670]
Mr Willetts: These are matters for the director of fair access. He is publishing his guidance to universities on these matters in early March.
Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with (a) Lord Browne of Madingley and (b) other members of his review team on his Department's proposals on access to university since the publication of the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance; and on what dates such discussions took place. [42673]
Mr Willetts: Since the publication of the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance on 12 October 2010 I have had formal discussions with Lord Browne on 2 November 2010, 21 December 2010, 17 February 2011 and 25 February 2011. These meetings discussed a wide range of issues relating to higher education including access to universities. I have not met with other members of the review team. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has had no discussions with Lord Browne over this time period.
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Higher Education: Fees and Charges
Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the average amount a postgraduate student will pay in university fees in academic year 2012-13; and what his policy is on the level of fees charged for postgraduate study. [41724]
Mr Willetts: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 18 January 2011, Official Report, column 763W.
Higher Education: Northern Ireland
Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Minister for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland on the implications for Northern Ireland (a) students and (b) universities resulting from his proposed changes to the funding of higher education in England. [29247]
Mr Willetts: I have had extensive discussions on our proposed reforms with relevant Ministers in each of the devolved Administrations, including Northern Ireland. As higher education is a fully devolved issue it is of course for each country to bring forward its own proposals. The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has not met with the Minister for Employment and Learning (Danny Kennedy).
Higher Education: Standards
Mr Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the research undertaken by the university of Bristol on performance at university of pupils educated in poorly-performing schools used by the Higher Education Funding Council for England. [42671]
Mr Willetts: I am aware of the conclusions of research by the university of Bristol on the performance of state and independently schooled entrants in terms of the class of the degree they obtained at the university of Bristol. The Higher Education Funding Council for England report that they do not use this information as they have no role in the process of admissions to the university.
Higher Education: Wales
Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much income was generated from overseas students for universities in Wales in each of the last six years. [42939]
Mr Willetts: The income of higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UK is collected as part of the Higher Education Statistics Agency's (HESA) Finance Record. The annual income of Welsh HEIs from the tuition fees paid by non-EU students is shown in the following table. Figures are in cash terms, not in real terms, and relate to the academic year, not the financial year.
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| Income generated from tuition fees from non-EU students in Welsh higher education institutions 2003/04 to 2008/09 | |
| Academic year | Income (£000) |
| Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) finance record | |
Insolvency Service
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many company directors have been disqualified for (a) attempted concealment of assets or cases where assets have disappeared or a deficiency is unexplained, (b) appropriation of assets to other companies for no consideration, at an undervalue, or on the basis of unreasonable charges for services, (c) preferences and (d) personal benefits obtained by directors in each year since 2002; [42020]
(2) how many company directors have been disqualified for (a) overvaluing assets in accounts for the purpose of obtaining loans or other financial accommodation or to mislead creditors, (b) making loans to directors for share purchases, (c) dishonoured cheques, (d) the use of delaying tactics and (e) non-payment of Crown debts to finance trading in each year since 2002; [42021]
(3) how many company directors have been disqualified for (a) phoenix operations, (b) misconduct in the operation of a factoring account, (c) taking deposits for goods or services ultimately not supplied and (d) cases where criminal convictions have resulted in each year since 2002. [42022]
Mr Davey: The Insolvency Service statistics of the allegation types made in disqualifications have been maintained since 2007-08 and are included the service's annual report published on its website.
| Allegation types | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
|
Trading at a time when company knowingly or unknowingly insolvent |
|||
Comparable figures are not available for earlier years.
Insolvency Service: Expenditure
Gordon Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much and what proportion of the budget of the Insolvency Service was
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spent on
(a)
reviewing and
(b)
investigating D1 reports and other work on the disqualification of company directors in each year since 2002. [41952]
Mr Davey: The Insolvency Service’s budget is not structured in such a way that the detailed figures that the hon. Gentleman requested are readily available. The Insolvency Service as a whole receives financing from both fees and direct funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. These figures are available in the service’s annual reports and accounts. From 1 April 2004, the cost of case administration have been met by fees while investigation and enforcement is paid for by an allocation of programme funding from the budget of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills as set out in the following table and notes. These figures relate to the cost of dealing with all aspects of the Insolvency Service’s disqualification effort.
| Investigation and enforcement expenditure | |
|
|
£ |
| Notes: 1. Figures exclude expenditure in relation to the investigation of live companies. 2. Figures up to and including 2006-07 include the investigation and enforcement of official receiver’s cases (bankruptcies and companies). 3. Figures from 2007-08 exclude the expenditure on investigation of OR cases, but include the enforcement cost of those cases. 4. The figures for 2010-11 are not yet available. | |
Insolvency: Legal Costs
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of implementation of the proposals of the Jackson Review of civil litigation costs on insolvency practitioners' ability to (a) claim against delinquent directors and (b) pursue recoveries for creditors. [41951]
Mr Davey: Responses to the Government's recently concluded consultation on implementing a package of proposals for reforming conditional fee arrangements and other aspects of civil litigation funding and costs are presently being considered.
Officials from the Ministry of Justice will liaise with officials from this Department to consider what, if any, impact there may be on the work undertaken by insolvency practitioners in the event that it is decided to take the proposals forward.
The Government intend to publish a response to the consultation in the spring.
National Federation of SubPostmasters
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on how many occasions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have met representatives of the National Federation of SubPostmasters since 30 September 2010. [41924]
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Mr Davey: Since 30 September 2010, I have met representatives of the National Federation of SubPostmasters on three occasions. One of these meetings was held jointly with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
National Scholarship Fund
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time students he estimates will receive assistance from the National Scholarship Fund in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [42800]
Mr Willetts: From 2014-15 we expect that the National Scholarship Programme will be supporting up to 100,000 students annually through Government funding and match funding from institutions. The balance between full-time and part-time students will emerge from choices that institutions and students make for themselves.
One North East
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the quantity of assets held in land by One North East. [41567]
Mr Prisk: Details of One North East's assets are contained in its annual report and accounts (HC125). Detail of its land assets were provided in my answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Laura Sandys) on 28 October 2010, Official Report, column 458W.
Overseas Students: Israel
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has of the number of Israeli students studying in universities in (a) England and (b) Wales; what subject each is studying; what steps (i) he is taking and (ii) plans to take in each of the next two years to promote UK universities in Israel; and if he will make a statement. [41962]
Mr Willetts: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on the number of Israeli domiciled enrolments to English and Welsh Higher Education Institutions is shown in the table. Figures for the 2010/11 academic year will be available in January 2012.
The Government are working through the British Council to promote the United Kingdom as a study destination for international students. With its network of offices across the world including in Israel, the British Council is well placed to help UK universities to recruit students and develop links with Israeli institutions. The Government have also supported the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange partnership scheme (BIRAX), managed by the British Council which enables researchers from Britain and Israel to work together on collaborative scientific projects.
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| Israeli domiciled enrolments (1) by subject of study English and Welsh higher education i nstitutions a cademic y ear 2009/10 | ||
| Location of institution | ||
| Subject of study | England | Wales |
| (1) Covers enrolments to full-time and part-time postgraduate and undergraduate courses. Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five. Figures less than 5 are shown as '-', zero counts are shown as '0'. Due to rounding, columns may not sum to totals. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). | ||
Post Office: Meetings
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on how many occasions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have met the Managing Director of the Post Office since 30 September 2010. [41923]
Mr Davey: Since 30 September 2010, I have had two meetings with Paula Vennells, managing director of Post Office Ltd.
Post Offices
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of retail outlets at which consumers can make cash payments for public utility services in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland; and what proportion of such outlets is provided by the Post Office in each such case. [41922]
Mr Davey: The Department has made no such estimate but is aware that large numbers of retail outlets, in addition to post offices, offer facilities for cash payments for public utility services across the UK.
Post Offices: Cumbria
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many post offices have closed in Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in each year since 1981. [42028]
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Mr Davey: The information requested is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the managing director of the Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Post Offices: Finance
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what plans he has to put in place statutory measures to regulate the purposes for which the Post Office Ltd is able to use state funding; [41918]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that state funding of the Post Office will be open to parliamentary scrutiny. [41920]
Mr Davey: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has no plans to further regulate the purposes for which Post Office Ltd is able to use state funding. The Postal Services Act 2000 sets the parameters for the provision funding by Government to Post Office Limited. Government funding for the Post Office must of course also comply with any relevant European Commission state aid approval.
We expect that ongoing funding to the Post Office will be provided under the Post Office Network Subsidy Scheme introduced in 2007 pursuant to section 103 of the Postal Services Act 2000. The amendment to the scheme required to make those payments was debated and approved by both Houses of Parliament in December 2010.
An annual report on the post office network and the company's annual accounts will be required to be laid before Parliament under the provisions of the Postal Services Bill.
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that state funding of the Post Office will be audited on a regular basis by the National Audit Office. [41919]
Mr Davey: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) receives an annual report on the subsidy provided to the Post Office, which is verified by an independent firm of auditors. Under the provisions of the Postal Services Bill, Post Office Ltd's audited annual report will also be laid before Parliament. The Secretary of State has no plans to impose additional requirements, such as state funding of the Post Office being audited by the National Audit Office.
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many Post Office branches received state funding in the most recent year for which figures are available; [41921]
(2) what the average subsidy paid to each Post Office branch was in the last year for which figures are available. [41927]
Mr Davey:
The annual Government subsidy (£150 million in 2009-10) to the post office network is to support the costs to Post Office Ltd of maintaining access to key services across its whole network of around 11,500
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outlets. Post Office Ltd estimates that, without this funding, a commercial network would comprise around 4,000 branches.
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has notified the European Commission of its intention to make state funding available to the Post Office; and what services his Department has designated as Services of General Economic Interest for this purpose. [41926]
Mr Davey: The Department has notified the European Commission regarding compensation to Post Office Ltd for costs incurred to provide services of general economic interest during the financial year 2011-12. Services of general economic interest are designated for this purpose as:
1. Processing social benefit and tax credit payments to the public.
2. Processing of national identity and licensing scheme applications.
3. Universal payment facilities for public utility services.
4. Universal postal service.
5. Universal access to basic cash and banking facilities and Government savings instruments, especially for rural customers and those on social benefits.
A notification for funding beyond 2012 will be submitted in due course.
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of Post Office branches which will not make a profit in 2014-15. [41928]
Mr Davey: In the policy statement ‘Securing the Post Office Network in the Digital Age’ the Government made clear that a residual level of subsidy would almost certainly be required in the future to maintain a number of post office branches which could never be profitable but which provide a valuable social purpose. It is not possible to estimate the numbers of such branches at this stage but we expect them to be substantially lower than at present.
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many Post Office branches did not make a profit in the last financial year for which figures are available; and how many such branches were located in rural areas. [41929]
Mr Davey: The information requested is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the managing director of the Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how the money allocated by his Department to the Post Office in respect of (a) network modernisation, (b) technology, (c) project costs and (d) other purposes is expected to be spent between 2011-12 and 2014-15. [41930]
Mr Davey:
In the policy statement ‘Securing the Post Office Network in the Digital Age’ the Government gave a breakdown of the £1.34 billion funding for the Post Office showing that 37% would be allocated to
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network modernisation (for example capital costs to refurbish branches), 7% to technology (for example to install new PIN pads across the network), 5% to project costs (for example staff to oversee network modernisation) and 3% to other purposes (for example head office cost saving initiatives). The funding allocation by year is: £180 million in 2011-12; £410 million in 2012-13; £415 million in 2013-14 and £330 million in 2014-15.
Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received from independent and third sector organisations on the funding for the Post Office announced on 27 October 2010. [41984]
Mr Davey: To date, the Department has received one representation from independent or third sector organisations about the £1.34 billion funding for the Post Office announced last October, that being from PayPoint plc.
Postal Boxes
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he is taking steps to ensure that red post boxes with the Royal insignia are retained within any proposed changes that are planned for Royal Mail. [41753]
Mr Davey: Royal Mail has no plans to change the colour of post boxes which forms part of one of the most recognised brands in the UK. We believe that it would not make commercial sense for any new owners of Royal Mail to seek to dismantle this brand and to go to the expense of re-painting all 115,000 post boxes a different colour. With regard to the use of the royal associations, the Government believe that Royal Mail should continue to use the royal cypher on post boxes, and discussions on this matter are ongoing.
Pupils: Foreign Nationals
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the access performance indicators referred to in his Department's Guidance to the Director of Fair Access will include (a) non-UK citizens attending UK schools, (b) UK citizens attending schools outside the UK and (c) non-UK citizens attending schools outside the UK. [42745]
Mr Willetts: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) publishes the performance indicators in higher education on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for England. All the access performance indicators are restricted to students who are residents of England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland only, i.e. they do not report on non-UK residents. Therefore, neither non-UK residents attending UK schools nor non-UK residents attending schools outside the UK are included in the indicators.
Subject to the residency condition (rather than a UK citizen condition), all UK students are reported on. However, UK residents who report their school as being overseas would normally be categorised as unknown for the state schools indicator. For the low participation
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neighbourhood (LPN) indicator, whether such students are categorised as unknown or LPN/not LPN, depends on where their home postcode is reported. If it is an overseas postcode, they will be classified as unknown. For the lower socio-economic groups indicator, UK residents will be included regardless of whether they studied at a UK or an overseas school.
More information on the performance indicators is available on the HESA website:
http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1703<emid=141
Regional Development Agencies
Mr Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) if he will bring forward proposals to enable regional development agencies to guarantee the payment of grants for regional projects beyond the life-span of the agency; [41736]
(2) if he will guarantee outstanding grants agreed by One North East which are not made before the agency is abolished. [41742]
Mr Prisk: The spending review settlement provides resources for One North East and the eight other regional development agencies (RDAs) to meet their legal commitments. It is expected that RDAs will honour existing contracts and grant agreements but there may be circumstances where they will seek to negotiate variations with the parties concerned. Arrangements will be made to ensure payment of agreed grant amounts due after abolition of the agencies.
Research: Information Services
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what correspondence he has received from the (a) private and (b) voluntary sector on future sponsorship of the R&D Scoreboard. [41761]
Mr Willetts: No correspondence has been received from either the private or voluntary sector on future sponsorship of the R and D Scoreboard.
Skills and Jobs Retention Group
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2011, Official Report, column 96W, on the Skills and Jobs Retention Group, what the name is of each member of the Skills and Jobs Retention Group; and to which company or body each belongs. [42768]
Mr Prisk: With apologies for the omission of this information from the original answer, the membership of the Skills and Jobs Retention Group is as follows:
|
|
Title |
|
Senior Vice President and Head of Centre of Excellence—Airbus |
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Director of Advanced Manufacturing and Services—The Department for Business Innovation and Skills |
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Director General, Human Resources and Corporate Services—Ministry of Defence |
Small Businesses
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what definition of a (a) micro, (b) small and (c) medium-sized business his Department uses. [41553]
Mr Prisk: The Department's annual national statistics and other research use the following definition for micro, small and medium-sized businesses:
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Employees |
The European Union uses the following definitions which apply to policies that directly impact on small and medium-sized business, except in company accounting and reporting:
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Maximum headcount(employees and self-employed) | Maximum annual turnover (€ million) | Maximum annual balance sheet total turnover (€ million) |
Small Businesses: Loans
Mr Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress he has made on discussions with banks on increasing levels of lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (a) at less cost and (b) with improved conditions. [42732]
Mr Prisk: As announced in the House on 9 February 2011, Official Report, columns 310-13, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), the UK’s five major banks have stated a capacity and willingness to lend £190 billion of new credit to business in 2011. This includes £76 billion of new lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which is a 15% increase on the amount lent in 2010. Should demand from viable businesses exceed this amount, the banks will lend more.
28 Feb 2011 : Column 307W
By making this an integral part of the chief executive officer remuneration package, the Government have also ensured that SME lending is taken more seriously than ever by banks.
In addition to these commitments from the major banks, the Government are also working with the British Banking Association (BBA) and the Business Finance Taskforce banks on a range of commitments set out in their response to the Green Paper “Supporting UK business”, which aims to assist small businesses with access to finance issues. These commitments include improved data on availability and price of finance, strengthening the Lending Code and lending principles and new internal appeals processes for SMEs who feel they have been unfairly rejected for a loan.
Small Businesses: Manpower
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to assist small businesses with recruiting and maintaining their workforce. [41695]
Mr Prisk: The Government are reviewing employment laws to ensure they provide the flexibility that businesses need and to support economic growth, without compromising fairness.
As an important first step in reviewing employment laws, last month we launched a consultation document on the reform of the Employment Tribunal system—‘Resolving Workplace Disputes’—and the Employer's Charter.
‘Resolving Workplace Disputes’ sets out a package of proposals aimed at resolving workplace disputes much earlier and avoiding the cost and stress of going to an employment tribunal. Where cases do need to go to a tribunal, we have proposed a number of solutions to ensure the system operates as smoothly and efficiently as possible. The Employer's Charter sets out what an employer can already do to address staff issues in the workplace. Both the tribunals consultation and the Employer's Charter are designed to give renewed confidence to businesses to recruit new employees.
On regulation more broadly, we are removing or delaying unnecessary measures wherever possible and have introduced the revolutionary one-in, one-out system that will cut the costs that businesses face in dealing with bureaucracy.