Trade Unions
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff of (a) his Department, (b) the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and (c) the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency are entitled to work (i) full-time as trade union representatives and (ii) part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 annually; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff on such duties was in the latest period for which figures are available. [56453]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) currently employ 3.4 whole-time equivalent staff to work as trade union officials. Of these, 2.8 whole time equivalents are elected by the Public and Commercial Services Union and the remainder by Prospect. All are ‘full-time' (ie 100% of their time is dedicated to union duties) and all are paid more than £25,900 annually.
The First Division Association union representative is not a 'full-time' union official and salary costs are met by the directorate that employs him.
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In the financial year 2010-11, there were 3.4 whole-time equivalent staff. The cost of salaries was £210,826. Other costs incurred by these officials, such as for expenses, are met by their respective unions.
All other union officials, such as branch executive officers and local union representatives are covered by the Department's facility time agreement and are not full-time. As the time spent on industrial relations is minimal, their salary costs are met by local directorates. It is not, therefore, possible to make an estimate of the cost of these activities and to collect this information would incur disproportionate cost.
The Department, the MHRA and the recognised trades unions place high value on fostering and maintaining good industrial relations. We work in partnership to achieve shared aims, objectives and outcomes. The granting of reasonable facilities and facility time by the Department and its agencies to the recognised trades unions makes an important contribution to the success of the organisation.
The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency closed on 31 December 2009.
Whiston Hospital: Finance
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what submissions his Department has received from the Strategic Health Authority on potential solutions to the financial problems at Whiston hospital; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such document. [57181]
Paul Burstow: The Department receives routine financial information from national health service trusts, including St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the host organisation for Whiston hospital. Analyses of this information are published regularly by the Department. There have been no separate submissions received by the Department from the Strategic Health Authority on the financial position of Whiston hospital.
International Development
Developing Countries: Education
Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the executive director of UN Women on increasing the level of education for girls and women during her recent visit to the UK. [57020]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: I had wide-ranging discussions with Michelle Bachelet, executive director of UN Women, when she visited the UK on 16-17 May, including on my Department’s Strategic Vision for Girls and Women. This will work in 23 country programmes and support over nine million children in primary school, at least half of which will be girls, and put at least 700,000 girls into secondary education by 2014. Ms Bachelet agreed that educating girls was crucial and explained how UN Women will work closely in partnership with other UN organisations like UNICEF and UNESCO to improve girls’ education.
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Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he plans to take to ensure that teacher training delivered under his Department’s commitment in the Bilateral and Multilateral Aid Reviews (a) is of a high quality and (b) includes participatory and inclusive teaching methods to enable marginalised children including girls and children with disabilities to participate in classroom activities. [57021]
Mr O'Brien: Supporting countries to develop realistic plans for recruiting, training and retaining teachers is an integral part of sector planning, which the Department for International Development (DFID) supports in all countries where we have education programmes. DFID provides technical expertise and guidance to partner countries to help ensure that teacher training is of high quality and that teachers are responsive to the needs of all their students, including the marginalised.
DFID has published a guidance note on inclusive education for children with disabilities in developing countries. This note, available on the DFID website, offers practical suggestions on how teachers can support children with disabilities to access education and learn effectively.
Developing Countries: Fisheries
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing tradable permit schemes to improve fisheries management in developing countries. [56197]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not made a specific assessment of the merits of introducing tradable permit schemes to improve fisheries management in developing countries. However, DFID supports the Partnership for African Fisheries (PAF) which aims to improve the contribution of fisheries to African economic growth and food security. A key objective of the partnership will be the development and eventual implementation of a Comprehensive African Fisheries Reform Strategy. The PAF and the World Bank have both promoted the idea of ‘rights-based’ fisheries management, of which tradable permits are one possible approach.
Developing Countries: Sustainable Development
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to support the sustainable development of urban environments in developing countries. [56205]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has a number of programmes that support the sustainable development of urban environments. These are focused on the poorest urban residents who often live in marginalised areas, subject to flooding and other environmental threats, with very limited services for effluent and waste disposal.
For example, in Bangladesh, DFID is working through the United Nations Development Programme to support slum improvements in 34 towns and cities which will benefit three million people over six years. DFID supports private sector programmes including the community-led infrastructure financing facility which provides capacity
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building and loan finance for slum development projects that are implemented in the urban environments of India, the Philippines and Kenya. Research on urbanisation and infrastructure is also being supported through the international growth centre.
Overseas Aid
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to make legally binding the target to spend 0.7 per cent. of gross national income on overseas aid by 2013. [56683]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The coalition Government have set out how we will meet our commitment to spend 0.7% of national income as overseas aid from 2013. We will enshrine that commitment in law as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows.
Palestinians: International Assistance
Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/65/272 will be incorporated into his Department's diplomatic policy on the Middle East. [55787]
Alistair Burt: I have been asked to reply.
The UK voted in favour of the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/65/272 in order to reinforce our support to the UN Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) management reform process and to acknowledge UNRWA's critical financial situation.
The UK, through the Department for International Development (DFID), has been working closely with UNRWA to ensure that robust management reform plans are implemented to achieve maximum efficiency. DFID has a five year agreement with UNRWA to provide un-earmarked funding to UNRWA's general budget which includes a performance tranche payable if UNRWA meets agreed targets for reform. UNRWA is committed to reform and to date has received the additional tranche of funding each year.
Trade Unions
Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial support his Department has provided to (a) the National Union of Teachers, (b) the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers, (c) the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, (d) the National Association of Head Teachers and (e) schemes run by those organisations in each year since 1997. [56431]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development has provided funding to the National Union of Teachers through a grant beginning in April 2009 under the Development Awareness Fund. Details of this funding are available in the Library of the House. I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 7 December 2010, Official Report, column 215W.
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All DFID’s support for programmes to raise awareness of international development is currently being reviewed.
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff of his Department are entitled to work (a) full-time as trade union representatives and (b) part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 annually; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff on such duties was in the latest period for which figures are available. [56445]
Mr Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has one full-time member of staff allocated to trade union activities under a ‘facility time’ agreement. There are three other elected trade union representatives who spend a minimal amount of time on trade union activity. The salary of the full-time staff member was in the range of £30,000 to £35,000 in 2010-11.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Bahamas: High Commissions
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has considered the merits of reopening the British high commission in the Bahamas. [56800]
Mr Lidington: I refer to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the House on 11 May 2011, Official Report, columns 1165-68:
“We will now reverse the previous Government's policy of closing embassies and reducing our diplomatic presence in key parts of the world”.
In the Caribbean we will keep our existing network fully open and staffed. But, regrettably, due to pressures on our resources, we will not be opening new posts there.
British Nationals Abroad: Criminal Investigation
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provision his Department makes for legal assistance to British nationals under investigation without charge but unable to leave countries such as the United Arab Emirates. [56807]
Mr Lidington: If a British national is subject to a travel ban, consular staff can assist by providing a list of local English-speaking lawyers, information about any organisations or charities that may be able to help, and can contact family and friends in the UK on their behalf if they are unable to do so easily. We are unable to give legal advice. We will consider approaching the local authorities if there are concerns that a British national subject to the local law is not treated in line with applicable international standards. Guidance for the support we offer to British nationals in difficulty abroad is explained in our publication ‘Support for British nationals abroad: A guide’, which is also available on the FCO website.
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Burma: Prisoners
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise at the United Nations the recent announcement by the Burmese authorities of an amnesty in order to establish the nature of the amnesty and any differentiation made by the government of Burma between criminals and those held for their political beliefs. [57071]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The Burmese Government announced on 16 May that it had reduced the sentences of all prisoners by one year and commuted all death sentences to life imprisonment. Reports indicate that over 14,000 prisoners have been released but we think that only 47 were political prisoners, who were anyway nearing the end of their sentences. We also understand that over 300 death sentences were commuted and note that no death sentences have been carried out in Burma for over 20 years. The UK made clear in a closed session of the UN Security Council on 19 May that the amnesty falls far short of the demands and expectations of the international community, which has repeatedly called for the release of all of Burma's over 2,000 political prisoners. Burmese law criminalises basic civil and political rights and the Burmese authorities have frequently denied the existence of prisoners of conscience claiming that all have been guilty of criminal offences.
Departmental Data Protection
Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts his Department holds which allow contractors to store personal data of UK citizens overseas; to which contracts this applies; in which countries the data for each such contract are held; and how many people have their data stored overseas under each such contract. [55740]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Consular Directorate holds four contracts which allow contractors to store personal data of UK citizens overseas.
(i) FedEx Express to deliver legalised documents to customers overseas (who may or may not be a British National). This contract allows FedEx Express to store personal data of customers requiring this service. The data are held in Memphis, USA and under the terms of the contract FedEx Express are required to observe all data protection provisions, including only holding the data as long as is reasonably necessary. There are approximately 250 customers who use this service per week and as of 16 May 2011, there were 1,750 people who had their data stored by FedEx Express under this contract.
(ii) The British Red Cross, who provide psycho-social support to British Nationals following a consular crisis overseas. The Red Cross hold all data in the UK and are fully compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998.
(iii) Teleperformance to provide a call-centre service to respond to inquiries on our Travel Advice. Some callers to this service may request to be sent one of our travel advice leaflets. In these cases, Teleperformance will take a name and address from that caller and will use it to send out the requested leaflet. These data are stored in the UK, in line with the Data Protection Act 1998. During a consular crisis the contract we have with Teleperformance is sometimes extended to include crisis related calls. At such times the contractor briefly stores personal data of British citizens who may be overseas and transfers these to the FCO to provide crisis related assistance. Teleperformance does not archive these data.
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(iv) Snap Survey. In June 2011, Consular Directorate will launch a customer satisfaction survey, using software provided under license from SnapSurveys.com. Respondents to the survey (who may or may not be a British National) can submit contact details if they would like Consular Directorate to get in touch with them to give further customer feedback. These data are stored by Snap, in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998, in the UK. There are currently no data stored under this contract.
Other non consular contracts which allow contractors to store personal data are not kept centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Mobile Phones
Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the name is of each contractor or supplier of (a) mobile telephone and (b) mobile data services to his Department. [56063]
Mr Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has a contract with Vodafone which provides mobile telephones and data services in the UK.
A full list of all suppliers abroad is available only at disproportionate cost because budgets are devolved to our network of over 260 posts, which have contracts with local mobile telephone providers.
European Union: Publicity
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will have discussions at EU level on reducing the funding spent by the EU on publicity campaigns. [56498]
Mr Lidington: While it is important for institutions such as the EU to communicate effectively with the general public, spend on this should be efficient, affordable and proportional. Funding levels for the EU to communicate its work publicly, as for all other EU activities, will be decided within the negotiations on the EU 2012 Budget. Within those negotiations, this Government are seeking substantial reductions in spend and greater efficiency across all areas of the Budget.
International Criminal Court
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage states that do not recognise the International Criminal Court to do so. [56653]
Mr Lidington: We, together with EU partners, regularly lobby all countries that have not yet done so to take steps towards ratification of the Rome Statute and implementation of the statute into their domestic legislation. This will ensure that the International Criminal Court's (ICC) jurisdiction continues to expand and that States Parties are able to fully co-operate with the ICC's investigations.
The most recent occasion was on 5 April 2011, when our embassy in Kathmandu raised this issue with the Nepalese Government as part of an EU lobbying exercise. We underlined our commitment to this issue during the ICC's Review Conference in Kampala in June 2010, where we also made a pledge to promote ratification and implementation within the Commonwealth.
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Libya: Cluster Munitions
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the use of cluster munitions in Libya; and if he will make a statement. [56307]
Mr Hague: We are aware of media reports of the use of cluster munitions by Gaddafi regime forces, in particular around Misrata. We and our North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies do not use cluster munitions.
Middle East
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to hold discussions with the US administration on the Middle East following the visit by President Obama to that region. [57070]
Alistair Burt: We regularly discuss middle east issues with US counterparts and will continue to do so, including during the forthcoming State visit of President Obama to the UK from 24-26 May 2011.
Middle East: Politics and Government
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) reports he has received on and (b) assessment he has made of the implications for the Middle East Peace Process of the agreement of 27 April 2011 between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas; what discussions he has had with (a) the government of Israel, (b) the Palestinian Authority, (c) the Arab League and (d) his US counterpart on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [54843]
Alistair Burt: The reconciliation agreement was signed at a ceremony in Cairo on 4 May 2011, attended by President Abbas for the Palestinian Authority; Khaled Mishaal for Hamas and the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Nabil el Araby. A representative from our embassy in Cairo attended as an observer, along with key EU partners.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on 4 May 2011 and discussed the announcement on Palestinian unity. We renew our calls on both sides to commit to peace talks, leading to a Palestinian state that exists in peace and security alongside Israel. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has been clear that Britain hopes that the announcement of reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas will lead to the formation of a Government that rejects violence and pursues a negotiated peace, and we will judge a future Palestinian Government by its actions and its readiness to work for peace.
We will continue to monitor the situation and discuss it with the Palestinian Authority, Arab League and US via our British Missions.
North Korea: Foreign Policy
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the objectives are of UK policy on North Korea. [56677]
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Mr Jeremy Browne: The UK shares the widely-held international objective of a North Korea which does not pose a threat to regional or global security, and adheres to international law and conventions, including on human rights.
To achieve this, the UK pursues a policy of critical engagement. We support international efforts towards a complete and verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, through sanctions and talks between relevant parties. We also have diplomatic relations with North Korea. Such engagement enables us to raise difficult issues, which is important particularly during times of heightened tension. It also allows us to carry out a programme of humanitarian projects and English Language Teacher Training.
Queen Elizabeth II: Anniversaries
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has allocated in respect of the Queen's Birthday celebrations in British Embassies in (a) each of the last three years and (b) 2011 to date. [55801]
Mr Lidington: Budgets in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the amount spent on the Queen's birthday celebrations, are devolved to over 260 posts. As details are not held centrally, this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
UN Security Council
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to seek reform of the UN Security Council. [56329]
Mr Hague: Her Majesty's Government support UN Security Council reform and are working with international partners on this. We continue to support the aspirations of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan as well as African representation for permanent seats on the Council. Earlier this month officials attended Security Council Reform Workshops in Doha and Rome. At these meetings the UK encouraged all member states to engage constructively in the process of reform.
Yemen: Politics and Government
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his (a) EU and (b) UN counterparts on the political situation in Yemen. [55149]
Alistair Burt: The focus of the UK is encouraging the ruling party and the official opposition in Yemen to reach agreement on peaceful transition. The Government recognise the urgency with which a political settlement in Yemen must be reached to avoid further violence and a deepening economic crisis. To this end we have actively engaged our international partners, including the EU, to encourage unified and strong messaging to the Government of Yemen and the parliamentary opposition.
I welcome the support given by Baroness Ashton, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission. In light of reports that both the ruling party and the
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opposition agreed to the Gulf Co-operation Council transition plan she issued an EU declaration on behalf of the 27 member states urging all parties to move quickly to finalise the plan. Our officials have been working intensively alongside EU missions in Sana'a and European capitals to garner support for the latest initiative. My officials will continue to liaise with our EU counterparts to maintain the momentum of recent progress towards a democratic, peaceful and inclusive transitional process.
After the visit to Yemen in April by the UN Special Adviser, Jamal Benomar, when he met a wide range of Yemeni, UK and EU officials, the UN Security Council discussed Yemen for the first time since the political crisis began. Mr Benomar returned to Yemen in early May, and again met UK colleagues. Further meetings with senior colleagues are expected during Mr Benomar's forthcoming trip to the UK. The international community is becoming increasingly focussed on Yemen, and I welcome the intensification of all our efforts to see a quick and peaceful resolution to the current situation.
Zimbabwe: British Nationals
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 406W, on Zimbabwe: British nationals abroad, what information on safety and security his Department provides to UK citizens wishing to relocate to Zimbabwe and not only to travel to or through that country. [57191]
Mr Bellingham: The “Living Abroad” page on the FCO website:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/living-overseas/
and the “Going to Live Abroad” booklet:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/2855621/going-to-live-abroad
give generic tips on starting life abroad.
Our Travel Advice for Zimbabwe gives general advice to British nationals travelling to Zimbabwe whatever the purpose of their visit at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/sub-saharan-africa/zimbabwe
If the move is business related, Overseas Security Information for Business (OSIB), a joint FCO/UKTI venture, provides information at:
http://www.ukti.gov.uk/export/howwehelp/osibupdatesinfo.html
The UK in Zimbabwe website provides information on Living in Zimbabwe at:
http://ukinzimbabwe.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-zimbabwe/
Education
Special Educational Needs
19. Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress he has made on the reform of provision for children with special educational needs in (a) Portsmouth North constituency and (b) England. [56592]
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Sarah Teather: We published a Green Paper “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability” on 9 March. This is out to consultation until 30 June. We will consider responses carefully before taking forward our reforms. We will shortly be inviting tenders for pathfinders to test proposals in the Green Paper. Within the general framework for special needs provision, it is for local authorities to determine the particular arrangements in their areas.
Capital Funding: Liverpool
20. Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much capital funding he has allocated for schools in Liverpool during the comprehensive spending review period; and if he will make a statement. [56593]
Michael Gove: The Department has allocated £30.6 million to two academy projects in Liverpool, and a further £12.3 million to Liverpool schools in 2011/12. Further allocations will be announced in due course, informed by the recommendations made in Sebastian James’ report.
Disadvantaged Children
21. Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to improve the educational achievement of disadvantaged children in (a) Hastings and Rye constituency and (b) England. [56594]
Tim Loughton: In Hastings and Rye, disadvantaged children will benefit from a pupil premium of £430 per pupil to ensure they receive the support they need. Funding of £625 million is available in 2011-12, rising to £2.5 billion a year by 2014-15.
The pupil premium will be allocated to schools according to the number of pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals or have been looked after continuously for at least six months.
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Human Trafficking: Child Victims
22. Mr Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department has allocated to non-governmental organisations to provide safe homes for child victims of human trafficking in 2011-12. [56595]
Tim Loughton: The Department has provided a grant of £521,360 for 2011-12 to Barnardo’s to deliver a project which will work with local authorities to train specialist carers in providing safe fostering placements for victims of child sexual exploitation and trafficking. A further grant of £876,360 for 2012-13 will be made to Barnardo’s, providing they meet their first year targets, to allow them to build on and improve capacity for this specialist service.
Free Schools
24. Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many expressions of interest in establishing a free school his Department is proceeding with. [56597]
Michael Gove: My Department is working with 26 groups which have submitted applications for free schools and are now in the pre-opening stage. I expect to receive a large number of high quality applications in June for the next round. We have had very strong interest indeed from parents, teachers and others wanting to set up new, high quality free schools.
Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals for (a) primary and (b) secondary free schools he has received in each local authority area; and what the (i) proposed start date and (ii) pupil capacity is in each case. [55836]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 16 May 2011]: To date 40 proposals have been approved by the Secretary of State to proceed to business case and plan stage or beyond. We expect a number of these proposed schools to open in September 2011 with others opening in the following years. Until the approval and admissions processes are complete, it is not possible to provide accurate pupil numbers.
A breakdown of the 40 proposals is provided in the following table with details of their locations and school phase:
| Name of school | Local authority | Phase |
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Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many groups have expressed an interest in establishing a free school in (a) Weaver Vale constituency and (b) England. [56373]
Mr Gibb: When the initial application round closed in February 2011, the Department for Education had not received any proposals for free schools from groups in the Weaver Vale constituency but had received a total of 323 proposals for England as a whole. The application round for free schools planning to open in September 2012 has recently opened and we are expecting many further proposals.
City Challenge
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the City Challenge programme in London. [56577]
Mr Hayes: Last year, the Secretary of State approved an evaluation of the City Challenge programme, to enable us to fully assess its effectiveness. This will report towards the end of 2011 and copies will be placed in the Library. Our initial view, supported by an Ofsted report published in December, is that the programme had been helpful in raising school standards. That is why our broader programme of school improvement builds on its successes.
Child Protection Services
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the potential effects on the provision of child protection services of reductions in local authority budgets. [56596]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education has not made its own assessment, but I am aware of the research that has been carried out by other organisations in respect of the choices that local authorities are making. It is for local authorities to determine the allocation of their resources and I am sure that in doing so they will be taking in to account the needs of the most vulnerable children and young people.
Primary Schools: Foreign Languages
David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to improve the teaching of modern foreign languages in primary schools; and if he will make a statement. [56488]
Mr Gibb: In advance of decisions following the review of the National Curriculum on which subjects will be statutory, we strongly encourage primary schools to continue teaching languages and building on the good progress already made. We will also be funding the provision of specific language support services for primary schools from the autumn of 2011.
Academies
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have (a) converted and (b) applied to convert to academy status in (i) Pendle, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) England. [55595]
Mr Gibb: At present, no schools in Pendle have applied to convert to academy status. In Lancashire seven schools have applied, of which six have opened as academies.
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Full details of schools that have formally applied for academy status, as well as a list of academies that have opened in the academic year 2010/11, can be found on the DfE Academies website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/a0069811/schools-submitting-applications-and-academies-that-have-opened-in-201011
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the value for money of increasing the number of academies. [55947]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 18 May 2011]: During the passage of the Academies Act 2010 the Department published an impact assessment which included reference to the benefits and costs of increasing the number of academies. A copy has been placed in the House Libraries.
Children: Abuse
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will discuss with representatives of the Roman Catholic Church the compatibility of the provisions of the Vatican's recent circular letter on guidelines for dealing with cases of sexual abuse of minors in respect of the responsibility of bishops for dealing with child abuse cases with the general responsibility to report cases of child abuse to the appropriate authorities. [57068]
Tim Loughton: There are no plans for such discussions. I understand that the letter referred to emphasises the importance of bishops following national requirements for reporting such abuse to the designated authority. I have no reason to believe that the Roman Catholic Church is in any doubt about the fact that all cases of suspected child abuse should be reported to local children's social care services or the police.
Departmental Billing
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many invoices his Department received in respect of goods or services supplied by tier 1 suppliers between 1 May 2010 and 1 April 2011; and how many of those invoices were not paid within the period of time specified in the Government's Fair Payment guidance. [55870]
Tim Loughton: Between the period 1 May 2010 and 1 April 2011 the Department did not receive any invoices from tier 1 suppliers.
Departmental CCTV
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many CCTV cameras are installed in and around his Department's premises; and how much such cameras cost to (a) install and (b) operate in the latest period for which figures are available. [56834]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education has 105 CCTV cameras across its four sites as follows:
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London: 43;
Darlington: 14;
Runcorn: 25; and
Sheffield: 23.
The higher number of cameras in London reflects the size of the facility and the additional risks arising from the building's location within the central London Government Secure Zone.
The cost of installing the CCTV systems for London, Darlington and Runcorn is not available due to the age of the installations being over six years.
The cost of the installation of the CCTV system at 2 St Paul's Place in Sheffield forms part of the overall refurbishment cost for the building in 2009 and is not separately identifiable. Two additional cameras have been installed since the refurbishment at a cost of £464.
The current annual cost for maintenance of the CCTV systems across the four sites is £4,666.
Departmental Research
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what (a) longitudinal and (b) other (i) research and (ii) collection of data his Department has (A) initiated, (B) terminated and (C) amended in the last 12 months; and what such research and data collection exercises undertaken by the Department have not been amended in that period. [56760]
Mr Gibb: Information about research and data collections which have been initiated, terminated and amended in the last 12 months (between 17 May 2010 and 18 May 2011), and research and data collections undertaken by the Department which have not been amended in that period has been placed in the House Libraries.
Education Maintenance Allowance
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effects of the withdrawal of education maintenance allowance on participation in further education by young people from low-income families whose distance from college entails high travel costs; and if he will make a statement. [56515]
Mr Gibb: The equality impact assessment for the ending of education maintenance allowance and the introduction of the 16-19 bursary funding is available on the Department for Education website at:
http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/1/ema%20 replacement%20scheme%20%20%20equality%20impact% 20assessment.pdf
The 16-19 bursary funding will enable schools, colleges and training providers to support students facing the greatest financial barriers to participation, including the cost of transport.
Education: Finance
Nic Dakin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, columns 280-81W, on education: finance, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effects of
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reductions in funding for student support services in
(a)
further education colleges,
(b)
sixth form colleges and
(c)
schools. [54386]
Mr Gibb: The Department has not made a formal assessment of the effects of reductions in funding for student support services in further education colleges, sixth-form colleges and schools. The Government have increased by £150 million the amount available for disadvantaged funding, additional learner support and Foundation Learning, to ensure that funding is targeted where it is most needed. The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund will, in addition, allow schools, colleges and training providers to award bursaries to students in ways that best fit local needs and circumstances. Further education colleges, sixth-form colleges and schools will have the flexibility to determine the most appropriate use of funding in order to meet the needs of their students.
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2011, Official Report, column 1144W, on students: finance, whether a receipt of a guaranteed bursary will be conditional on students meeting any set standards. [56472]
Mr Gibb
[holding answer 19 May 2011]: Subject to the result of the consultation on new financial support
23 May 2011 : Column 456W
arrangements, we expect that schools, colleges and training organisations will make receipt of a 16-19 bursary—including bursaries guarantees to young people from vulnerable groups—conditional on a student meeting expected standards, for example, of attendance, behaviour or standard of work. Similar systems are already in place for education maintenance allowance, and schools and colleges have told us that the ability to set conditions is important for promoting a positive attitude to education.
Foster Care
Mr Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people who had been in local authority foster care in each (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority enrolled in an undergraduate course in each of the last five years. [55513]
Tim Loughton: Information on the number of care leavers aged 19 in each local authority who are in higher education, who were also looked after aged 16 and whose final placement on ceasing was in foster care, is shown in the following table.
Information at parliamentary constituency level is not collected centrally.
| Children aged 19 years old who were in higher education (i.e. studies beyond A level) and who were looked after aged 16 years (in their 17th year in a foster placement as their final placement when they ceased to be looked after (1,2,3) . Years ending 31 March 2005 to 2010. Coverage: England | |||||
| Number | |||||
|
|
2006 (4) | 2007 (5) | 2008 (6) | 2009 (8) | 2010 (8) |
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| n/a = not applicable x = Figures not shown in order to protect confidentiality (1) England and regional totals have been rounded to the nearest 10. Other numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. For confidentiality purposes, numbers from one to five inclusive have been replaced by a cross (x). (2) Figures exclude children who were looked after on 1 April aged 16 (in their 17th year) under an agreed series of short-term placements. (3) Includes children who were in full and part-time higher education which was collected separately from 2006-07. (4) Children now aged 19 years old who were looked after on 1 April 2003 then aged 16 years old (in their 17th year). (5) Children now aged 19 years old who were looked after on 1 April 2004 then aged 16 years old (in their 17th year). (6) Children now aged 19 years old who were looked after on 1 April 2005 then aged 16 years old (in their 17th year). (7) Children now aged 19 years old who were looked after on 1 April 2006 then aged 16 years old (in their 17th year). (8) Children now aged 19 years old who were looked after on 1 April 2007 then aged 16 years old (in their 17th year). (9) In 2009, Cheshire local authority split in to Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester. Similarly, Bedfordshire LA split into Bedford borough and Central Bedfordshire. Source: SSDAQ03 | |||||