Billing
Joseph Johnson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the (a) efficacy and (b) applicability to the
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UK of limiting payment periods between companies to 60 days as required by the French loi de modernisation de l'économie 2008. [86064]
Mr Prisk: This Government have made clear their objective of challenging the long-standing culture of late payment, which persists across all sectors of the economy and across businesses of all sizes, and we have supported a multi-faceted strategy for improving business cash flow alongside the UK's leading business and finance organisations.
We continue to monitor payment across the economy and will not rule out any measures which have the support of the business community in the UK. However, there has been long-standing and widespread opposition from UK business to Government intervention in contractual freedoms, including on payment terms. I understand that the French legislation allows sectors to apply for exemption and that this has been utilised by a large number of sectors.
The recast EU directive on combating late payment in commercial transactions provides a standard for payment terms in that
“member states shall ensure that the period for payment fixed in the contract does not exceed 60 calendar days, unless otherwise expressly agreed in the contract and provided it is not grossly unfair to the creditor.”
As part of the process for transposing the recast directive, we will be consulting with those affected on this point and other potential changes to current UK legislation. The recast directive is largely based upon existing UK legislation and experience.
Joseph Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received from (a) small and medium-sized enterprises and (b) suppliers on (i) the introduction of 60 day maximum payment terms between companies and (ii) mandatory disclosure of average payment terms. [86066]
Mr Prisk: There has been long-standing and widespread opposition from UK business to Government intervention on contractual freedoms of this nature and it remains the case that the best means of ensuring prompt payment is to agree terms in advance of supply. Evidence suggests that over half of UK transactions take place with no pre-agreed terms and that only one in 10 suppliers regularly credit checks customers.
Government are supporting business to manage cash flow by ensuring they pay their own bills on time, by encouraging big business to pay according to agreed terms through the prompt payment code at:
www.promptpaymentcode.org.uk/
and by supporting businesses to better manage customer relationships through the Institute of Credit Management’s Managing Cash Flow Guides at:
www.creditmanagement.org.uk/bisguides.htm
There have been over 250,000 downloads of the Managing Cash Flow Guides to date.
On 10 November, Government launched a Finance Fitness campaign to increase business awareness of the advice and information available to them from both Government and private sector providers. The campaign will focus upon managing cash to end January 2012, on choosing and accessing finance in February 2012 and on finance for growth in March 2012.
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Business
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage multi-national manufacturers to make long-term investments in the UK. [87421]
Mr Prisk: UK Trade and Investment works closely with BIS to champion UK strength and sophistication in manufacturing to global investors, providing tailored support to business. In 2010/11 the UK attracted 1,434 foreign direct investment projects, of which 210 (15%) were manufacturing projects. The Government's Plan for Growth sets out actions to improve the business environment for UK-based manufacturers, and to encourage new inward investment. Business support measures on tax, planning and regulation build investor confidence, making the UK a more attractive destination for overseas manufacturers.
Business: Government Assistance
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to his letter to all hon. Members of 6 December 2011 on the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative, (1) whether new entrants to supply chains will be eligible for funding; and what steps his Department plans to take to assess the eligibility of such firms; [87427]
(2) what steps his Department will take to discuss the initiative with potential applicants; how he plans to identify such firms; and if he will make a statement; [87428]
(3) what his policy is on clawback of monies granted where criteria are not met; [87429]
(4) what discussions he has had with the Department for Energy and Climate Change on the (a) initial dialogue with relevant firms and sectors, (b) assessment of bids and (c) monitoring of successful bids; and if he will make a statement; [87430]
(5) whether firms can successfully apply for funding without approval from (a) local economic partnerships and (b) local authorities. [87431]
Mr Prisk: The Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative aims to help existing UK supply chains grow and achieve world class standards while encouraging major new suppliers to come and manufacture here. The new fund will support innovative projects in established UK advanced manufacturing sectors such as aerospace, automotive and chemicals. It will also target newer growth areas where the UK is well placed to take a global lead, such as energy renewables and other low carbon sectors. The competitive fund will invite applications early in the new year. Further information on criteria, funding and other arrangements concerning the initiative will also be available early in the new year.
Business: West Midlands
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to assist small and medium-sized businesses to retain skills in the west midlands. [87422]
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Mr Hayes: One of the most effective ways of encouraging skill retention in businesses is to ensure that the skills system responds more dynamically to their needs and brings greater value to their businesses from more productive employees.
Apprenticeships represent real jobs and are at the heart of the skills system we are building. Provisional figures for 2010/11 show that total apprenticeship starts in the west midlands increased by around two-thirds on 2009/10. We are not only expanding apprenticeships but improving their quality and making it easier for businesses of all sizes to recruit apprentices. Our research shows that apprenticeships help employers improve productivity and give them a competitive edge.
The Government announced recently that we will be offering up to 40,000 new incentive payments of £1,500 to small employers who take on and retain their first young apprentice. At the same time, we are reducing bureaucracy involved for small firms and working to ensure that the National Apprenticeship Service and training providers deliver a better service to small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
In addition, we fund a leadership and management programme for senior leaders of SMEs to help them develop their own personal leadership and management skills so they are better able to create a high performing, innovative workplace and to improve the skills of their work force. We are also providing co-funding for level 2 learning for employees of small firms, and the new Business Coaching for Growth Programme will help SMEs to overcome the barriers they face in achieving growth potential.
Competition Commission: Manpower
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many full-time equivalent staff the Competition Commission (a) employed in 2010-11 and (b) plans to employ in 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [86870]
Mr Davey: Figures supplied to BIS by the Competition Commission (CC) in December 2011 record that the CC employed a total current work force of 122 individuals equating to 119 FTE.
For 2010-11, at the financial year end, the figures were 123 or 121.6 FTE respectively.
Competition: EU Law
Mr Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the effect of EU Directives and Regulations on the competitiveness of UK business. [87715]
Mr Davey: The Government assess the impact of EU legislation on the UK, both when submitting explanatory memoranda on new proposals to Parliament, and when transposing EU legislation into UK law. This includes the cost to UK business and, in particular, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and micro-businesses.
The Government have also adopted ‘Guiding Principles for EU legislation’, which set out that when transposing EU legislation, the Government will endeavour to ensure that UK businesses are not put at a competitive disadvantage compared with their European counterparts.
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Copyright: Arts
Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2011, Official Report, column 449W, on copyright: arts, what consideration he has given to raising the threshold at which the levy is triggered to minimise the effect of the Directive on the art market. [87192]
Mr Davey: The threshold at which Artist's Resale Right becomes payable in the UK was set at €1,000 by the previous Administration. Suggestions have been made from time to time that the threshold should be changed but I have seen no compelling evidence that justifies any such change, either in terms of the impact on the art market or on artists.
Food Procurement
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on food purchased through its food and catering services in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [87004]
Mr Davey: During the period December 2010 to November 2011 the Department spent £645,062 on hospitality (which includes food and drink) with the Department’s catering services contractor BaxterStorey. This compares with £1,203,977 and £872,214 in the previous two 12 month periods.
Departmental Redundancy
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of redundancies from the civil service arising from the closure of (a) the London Development Agency and (b) the North West Regional Development Agency; and if he will make a statement. [87783]
Mr Prisk: Neither London Development Agency (LDA) nor North West Development Agency (NWDA) staff are civil servants. The LDA has only two officers falling within the terms of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS). The vast majority of NWDA staff are covered by the CSCS. The cost of redundancies at LDA and NWDA will depend on the number of staff resigning, transferring elsewhere in the public sector or leaving for other reasons, prior to closure, but is estimated not to exceed £135,000 and £7,500,000 respectively.
Directors: Disqualification
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people disqualified under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 breached the terms of their disqualification order in each year since 2002. [86948]
Mr Davey: The details required to answer this question are not held centrally in a readily accessible form and the information requested could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
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The number of separate convictions secured by the Department for criminal offences under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 (CDDA) for the financial year 2001/02 onwards are set out in the following table. Convictions under the CCDA may relate to an offence arising by reason of bankruptcy or a disqualification order, and an individual may be charged with more than one of these offences in a single case. Convictions by other prosecution authorities are not included.
|
|
Number |
Higher Education: Fees and Charges
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the long-term financial sustainability of institutions charging tuition fees below £7,500; and if he will make a statement. [86759]
Mr Willetts: The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is under a legal duty to consider the financial health of those institutions it funds. Where an institution is identified as at high risk, HEFCE will act to prioritise the interests of students and safeguard public money.
HEFCE’s internal assurance service is responsible for monitoring financial dealings with institutions and their overall financial health. It undertakes audit work in institutions and assesses institutional risk. Where appropriate, HEFCE provides intensive expert support and financial assistance.
However, as HE institutions are autonomous, should one mismanage its affairs, the Government cannot offer a guarantee of protection.
Institutions are free within the parameters set by Government to determine their own fees in line with their own business models.
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department’s proposed changes to the further education fee structure on the number of people enrolling in higher education courses in 2013-14. [86760]
Mr Willetts: 2013-14 is the first financial year in which further education (FE) loans will be available, for those studying in the 2013/14 academic year, so it is unlikely that there will be any impact on HE course enrolment for the same (2013/14) academic year.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) will publish both a full impact assessment of FE loans and an equality impact assessment of FE loans in March 2012.
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Both impact assessments will be informed by research and analysis commissioned by BIS. This will include the results of an online learner panel survey carried out by Opinion Panel, as well as TNS-BMRB work with potential FE students to understand how FE loans might affect their decision to study, and further research as required.
Higher Education: Finance
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2011, Official Report, column 516W, on higher education: finance, how many (a) doctoral, (b) taught Masters and (c) research Masters postgraduate degree course places in each subject area were funded by (i) the Higher Education Funding Council for England and (ii) other organisations in the public sector in (A) 2010-11 and (B) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement. [87135]
Mr Willetts [holding answer 19 December 2011]:Information on the number of postgraduate taught (PGT) and postgraduate research (PGR) full-time equivalent students (FTEs) counted in the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) teaching and research funding methodologies for England are shown in Tables 1 and 2 as follows. The postgraduate taught figures are broken down into the following broad subject areas:
(A) The clinical stages of medicine and dentistry courses and veterinary science.
(B) Laboratory-based subjects (science, pre-clinical stages of medicine and dentistry, engineering and technology).
(C) Subjects with a studio, laboratory or fieldwork element.
(D) All other subjects
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| Table 1: Number of postgraduate taught (PGT) FTEs (English institutions) | ||||
| 2010-11 FTEs | 2011-12 Assumed FTEs | |||
| Price group | Mainstream | Co-funded | Mainstream | Co-funded |
| Sources: 1. 2010-11 FTEs (mainstream) taken from HESES/HEIFES10 2. 2010-11 FTEs (co-funded) taken from the 2010-11 monitoring return 3. 2011-12 Assumed FTEs taken from the October 2011-12 sector grant tables | ||||
| Table 2: Number of postgraduate research (PGR) FTEs (English institutions) | ||||
| Subject area | Eligible PGR FTEs in 2010-11 funding | Eligible PGR FTEs in 2011-12 funding | Difference | Percentage difference |
| Source: Eligible PGR students in years 1 to 3 of full-time study (and part-time equivalent) taken from the 2009 and 2010 HEFCE Research Activity Surveys. | ||||
Table 3 as follows shows headcount figures on the number of taught masters, other masters, PhD and other doctoral studies places that were funded in 2010/11 and are expected to be funded in 2011/12 in the UK by Research Councils UK. The figures are broken down by research council.
| Table 3: Number of headcount postgraduate places funded by RCUK (UK institutions) | ||||||||
| Taught masters | Other masters | PhD | Other doctoral studies | |||||
|
|
2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 |
| General notes: 1. The data do not take in to account any funds leveraged by higher education institutions to increase the total number of studentship places available. 2. Figures for 2011/12 are estimates and hence the actual numbers may vary from those given above. If universities choose to support part-time students and fees-only students, and/or match research council funding with that from other sources, then more students will be able to be supported; PhD students may also be supported by larger research grants from some councils. Notes on Medical Research Council (MRC) data : 1. All of the data presented above exclude studentships at MRC funded centres. In 2008/09 there were a total of 226 students undergoing doctoral training in MRC funded Centres. This figure includes existing and new students. The MRC does not have data available for any other years. 2. Data for 2010/11 and 2011/12 are not yet available. 3. The number of studentship places funded by the MRC is subject to annual review. At present MRC have no plans to significantly increase or decrease funding for PhD or Research Masters Studentships. Notes on Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) data: All masters students are included in “Other masters”. Separate figures are not available for Taught and Research masters. PhD studentship numbers or the last three years are estimates from data based on returns provided by awarded institutions. Notes on Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) data: EPSRC only supports masters-level training when it aligns with their broader strategy. For this reason, in 2009 they decided to focus most of their support in this area on activities which employ masters-level training as a means of developing highly skilled doctoral-level researchers, rather than those which view the provision of masters graduates as an end in itself. As a result, their current support for masters-level training is delivered via the Centres for Doctoral Training, Doctoral Training Accounts and some courses in Mathematical Sciences (eg Statistics). Not all of these routes provide students with a formal masters qualification so it would be difficult to be definitive about numbers over a specific period. Notes on Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) data: ESRC funds a mix of 3 year PhD and 1 year + 3 years masters + PhD awards. The total amount of these awards is included under section (c) PhD for the previous and next three years. ESRC are unable to disaggregate these figures further in the time available without use of disproportionate resources, however they estimate that 60% of the awards are of the 1 + 3 type. Under section (b) Other masters, they have included a strategic initiative where we fund standalone masters to build research capacity in demography. Notes on Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) data: NERC does not differentiate between MSc and MRes, so all places listed as other masters. | ||||||||
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Higher Education: Hearing Impairment
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to promote deaf awareness among UK universities and other higher education providers. [87583]
Mr Willetts: The Department is not itself undertaking specific activity to promote deaf awareness in higher education. However, we provide funding to both the Disability Alliance and the Equality Challenge Unit, independent organisations which alongside providing advice and guidance to higher education institutions also help raise awareness about a range of equality issues in the sector.
Higher education institutions have duties under the Equality Act 2010 to support disabled students, including deaf students, when applying to higher education and when studying. The law establishes a framework of responsibility which higher education institutions must comply with and also promotes an anticipatory and proactive approach to supporting disabled students. Institutions are required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled students to ensure that they can fully participate in their education and enjoy the other benefits, facilities and services which are provided for students.
The Government support disabled students in higher education through funding. We provide funding to higher education institutions, through the Higher Education Funding Council for England, to help them recruit and support disabled students; £13 million will be provided in academic year 2011/12.
The Government also provide direct support to disabled students through disabled students’ allowances (DSAs). DSAs can help pay the extra costs a student may incur, because of a disability, when undertaking a course of higher education. DSAs are provided in addition to the standard student support package, are not income-assessed and do not have to be repaid.
Higher Education: Overseas Students
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department to ensure that prospective overseas students are not dissuaded from applying to UK universities by changes to the Tier 4 visa regime. [85560]
Mr Willetts: I have regular meetings and correspondence with the Minister for Immigration, my hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Damian Green), to discuss issues raised with me by the higher education sector relating to the Tier 4 visa regime.
We have discussed the impact of proposals around maximum length of study, the removal of post-study work and during study work rights.
We have also discussed how to ensure that the message is clear that the UK welcomes legitimate students. The purpose of the changes to the visa regime is to eliminate abuse within the system.
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students from each EU member state are studying at English universities in the 2011-12 academic year. [86194]
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Mr Willetts: Information on the number of enrolments for European Union (EU) member state-domiciled students is shown in the table, for English higher education institutions. Figures are provided for the academic year 2009/10. Information for the 2010/11 academic year will become available from 12 January 2012.
| European Union enrolments (1) by country of domicile (2) , English higher education institutions, academic year 2009/10 | |
| EU member state | Enrolments |
| (1) Covers entrants to full-time and part-time postgraduate and undergraduate courses. (2 )Country of domicile is the student's permanent or home address prior to entry to the course. (3 )Figures for France include Corsica, Guadeloupe, Guiana, Martinique and Reunion. Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded up or down to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record. | |
Investment: Environment Protection
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether UK Green Investment will be providing support for the Green Deal. [87101]
Mr Prisk: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2011, Official Report, column 1024W.
Phoenix Companies
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many companies, declared bankrupt following convictions for fraud, have been resurrected as phoenix companies. [87760]
Mr Davey: The information requested is not recorded and as a consequence is not available.
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Post Offices
Mr Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many Post Office Locals in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland he expects will be located in (i) urban and (ii) rural areas. [87016]
Mr Davey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 December 2011, Official Report, columns 1030-31W. The exact location of new Post Office Local branches is dependent on the suitability of the Local model to the location concerned, the views of existing sub-postmasters on how the model can assist their business going forward, and the requirement by Post Office Ltd to both maintain a network of at least 11,500 branches and to continue to comply with the strict access criteria whereby, for example, over 99% of the national population must be within three miles of a post office outlet.
The Post Office Local model, which has been designed with the customer specifically in mind, is expected to be most suitable for those sub-post offices and retail premises that are typically found in urban, suburban and larger rural communities.
Regional Growth Fund: Merseyside
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) nationally have been awarded regional growth funding contracts; and how many have received capital to date. [87188]
Mr Prisk [holding answer 19 December 2011]: Four projects from Walton, 11 from Merseyside and 176 nationally were awarded conditional allocations from the Regional Growth Fund. In Merseyside two companies have recently signed final allocations and are under way. Monies for the projects are paid in arrears but will draw down resource in 2012. Claims for £95.5 million have been paid to companies and organisations through the Regional Growth Fund.
Senior Civil Servants: Engineering
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many members of his Department's senior management team have (a) an engineering qualification and (b) experience in the engineering industry. [86186]
Mr Willetts: At senior civil service (SCS) level in BIS we have six people with formal engineering qualifications. In addition we have another six with experience of working in the engineering industry. In total our SCS has 55 years of experience of working in the engineering industry.
Students: Loans
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the average debt owed to the Student Loans Company by students graduating in (a) 2011, (b) 2010, (c) 2009, (d) 2008 and (e) 2007. [85524]
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Mr Hayes: The average debt accumulated by borrowers who graduated (or otherwise left their course) in years 2007-10 is shown in the following table. Figures come from table 3(iii) of the Official Statistics: “Income Contingent repayments by repayment cohort and tax year 2000/01 to 2009/10 inclusive (provisional)” available on the Student Loans Company (SLC) website at:
http://www.slc.co.uk/media/77960/SLCOSP022011.pdf
| Graduation/withdrawal year | Average amount of debt outstanding (£) |
| Source: SLC | |
The figures above relate to the average outstanding debt at the beginning of the tax year when borrowers became liable to repay. Figures take into account repayments made, loans cancelled because of death or permanent disability and accrued interest in advance of the Statutory Repayment Due Date (SRDD).
The latest forecast of the average debt at SRDD in April 2012 for 2011 graduates/withdrawals is £17,500, to the nearest £500. This figure is subject to change due to interest being added, early repayments being made and borrowers who are currently counted in later repayment cohorts withdrawing from their courses before April 2012.
Education
Academies Act 2010
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the Academies Act 2010 on the provision of support services for schools. [84627]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 5 December 2011]: The provision of services to schools is a matter for local decision. Local authorities provide a variety of services to their schools and to academies. The pattern of service provision is constantly changing. We have made no specific assessment of the effect of the Academies Act 2010 in this respect.
Academies: School Meals
Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that school dinners in schools with academy status conform to a programme of healthy eating. [84375]
Mr Gibb: Academy principals know that good food supports good behaviour and better concentration in school and will wish to provide healthy school dinners. There are no plans to ask academies to conform to a particular programme of healthy eating or the school food standards that apply to maintained schools, although the standards provide a benchmark of good practice. There is no evidence that academies provide a less healthy diet than other schools.
The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has asked the School Food Trust to look at the approach academies are taking to providing healthy school food for their pupils; this will include a mixture of established and new academies.
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Children: Abuse
Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department has taken to record the number of children who experience neglect. [87157]
Tim Loughton: In England, national data are collected on the number of children who are assessed by children's social services as being children in need and the reasons why they are in need, including whether that is for abuse or neglect. Data are also collected on the number of children who are the subject of a child protection plan by category of abuse including a category for neglect.
The Department has been working with a range of stakeholders and sector leaders to take forward the Government's response to Professor Munro's recommendation to have a revised suite of local and national performance information to drive improvements in children's safeguarding. This should give local authorities and central Government greater understanding of neglect and of other aspects of safeguarding children than is currently available through existing collections. The Department has now published the local children's safeguarding performance information that it agreed with the sector local areas should collect. The Department is planning to launch a full public consultation in January on the national children's safeguarding performance information recommended by Professor Eileen Munro.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the guidance issued to civil servants in his Department responsible for drafting answers to Parliamentary Questions; and if he will make a statement. [85170]
Tim Loughton: The Department issues Cabinet Office guidance on drafting answers to parliamentary questions to staff in the Department who are responsible for drafting answers, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. In addition, guidance is provided on ministerial preferences.
Departmental Pay
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether any senior staff in (a) his Department and (b) its non-departmental public bodies are paid by means of payments to a limited company in lieu of a salary; and if he will publish his policy on such payments. [85084]
Tim Loughton [holding answer 5 December 2011]: The Department, its executive agency (the Standards and Testing Agency) and its non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) do not make payments to individuals to a limited company in lieu of salary. All senior staff are directly employed, are paid through payroll and have deductions for income tax and national insurance contributions made at source.
All payments for the Department, its agency and NDPBs follow the guidelines set out in the Civil Service Management Code:
http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/civil-service-management-code
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Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to ensure social value is included when services are commissioned by (a) his Department and (b) its public bodies; and if he will make a statement. [85651]
Tim Loughton: UK public procurement policy is to award contracts on the basis of value for money, which means the optimum combination of cost and quality over the lifetime of the project. Public sector procurers are required to assess value for money from the perspective of the contracting authority using criteria linked to the subject matter of the contract, including compliance with the published specification.
Wider socio-economic benefits that do not accrue to the contracting authority cannot be taken into account at tender evaluation stage if they do not relate to the subject matter of a contract from the point of view of the contracting authority.
Education Maintenance Allowance
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 8 November 2011, Official Report, column 286W, on education maintenance allowance, if he will take steps to ensure that the independent evaluation considers the effects of the new arrangements for financial support for young people aged 16 to 19 on (a) recruitment, (b) attendance levels, (c) retention and (d) achievement of students post-16. [85526]
Mr Gibb: The three year independent evaluation will be supplemented by regular analyses of management information from providers in receipt of 16 to 19 Bursary funding. The evaluation will collect and analyse the characteristics of applicants and recipients of the bursaries to enable the Department to assess whether the fund is meeting the needs of young people (particularly those disproportionately less likely to participate post-16). It will also consider the perceived impact of the bursaries and examine providers’ decision-making processes when awarding bursaries; and inform reviews of allocation criteria during subsequent years of the programme.
Education: Assessments
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to consolidating the examination boards into a single organisation. [86812]
Mr Gibb: The Government are clear that any practices which undermine the integrity of the examinations system are unacceptable.
Following the recent investigations by T he Daily Telegraph into the conduct of awarding body examiners, the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), asked Ofqual to conduct an urgent investigation into the specific allegations. The scope of Ofqual's investigation will examine every aspect of awarding bodies' conduct which gives rise to concern.
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The Secretary of State has asked Ofqual's chief executive, Glenys Stacey, to report back before Christmas with her conclusions and recommendations for further action. No option, including the future landscape of awarding bodies, is off the table.
Educational Visits: Accidents
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many incidents requiring hospitalisation there were involving children on school trips and expeditions in the UK in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010. [86629]
Mr Gibb: The requested information is not held centrally by the Department. However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) collects data on injuries reported and defined under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995 and provides the following information:
Educational Visits: Risk Assessment
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to simplify the process of undertaking risk assessments for learning outside the classroom. [86630]
Mr Gibb: The Department for Education published revised and reduced health and safety guidance for schools on 2 July 2011. The guidance summarises how the existing health and safety law affects schools, local authorities, governing bodies, and staff—particularly in relation to school trips and risk assessments.
The advice clarifies that school employers should always take a common sense and proportionate approach to risk assessment, remembering that in schools risk assessment and risk management are tools to enable children to undertake activities safely, and not prevent
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activities from taking place. Sensible risk management cannot remove risk altogether but it should avoid needless or unhelpful paperwork.
The Department will review the guidance in summer 2012.
Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to simplify his Department's guidance on health and safety for learning outside the classroom. [86631]
Mr Gibb: The Department for Education published revised and reduced health and safety advice for schools on 2 July 2011. The guidance summarises how the existing health and safety law affects schools, local authorities, governing bodies, and staff—particularly in relation to school trips and risk assessment
This advice has been reduced from 150 pages of information to eight pages. The Department will review the guidance again in summer 2012.
English Baccalaureate
Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the potential impact on the take-up of school subjects of non-inclusion in the English Baccalaureate in each of the next five years. [85009]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 5 December 2011]: The Department has carried out an assessment of the impact of the English Baccalaureate on subject choices, through commissioning research which was published on 31 August 2011.
The survey indicated that 47% of pupils taking GCSEs in 2013 in the schools responding will be taking subjects that could lead to an English Baccalaureate, compared with just 23% of GCSE-stage pupils entered in 2011. The research did not provide evidence which could be used to draw robust conclusions about the take-up of individual subjects not included in the scope of the English Baccalaureate. Schools were asked to indicate whether any subjects or courses had been withdrawn from the curriculum or failed to recruit enough pupils for the next academic year. Just under half (45%) of schools reported that one or more courses or subjects had been withdrawn, or were under review. However, it was not possible to identify the extent to which these changes were as a result of the introduction of the English Baccalaureate, or the effect on take-up of individual subjects.
The research report can be viewed at:
https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/RSG/publicationDetail/Page1/DFE-RB150
Copies have already been placed in the House Libraries.
We will continue to monitor the impact of the English Baccalaureate on GCSE subject choices, including through review of GCSE entries in 2012.
Free School Meals: Preston
Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many school students in Preston were in receipt of free school meals on 30 September (a) 2010 and (b) 2011. [83869]
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Mr Gibb:
Information on the number of pupils eligible for free school meals on 30 September 2010 and 2011 is not collected. Free school meal eligibility is collected via the termly school censuses in January, May and
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October. Information on free school meal eligibility as at January 2010 and 2011 in Preston is shown in the tables. To provide information based on the October or May school censuses would incur disproportionate cost.
| Number and percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals, Preston parliamentary constituency, January each year | |||||||||
| Maintained nursery and state-funded primary schools (1, 2) | State-funded secondary schools (1, 3) | Special schools (4) | |||||||
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Number on roll (5, 6) | Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5, 6) | Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals | Number on roll (5, 6) | Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5, 6) | Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals | Number on roll (5, 6) | Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5, 6) | Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals |
| Pupil referral units | Maintained nursery, state-funded primary (1, 2, ) state-funded secondary (1, 3, ) special schools (4) and pupil referral units | |||||
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Number on roll (5, 6) | Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5, 6) | Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals | Number on roll (5, 6) | Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (5, 6) | Percentage known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals |
| (1 )Includes middle schools as deemed. (2 )Includes primary academies. (3) Includes city technology colleges and secondary and all through academies. (4) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (5) Includes sole and dual (main) registrations. In pupil referral units also includes pupils registered with other providers and further education colleges. (6) Includes pupils who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part-time attendance and are aged between five and 15 (age as at 31 August). Source: School Census. | ||||||
Free Schools
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what steps he plans to take to maintain existing successful schools in areas where free schools are proposed; [84467]
(2) what consultations are held with (a) existing successful schools and (b) communities in areas where a free school is proposed; [84469]
(3) what consideration is given to the existence of sufficient places in successful schools in an area where a new free school is proposed. [84470]
Mr Gibb: Free Schools are set up in response to parental demand and encourage neighbouring schools to improve. This demand for new schools is often caused by a lack of pupil places or parents being dissatisfied with the quality of local provision. Interested parties have the opportunity to comment on these issues during the consultation process carried out by the academy trust of each free school as part of their statutory duty.
Consultation is a key part of the establishment of a free school. The academy trust of the free school is required by the Academies Act 2010 to carry out a consultation with appropriate stakeholders. The Secretary of State for Education will take the results of the consultation into account when deciding whether to enter into a funding agreement.
Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on how many occasions he overturned the original recommendation from his officials on a free school application; and who the applicants were. [85364]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 7 December 2011]: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), receives advice from officials on a wide range of matters on a daily basis and makes his decisions having carefully considered all the relevant matters and facts.
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which free schools planning to open in 2012 or later have received initial approval in each (a) region, (b) local authority and (c) parliamentary constituency. [86374]
Mr Gibb: Applications for 71 free schools planning to open in 2012 or beyond have been approved to move to pre-opening stage. The locations of the free schools will depend on the availability of suitable sites, but as a guide, the proposed locations (at the time of application) are as follows:
| Name of free school | Region | Local authority | Constituency |
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Free Schools: Finance
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what methodology his Department uses in respect of the calculation of revenue funding for free schools; how much he has allocated to each free school in 2011-12; and how many pupils were enrolled in each school as at September 2011. [75512]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 19 October 2011]: Annual revenue funding for free schools is equivalent to that received by maintained schools and academies in the same local authority area.
Guidance on the methodology used to calculate revenue funding for free schools can be found on the Department's website at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools/a0073853/advice-on-free-school-revenue-funding-201112
The revenue funding allocated to each of the 24 open free schools for the academic year 2011/12 by the Young People’s Learning Agency is shown in the following table (excluding site and start-up costs).
| School | LA | Phase | Total pupil funding 2011/12 (rounded) (£) |
We estimate that the free schools which opened in September 2011 have over 3,000 pupils enrolled in total. Information about the number of children on roll at each school will be collected in the annual school census and published in due course.
Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reason he has decided to provide funding for free schools specialising in mathematics for 16 to 18 year olds rather than funding for additional places in existing high-performing colleges and school sixth forms. [85464]
Mr Gibb: Our proposal could give strong university mathematics departments and academics in this country the chance to lead in developing and implementing new curricula and teaching methods for the most able mathematics students and provide the best possible preparation for further study in mathematics and related disciplines in our leading universities. We are keen to engage with all those who have an interest to explore possible models and innovative ideas.
Further Education
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with each sector skill council since May 2010. [79013]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 21 November 2011]: The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has not met any of the Sector Skills Councils since May 2010.
I met E-Skills on 29 November 2011. The Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning, my hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr Hayes), met the Construction Industry Training Board twice (on 28 October 2010 and 12 October 2011) and Creative and Culture Skills twice (on 14 October 2011 and 12 December 2011).
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No other Ministers for the Department for Education have met any of the Sector Skills Councils since May 2010.
GCE A-level
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of pupils from (a) comprehensive and (b) independent schools achieved (i) three As at A Level and (ii) three A Level passes in (A) 1997 and (B) 2010. [73179]
Mr Gibb: Information for 1997 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The information for the year 2010 is given in the following table:
| Percentage ofcandidates (1, 2, 3 ) achieving three or more AS level and three or more A level passes at comprehensive and independent mainstream schools, 2010 | ||
| Percentage | ||
| Admissions policy of school (4) | Pupils achieving three or more individual AS level subject passes | Pupils achieving three or more individual A level subject passes |
| (1) Students entered for a GCE or applied GCE A level or other level 3 qualification equivalent in size to an A level. (2) Including attempts and achievements by these pupils in previous academic years. (3) Students are at the end of key stage 5 studies in the academic year 2009/10. (4) School type as recorded in the Post-16 School Performance Tables. (5) Including city technology colleges and academies. (6 )Excludes non-maintained and independent special schools. Source: Post 16 School Performance Tables. | ||
Provisional figures for 2011 were published on 20 October 2011 in the Statistical First Release “GCE/Applied GCE A/AS and Equivalent Examination Results in England, 2010/11 (Provisional)” which is available at the following link:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001035/index.shtml
Grammar Schools: Free School Meals
Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils at grammar schools are entitled to free school meals as a proportion of all pupils in (a) the catchment area at the school, (b) the local authority ward in which the school is located and (c) the local authority area in which the school is located. [86391]
Mr Gibb: The requested information by local authority area and local authority ward is shown in the following tables.
Information for the catchment area of the schools is not available.
| Selective schools: pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (1, 2, 3) , January 2011, by ward, for those with at least one selective school, England | |||
| Ward name | Number on roll, all schools in the ward area (2, 3, 4) | Number of pupils in selective schools known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals in the ward area (1, 2, 3) | Number of pupils in selective schools (1) known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals as a percentage of all pupils (2. 3. 4 ) in the ward area |
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| x = 1 or 2 pupils or a percentage based on 1 or 2 pupils. (1) Includes pupils who are eligible for and claiming free school meals who attend one of the 164 selective schools in England. (2) Includes pupils who are a sole or dual main registration. Includes boarders. In pupil referral units includes pupils registered with other providers and further education colleges. (3 )Pupils who have full-time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part time attendance and are aged between five and 15. (4) Includes maintained nursery, state-funded primary, slate-funded secondary and special schools and pupil referral units. Includes middle schools as deemed, primary academies, secondary academies and city technology colleges. Source: School Census. | |||