Warm Front Scheme
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 19 April 2012, Official Report, column 491W, on the Warm Front scheme, what the average length of time was between the lodging of an application for a Warm Front grant and a decision to accept or reject the application. [105612]
Gregory Barker: In 2011-12 the average time taken from application to survey was 38 working days. Applicants are informed at the point of survey whether they qualify for assistance under the scheme.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 19 April 2012, Official Report, column 491W, on the Warm Front scheme; when he expects the applications for a Warm Front grant that are awaiting a survey to (a) have a survey completed and (b) be informed whether their application has been accepted or rejected. [105615]
Gregory Barker: There are two points at which applicants' eligibility for Warm Front assistance is determined: at the time the initial application is made and at survey. Applicants who are deemed potentially eligible for assistance at initial application proceed to have a survey carried out. At survey the surveyor obtains evidence of applicants' eligibility for assistance through proof of qualifying benefit criteria and tenure, and by an assessment of the SAP rating of the property. Applicants are informed at the point of survey whether they qualify for assistance under the scheme. The current average length of time from application to survey is 11 working days.
International Development
Argentina
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many loans under both the simplified and non-simplified procedures have been submitted to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development board since September 2011 related to projects in Argentina; and on what dates any such loans were made. [105566]
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Mr Duncan: DFID does not maintain an aid programme to Argentina and no UK aid is spent providing loans to Argentina at the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
No new loans have been submitted to IBRD since September 2011. However, two requests to restructure existing loans have taken place, one in September 2011 and one in February 2012.
Specific details are as follows:
Restructure of National Highway Asset Management Project—board meeting 7 February 2012, loan originally approved 28 June 2007.
Restructure of Buenos Aires Infrastructure Sustainable Investment Development Adaptable Program Loan Project Phase II—board meeting 30 September 2011, loan originally approved 28 June 2007.
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on what dates he expects (a) submissions to be made on International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) projects in Argentina, (b) votes on projects involving Argentina to take place in the IBRD and (c) meetings of the IBRD board to be held under both the simplified and non-simplified procedures on such projects. [105567]
Mr Duncan: DFID does not maintain an aid programme to Argentina and no UK aid is spent providing loans to Argentina at the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
I can confirm that at present there are no items relating to Argentina on the current schedule of the World Bank board.
Central Africa: West Africa
Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to assist charities and aid groups working in central and western Africa to eliminate hunger in the region. [106018]
Mr O'Brien: The UK Government works in a range of countries in central and western Africa. The coalition Government instituted a major review of all bilateral aid, following which our aid programmes have been re-focused on the countries in greatest need.
The current food crisis in the Sahel region of west Africa has left over 16 million men, women and children at risk of food shortages. The Government has allocated funds to support over 400,000 people through improved nutrition and community livelihoods support such as providing animal feed, animal vaccinations, cash and/or in-kind transfers. This assistance is being provided through the World Food Programme as well as non-governmental organisations such as Save the Children, Oxfam and Action Against Hunger.
In addition to this short-term emergency response, the UK Government provides through the Programme Partnership Arrangements (PPA) strategic support to the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) which aims to increase access to and consumption of high quality foods among target groups. Our support will help GAIN deliver improved nutritional status to at least 60 million people globally.
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The UK also supports the African Union’s Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) programme and its efforts to improve planning and increase spending on agriculture and food security to 10% of national budgets. This should increase agricultural productivity by at least 6% per year to meet the millennium development goal on hunger. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have all signed a CAADP agreement and are preparing agricultural investment plans.
Developing Countries
Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to promote equal access to schools for disabled children in the developing world. [105860]
Mr O'Brien: The UK Government is committed to helping provide a good quality basic education for all children, including those with a disability. We recognise that disability is a major factor excluding children from school and we are working with our country partners to tailor our education support. For example, in Malawi, we have helped approximately 700,000 children with disabilities to enter education. Through DFID support 4,200 classrooms have been constructed and 70% of these have ramp access. We have also produced a ‘Guidance Note' on inclusive education for children with disabilities in developing countries. This note is available on the Department for International Development website.
Diamond Jubilee 2012
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what special arrangements he plans to make for celebrations of Her Majesty's diamond jubilee in his Department's offices overseas. [106277]
Mr Duncan: There are no specific centrally-organised plans for celebrations of Her Majesty's diamond jubilee in DFID offices overseas.
However, the Government, through DFID, is supporting the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Trust in its work to deliver results for, and improve the lives of, some of the poorest individuals and communities across the Commonwealth.
Global Schools Partnership Scheme
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he plans to take to promote relationships between schools in the UK and developing countries following the closure of the Global Schools Partnership Scheme. [105147]
Mr O'Brien: The DFID funded Global School Partnerships Programme (GSP) awarded final grants to schools in March 2012, but will continue to provide support and advice to schools that have been awarded grants until March 2013.
DFID and the British Council will continue to support school linking through a new scheme, which will launch in June this year.
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Mining
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2012, Official Report, column 809W, on mining, what consideration he gave to the answer of 28 April 2008, Official Report, column 61W, on coal mining: Bangladesh, when preparing the answer. [106058]
Mr Duncan: DFID did not refer to the answer from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) from April 2008 when answering this parliamentary question to DFID on coal mining in Bangladesh.
Agreement of the coal policy and whether or not to allow open pit mining at Phulbari or elsewhere is a decision that only the Government of Bangladesh can make, but we would expect all environmental and human rights issues to be addressed. GCM, as a British company, is entitled to the support of UK Trade and Investment. Her Majesty's Government is, however, not involved in direct discussions on the Phulbari mine with the Government of Bangladesh.
Official Visits
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many journeys (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department made by (i) train, (ii) coach and (iii) Government car in an official capacity in each of the last six months. [106199]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: In the six-month period ending March 2012 there have been 1,751 train journeys within the UK and Europe, 11 of which were by Ministers. Details of coach and car journeys cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.
Overseas Aid
Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will bring forward proposals in the new Session to place on a statutory basis the Government's commitment to spend 0.7% of gross national income on overseas aid. [105974]
Mr Andrew Mitchell: The coalition Government's “Programme for Government” made clear that it would enshrine the commitment to invest 0.7% of gross national income as official development assistance into law. I am pleased to say that the Government has drafted a Bill to this effect. The Bill is now with business managers, and, as the Prime Minister has made clear, the Government will legislate when parliamentary time allows.
Procurement: Small Business
Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on procurement in the fourth quarter of 2010-11; and what proportion of this was with small and medium-sized enterprises. [105876]
Mr Duncan: Procurement spend by the Department for International Development in the fourth quarter of 2010-11 was £132.6 million
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At that time, DFID did not track spend with small and medium-sized enterprises and as a result we are unable to provide the proportion of spend that is with SMEs for this period.
St Helena: Airports
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he and Ministers of his Department had with the (a) Prime Minister and (b) Foreign Secretary on the decision to fund an airport in St Helena; and whether the awarding of contracts to build the airport was discussed on any such occasions. [105821]
Mr Duncan: Neither I, nor the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), had discussions with the Prime Minister or the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), on the decision to fund an airport in St Helena. DFID and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Officials have regular contact regarding the overseas territories and FCO Officials were informed of the decision to proceed to contract, following approval from HM Treasury.
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the evidential basis was for his decision to allocate funding for the building of an airport in St Helena. [106061]
Mr Duncan: A great deal of work has been commissioned over many years to provide evidence on which to base a decision. The evidence has been reviewed through the Government's Gateway Review process.
Two pieces of work were of particular importance. The 2005 feasibility study concluded that developing an airport on St Helena represents best value for money, facilitating economic development on the island, and in the long term leading to a reduction in the requirement for UK support. Further economic analysis in 2010 confirmed this conclusion.
Syria
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate he has made of the numbers of Syrians who have fled Syria since March 2011 and have sought refuge in (a) Turkey, (b) Iraq, (c) Lebanon and (d) Jordan. [R] [105515]
Mr Duncan: The UK is working with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to meet the needs of refugees in the region. UNHCR estimates that there are 48,880 registered Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries. However, we understand that in total there are over 80,000 registered and unregistered Syrian refugees in the region.
UNHCR has made the following estimates of refugee flows from Syria to neighbouring countries: (a) 23,343 refugees from Syria are registered in Turkey. (b) 2,329 refugees from Syria are registered in Iraq. Another 800 people await registration. (c) 11,174 refugees from Syria are registered in Lebanon. A total of 22,000 Syrian refugees are being assisted by UNHCR throughout Lebanon. (d) 12,034 refugees from Syria are registered
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in Jordan. An additional 4,251 people are awaiting registration and some 30,000 people have been identified by local organisations as in need of assistance in Jordan.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to his Department's press release Syria: New British medical aid and help for refugees, published on 19 April 2012, what discussions he has had with (a) the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and (b) other recipient agencies on the destination by country of the humanitarian aid; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of international aid allocated to assist Syrian refugees fleeing to (i) Turkey, (ii) Iraq, (iii) Lebanon and (iv) Jordan. [R] [105516]
Mr Duncan: The Secretary of State spoke to Antonio Guterres, head of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), on 18 April 2012 and officials from the Department for International Development remain in regular contact with the other humanitarian organisations receiving UK funding for their operations in Syria and the region.
UNHCR and the humanitarian agencies receiving British funding respond flexibly to a rapidly changing situation in order to deliver aid to those who need it most. The largest populations of registered refugees are currently to be found in Turkey, followed by Jordan and Lebanon. UNHCR is working with country Governments and other partners to ensure humanitarian priorities are met. Aid is allocated according to the needs of refugee populations as and when they arise.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to his Department's press release Syria: New British medical aid and help for refugees, published on 19 April 2012, if he will make it his policy that the recipient agencies of the announced humanitarian aid should provide to him, by country, information on how and where that aid has been deployed; and if he will make a statement. [R] [105517]
Mr Duncan: Humanitarian agencies are doing outstanding work delivering food, medical supplies and other assistance both to people affected by the violence within Syria and to refugee populations in neighbouring countries. New British funding, announced on 19 April 2012, will contribute to providing safe and appropriate accommodation for over 1,900 people fleeing their homes as a result of the violence, food for 1,200 people, as well as water and sanitation for 800 people. UK funding will also enable the urgent provision of medical care for at least 25,000 people across Syria and additional medical support as needs arise.
Regular and effective monitoring is central to how DFID measures the performance of its aid programmes. DFID is engaging closely with all recipient agencies of the humanitarian aid, requesting and interrogating results information and assessing progress against intended outcomes. We are committed to making our aid fully transparent; however, in order to protect the operations of the humanitarian agencies working on the ground, DFID will not be disclosing specific details of where and how these organisations are delivering aid. Information on their performance will still be interrogated and monitored within the Department.
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Turks and Caicos Islands
Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he and Ministers of his Department had discussions with Lord Ashcroft on awarding contracts for the construction of (a) an airport and (b) two hospitals in the Turks and Caicos Islands. [105822]
Mr Duncan: No Minister at DFID has had any discussions with Lord Ashcroft on awarding contracts for the construction in the Turks and Caicos Islands of an airport or the two hospitals.
Zimbabwe
Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid the Government is providing to the people of Zimbabwe. [105158]
Mr O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) provided £88 million of assistance to Zimbabwe in 2011-12. This supported a range of development programmes including health, education, infrastructure, water supplies, child protection and agriculture that directly benefit the poorest and most vulnerable Zimbabweans.
This assistance is delivered through trusted partners such as UNICEF, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and the African Development Bank; none of it passes through the Government of Zimbabwe.
By 2015, we plan to have created 125,000 new jobs, provided almost 1 million more people with access to clean water, helped 80,000 more children to complete five years of education and given over 700,000 more women access to family planning.
Education
Academies
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department plans to reimburse local authorities for the costs incurred in relation to legal transfer issues when schools convert to academy status. [104723]
Mr Gibb: We have worked to make the conversion process simple and straightforward to minimise the cost to schools and others including local authorities. To that end, we provide model documentation and clear guidance on the steps they need to take.
While we appreciate that local authorities, like other organisations, are working within tight financial constraints, we currently have no plans to provide funding. However, we will continue to keep the process and associated costs under review.
Addison Lee
Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what meetings (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in his Department have had with John Griffin of Addison Lee since 12 May 2010. [105109]
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Tim Loughton [holding answer 24 April 2012]: None of the Ministers, special advisers or officials of the Department for Education have had meetings with John Griffin of Addison Lee since 12 May 2010.
Bedfordshire
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much pupil premium funding was received (a) in South West Bedfordshire and (b) by Central Bedfordshire council in 2011-12; and how many pupils attracted this funding. [105842]
Sarah Teather: The pupil premium was introduced in April 2011 and allocations have so far been made for the 2011-12 financial year only. For 2011-12 the pupil premium funding is £488 per pupil in respect of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM), and for children in care who have been continuously looked after for at least six months and £200 per pupil for those whose parents are serving in the armed forces.
In 2011-12 the total pupil premium allocation for schools in South West Bedfordshire was £846,000, in respect of 1,750 eligible pupils. This includes 1,723 pupils eligible for the deprivation premium, and 27 pupils eligible for the service premium. Figures for pupils in alternative provision, or looked after children, are not available at parliamentary constituency level.
In 2011-12 the total pupil premium allocation for Central Bedfordshire local authority was £1,695,000, in respect of 3,690 eligible pupils. This includes 3,229 pupils eligible for the deprivation premium, 98 eligible for the looked after premium and 360 eligible for the service premium.
Child Activity
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make an estimate of the amount of time the average child spends on each of the following activities (a) sleeping, (b) in school, (c) travelling, (d) watching television or video or using a computer, (e) physical exercise, (f) personal activities such as eating, dressing and bathing and (g) socialising and playing in each year for which data is available. [105298]
Sarah Teather [holding answer 24 April 2012]:The Department does not hold data on how much time children spend on different activities.
The 2000 Time Use Study carried out by the Office for National Statistics is the best source of data on how people in the UK spend their time. Time use diaries are available for children aged 8 to 13. A 2004 report on these data for the Department shows that on a typical weekday in term time children spent nearly two hours engaged in personal care including washing and eating and a similar amount of time consuming TV, video or music. Between an hour and an hour and a half per weekday was spent on hobbies and games. Much less time was spent on sport (less than half an hour) or reading (less than 15 minutes).(1)
The diaries also showed that, in 2000, children on average spent over six hours a day on school work during school term weekdays and about half an hour on school term weekends. Children spent less than half an hour per weekday on homework.
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A recent report by the Nuffield Foundation on Changing Adolescence compares the time use of 11 to 15-year-olds in 1974 and 2000. It finds that over this period time spent on sleep, travel and education increased while time spent on domestic activities and employment declined. Further details of the report are available here:
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/files/Changing%20Adolescence_Social%20trends%20and%20mental%20 health_introducing%20the%20main%20findings.pdf
(1) Egerton, M and Gershuny, J (2004) “Utility of time use data: Report to DfES”, ISER: University of Essex
Children in Care: Vitamin D
John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will take steps to ensure local authorities review their files to identify any situations where children may have been wrongly taken into care as a result of vitamin D deficiency. [105490]
Tim Loughton: The Children Act 1989 sets the legal framework under which a local authority may intervene in family life. In every case where a child is taken into care on a care order, the courts will have considered the evidence and taken the view that the child has been significantly harmed, or would be if they were not taken into care. In every case concerning the upbringing of a child the court is required to treat the welfare of the child concerned as its paramount consideration.
All looked after children are required to have a care plan, which must include arrangements made to meet the child's health needs. This health plan, which forms part of a child's wider care plan, is informed by an initial health assessment and written report by a registered medical practitioner of the child's state of physical, emotional and mental health. The health plan must be reviewed regularly. The care planning process has clear and transparent reviewing requirements that ensure that children's needs and views as well as those of the parents are regularly taken into account.
Class Sizes
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the average class size was in the 16 to 19 education sector in the (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11 academic year. [104465]
Mr Gibb: Class size information is not available for further education colleges.
The average class size for year groups 12 and 13 combined in state-funded secondary schools in England was 11.1 in January 2010 and 11.2 in January 2011.
Class size information is collected during a single selected period in each school on the day of the school census in January. A substantial number of pupils in year groups 12 and 13 were in private study during the selected period and are therefore not included in these figures (around a third of pupils were not included in January 2011).
The latest available information on class sizes is published in tables 7a to 7c of the Statistical First Release ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2011’ available at
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001012/index.shtml
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Curriculum: Design
Anna Soubry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his policy is on the future of design and technology classes for all age groups in schools. [105998]
Mr Gibb: The Government is currently considering the position of design and technology in the National Curriculum alongside other subjects as part of the review of the National Curriculum. We will be announcing the outcome of this shortly.
Elliott School: Playing Fields
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education under which criteria the sale and development of playing fields at Elliott School Wandsworth was approved; and if he will make a statement. [105697]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 26 April 2012]:School playing fields are protected by section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Schools and local authorities must obtain the Secretary of State’s approval before they can dispose of their land. Applications to dispose of school playing fields are approved only when it is demonstrated that the application meets published criteria. There has been no approval of the sale of land at Elliott School. However, I am aware of an imminent application by Wandsworth LA to seek approval for disposal of part of the school site. The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), will look at the recommendation of the independent School Playing Fields Advisory Panel before making his final decision.
Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will use his powers under section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to prevent the sale of playing fields at Elliott School in Putney; and if he will make a statement. [105287]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 24 April 2012]: School playing fields are protected by section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Schools and local authorities must obtain the Secretary of State's approval before they can dispose of their land. Applications to dispose of school playing fields must contain details of local consultation, are considered by the independent school playing fields advisory panel, and are approved only when it is demonstrated that the application meets published criteria. I am aware of an imminent application by Wandsworth LA to seek approval to dispose of part of its school site.
The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), will consider the recommendation of the independent school playing fields advisory panel before making his final decision.
GCSE
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has given Ofsted instructions on how the proportion of candidates obtaining particular classification of grades in GCSE results affect Ofsted rating of schools. [105071]
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Mr Gibb [holding answer 24 April 2012]: No instructions have been given to Ofsted on this matter. It is for HM Chief Inspector to give guidance to inspectors and to develop the criteria for the evaluation schedule to underpin school inspections.
Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of trends in results in GCSE examinations in each year since 2008. [105072]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 24 April 2012]: We publish detailed information on trends in GCSEs results in England, providing both summary statistics and information on individual subjects in our annual statistical first release. The latest publication, ‘GCSE and Equivalent Results in England, 2010/11 (Revised)', is available at the following link:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001056/index.shtml
This contains summary statistics back to 2004/05 in Table 1a and detailed subject level information for 2010/11. Equivalent subject level information for earlier years can be found in previous issues of this statistical release.
We are concerned that exams in England need to stand up to comparison to the best on offer internationally, and attract confidence so that the efforts of schools and pupils in achieving them are properly recognised. We are therefore reviewing those exams alongside our review of the secondary national curriculum.
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of pupils achieved five GCSE A* to C grades including mathematics and English in schools (a) without and (b) with sixth forms in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [105117]
Mr Gibb: The requested information is given in the following table:
| Percentage of pupils (1) achieving (2) 5 or more A*-C grade GCSEs (or equivalents) including English and mathematics GCSEs, for schools with and without sixth forms (3,) years: 2007-2011 (4, 5) , coverage: England (maintained schools) (6) | |||||
| Percentage | |||||
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
| (1) Pupils on roll aged 15 at the start of the academic year or pupils at the end of key stage 4. (2) Including attempts and achievement in previous academic years. (3) Presence of sixth form based on school's status in Edubase on 28 March 2012, so represents a snapshot at this point in time. (4) From 2010 iGCSEs, accredited at time of publication, have been counted as GCSE equivalents and also as English and mathematics GCSEs. (5) Figures for 2011 are revised, all other figures are final. (6) Includes all maintained schools, academies and city technology colleges. Excludes hospital schools, pupil referral units, alternative provision and independent schools. | |||||
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GCSE: Science
Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of students (a) were entered for and (b) achieved a grade C or above in GCSE (i) single award science, (ii) double award science, (iii) core science only, (iv) both core and additional science, (v) both core and additional applied science, (vi) either core and additional science or core and additional applied science and (vii) double award additional science at (A) comprehensive, (B) selective, (C) all maintained and (D) independent schools in (1) 1997, (2) 1998, (3) 1999, (4) 2000, (5) 2001, (6) 2002, (7) 2003, (8) 2004, (9) 2005, (10) 2006, (11) 2007, (12) 2008, (13) 2009, (14) 2010 and (15) 2011. [105167]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 24 April 2012]: The information requested for 2009, 2010 and 2011 has been placed in the House Libraries. Information for other years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Head Teachers: Secondary Education
John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of secondary school head teachers are (a) male and (b) female. [104140]
Mr Gibb: In November 2010, the most recent information available, 62% of full-time equivalent head teachers in service in secondary schools in England were male and 38% were female. These figures include academies.
November 2011 figures will be available from 25 April 2012 and will be available from table 4 at the following web link:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001062/index.shtml
Immigration Controls: X-rays
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) whether his Department has raised concerns with the UK Border Agency about its trial of dental x-rays for age assessment purposes; [105992]
(2) when his Department was first notified about the trial of dental x-rays for age assessment purposes being conducted by the UK Border Agency; [105993]
(3) with reference to the UK Border Agency's trial of dental x-rays for age assessment purposes, what assessment his Department has made of the acceptability of exposing children to ionising radiation for non-medical purposes; [105994]
(4) whether his Department gave permission for the age assessments dental x-ray pilot currently being conducted by the UK Border Agency. [106038]
Sarah Teather: As Minister for Children and Families I have a responsibility to ensure that the rights of all children are respected, and that their health and wellbeing is protected. The views of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and others, on the use of ionising radiation on children for non medical purposes is well documented. The DFE has had ongoing discussions with the Home Office regarding the policy to trial the use of dental x-rays to determine the age of a young person. I can confirm that no x-rays have taken place and that the trial has stopped. Discussions are currently taking place with the National Research Ethics Service.
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Literacy
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to improve literacy in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools. [105206]
Mr Gibb: The Government is determined to raise standards of literacy in schools in order to equip all children with the skills they need to succeed.
We are promoting the teaching of reading through systematic synthetic phonics by making available match-funding of up to £3,000 to all state-funded schools with key stage one pupils so that they can purchase approved systematic synthetic phonics products and training; and are introducing a phonics screening check for pupils at the end of Year One. The new Ofsted inspection framework for schools includes a strong focus on reading and the draft Ofsted inspection framework for Initial Teacher Education reflects an increased emphasis on the quality of understanding and competence in developing pupils' literacy skills.
We are reviewing the national curriculum to make sure it is rigorous and focuses on the body of essential knowledge in key subjects that all children need to learn.
Finally, our reform of GCSEs will restore confidence that they are valued, robust qualifications comparable to the best in the world. As part of this, we are introducing an assessment of spelling, punctuation and grammar. This will secure rigour and give a real incentive to teach students to write with purpose, accuracy and clarity.
National Childminding Association: Finance
Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department has allocated to the National Childminding Association in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and how much such funding was allocated through (i) local authorities and (ii) executive agencies of his Department. [106122]
Sarah Teather: The Department allocated £1.39 million in 2010-11, and £550,000 in 2011-12, to the National Childminding Association, through grant programmes to support departmental priorities. The Department does not collect information on funding from local authorities or agencies to external organisations.
Playing Fields: Sales
Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on the sale of school playing fields where other funding resources are available at local authority level. [105286]
Mr Gibb
[holding answer 24 April 2012]:School playing fields are protected by section 77 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The aim of the legislation is to stop their indiscriminate sale. Published guidance, “The Protection of School Playing Fields and Land for Academies”, sets out clear criteria for sales and establishes a robust system of checks. Schools and authorities must obtain the Secretary of State's approval before they can dispose of their land, and applications
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to dispose of school playing fields are approved only when it is demonstrated that the land is genuinely surplus.
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many school playing fields were sold in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what the reasons were for their sale; and if he will make a statement. [105696]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 26 April 2012]: There have been 59 applications for disposal of school playing fields approved since 2007. Approval is normally given where schools have closed and the playing fields are no longer needed or where the disposal of land will result in improvements to an existing school's sporting provision. We do not hold information on whether the playing fields in question have to date actually been sold. Future development of the land to be sold is a matter for the local planning authorities.
| Number of approvals | |
Primary Education: Sports
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department has allocated to primary schools for the purchase of sports equipment in connection with the London 2012 Olympics. [106167]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education made available £200 million in devolved formula capital funding for all schools in 2011-12. An additional £200 million has been made available in 2012-13. The Department has not issued a separate grant for the purchase of sports equipment. Schools have full autonomy over how to use their budgets and we expect them to do so in a way that best meets the needs of their pupils.
Pupil Premium: Free School Meals
Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has undertaken an impact assessment of the effect of the introduction of the pupil premium on the number of free school meal claimants in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) England. [105844]
Mr Gibb: The Government completed an impact assessment for all of the reform set out in the White Paper, rather than a specific assessment of the impact of the Pupil Premium on the number of free school meal claimants. The Department has encouraged schools and local authorities to work with parents to increase the number registering for free school meals so that schools receive their maximum Premium allocation. The results of this activity will be available in June when this year's census data are published.
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Schools: Capital Investment
Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to announce the results of the first round of the (a) Academies Capital Maintenance Fund and (b) private finance initiative Priority School Building Programme applications. [103537]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 18 April 2012]:The initial round of applications to the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund is now being assessed and we are planning to notify academies of the outcome of their applications at the end of May.
We are planning to announce the outcome of applications for the Priority School Building Programme in May.
Schools: Standards
Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools have been judged (i) outstanding, (ii) good, (iii) satisfactory and (iv) inadequate by Ofsted in each month since the introduction of the new inspection framework. [104718]
Mr Gibb: This question is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has written to the hon. Member, and a copy of his response has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Michael Wilshaw dated 25 April 2012:
Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
Since 2005, maintained school inspections have been carried out under section 5 of the Education Act 2005—and, more recently, the Education Act 2011 (since 1 January 2012). Ofsted records all judgements made by inspectors in section 5 inspections, including the judgement for overall effectiveness of the school.
Currently no official statistics are available that report on the outcomes of the new inspection framework, which was introduced in January 2012. Data about inspections for the period 1 January 2012 to 31 March 2012 are due to be released on the Ofsted website on 12 June 2012.
However, some management information on the new framework has been released. This provides an early indication of the outcomes of inspections under section 5 of the Education Act 2011 which took place in the first three weeks of January 2012. The figures have not undergone the same rigorous level of quality assurance as official statistics, and cover a relatively small number of schools. Table 1, below, provides a summary of the overall, effectiveness judgement of schools inspected between 6 January 2012 and 20 January 2012.
A copy of this reply will be placed in the library of both Houses.
| Table 1: The overall effectiveness of schools inspected between 6 January and 20 January 2012 (percentage of schools) | ||
| Judgement (percentage of schools inspected) | ||
| Primary | Secondary | |
| Source: Ofsted Inspections | ||
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Schools: Travel
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidance his Department issues to schools and governing bodies on the use of school funds for foreign travel. [103318]
Mr Gibb: The Department does not issue guidance to schools or governing bodies on the use of public funds for foreign travel. It is a matter for the school and governing body to ensure the appropriate use of their funds in the interests of their pupils. Individual local authorities may cover this in their financial rules for maintained schools but this is a matter for local decision.
The use of funds by maintained schools is audited by local authorities, and the use of funds by Academies is independently audited.
Special Educational Needs: Birmingham
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency were assessed for a special educational needs statement in 2011-12; and how many of these were (a) provided with and (b) refused a statement. [103555]
Sarah Teather: Information on the number of children assessed for a special educational needs statement during the calendar year 2011 is still being processed and will be available in the summer. Information is collected at local authority level; the Department is therefore unable to provide parliamentary constituency information. Information on the number of children assessed in Birmingham local authority during the calendar year 2010 is shown in the table.
| Assessment of children with new statements of special educational needs (SEN) during 2010 | |||||
| Total children assessed for SEN during the calendar year 2010 | Children assessed under section 323 of the Education Act 1996 during t he calendar year 2010 for whom no statement was issued | Children for whom statements were made for the first time during the calendar year 2010 (1) | |||
| Number | Number | Percentage (2) | Number | Percentage (2) | |
| (1) Total children assessed for SEN and children for whom statements were made for the first time have been rounded to the nearest 5. (2) Expressed as a percentage of all new assessments made during the calendar year 2010. Source: SEN 2 Survey 2011. | |||||
This information is from table 20 of the ‘Special Educational Needs in England: January 2011' Statistical First Release which can be found at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001007/index.shtml
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children in Birmingham, Selly Oak constituency are on a waiting list for an assessment for a special educational needs statement. [103556]
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Sarah Teather: The requested information is not collected centrally.
The available information on pupils with statements of special educational needs (including school level data) is published in the ‘Special Educational Needs in England: January 2011' Statistical First Release which can be found at
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001007/index.shtml
Teachers: Pay
Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library a copy of the evidence he plans to submit to the School Teachers Review Body on regional pay for teachers. [105113]
Mr Gibb [holding answer 24 April 2012]: The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), does not intend that a copy of his evidence to the School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) will be placed in the House Library. It will be made available to download from the Department's website once the Review Body confirms it has received all evidence from statutory consultees. When the STRB's 21st Report is published later this year a copy of the report will be placed in the House Libraries at that time.
Culture, Media and Sport
Advertising
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) whether he has made an estimate of how many hours of advertising on television each year is targeted at children aged between four and 12; [105261]
(2) how much his Department spent on monitoring advertising aimed at children in each of the last 10 years. [105268]
Mr Vaizey: No estimate has been made of the hours of advertising on television each year targeted at children, and the Department has not spent anything on monitoring of advertising aimed at children in each of the last 10 years. However, the independent advertising regulators, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and Ofcom continue to conduct monitoring and research on a range of advertising issues as part of their responsibility for ensuring that the advertising codes continue to provide suitable consumer protection and are adhered to by advertisers in all media.
Arts: Attendance
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of public sector redundancies on attendance figures for the arts in the (a) North East, (b) West Midlands and (c) North West Region. [106109]
Mr Vaizey:
This Department has made no such assessment. Engagement in the arts at present is measured by the Department's Taking Part survey. This shows
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that since the survey began there has been a significant increase in people who have engaged in the arts "once or more in the last year", from 71.5% in 2006-07 to 75.3% in 2011, in the North West. The percentage of people who have engaged in the arts "once or more in the last year" in the North East and West Midlands has not changed significantly over this time.
The full data by region is available on the Department's website, under ‘Arts' in the ‘Area-level variables' tab:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8938.aspx
Arts: Grants
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much Arts Council England awarded to arts projects specialising in working with (a) the criminal justice system and (b) the national health service in each year for which figures are available. [106108]
Mr Vaizey: Arts Council England (ACE) does not separately record the funding awarded to projects that look to work specifically with the criminal justice system or national health service. However, it does fund a number of organisations that work with the criminal justice system. These include London's Clean Break Theatre Company (£214,949 in 2011-12), the Geese Theatre Company of the West Midlands (£27,824 in 2011-12) and the Tipp Centre in the North West of England (£34,548 in 2011-12).
Over the last five years, there have also been funds awarded through grants for the arts to a number of NHS trusts. These include Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (£85,523), Sussex Partnership NHS Trust (£45,000) and Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust (£4,500).
Media Ownership
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the extent to which e-mails between Frederic Michel and representatives of his Department have breached Office of Fair Trading guidance in the last two years. [105972]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: The Office of Fair Trading has guidance for its own internal processes, but this does not apply to the Secretary of State's consideration. I have followed due process throughout. I sought the advice of independent regulators and, after careful consideration, acted on their advice. I published all advice that I have received from Ofcom and the OFT, together with correspondence between myself and News Corporation, including details of all meetings that I held in relation to this process.
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether Adam Smith was the point of contact for opponents of the News International bid to take over BSkyB. [106126]
Mr Jeremy Hunt:
As I said to the House on 25 April 2012, Official Report, columns 955-75, Adam Smith was acting as one point of contact within my Department during the process of the News International bid to
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take over BSkyB. Officials and legal advisers were also points of contact and I followed due process at all times.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions (a) he, (b) his officials and (c) his special advisers had with Alex Salmond, his officials or his special advisers on the bid for BSkyB; and when such discussions took place. [106173]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: I can confirm that I did not at any time discuss the BSkyB bid with Alex Salmond. I can also confirm that there are no records indicating any such discussions took place between my departmental officials or my special advisers and those of Mr Salmond.
Mr Salmond's office contacted mine to request a telephone call on 3 March 2011, and again a number of times in the following days. However, I can confirm that no such call took place or was ever scheduled.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has received any representations from the Scottish Executive on the BSkyB takeover bid; and what account he took of any such representations. [106179]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: I can confirm that the Department has no record of any written representations from the Scottish Executive on the BSkyB bid.
Alex Salmond’s office contacted mine to request a telephone call on 3 March 2011, and again a number of times in the following days. However, I can confirm that no such call took place or was ever scheduled.
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he spoke to Alex Salmond on 3 March 2011; what was discussed; whether his officials were party to that conversation; and if he will publish any notes of the conversation. [106182]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: Departmental records show that Alex Salmond's office contacted mine to request a telephone call on 3 March 2011, and again a number of times in the following days. However, I can confirm that no such call took place or was ever scheduled.
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport with reference to his meeting with James Murdoch on 28 June 2010, what advice he received from his Department before the meeting on (a) whether a civil servant should attend, (b) what subjects should be discussed and (c) what record should be made. [106189]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: I was not informed that an official should be present. However, in light of recent events, it is now my Department's practice that officials should attend such meetings.
This was one of a number of informal introductory meetings I held with various leaders across the media landscape. No minutes were taken, but the main points of discussion were local TV and broadband.
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This meeting was the subject of a Freedom of Information request and is set out in the quarterly list of meetings on the DCMS website, a link to which can be found here:
http://www.transparency.culture.gov.uk/2010/10/28/dcms-ministerial-hospitality-and-meetings-with-outside-interest-groups-13-may-31-july-2010/
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) if he will place in the Library all the (a) emails and (b) text messages between himself and Frederic Michel of News Corporation between 1 June 2010 and 31 July 2011; [106268]
(2) if he will place in the Library all the (a) emails and (b) text messages between (i) himself and Adam Smith and (ii) Adam Smith and Frederic Michel of News Corporation between 1 June 2010 and 31 July 2011. [106269]
Mr Jeremy Hunt: I am in the process of preparing my evidence for the Leveson Inquiry, which will include all relevant information held by myself and my Department relating to News Corporation’s bid for BSkyB. This information will be published in due course.
Gambling
John Cryer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received from Gamcare; and what assessment he has made of such representations in assessing the effect of gambling addiction. [106006]
John Penrose: No representations have been received recently from GamCare. Problem gambling remains something the Government takes very seriously and I'm therefore pleased with the successful launch of the Responsible Gambling Trust on 17 April 2012. A new structure for fundraising and distribution for problem gambling research, education and treatment is now in place and this will include services provided by organisations such as GamCare.
Mobile Phones: Radio Frequencies
Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects to publish the rental terms for the parts of the spectrum that are used for mobile communications. [106248]
Mr Vaizey: The setting of annual licence fees for mobile spectrum is a matter for the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Ofcom is however required by the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 (Directions to Ofcom) Order 2010 to revise the sums prescribed by regulations under section 12 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 2006 for 900 MHz and 1800 MHz licences. This is so that they reflect the full market value of the frequencies in those bands, having particular regard to the sums bid for licences in the auction of the 800 MHz and 2600 MHz bands. As such, I understand that Ofcom expects to publish proposals for revised licence fees for these 900 MHz and 1800 MHz licences after the auction has finished.
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Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the cost to business of the delay in the implementation of a 4G mobile network. [106249]
Mr Vaizey: I have made no estimate of any cost to business associated with a delay as I expect the deployment of 4G mobile services in 800 MHz and 2.6 GHz to begin in 2013 in the UK, when the spectrum has been cleared and is available for 4G services to be deployed. The recent Ofcom second consultation, which closed on 19 April, on the terms of the auction of the spectrum does not affect the timing of the availability of the spectrum.
In addition, you may be aware of Ofcom’s recent announcement of a consultation on liberalising the licensing requirements for the 1800 MHz band to allow deployment of 4G services in that band. Ofcom’s proposals stem from a request from Everything Everywhere to authorise the use of long term evolution technology under their licences for 1800 MHz spectrum. This consultation closes on 8 May 2012.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) if he will require mobile telephone operators bidding in the spectrum auction to (a) provide filters or (b) provide equipment and professional installation support if required for digital television consumers whose reception is affected after 4G mobile services come into operation; [106346]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that consumers in (a) multi-occupancy dwellings and (b) public buildings do not incur costs to retain digital television reception after 4G mobile services come into operation following the spectrum auction; [106347]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of households who will require professional installation support to guarantee digital television reception after 4G mobile services come into operation following the spectrum auction; [106353]
(4) what estimate he has made of the number of households whose digital television reception will be affected once 4G mobile services come into operation following the spectrum auction. [106354]
Mr Vaizey: On 21 February 2012, I announced a £180 million scheme to fund solutions to interference to TV reception from new mobile services to be offered in the 800 MHz spectrum. Ofcom took account of this scheme in its second consultation on co-existence issues between television services and mobile services in the 800 MHz band published on 23 February 2012. This consultation sought responses on a number of questions related to how this scheme should be implemented. This consultation closed on 19 April and Ofcom are now considering all responses received. Ofcom expect to publish a statement on the results of this consultation in the summer.
National Lottery
Mr Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will require the national lottery to publish by (a) local authority
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area,
(b)
region and
(c)
postcode its income from sales of lottery tickets in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [104340]
John Penrose: We have no plans to do this, because the many ways in which players buy tickets make a geographical breakdown meaningless, and matching it against places where grants have been awarded does not work because the head offices of organisations which win lottery funding are not necessarily in the places where the money is spent, as I explained on the Department’s website earlier this year at:
http://blogs.culture.gov.uk/main/2012/01/scandals_weary _old_nonsense_an.html
Olympic Games 2012
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will take steps to publish details of (a) the starting time of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, (b) the time at which the Athletes' Parade is scheduled to start, (c) the time at which the British team will enter the stadium and (d) how many members of the British team are expected to take part in the opening ceremony. [105927]
Hugh Robertson: The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is the private company, independent of Government, responsible for staging the Games. This includes the opening and closing ceremonies. The opening ceremony will begin in the Olympic Stadium at 9 pm on 27 July 2012. The Department has no plans to publish a running order. Arrangements should remain under wraps, as is traditional for ceremonies, to build excitement.
The Olympic Village is closer to the Olympic Stadium than previous Games, and internal transport will be provided by LOCOG to ensure a great experience for athletes that want to take part in the Athletes' Parade. Ultimately it will be for each Team GB athlete to decide whether to take part, considering the demands of their competition schedule.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will take steps to ensure that costs incurred in the transportation of the Olympic Torch by LOCOG are not disproportionate. [105963]
Hugh Robertson: The costs of staging the Olympic Torch relay operation are met by the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), as a private company funded primarily by sponsorship, ticketing, the sale of media rights and merchandise. Local authorities on the route have entered into agreements to cover ancillary costs. There is no direct central Government funding for staging the Olympic Torch relay.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many tickets, in what sports, have not yet been sold via the (a) UK ticketing process and (b) overseas ticketing processes for the London 2012 (i) Olympics and (ii) Paralympics; and if he will make a statement. [105980]
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Hugh Robertson: Ticketing is a matter for the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), which is a private company operating independently of Government. Around 7 million of the 11 million tickets have so far been purchased; there are approximately 4 million tickets still to be sold including around 2.5 million Olympic tickets (including 1.5 million football) and 1.5 million Paralympic tickets. These tickets will go on sale from May.
Overall 75% of tickets will be available through the UK ticketing process. The remainder will be made available to National Olympic Committees (primarily for them to sell to international sports fans), the International Olympic Committee, international federations, sponsors and stakeholders, broadcast rights holders, prestige ticketing partners and Thomas Cook for domestic break packages.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate the London 2012 Organising Committee has made of the number of purchasers of undelivered tickets for the London 2012 Olympics they may have to contact in order to ensure that purchasers receive their tickets in time; and if he will make a statement. [105981]
Hugh Robertson: Ticketing is a matter for the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), which is a private company operating independently of Government. LOCOG is committed to ensuring all purchasers receive their tickets.
Tessa Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when his Department plans to publish the report by the Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority on the business benefits of the London 2012 construction project. [106033]
Hugh Robertson: The report will be published ahead of the British Business Embassy at Lancaster House which will promote British business through the Olympic Games.
Television
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of whether technological developments can help parents to monitor and control the use their children make of television and computers. [105263]
Mr Vaizey: The Government takes child safety online extremely seriously, which is why we established the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS), chaired jointly by Ministers from the Department for Education and the Home Office. UKCCIS is working with industry and others such as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) to ensure that a range of technological solutions are available to enable parents to monitor and control the content their children can access online and through internet enabled television. This work is progressing well, but we are clear that we will look at regulation if industry action does not go far or fast enough.
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Women and Equalities
Christianity
Karl McCartney: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of instructing lawyers in respect of the European Court of Human Rights case relating to the right to wear symbols of the Christian faith at work. [103459]
Lynne Featherstone [holding answer 18 April 2012]: The legal costs cannot be broken down to relate to specific cases in the way requested.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Apprentices
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to ensure that companies operating under the National Apprenticeship Service are incentivised to hire apprentices after their training is complete. [105901]
Mr Hayes: Apprentices must be formally employed during their apprenticeship, and a large number are employed on permanent contracts which continue once their training has completed.
After investing heavily in an apprentice, it would make business sense for the employer to keep employing the individual when their apprenticeship ends.
Evidence shows that apprenticeships deliver economic and social benefits to individuals in terms of higher wages and improved employment prospects, to businesses in the form of higher profits and increased competitiveness, and to the wider economy and society as a whole. Satisfaction rates for apprenticeships are high, with individuals recognising that the impact of apprenticeship training is significant and helps with career prospects. Apprentices and employers tell us that doing an apprenticeship increases workforce morale and individuals' loyalty to their employer, particularly where employers support individual apprentices to continue to progress within their business.
The Government is working to improve the quality of apprenticeships and to ensure individuals and employers understand the benefits which apprenticeships bring. Among the quality improvement measures being undertaken by the National Apprenticeship Service are efforts to ensure apprenticeships offer real, sustainable employment. We will continue to champion these benefits to encourage employers to invest in apprenticeships.
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department takes to monitor the treatment of apprentices taking part in an apprenticeship through the National Apprenticeship Service. [105902]
Mr Hayes:
Following the introduction of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 apprentices are required to be employed under an apprenticeship agreement which is treated as a contract of service for the purposes of the Employment Rights
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Act 1996, unless exempted under alternative completion conditions. This gives apprentices the same statutory rights as other employees.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) does not routinely monitor the treatment of apprentices. Providers work closely with individual apprentices and employers and support the apprentice during the period on the apprenticeship. Provider effectiveness in this role is quality assured through the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) inspection process and is monitored through the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS). Concerns raised by individuals regarding their apprenticeship are dealt with in the first instance by either the training provider or the employer's own complaints procedures. Where necessary the National Apprenticeship Service and the Skills Funding Agency will review any concern or complaint regarding the delivery of the apprenticeship in accordance with the Skills Funding Agency's Provider Complaints process and take appropriate action.
Feedback from apprentices is gathered through the FE Choices (previously Framework for Excellence) annual learner satisfaction survey, as part of their suite of indicators. These relate specifically to satisfaction with the provider, and the results are published.
BIS and the National Apprenticeship Service have also conducted a learner evaluation survey which is due for publication shortly, which covers current apprentices and those who have recently completed their apprenticeship.
As I have said on a number of occasions, this Government is absolutely committed to high quality apprenticeships and to eradicating poor quality and practice. Following the recent Panorama programme I have directed the National Apprenticeship Service to investigate fully the issued raised and report to me by the end of May.
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what statistics his Department holds on rates of employment for those finishing an apprenticeship through the National Apprenticeship Service. [105903]
Mr Hayes: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (with the National Apprenticeship Service—NAS) undertakes surveys of apprentices which ask about their employment outcomes. A recent survey (forthcoming May 2012) shows that 85% of apprenticeship completers are employed by an employer at the time of the survey with a further 4% being self-employed.
This gives a total of 89% in employment at the time of the survey However, only 8% are unemployed with the remaining 3% being in further or higher education.
In this survey “apprenticeship completers” are people who completed their apprenticeship in the last 12 months.
A previous survey commissioned by the former Learning and Skills Council (LSC)(1) looked at the employment status of individuals at the time of the interview (December 2008/January 2009), by when they completed their apprenticeship, going back to 2003/04. The results are very similar with around 9% being unemployed and similar levels in further and higher education.
(1) The Benefits of Completing an Apprenticeship LSC 2009
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Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to ensure that apprentices receive adequate on the job and off the job training. [106144]
Mr Hayes: In April 2011 the Government introduced new statutory Specification of Apprenticeship Standards, which set out what every apprenticeship framework must include. These standards require apprentices to undertake specific on and off the job training in order to achieve the relevant qualifications. Awarding organisations have strict assessment criteria in place to ensure that the relevant requirements are met before a certificate is awarded. Additionally, as a condition of funding, the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) requires that an individual training plan is agreed between the individual apprentice and the training provider setting out the training objectives and the way in which they will be delivered. In accordance with the provisions of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act (ASCL), the apprentice must provide evidence, usually by declaration, that they have completed the on and off the job training required by the framework and set out in their training plan. The certifying authority may only issue an apprenticeship certificate provided these conditions have been met.
The Skills Funding Agency, on behalf of the NAS regularly investigate any instances where concerns are raised about the quality of training provided. If providers are found to not be meeting these requirements, provision must be reformed or funding withdrawn. In cases where subcontractors are found to not be providing adequate training, the relevant prime contractor is held responsible.
As I have said on a number of occasions, this Government is absolutely committed to high quality apprenticeships and to eradicating poor quality and practice. Following the recent Panorama programme I have directed the NAS to investigate fully the issued raised and report to me by the end of May.
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many apprentices have completed training in (a) agriculture, horticulture and animal care, (b) arts, media and publishing, (c) business, administration and law, (d) construction, planning and the built environment, (e) education and training, (f) engineering and manufacturing technologies, (g) health, public services and care, (h) information and communication and technology, (i) leisure, travel and tourism and (j) retail and commercial enterprise in each of the last three years; [106192]
(2) how many apprentices failed to complete their training in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) the west midlands and (d) Dudley in each of the last three years; [106193]
(3) how many apprenticeships have been completed in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) the west midlands and (d) Dudley North constituency in each of the last three years; and how long any such apprenticeship lasted for. [106194]
Mr Hayes: Table 1 shows the number of apprenticeship achievements by sector subject area in the last three years for which full data are available:
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| Table 1: Apprenticeship achievements by sector subject area, 2008/09 to 2010/11, England | |||
| Sector subject area | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 |
| (1) Indicates a base value of less than five. Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 except for grand totals which are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Numbers are a count of the number of achievements at any point during the year. Learners achieving more than one framework will appear more than once. Source: Individualised Learner Record | |||
Table 2 shows the number of apprenticeship achievements and success rates in Dudley North constituency, Dudley local authority, the west midlands and England in the last three years for which full data are available. Success rates have not been calculated at constituency level due to the small numbers involved. The Department does not collect information relating to the devolved Administrations.
| Table 2: Apprenticeship achievements and success rates by geography, 2008/09 to 2010/11 | ||||||
| Achievements | Success rates (%) | |||||
| 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | |
| (1) Indicates success rates are not available at constituency level due to small numbers. Notes: 1. Achievements are rounded to the nearest 10 except for England totals which are rounded to the nearest 100. 2. Geography is based upon the home postcode of the learner. The England figures include some postcodes which are not known. 3. These figures are based on the geographic boundaries of regions as of May 2010. Source: Individualised Learner Record Notes: | ||||||
In 2010/11, the national average length of time registered on apprenticeship programmes was 13 months. This compares to 15 months in 2009/10. Figures are not available for 2008/09.
Figures are not readily available below national level. I will write to you with sub-national figures when they are available.
Care should be taken when interpreting and comparing the average length of all apprenticeships across years as it does not account for the change in the mix of apprenticeship levels and frameworks. For example, if a greater proportion of apprenticeship achievements were frameworks that were typically shorter, this would bring down the overall average length despite no change in the length of a particular framework. Therefore a better comparison is at sector subject area, which addresses some of these issues.
These figures do not necessarily reflect the guided learning hours or the actual length of time in learning. For these reasons, and given other key factors, they should be seen as contributory information to any broader assessment of the apprenticeship experience and quality.
Information on the number of apprenticeship starts, achievements and success rates is published in a quarterly Statistical First Release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 29 March 2012:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirst release/sfr_current
Breakdowns by geography are published in supplementary tables at the following links:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirst release/sfr_supplementary_tables/Apprenticeship_sfr_ supplementary_tables/
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirst release/sfr_supplementary_tables/success_rates_sfr_supplementary_tables/
Apprentices: Minimum Wage
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what criteria his Department uses to distinguish apprenticeships that attract the national apprentice rate from work attracting the national minimum wage; [106140]
(2) what measures his Department has put in place to ensure that organisations do not replace jobs paying
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the national minimum wage with apprenticeships paying the national apprentice rate. [106141]
Mr Hayes: Employers are entitled to pay the apprentice national minimum wage rate for employees who are undertaking a SASE compliant apprenticeship framework. Employers can however choose to pay a higher rate than the apprentice national minimum wage.
An apprenticeship represents a significant commitment of resources by an employer in terms of training, management and supervision, as well as salary, especially for the younger and less experienced apprentices to whom the apprenticeship rate of the national minimum wage applies.
The coalition Government has strengthened the pay arrangements for apprentices by bringing them within the national minimum wage framework. A new minimum wage rate for apprentices was introduced from October 2010 and applies to apprentices aged under 19 and those aged 19 and over in the first year of their apprenticeship. From 1 October 2011, the minimum rate for apprentices is £2.60 per hour (increasing to £2.65 from 1 October 2012), in line with the Low Pay Commission's recommendations for this year's national minimum wage rate. Apprentices aged 19 and over, who have completed a year on their apprenticeship, continue to remain eligible for the full national minimum wage rate appropriate to their age.
The Government believes that the rate recommended by the Low Pay Commission is prudent, and provides a fair deal for apprentices which protects them from exploitation but at the same time does not deter business from taking them on.
Young people who complete an apprenticeship derive significant long-term advantages. Those with an intermediate level apprenticeship earn on average between £48,000 and £74,000 more over their lifetime than similar individuals with Level 1 or 2 qualifications, and people with an advanced level apprenticeship earn on average between £77,000 and £117,000 more. Therefore, when apprentices accept a lower wage during training, it is in the knowledge that they will receive future higher earnings.
Computers
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many computers and related equipment have been purchased by his Department and its public bodies since May 2010; and what the (a) makes and (b) costs were. [105834]
Norman Lamb: The Department’s Core IT services are provided by Fujitsu Services under the terms of a private finance initiative (PFI) outsourcing contract. The outsourcing contract was let in 1999 for 15 years. All our networked computers are owned by Fujitsu and the Department pays a service charge for use and support of the network and computers.
Devices are deployed by Fujitsu as required and the number being used varies at any one time.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not keep detailed information on numbers and makes of computers purchased by its public bodies.
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Foreign Students: Israel
Dr Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of progress with the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership Regenerative Medicine Initiative. [105784]
Mr Willetts: In October 2011 the Medical Research Council and the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology agreed to establish a joint fellowship exchange scheme under the umbrella of the Britain Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership in Regenerative Medicine. The aim of the joint fellowships is to further enhance collaboration between the countries in the area of regenerative medicine.
Details of the scheme are currently being finalised.
Forward Thinking Training Solutions
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding from the public purse was awarded to Forward Thinking Training Solutions of Basingstoke before it entered administration in March 2012. [106145]
Mr Hayes: The chief executive of Skills Funding is responsible for the public funding of post-19 education and training and all associated contracting matters, and as such I have asked the chief executive to write in response to this question. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Green Investment Bank
Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress he has made on the state aid application for the Green Investment Bank. [106039]
Mr Prisk: The UK is currently engaged in detailed pre-notification state aid discussions with the EU Commission on our proposal to create the Green Investment Bank. The timetable for the approval process is not in the UK's control but we are optimistic about the prospects for obtaining an approval on a relatively early timescale.
Higher Education
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what statutory provision has been made for the appointment of student governors of higher education establishments. [106062]
Mr Willetts: All providers of higher education are autonomous, independent organisations. As such they are responsible for determining their own governance arrangements, including the effective representation of students.
We do recognise the value of effective student representation and the role which students' unions play in facilitating partnerships between higher education institutions and their students. This was highlighted in the Higher Education White Paper, alongside a number of measures designed to encourage greater student
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engagement. For example, Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) review teams now include student representatives and we endorse the use of student charters, which are jointly agreed by institutions and students' unions.
Higher Education: Assets
Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the disposal of assets of significant value by institutions of higher education in receipt of public funding. [106016]
Mr Willetts: As independent charitable institutions, it is for higher education institutions (HEIs) to manage their operations in accordance with the law to ensure they are responsive to student choice and can continue to flourish. They must therefore comply with charity and trust law and take steps to ensure they maximise sales proceeds when disposing of any assets. Issues of estates management, including the disposal of land and buildings, are managed by HEIs in accordance with their Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) Financial Memorandum, which is in place with each HEI.
Higher Education: Disadvantaged
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and (b) the London Borough of Bexley in receipt of free school meals started a higher education course in each of the last five years. [105577]
Mr Willetts: The estimated number of pupils from maintained schools in the London borough of Bexley with free school meals at age 15 who progressed to higher education by age 19 by academic year is contained in the following table. Figures are not available by parliamentary constituency.
| Academic year | Former FSM students in HE by age 19 (1) |
| (1) Student numbers are rounded to the nearest 5. Source: Matched data from the DfE National Pupil Database, the HESA Student Record and the LSC ILR. | |
Robust information is not available for earlier years. Figures on progression of pupils with free school meals to higher education were published in the BIS Widening Participation statistical release of August 2011.
http://www.bis.gov.uk/analysis/statistics/higher-education/official-statistics-releases/widening-participation-in-higher-education/analysis-of-progression-rates-for-young-people-in-england-by-free-school-meal-receipt
The data published by BIS included national figures and the percentage of pupils progressing to higher education at local authority level. The next release, planned for August 2012, will cover those who have reached higher education by age 19 in 2009/10.
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Lyons Painters and Decorators: Apprentices
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what assessment his Department has made of the standard of training offered to apprentices by Lyons Painters and Decorators in Stourbridge, Dudley; [106146]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the effect on apprentices in the Dudley area of Forward Thinking Training Solutions going into administration. [106147]
Mr Hayes: The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) have taken action to address concerns with Forward Thinking Training Solutions (FTTS), who provided off the job training as subcontractors to other training providers for apprentices at Lyons Painters and Decorators.
FTTS were subcontracted by Bourneville College, Stourbridge College and JHP Group Ltd to deliver apprenticeship training for Lyons Painters and Decorators. Under the direction of the SFA and the NAS, these three prime contractors undertook a full audit of the apprentices. Where issues were identified with FTTS training, each of the prime contractors followed up with each individual apprentice to offer support, guidance and access to other apprenticeship opportunities, or other provision, to help the individuals back into training and towards work.
FTTS were the subject of a national review and the NAS and the SFA suspended all payments to these providers for this delivery pending the review, to safeguard public funds.
As a result of this intervention FTTS have now entered into administration and are no longer involved in the apprenticeship programme.
Non-domestic Rates
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government regarding companies that offer to negotiate discounts to business rates for small businesses. [104922]
Mr Gauke: I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Treasury.
The Government has put in place a small business rate relief scheme, which provides eligible small businesses with a fixed discount on their business rates bills. It is for local authorities to apply the eligibility criteria. There is no need to pay a third party to “negotiate” a discount to which the ratepayer is entitled by law.
We have simplified the process for claiming the relief by removing the legal requirement for ratepayers to submit an application form. Any ratepayer can contact their local authority, free of charge, to discuss whether they might be eligible.
Overseas Students: Higher Education
Mr Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students from other EU member states attending UK universities have student loans. [106195]
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Mr Willetts: Generally students from non-UK EU member states are entitled to loans for tuition fees only. These are paid to the institution where the student studies, not the student.
Figures on the number of EU students taking out an Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) loan to pay their institution tuition fees are published each year by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in the publication “Student Support for Higher Education in England”. The latest publication is available via the following link and the relevant table is table 4B:
http://www.slc.co.uk/media/140371/slcsfr062011.pdf
Mr Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) how many students from other EU member states enrolled in UK universities in each year since 1997; [106196]
(2) how many students from other EU member states are studying at UK universities. [106197]
Mr Willetts: Information on the number of enrolments at UK higher education institutions domiciled in European Union (EU) member states (other than the UK) is shown in the following table. Figures are provided for the academic years 1997/98 to 2010/11. Information for the 2011/12 academic year will become available from January 2013.
| Other EU domiciled (1) enrolments (2) , UK higher education institutions; academic years 1997/98 to 2010/11 | |
| Academic year | Enrolments |
| (1) Domicile refers to the country of a student's permanent or home address prior to entry to their course. (2) Covers students in all years of study. Note: Figures are based on a snapshot as at 1 December and have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record | |
Mr Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of EU students leaving UK universities repaid their student loans in the latest period for which figures are available. [106198]
Mr Willetts: The repayment status of borrowers who take out Income Contingent Repayment (ICR) loans is published by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Official Statistics release “Income Contingent Repayments by Repayment Cohort and Tax Year”.
The most recent release was published in June 2011 and refers to financial year 2010-11:
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http://www.slc.co.uk/media/77960/SLCOSP022011.pdf
Tables 1 (iii) and 1 (iv) contain figures for non-UK EU students who studied at English institutions.
Overseas Trade: Surveys
Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will respond to the findings of the British Chambers of Commerce’s trade survey entitled “Exporting is Good for Britain: Skills”. [105509]
Mr Prisk: The Government welcomes the British Chambers of Commerce’s (BCC) survey “Exporting is Good for Britain and Exporters Need Skills”. The Government’s ambition is to have a world-class skills base that provides a consistent source of global competitive advantage returning the economy to sustainable growth.
Businesses are in the best position to understand what skills, including those for exporting, are required for their sector or industry. So we are making sure that the skills system is not led by Government, but by employers and individuals themselves. As a Government, we are empowering them with the support and information they need to make confident choices and shape the system to deliver.
Through UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the Government helps UK-based companies gain the skills needed to succeed in the global economy through a range of programmes under their Helping Your Business Grow Internationally trade development product.
Excellent leadership and management skills lie at the heart of outstanding business performance, so we have prioritised funding for these skills for small and medium-sized enterprises who demonstrate the potential for growth, building their capability and confidence to move and expand into the export market. Aligned with leadership and management support, Business Coaching for Growth will provide strategic advice, coaching, mentoring and access to knowledge networks to help them achieve their growth potential.
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will respond to the findings of the “British Chambers of Commerce's Exporting is Good for Britain and Exporters Need Skills” trade survey. [106219]
Mr Hayes: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb), to my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Alun Cairns), on 25 April 2012, Official Report, columns 948-949W.
Post Office
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make representations to Post Office Ltd to delay the roll-out of the Post Office Local model until a full public consultation has taken place. [106188]
Norman Lamb:
No. The Post Office Local model will contribute substantially to the long-term sustainability of the post office network. Any moves to this model by
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sub-postmasters will be voluntary. Post Office Ltd has a code of practice agreed with Consumer Focus covering the local public consultation and communication processes that are undertaken when there are changes to the branches in the network. Independent research undertaken on behalf of Post Office Ltd has found satisfaction levels at both Local and Main pilot branches well in excess of 90%.