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Written Answers to Questions
Monday 18 July 2011
Public Accounts Commission
National Audit Office: Government Procurement Card
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level three or enhanced transaction entry was of each transaction undertaken by the National Audit Office using the Government Procurement Card in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09 and (iii) 2009-10. [61768]
Mr Leigh [holding answer 29 June 2011]: The National Audit Office uses the Government Procurement Card as it is an efficient way of processing low value transactions.
A table providing a breakdown of expenditure by the National Audit Office using Government Procurement Cards for 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 will be placed in the Library of the House. This includes (a) date of purchase, (b)amount, and (c) supplier. The National Audit Office does not receive level three or enhanced transaction entry information from our card provider.
Northern Ireland
Apprentices
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department has a policy on requirements for the provision of (a) apprenticeships and (b) other training by (i) his Department's prime contractors and (ii) suppliers in the supply chain of such contractors. [66618]
Mr Swire: The Northern Ireland Office obtains its procurement services from the Department for Finance and Personnel Northern Ireland and therefore does not have a policy on the requirements for the provision of apprenticeships and other training by contractors.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many apprenticeships have been created directly by contracts with his Department in each of the last three years. [66620]
Mr Swire: Comparable figures for the Department as it is now configured are not available following the completion of devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010.
Since April 2010, the Northern Ireland Office obtains its procurement services from the Department for Finance and Personnel Northern Ireland. It does not hold information on any apprenticeships that any contracts may have created.
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Departmental Carbon Emissions
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the carbon dioxide emissions from his Department in (a) June 2010 and (b) June 2011. [66750]
Mr Swire: The Department of Finance and Personnel Northern Ireland collate and publish annual carbon dioxide emission figures on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office. DFP are currently collating the figures for 2010-11 and will publish these on their website when available.
Departmental Lost Property
Mr MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what property has been (a) lost and (b) stolen from his Department in the last 12 months; and what the cost of replacement was. [66567]
Mr Swire: There have been no recorded incidences of lost or stolen property from the Northern Ireland Office in the last 12 months.
Departmental Responsibilities
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will consider keeping data on the number of times (a) he and (b) officials of his Department have declined a request for a meeting from an hon. Member of each political party; [67183]
(2) on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member of each political party was refused by (a) a Minister in his Department directly and (b) his Department on behalf of a Minister in November 2010. [67588]
Mr Swire: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 6 July 2011, Official Report, column 1258W.
Phone Hacking
Ms Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether he has made an assessment of the effects of media telephone hacking on (a) public figures and (b) victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland; [66974]
(2) whether he has had discussions with (a) the Secretary of State for the Home Department and (b) the Metropolitan police on possible telephone hacking of (i) public figures and (ii) victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland. [66975]
Mr Swire: Phone hacking is no more acceptable in Northern Ireland than in any other part of the UK, and illegal activities in this area will be pursued in accordance with the law.
The Metropolitan police have a considerable body of evidence to consider, and at this early stage it is not possible to make an assessment of any impact on victims in Northern Ireland.
The inquiry the Government are establishing into phone hacking and other illegal activity in the press will extend to Northern Ireland. My right hon. Friend the
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Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport is consulting the Executive on its terms of reference.
Scotland
Departmental Visits Abroad
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have for overseas visits in the next 12 months. [66146]
David Mundell: Ministerial visits overseas, and those of officials, are planned as appropriate in support of trade and other Government policy objectives.
High Speed 2 Railway Line
Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on plans to extend the High Speed 2 project to Edinburgh and Glasgow. [66005]
David Mundell: The Government remain committed to a truly national high speed rail network which will be delivered in phases. This would deliver clear benefits to Scotland and this issue has been discussed with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on various occasions, most recently on 11 July.
Treasury
Banks: Loans
Lindsay Roy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with UK banks on levels of lending to small and medium-sized businesses. [66711]
Mr Hoban: The Chancellor of the Exchequer holds regular discussions with UK banks in which he discusses levels of lending to small and medium-sized businesses.
Conditions of Employment
Julian Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings officials of his Department have had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the Government’s employment law review since May 2011. [67343]
Justine Greening: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sector as part of the process of policy development and implementation. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.
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Departmental Domestic Visits
Stephen Twigg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times he has visited (a) Buckinghamshire, (b) Surrey, (c) Liverpool and (d) Dorset in an official capacity since May 2010. [65935]
Justine Greening: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings in all parts of the country with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.
Excise Duties: Fuels
Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether his Department has estimated the effect on tax receipts for motoring fuel of a decrease in the rate of taxation on such fuel; [66734]
(2) whether his Department assessed the possible marginal effect on (a) low-income (i) individuals and (ii) families, (b) middle-income groups and (c) high- income groups of his planned increase in fuel duty on 1 January 2012; [66736]
(3) whether his Department assessed the possible marginal effect on low-income (a) individuals and (b) families of any increase in (i) VAT and (ii) motoring fuel duty; and if he will publish any such assessment; [66735]
(4) how much (a) fuel duty and (b) VAT revenue accrued to the Exchequer from sales of petrol and diesel in each of the last 10 financial years; [66738]
(5) whether his Department classifies motoring fuel duty as a progressive tax. [66817]
Justine Greening: At Budget 2011, the Government published their distributional analysis of the expected impact of announced government measures on household incomes, split by direct taxes, indirect taxes and tax credits and benefits. This can be found in annex A of the Budget Report. This analysis includes the impact of the increase in VAT, and other indirect tax changes such as the one penny cut in fuel duty and the ending of the fuel escalator.
The analysis shows that, in absolute terms, the higher income and expenditure households on average contribute more in indirect tax than lower income and expenditure households, while average impacts as a proportion of income and expenditure are relatively flat across the distribution of households.
VAT-registered traders are not required to record in their VAT return the type of goods or services on which VAT has been collected. Fuel duty receipts are published in table 3 of the UK Trade Info Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin:
https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bulloil
International Assistance: Afghanistan
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the proportion of the increase in the UK’s contribution to the International Monetary Fund authorised in the International Monetary Fund (Increase in Subscription) Order 2011 which will be allocated to the Government of Afghanistan. [67135]
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Mr Hoban: The International Monetary Fund (Increase in Subscription) Order 2011 authorises the increase in the UK’s quota contribution limit. This will become effective once two conditions are met. Firstly, member countries having not less than 70% of the total of quotas must have finalised domestic procedures and formally consented to the IMF in writing. Secondly, the proposed amendment of the IMF Articles of Agreement on the reform of the Executive Board must have entered into force. The G20 member countries have agreed to do this by autumn 2012.
Further detail of the 2010 quota and governance reforms can be found on the IMF website at:
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2010/NEW110510B.htm
The UK provides loans to the IMF as a whole, rather than to any specific country or country IMF programme. The IMF will loan funds to a member country if the IMF board approves a lending programme for that country. The UK will always honour their commitments as a shareholder of the IMF.
Local Government Resources Review
Caroline Flint: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials in his Department (a) are working on the local government resources review and (b) have been seconded to the Department for Communities and Local Government to work on the review. [65962]
Justine Greening: One member of HMT staff is working on the local government resources review, and is co-located with the relevant team at the Department for Communities and Local Government. A number of other officials have been involved in advising Treasury Ministers on issues being considered through the review, as part of their wider substantive policy remits.
National Insurance Contributions
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many businesses have participated in national insurance contribution holidays in (a) Washington and Sunderland West constituency, (b) Sunderland and (c) the north-east since June 2010; and what the average financial benefit to each business has been; [66003]
(2) what assessment he has made of the (a) costs and (b) benefits of extending the national insurance contribution holiday scheme to businesses that employ up to four people; and if he will make a statement. [65940]
Mr Gauke: HMRC has received five applications for the NICs holiday from new businesses in the Washington and Sunderland West constituency and 18 from new businesses in Sunderland Central. HMRC has received around 326 applications from the north-east region as a whole since the introduction of the scheme in June 2010 (up to 8 July).
Information on the average financial benefit is not yet available.
A reliable estimate of the potential costs of extending the national insurance contributions (NICs) holiday to existing micro businesses who employ up to four members of staff is not available due to data limitations.
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The Government have considered the case for extending the NICs holiday to all existing micro businesses. However, we believe the best use of public funds is to target the NICs holiday at supporting new businesses in their first year, reducing the costs of hiring staff and improving the likelihood of business survival.
Northern Rock plc
Mr Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what advice he received from UK Financial Investments regarding the disposal of the Government's shareholding in Northern Rock; and if he will make a statement; [66186]
(2) if he will publish the (a) reports, (b) advice and (c) other information that underpinned his decision on the sale of Northern Rock; and if he will make a statement. [66187]
Mr Hoban: UK Financial Investments sent advice to the Chancellor of the Exchequer concluding that the best value would likely to be achieved by starting a sale process of Northern Rock plc.
My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced the launch of the sale in his speech at Mansion House on 15 June.
On 16 June my noble Friend Lord Sassoon, the Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, and I made statements to the House regarding the Chancellor of the Exchequer's decision to proceed with the sale option.
The report received by the Chancellor of the Exchequer contains commercially sensitive information and will not be published.
Overseas Trade
Martin Horwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) 10 and (b) 20 highest value trading partners with the UK were in (i) the latest period for which figures are available, (ii) 2005, (iii) 2000, (iv) 1995, (v) 1990, (vi) 1985 and (vii) 1981; and if he will make a statement. [66960]
Mr Hoban: The Office for National Statistics publishes data on the value of the United Kingdom’s exports, imports and trade balance broken down by trading partner. Data are available from 1992 to 2009 in the Pink Book and accompanying databases, available online at:
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/product.asp?vlnk=1140
Public Sector Pensions
Mr Raab: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of financial liability for public sector pensions. [66537] [Official Report, 11 October 2011, Vol. 533, c. 4-6MC.]
Danny Alexander: The latest estimate of the total public service pension net liability is £1,133 million, as disclosed in the unaudited summary report of the Whole of Governments Accounts for the year end 31 March 2010 published on 13 July 2011.
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Tax Allowances Pensions
Mr Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the proportion of annual tax relief on pension contributions which accrues to individuals with an annual income of (a) between £0 and £19,999, (b) between £20,000 and £44,999, (c) between £45,000 and £74,999, (d) between £75,000 and £99,999, (e) between £100,000 and £149,999, (f) over £150,000; and if he will make a statement. [61092]
Mr Hoban: The estimated total cost of the various tax reliefs relating to pensions are published by HM Revenue and Customs on their website and can be found at:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/pensions/table7-9.pdf
The following table shows the approximate proportion of annual income tax relief on pension contributions by income bands in 2009-10.
| 2009-10 tax year | |
| Income bands | Percentage of income tax relief on contributions |
The reductions in the annual allowance in 2011-12 and lifetime allowance from 2012-13 are forecast to reduce the cost of relief by around £4 billion per annum in the steady state, most of which relates to individuals with incomes over £150,000.
Tax Yields
Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department uses (a) dynamic and (b) static models to forecast receipts from (i) value added tax, (ii) fuel duty and (iii) other taxes. [66780]
Justine Greening: Receipts forecasts are produced by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) based on HMRC models of tax receipts and economic determinants provided by the OBR. The process and details of the models used for VAT, fuel duty and other taxes are set out in Office for Budget Responsibility Briefing Document 1: Forecasting the Public Finances, January 2011.
VAT: Tax Rates and Bands
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effect that the most recent increase in the rate of VAT has had on families in (a) Liverpool, Walton, (b) North West Hampshire and (c) Beaconsfield. [66209]
Mr Gauke: Data to make an assessment of the effect that the most recent increase in the rate of VAT has had on families are not available at constituency level. Annex A of the June 2010 Budget document provided analysis of the distributional impact of the Budget, including the VAT rate change.
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Culture, Media and Sport
Active Places Scheme
Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions his Department has had on the renaming of the Active Places scheme; and if he will make a statement. [66788]
Hugh Robertson: Officials in this Department have had discussions with Sport England about the Active Places scheme, which has been reviewed. The business service provided to local authorities will continue at a reduced cost, and the Active Places name will remain. A separate project is being considered for the consumer facing elements of the scheme, which has a working title of Connecting Sport. This project is currently in the early stages of development.
Advertising: Children
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what information his Department collects on the quantity of advertising aimed at children. [65705]
Mr Vaizey: The Department does not collect information on the quantity of advertising aimed at children.
The Committee of Advertising Practice and its broadcasting equivalent are responsible for the regulation and consideration of advertisements, as well as Ofcom. The hon. Member may wish to contact these bodies directly for further information about advertisements aimed at children.
Arts: Finance
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what criteria exist within the Catalyst Arts Fund to balance grants allocated (a) regionally and (b) across art forms. [66210]
Mr Vaizey: The Catalyst Arts programme was announced by Arts Council England on 29 June. Criteria for the programme will be published in September.
Ministerial Meetings
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by (A) representatives and (B) employees of BSkyB since 12 May 2010; [66065]
(2) what (a) meetings and (b) other engagements (i) Ministers and (ii) special advisers in his Department attended which were also attended by (A) representatives and (B) employees of News International and its subsidiary organisations since May 2010. [66066]
Mr Jeremy Hunt [holding answer 14 July 2011]:The Department publishes details of Minister’s meetings with outside interest groups on our website
http://www.transparency.culture.gov.uk/category/financial/expenses-and-hospitality/
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This is updated on a regular basis. In addition, I refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's statement to the House of 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 311-14. Following the consultations on the Ministerial Code, the Department will amend this information if necessary.
In the particular case of the proposed News Corp/BSkyB merger, I have recorded on my Department's website that I had meetings with News Corp on 6 and 20 January, and minutes of these meetings will be published in due course.
Broadband
Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he last met Ministers in the Scottish Government to discuss the roll-out of superfast broadband. [66469]
Mr Vaizey: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, has not recently met with Ministers of the Scottish Government in person. However, he did discuss the roll-out of superfast broadband in Scotland with the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, Alex Neil MSP, in a teleconference on the 29 June 2011.
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what process companies who wish to bid for funding under the Broadband Investment Fund will be required to follow. [66981]
Mr Vaizey: The Government will publish indicative funding allocations for local authorities and the devolved Administrations to assist them with their local broadband planning. Local authorities and the devolved Administrations will be responsible for selecting suppliers through procurement to upgrade broadband infrastructure and services in their area of administrative responsibility.
Broadband Delivery UK
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many times Broadband Delivery UK has changed the requirements of its local broadband plan; and when the local broadband plan requirements will be finalised. [67361]
Mr Vaizey: The guidance and template documents for the local broadband plans have remained unchanged since publication in March 2011.
Broadband: Wales
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what progress is being made on the provision of broadband to areas of west Wales. [66082]
Mr Vaizey: The UK Government are working with the Welsh Government on the delivery of superfast broadband to 90% of all premises and a minimum standard broadband service for all premises in Wales. The Welsh Government is currently in procurement for suppliers to meet these broadband objectives in Wales.
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Olympic Games 2012
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many people in (a) Scotland, (b) England and (c) Wales applied to be 2012 Olympics games makers. [66654]
Hugh Robertson: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) are responsible for the games maker volunteer scheme and have not released a breakdown of the number of applications by nation/region. In total, almost 250,000 people applied before the application process closed in October 2010, and LOCOG are now selecting an estimated 100,000 people to attend a face-to-face interview for up to 70,000 games time roles right through to spring 2012. Applications were actively sought from across Wales, Scotland and all the other nations and regions with an aim to recruit a volunteer force that reflects the diversity of the UK. Selection centres have already been run in both Glasgow and Cardiff, and were expected to interview 2,100 and 1,500 applicants respectively.
In addition, London and the UK-wide venue cities are setting up visitor welcome volunteer schemes called ambassadors, so that visitors experience a consistent welcome right across the UK. This includes schemes in Glasgow and Cardiff, as well as the other venue cities across England. Up to 8,000 London ambassadors are being sought, with around 3,300 planned for elsewhere in the UK.
Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the estimated value to the Scottish economy is of the London 2012 Olympics. [66655]
Hugh Robertson: Scotland stands to gain from the wide range of opportunities created by the games, through businesses winning games-related work, increased tourism and cultural celebrations.
As of June 2011, 25 Scottish businesses directly involved in the construction programme have supplied the Olympic Delivery Authority, to the value of almost £24.5 million. This includes Barr Construction, a Glasgow-based company and principal contractor for the basketball arena.
This figure does not include the value of contracts further down the supply chain, however, some of those companies are listed as follows:
Bodycote Testing, Glasgow, provided design services for the Aquatics Centre
Euro Pools, Glasgow, provided specialist testing services for the Aquatics Centre
Turner Access, Glasgow, provided protection equipment for the Aquatics Centre
Wallace Brown, Edinburgh, provided office stationery for the Aquatics Centre
Noral Architects, Glasgow, provided architectural services for Primary Substation
Weldex, Inverness, provided plant hire services for the Olympic Stadium
Additionally, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), is now procuring for the goods and services that it requires to stage the games. At least £700 million worth of contracts will be procured from the open market across eight sectors, and Scottish firms are encouraged to sign up to the online procurement portal CompeteFor to bid for this work, and keep their company profile up-to-date.
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Public Lending Right
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has for the future management of Public Lending Right; and if he will make a statement. [66386]
Mr Vaizey: The Government recognises the importance of the Public Lending Right (PLR) to authors. We have made assurances that PLR payments will still be administered by a body operating at arm's length from government and with the same independence and impartiality currently awarded to the PLR Registrar. We are working to resolve as quickly as possible the issues associated with the transfer of the PLR's functions to another body.
Telecommunications: Hearing Impairment
Mike Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will discuss with Ofcom the hosting of regional roadshows as part of its review into relay service provision to enable profoundly deaf British Sign Language users to participate in the consultation. [66079]
Mr Vaizey: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has no current plans to discuss with Ofcom the way it is conducting its review of relay services.
Ofcom is aware of the differing communications needs of British Sign Language (BSL) users and is fully committed to make its consultation process accessible to BSL users.
When Ofcom publishes the full consultation document on its website it will be accompanied by a BSL video translation. The video will summarise the issues, objectives and findings of the review so far. It will also translate the consultation questions and give an explanation of how BSL users, who wish to do so, can respond to the consultation.
Ofcom will be inviting BSL respondents to provide a response to us on the consultation questions by e-mail or through a video response including a DVD, Windows Media Video (WMV) or by uploading their video response directly to a hosting site such as YouTube and to then send Ofcom the URL link. For video responses that are not marked as confidential, these will then be translated into written English and will be put up on Ofcom's website with other consultation responses alongside a link to the video, so that all interested stakeholders can view responses.
Education
Academies
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which underperforming schools he expects to convert to academy status in the next academic year; and if he will make a statement. [63012]
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Mr Gibb: The Government have published on the Department for Education's website a list of all the sponsored academy projects in development.
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies
Sponsored academies replace underperforming schools. The most recent list was published on 5 July and it included the details of 94 schools that are planned to open as sponsored academies in the academic year 2011/12. This list will be updated every month.
In addition, it was announced on 16 June that as an urgent priority we would look to reopen as academies the 200 primary schools that have been below the floor standard for the last five years or longer. The majority of these schools will become academies in the academic year 2012/13. Those that we are able to open as academies in the academic year 2011/12 will be added to our website as the projects develop.
Academies: Private Education
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether academy schools are allowed to purchase places for their pupils at private schools. [66351]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 14 July 2011]: An academy's main source of funding is the General Annual Grant (GAG). The Academy Funding Agreement regulates the way in which the academy may use this funding and specifies that it may only be spent by an academy towards the normal running cost of that academy. An academy is also free to further its educational objects through funding obtained outside state sources such as through charitable donations.
It is right that the funding provided by the state should be used fairly to raise educational standards which will benefit all the pupils in an academy. All academies can of course collaborate with, and learn from, the strong education that the independent sector provides. The Government do not however believe that state funding should be used to advance the education of individual pupils at private schools, but should instead be used to further the academy, and its pupils, as a whole.
Children: Databases
Mr Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children under 16 are allocated a unique learner number (ULN); what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the operation of the ULN; and whether he has considered reforming the system. [66260]
Mr Willetts: I have been asked to reply.
Over 90% of children aged 13 to 16 within England are allocated a unique learner number (ULN). In 2010, a Skills Funding Agency internal audit of the operation of the ULN and the related systems, and a subsequent internal audit, undertaken jointly by this Department and the Department for Education, concluded that the ULN is managed well with a stable operation and appropriate oversight and controls. The audits noted
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sound internal and external sources of assurance along with positive feedback from the Information Commissioner's Office.
We will continue to look at how the ULN can support more effective data and information sharing across educational settings to improve efficiency, reduce bureaucracy and provide better learner information to support advice, guidance and access to entitlements.
Children's Centres: York
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) children and (b) families were in receipt of support from Sure Start children's centres in York in (i) May 2005 and (ii) May of each subsequent year. [65618]
Sarah Teather: The Department for Education does not collect detailed information on Sure Start children's centres in individual local authorities. Local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure there are sufficient children's centres in their area to meet local need, so far as is reasonably practicable. It is for local authorities to commission children's centres and to monitor and evaluate the use and impact of their services.
Classroom Assistants: Sevenoaks
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many teaching assistants were employed in schools in the Sevenoaks area in each of the last five years. [66092]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 14 July 2011]: The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants employed in publicly funded schools in Sevenoaks constituency in each January, 2006 to 2010.
| Full-time equivalent teaching assistants in service in publicly funded schools, January 2006 to January 2010, Sevenoaks parliamentary constituency | |
| Number | |
| Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census | |
Curriculum: Low-carbon Technologies
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether teaching on low-carbon technologies is currently included in the school curriculum; and what guidance he has issued to schools on its inclusion. [65654]
Mr Gibb
[holding answer 12 July 2011]: The teaching of low-carbon technologies is not specifically identified within the current national curriculum. However, the programmes of study for science and design and technology set out a number of statutory key concepts which schools are required to teach. For science, these include recognising the importance of sustainability in scientific and technological developments; renewable energy sources
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and emerging technologies; and related ethical, economic and environmental issues. For design and technology, these include the impact of products beyond meeting their original purpose and assessing products in terms of sustainability.
Departmental Consultants
Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on external consultants in respect of (a) its consultation on early years learning, (b) the development of a Sure Start children's centre reform programme and (c) the development of revised school building guidance. [64730]
Sarah Teather: Departmental expenditure on external consultants in respect of each of these issues is set out as follows:
(a) Its consultation on early years learning
Since August 2010, the Department spent £20,275 contracting Dame Clare Tickell, chief executive of Action For Children, to review the Early Years Foundation stage (EYFS). Her report, ‘The Early Years: Foundations for life, health and learning’, was published on 30 March 2011. Public consultation on a revised EYFS commenced on 6 July.
(b) The development of a Sure Start children's centre reform programme
The Department had a contract with Serco (who led a consortium of organisations known as Together for Children) to support the development of children's centres and the modernisation of services for children and their families, covering the period from October 2006 to March 2011.
The contract was reviewed by the new Government and work was re-focused to help develop the Sure Start reform programme, reducing costs by £621,000. The amount spent under this contract from May 2010 to March 2011 was £6,120,984.
(c) The development of r evised school building guidance
Following the publication of the James review of Education Capital, the Department and PfS are reviewing school building guidance. No external consultancy costs have been incurred.
Education: Information and Communications Technology
Mr Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons his Department decided that England would not participate in the International Computer and Information Literacy Study being conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement. [64666]
Mr Gibb: A decision not to participate in the IEA International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) was taken by the previous Government at the end of 2008.
England has participated, and continues to participate in a number of IEA studies, including the International Civics and Citizenship Study (ICCS) published in 2010, the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) and the Trends in International Mathematics
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and Science Study (TIMSS), both of which are taking place in schools this year. In addition, England participates in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and the European Survey of Language Competencies, which both take place in schools in 2012, and the OECD Teaching and Learning Survey (TALIS) which will take place in 2013, the same year as ICILS.
English Baccalaureate
Charlotte Leslie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils in (a) independent, (b) maintained and (c) all schools sat at GCSE the
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subjects which make up the English Baccalaureate in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2010; and how many such pupils in the maintained sector were eligible for free school meals. [63984]
Mr Gibb: 1996/97 figures for all schools are given in the following table. Figures for independent and maintained schools in 1996/97 can be provided only at a disproportionate cost. A breakdown by free school meal eligibility for pupils in maintained schools in 1996/97 is not available because pupil-level data have only been collected in the School Census since the 2001/02 academic year.
| The number of 15 year old pupils (1) in all schools entering the subjects (2) required for the English Baccalaureate in 1996/97 | |||
| Number of 15 year old pupils in 1996/97 | Number of 15 year old pupils entering the English Baccalaureate in1996/97 | Percentage of 15 year old pupils entering the English Baccalaureate in 1996/97 | |
| (1) Aged 15 on 31 August 1996. (2) Figures for subjects making up the English Baccalaureate include GCSEs only/ Source: School and College Performance Tables (Final Data) | |||
2009/10 figures are as follows:
English Baccalaureate: Teachers
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the number of fully qualified teachers available to teach core English baccalaureate subjects. [64951]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 11 July 2011]: Information on the qualifications and deployment of teachers in the secondary sector is collected in the new School Workforce Census, which took place in November 2010. The “School Workforce Census Statistical First Release” provides a head count of teachers to year groups 7 to 13 by subject in Table 12 and the proportions of teachers with a relevant post A-level qualification in the subjects they taught to year groups 7 to 13, split by subject, in Table 13.
The following table summarises the number of teachers of English baccalaureate subjects, and the proportion with a relevant post A-level qualification in the subject taught.
| Teachers of English baccalaureate subjects (1) in publicly funded secondary schools (head count) to year groups 7 to 13 in 2010, and the proportions with a relevant post A-level qualification (2, 3) in the subject, November 2010, coverage: England | ||
| Subject (1) | Total head count (Thousands) | Any relevant post A-level qualification (3 ) (percentage) |
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| (1 )Teachers are counted once against each subject that they are teaching. Head counts are used, so a teacher teaching French and German would be counted once in each. In the science subjects, the teacher will be counted under the subject as marked on their timetable—if a teacher is marked as teaching physics then they will only be counted under physics, whereas if they are marked as teaching physics and combined/general science they will be counted once against each subject. The 33,300 combined/general science teachers are teachers with combined/general science on their timetables; the figure does not include physics, biology and chemistry teachers unless they are teaching it as an additional subject and is marked as such on their timetables. (2 )A full list of what was deemed as a ‘relevant’ qualification subject for each curriculum subject taught can be found on the SFR home page. (3 )Includes all qualifications at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 4 and above. (4 )Teachers qualified in biology, chemistry, or physics are qualified to teach combined/general science. (5 )Classics includes classics, classical Greek, classical Hebrew and Latin. (6 )Not all schools were able to submit curriculum information, and not all qualifications returns were complete. Qualifications information was either not provided, or the subject field was missing for 12% of the teachers in schools submitting curriculum data. Note: Percentages are row percentages, and based on the number of teachers for whom curriculum and qualifications information was provided. Source: School Workforce Census, SFR Table 13. | ||
A full list of subjects and the proportion of teachers with a relevant qualification are available in Table 13 of the School Workforce Statistical First Release, available at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000997/index.shtml
Further Education
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish details of applications received by his Department to open (a) free schools for 16 to 19 year olds and (b) university technical colleges in September 2012. [64209]
Mr Gibb: The Department is currently assessing the applications it has received to establish free schools and university technical colleges in September 2012. These include proposals for four 16-19 and 19 UTCs. An announcement will be made in due course about those that are approved to move to the next stage of development.
Headteachers: Ethnic Groups
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many non-white male head teachers are employed in schools in (a) Brighton and Hove, (b) Sussex and (c) England. [65679]
Mr Gibb: In November 2010 there were 130 male head teachers recorded as being from non-white ethnic groups employed in publicly funded schools in England; this represents 1.8% of those male head teachers whose ethnic group was recorded.
Information disaggregated below national level will become available on 20 July. A wide range of regional, local authority and school level workforce measures, including ethnicity, will be published on the Department's website at the following link:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000997/index.shtml
Non-white ethnic groups include those of mixed white origins. The information provided is taken from the School Workforce Census and, of the 7,620 male head teachers in service, ethnicity details were provided for 7,260.
Higher Education: York
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much mainstream grant funding was allocated by the Training and Development Agency for Schools to (a) the university of York and (b) York St John university in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) the latest period for which figures are available. [65738]
Mr Gibb: The TDA allocated the following mainstream grant to the university of York and York St John university in the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11.
| £ | ||
| Financial year | ||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | |
History: GCSE
Chris Skidmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals were entered for a (i) history GCSE and (ii) history A-level in 2010. [65389]
Mr Gibb: The information requested is provided in the following table:
| Number and percentage of pupils entering GCSE and A-level history by Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility, 2009/10 | |||
| Number of pupils | Percentage of pupils | ||
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| (1) Pupils attending maintained schools (including Academies and CTCs). (2) Number of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4. (3) FSM eligibility taken from the 2010 Spring School Census (January 2010). (4) Maintained schools and FE sector colleges only. Pupils taking A levels in independent schools are not included. (5) Students entered for a GCE or Applied GCE A level or other Level 3 qualification equivalent in size to an A level and aged 16-18 at the start of the 2009/10 academic year i.e. 31 August 2009. (6) Pupils eligible for free school meals at the end of year 11. Source: National Pupil Database (final data) | |||
Home Education: Fees and Charges
Mr Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to issue new guidance on how home-educated children can be funded to attend further education colleges for GCSE courses. [66261]
Mr Gibb: The guidance for the alternative provision census is currently being reviewed. We will clarify the section on home education to make it clear that local authorities can include home-educated children where the authority is paying for their education in a further education college or elsewhere, and so receive funding for these children through the dedicated schools grant.
Mr Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to encouraging local authorities to reclaim the cost of college fees for children who are electively home-educated via the alternative provision census. [66262]
Mr Gibb: The Department published guidance to local authorities in June 2010 explaining how they can access this funding. The guidance for the alternative provision census is currently being reviewed and we will consider clarifying the section on home education to make it clear that local authorities can include home-educated children where the authority is paying for their education in a further education college or elsewhere. The census enables the local authority to receive funding for these children through the dedicated schools grant.
Ofsted: Trade Unions
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many staff at Ofsted were entitled to work (a) full-time as trade union representatives and (b) part-time on trade union activities in the latest period for which figures are available; how many such staff received a salary greater than £25,900 per year; and what the total cost to the public purse was of employing such staff on such duties. [65983]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 13 July 2011]: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM chief inspector, Miriam Rosen, has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Miriam Rosen, dated 12 July 2011:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, for response.
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The latest period for which figures are available is 1 September 2010 to 31 August 2011. During that time, Ofsted had one full-time trade union representative, and 21 staff working part-time on trade union activities. Of those 21 part-time representatives, 15 were allocated a total of 30 days’ time or less in the period.
Where facility time was allocated, two members of staff received an equivalent salary of more than £25,900 for that time. The total cost to Ofsted of time spent on trade union activities in the period was £196,000.
Ofsted follows the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service Code of Practice, ‘Time off for Trades Union Duties and Activities’.
A copy of this reply has been sent to Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for Schools, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.
Pre-school Education: Finance
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what information his Department holds on the percentage difference in per pupil funding levels set by each local authority for (a) maintained, (b) private, (c) voluntary and (d) independent places as part of the Early Years Single Funding Formula; [65170]
(2) what information his Department holds on whether any maintained nursery schools have been indicated for closure by local authorities implementing the Early Years Single Funding Formula. [65171]
Sarah Teather: In order to improve fairness and transparency in the way free early education funding is distributed all local authorities have been required to implement an early years single funding formula from April 2011. Local authorities, in consultation with their Schools Forums, decide how best to distribute 3-16 funding across their locality. This includes setting funding rates for maintained, private, voluntary and independent providers of free early education. Local authorities are required to report on financial expenditure through section 251 returns. Data on individual local authority spend for 2011-12 are not yet available, but will be published later in the year. The Department has undertaken analysis of the rates paid by the 71 pathfinder local authorities that implemented their early years single funding formula from 2010. This analysis includes a breakdown of medium rates per hour by types of provider.
Further details are available on our website:
http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/earlylearningandchildcare/delivery/funding/a0064843/early_years-single-funding-formula-analysis
The Department does not hold information on whether maintained nursery schools have closed as a result of the implementation of the early years single funding formula. The Department issues statutory guidance to local decision makers on handling school organisation proposals. This guidance includes a presumption against closure of maintained nursery schools, on the basis that they generally offer high quality provision.
The following table provides details of the 18 local authority maintained nursery school closures that have been implemented since 2009 along with the reason for closure.
| Reason for closure | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | Total |
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This shows that in only one case (cease to maintain) the nursery provision was not replaced with planned alternative provision. In all other cases the closures were effectively technical and each was replaced with early years provision of some type.
Primary and Secondary Education: Standards
Rory Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what proportion of (a) children of members of the armed forces and (b) all children achieved the expected standard in reading and writing at Key Stage 1 in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2010; [64932]
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(2) what proportion of (a) children of members of the armed forces and (b) all children achieved the expected standard in English and mathematics at Key Stage 2 in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2010; [64999]
(3) what proportion of (a) children of members of the armed forces and (b) all children at the end of Key Stage 4 achieved (i) five A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent and (ii) five A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics in (A) 1997 and (B) 2010. [64998]
Mr Gibb: The figures requested for 2010 are given in the tables. Figures for children of members of the armed forces for 1997 are not available because data for these children has only been included on the National Pupil Database since 2008.
Information on service children should be treated with caution as there is known under-reporting of the data.
| Key Stage 1 | ||||
| Percentage of children of members of the armed forces achieving the expected level in reading | Percentage of children of members of the armed forces achieving expected level in writing | Percentage of all children achieving the expected level in reading | Percentage of all children achieving the expected level in writing | |
| n/a = Not available. (1) Source: National Pupil Database (2) Source: Statistical Release 6/99 (National Curriculum Assessments of 7, 11 and 14-year-olds in England—1998). Figures only available to Odp. Coverage: England, maintained school's (including Academies and CTCs) Note: Figures are based on final data. | ||||
| Key Stage 2 | ||||
| Percentage of children of members of the armed forces achieving the expected level in English | Percentage of children of members of the armed forces achieving the expected level in maths | Percentage of all children achieving the expected level in English | Percentage of all children achieving the expected level in Maths | |
| n/a = Not available. (1) Source: National Pupil Database. (2) Source: Statistical Release 6/99 (National Curriculum Assessments of 7, 11 and 14-year-olds in England—1998). Figures only available to Odp. Coverage: England, maintained school's (including Academies and CTCs) Note: Figures are based on final data. | ||||
| Key Stage 4 | ||||
| Percentage of children of members of the armed forces achieving 5+ A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent | Percentage of children of members of the armed forces achieving 5+ A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and m athematics GCSE | Percentage of all children at the end of Key Stage 4 achieving 5+ A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent | Percentage of a ll children at the end of Key Stage 4 achieving 5+ A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and mathematics GCSE | |
| n/a = Not available. (1) Source: National Pupil Database. (2) Source: School Performance tables. Coverage: England, maintained schools (including Academies and CTCs) Note: Figures are based on final data. | ||||
Primary Education: Standards
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effects of (a) newly-appointed head teachers and (b) school improvement plans in improving standards in underperforming primary schools. [66455]
Mr Gibb:
We do not gather specific data on the impact of new head teachers on improving standards in
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underperforming primary schools, as improvement plans are tailored to the needs of the school and will vary. In Ofsted's last annual report, November 2010, inspectors cite leadership and management as being one of the key weaknesses in inadequate primary schools. In some of these schools, bringing in a new head teacher will be the best way to turn school performance around.
School improvement plans are developed, implemented and monitored locally. Parents and others can assess the effects of a school's improvement plan through the publication of the school's performance data.
Pupil Exclusions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) boys and (b) girls were subject to fixed period exclusions in maintained secondary schools in each local authority area in each of the last five years. [64108]
Mr Gibb: The requested information has been placed in the House Libraries.
The latest available data on exclusions were published in the Statistical First Release ‘Permanent and Fixed Period Exclusions from Schools in England 2008/09’ on 29 July 2010 at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000942/index.shtml
Information for 2009/10 is due to be published on 28 July 2011.
Pupils: Disadvantaged
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of pupils in (a) East Sussex, (b) Brighton and Hove, (c) Brighton, Kemptown constituency and (d) West Sussex who will qualify for the pupil premium. [59152]
Mr Gibb: The pupil premium for 2011-12 has been allocated to local authorities and schools with pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM) as recorded on the January 2011 School Census, Pupil Referral Unit Census and Alternative Provision Census. Each pupil known to be eligible for free school meals attracts £430 of funding which goes to the school or academy via the local authority or YPLA if the pupil is in a mainstream setting, or is managed by the responsible local authority if the pupil is in a non-mainstream setting.
Local authorities also attract the looked after child pupil premium for 2011-12 which is being allocated to local authorities for pupils who at some point in the year to 31 March 2011 were looked after continuously for at least six months, and who were aged four to 15 on 31 August 2010 as recorded on the April 2011 local authority return. Each pupil attracts £430 of funding, which goes to the responsible local authority who pass it to maintained schools for pupils who have been in care for six months or more in the year to 31 March 2011.
The service child premium for 2011-12 is allocated to local authorities and schools with pupils who are registered as service children on the January 2011 School Census.
Each pupil known to be eligible attracts £200 of funding which goes to the school or academy via the local authority or YPLA.
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In East Sussex in January 2011 there were 9,220 pupils known to be eligible for FSM, 20 Service children and, based on 2010 figures, 330 looked after children.
In Brighton and Hove there were 5,030 children eligible for FSM, no service children, and, based on 2010 figures, 250 looked after children.
In West Sussex there were 8,110 children known to be eligible for FSM, 400 service children and, based on 2010 figures, 460 looked after children.
Figures for looked after children will be updated in September, when data from the March 2011 looked after children return is finalised.
In the Brighton, Kemptown constituency in January 2011 there were 8,411 pupils known to be eligible for FSM and no service children. These are approximate figures as it is not possible to determine the number of parliamentary constituency pupils recorded on the alternative provision census or recorded as looked after as they are both local authority, rather than establishment level, returns.
Note:
The local authority level figures in the above include FTE FSM-eligible pupils, in reception to year 11, or aged four-15 if not following, the National Curriculum, as at the January 2011 School Census and Pupil Referral Unit Census and headcount from four-15 in the Alternative Provision Census (i.e. those pupils funded through the Dedicated Schools Grant via local authorities but educated in non-maintained special schools, further education establishments, etc.) those eligible for the service child premium and those eligible for the looked after child pupil premium. Dual main registrations and sole registrations for five to 15 and all registrations for four year olds are taken. Pupil numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of children entitled to free school meals (a) entered for and (b) passed (1) GCSE Physics in each year since 1997; [64978]
(2) GCSE History in each year since 1997; [64979]
(3) a GCSE in a modern foreign language in each year since 1997; [64980]
(4) a GCSE English paper (English Language or English Literature) in each year since 1997; [64981]
(5) GCSE Mathematics in each year since 1997. [64982]
Mr Gibb: Figures for the years 2005/06 to 2009/10 are given as follows. Figures for the years 2001/02 to 2004/05 can be provided only at a disproportionate cost. Figures for the years prior to 2001/02 are not available because pupil-level data have only been collected in the School Census since the 2001/02 academic year.
| Number of GCSE entries and passes by pupils (1) who are eligible for free school meals, 2005/06 to 2009/10 (final data), coverage: England, maintained schools (including academies and CTCs) | |||||
| 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | |
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| (1 )Number of pupils at the end of key stage 4. (2 )Includes GCSEs in the following subjects: French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Modern Greek, Portuguese, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Japanese, Modern Hebrew, Panjabi, Polish, Russian, Turkish, Urdu, Persian. (3 )In 2010 GCSEs, accredited at time of publication, have been counted as GCSE equivalents and also as English and mathematics GCSEs. (4 )English GCSE refers to English Language, English Language and Literature or English studies. This is the standard definition of English used in “English & mathematics” thresholds. These figures also include English Literature GCSE. Source: National Pupil Database | |||||
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of children entitled to free school meals (a) entered for and (b) passed a qualification which was not a GCSE but which was counted towards a school's rankings in GCSE performance tables in each year since 1997. [64984]
Mr Gibb: Figures for the years prior to 2001/02 are not available because pupil level data have been collected in the School Census only since the 2001/02 academic year.
Figures for the years 2001/02 to 2009/10 can be provided only at a disproportionate cost. These data are not readily available on the National Pupil Database (NPD) in pre-defined form, and would need to be calculated. Detailed analysis is required to investigate which information in the NPD could be used to calculate the requested information correctly. This analysis and the time needed to quality assure the results could be completed only at a disproportionate cost.
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Religion: Education
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of pupils in schools in England are being taught religious education at key stage (a) 3 and (b) 4. [64182]
Mr Gibb: The law requires all maintained schools in England to provide RE to all registered pupils at the school for the duration of their schooling. Academies are also required by their funding agreements. However, parents can withdraw their child from RE if they wish. We do not gather any data about the number of pupils withdrawn from RE.
Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department has taken against schools which have not fulfilled their obligations in respect of the teaching of religious education at Key Stage (a) 3 and (b) 4 since his appointment; and what sanctions are available to his Department in such cases. [64183]
Mr Gibb: The Department has not been made aware of specific instances of schools which have not fulfilled their obligations in respect of the teaching of religious education at any key stage.
Religious education (RE) is a statutory part of the basic curriculum and all maintained schools, by law, must provide RE for all pupils attending school.
The head teacher of a school, its governors, and the local authority, are responsible for ensuring that the school provides religious education: maintained schools are obliged to follow the locally agreed syllabus provided by the local authority.
Academies are also required to provide RE, and this is set out in an academy's funding agreement. As with all subjects, academies have the freedom to design their own curriculum for RE. A parent may raise a complaint about an academy with the academy trust, and if their complaint is not handled appropriately, they may refer it to the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA), which deals with complaints about academies on behalf of the Secretary of State.
A complaint about the curriculum in maintained schools should in the first instance be considered by the governing body (GB), as they share responsibility for the curriculum with the head teacher. If the complainant is not satisfied with the way in which the GB considers their complaint, they may refer it to the local authority. Ultimately the matter may be referred to the Secretary of State if it is still not resolved.
Schools: GCE A-level
Elizabeth Truss:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many and what proportion of pupils in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) selective schools, (c) modern schools, (d) independent schools, (e) sixth form colleges and (f) other further education sector colleges were entered for A-levels in (i) accounting, (ii) art and design, (iii) business studies, (iv) communication studies, (v) dance, (vi) design and technology, (vii) drama and theatre studies, (viii) film studies, (ix) health and social care, (x) home economics, (xi) information and communication technology, (xii) leisure studies, (xiii) media
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studies, (xiv) music technology, (xv) performance studies, (xvi) performing arts, (xvii) photography, (xviii) physical education, (xix) sports studies, (xx) travel and tourism and (xxi) law or any (A) two and (B) three or more of the above subjects in (1) 1997 and (2) 2010; [64206]
(2) how many and what proportion of pupils in (a) comprehensive schools, (b) selective schools, (c) modern schools, (d) independent schools, (e) sixth form colleges and (f) other further education sector colleges were entered for A-levels in (i) mathematics, (ii) further mathematics, (iii) English, (iv) physics, (v) chemistry, (vi) biology, (vii) geography, (viii) history, (ix) a classical language and (x) a modern language or any (A) two or (B) three of the above subjects in (1) 1997 and (2) 2010. [64207]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 6 July 2011]: The available information for 2010 has been placed in the House Libraries.
Information for 1997 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Sixth-form Colleges
Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to increase the number of sixth-form colleges. [64714]
Mr Gibb: There are no specific plans to increase the number of sixth-form colleges. We wish to encourage new providers to enter the market, where there is demand, in order to drive up quality and raise standards. This could include new sixth-form colleges. Through the Education Bill we are legislating to enable any person or body to make a direct application to the Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), to establish a sixth-form college corporation.
Special Educational Needs
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy that schools which are designated as teaching schools have a minimum Ofsted rating of very good for the quality of their provision for children with special educational needs or disabilities. [66791]
Mr Gibb: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), approved stringent designation criteria for teaching schools that include outstanding judgments for leadership and management, teaching and learning and overall effectiveness. To achieve this, schools must demonstrate that they have good provision for children with special educational needs or disabilities.
Teachers
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his proposed Teaching Agency will be responsible for the professional development of (a) teachers and (b) classroom-based support staff. [65513]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 12 July 2011]:The Teaching Agency's responsibility will include support for teachers and classroom-based support staff. The details of how this support will be delivered are being developed.
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Teachers: Pensions
Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to undertake his promised revaluation of the Teachers' Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [65518]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 12 July 2011]: The Government put valuations of the public service pension schemes on hold while the consultation on the discount rate used to calculate contribution rates was taking place. The outcome of the consultation was announced in Budget 2011. The valuations remain on hold pending detailed consideration of the implications of the new discount rate.
Teachers: Qualifications
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans his Department has to recognise (a) Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills and (b) Qualified Teacher Status qualifications; and if he will make a statement. [66263]
Mr Gibb: Following her review of vocational education, Professor Wolf recommended that Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status should be recognised in schools. We agree that schools should have the freedom to appoint the right teachers for their pupils and the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), immediately accepted this recommendation.
Professor Wolf’s recommendation will be implemented as soon as possible subject to statutory requirements and parliamentary process. We will consult fully on any amendments to the existing regulations.
Teachers: York
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the gross average salary of a full-time teacher in local authority schools in York Central was in (a) cash and (b) real terms in (i) May 1997 and (ii) May of each subsequent year. [65612]
Mr Gibb: The information requested for York Central constituency is not available.
The following table provides the gross average salary of teachers in service in local authority maintained schools by cash terms and real terms for York local authority, in each March, 1997 to 2009.
Teacher average salary information for England in November 2010 was published in April 2011 at the following web link:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000997/index.shtml
Information disaggregated below national level will become available on 20 July. A wide range of regional, local authority and school level workforce measures, including pay will be included.
18 July 2011 : Column 563W
| Gross average salary of full-time regular teachers (1 ) in service in local authority maintained schools (2) in cash and real terms (3) , March 1997 to March 2009 (4) , York local authority | ||
| £ | ||
| As at March each year | Cash terms | Real terms |
| (1) Teachers of all grades including school leadership. (2) Excludes CTCs and Academies. (3) Real terms figures calculated at 2008-09 prices using 28 June 2011 GDP deflators. (4) Provisional. (5) Figures are not sufficiently reliable. Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest £100. Source: Database of Teacher Records. | ||
Deputy Prime Minister
Brazil
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he discussed the Rio 2012 Conference on Sustainable Development with representatives of the Brazilian Government during his recent visit to Brazil; and what the outcome was of any such discussion. [67385]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I discussed the Rio 2012 Conference on Sustainable Development with members of the Brazilian Government including the Vice President and Foreign Minister. Conscious of the lasting impact of the Rio Conference of 1992, I made clear that the UK would play a full part in partnership with Brazil in helping this conference, 20 years on, plot a sustainable way forward for the world for the next 20 years.
The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs held detailed discussions on this during her visit to Brazil in April and is in close touch with the Brazilian Environment Minister.
Members: Correspondence
Teresa Pearce: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead (Teresa Pearce) of 15 April 2011 on behalf of a constituent, Maurice Seamons. [66467]
The Deputy Prime Minister: The Minister with responsibility for political and constitutional reform, my hon. Friend the Member for Forest of Dean (Mr Harper), has replied on my behalf to the letter of 15 April from the hon. Member.
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National Security Council
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role and responsibilities he has in relation to the National Security Council; and what recent contribution he has made to its work. [67412]
The Deputy Prime Minister: I am the Deputy Chair of the National Security Council. I regularly attend meetings of both the main Council and its Libya sub-committee and chair both in the absence of the Prime Minister. Like the Prime Minister, I am able to contribute a whole-of-government perspective and to ensure the overall objectives of the NSC are achieved.
Prime Minister
Phone Hacking
Ann McKechin: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has had discussions with the First Minister of Scotland on allegations of telephone hacking by the News of the World; and on what date any such discussions took place. [66100]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow East (Margaret Curran) on 13 July 2011, Official Report, column 329.
Chris Bryant: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the advice from the Cabinet Secretary to the then Prime Minister in early 2010 on the case for a statutory public inquiry into allegations of telephone hacking. [66725]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the advice that was published by the Cabinet Secretary on 14 July 2011. This is available on the Cabinet Office website:
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/resource-library/cabinet-secretary-advice-establishment-judicial-inquiry
John Mann: To ask the Prime Minister when his Chief of Staff first received information about the alleged involvement of the News of the World with criminals; what steps he took in response; and on what date. [66968]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 July 2011, Official Report, columns 302-03.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Peace Negotiations
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the death of Ahmed Wali Karzai on NATO-led negotiations with the Taliban. [67353]
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Alistair Burt: Any process of reconciliation with the insurgency must be led by the Afghan Government. President Karzai has established the High Peace Council and the Joint Afghanistan/Pakistan Peace Commission to take this forward. Ahmed Wali Karzai was not directly involved in this work and we expect these institutions to continue their activity. However, it is too early to judge the full impact of his death on reconciliation.
British Nationals Abroad
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the Government's ability to evacuate UK citizens from (a) Syria, (b) Yemen and (c) Pakistan. [65483]
Alistair Burt: Given current circumstances, our consular contingency plans for Syria and Yemen are regularly reviewed and updated in accordance with the latest situation on the ground. For Yemen, our travel advice is quite clear, if people do not leave the country now, while commercial carriers are still flying, it is extremely unlikely that the British Government will be able to evacuate them or provide consular assistance. And for Syria, we have advised that those who choose to remain in Syria, or to visit against our advice should be aware that it is highly unlikely that our embassy would be able to provide a normal consular service in the event of a further breakdown in law and order and increased violent civil disorder. Evacuation options would be limited because of likely communication and travel restrictions. This advice was only given after careful consideration of the threats and difficulties that would face an official Government-led evacuation.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Officials regularly review contingency planning elsewhere in the world, including for Pakistan. Our ability to evacuate large numbers of people would always be limited.
British nationals who are, or are planning to go overseas should always monitor the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's travel advice. If this advises departure from a given country, we encourage British nationals to take responsibility for their own safety and to follow that advice.
British Nationals Abroad: Death
Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens have died abroad in the last five years; and what the country of death was in each case. [64227]
Mr Jeremy Browne: The figures in the table are the total numbers of deaths of British nationals overseas, of which we have been notified, for the financial years 2006-08 and 2008-11 by country. For 2006-08 these figures are the number of deaths that required consular action, taken from the Consular Annual Return submitted by overseas missions. The figures for 2008-11 are all deaths as recorded on Compass, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office consular assistance database.
| Country | Total |
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