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Ragwort
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to eradicate ragwort. [128506]
Mr Heath: It is not the Government's policy to eradicate ragwort. Where it poses no threat to horses and other livestock, ragwort makes an important contribution to the biodiversity of the countryside, supporting many species of wildlife and providing an important habitat for a wide range of invertebrates. Notwithstanding this, where it does pose a threat we are committed to working with land owners and occupiers to ensure reasonable action is taken. When necessary we will use our statutory powers under the Weeds Act 1959. These powers allow us to serve an enforcement notice requiring action to be taken. We also have the power to arrange for the clearance of the plant and to recover the cost from the land occupier, should such action be warranted.
Sick Leave
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2012, Official Report, columns 647-48W, on sick leave, what assessment he has made of the difference in proportion of working days lost due to ill health between officers at AA grade and SCS grade; and what assessment he has made of the use of mindfulness-based therapies in reducing the proportion of working days lost in his Department. [128172]
Richard Benyon: Absence levels in core DEFRA are kept under review by management and action taken either on a departmental basis or by individual units, where appropriate, including action to improve health and well-being.
No assessment has been made of the use of mindfulness-based therapies in reducing the proportion of working days lost in core DEFRA.
Sky Lanterns
Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2012, Official Report, column 1081W, on sky lanterns, whether he has yet determined the level of resources that will be allocated; what recent policy developments there have been on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [128179]
Mr Heath: The independent study which DEFRA is commissioning to examine the scale of the risks associated with the use of sky lanterns, and their impact on livestock, plants and the environment, is due to be completed by 31 March 2013. The project is currently going through our procurement processes, and at this stage, I am unable to confirm the exact level of resources that will be allocated to it.
The results of this study will help to determine whether any future Government action may be required.
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Trees: Diseases
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which tree species are likely to be affected by Phytophthora pathogens; and what steps he is taking to prevent further epidemics affecting trees. [127714]
Mr Heath: Phytophthora species are a large group of pathogens that cause diseases in a wide range of plants, including many species of tree. While over 100 species have been described, some of these are damaging to plants rather than always fatal. There are likely to be many more and many species are present in the UK.
There are a number of long-established Phytophthora root diseases that commonly affect many broadleaves and certain conifers like yew and cypresses. Other newly established Phytophthora diseases are more specific to certain species like alder, Lawson cypress and native juniper. “Phytophthora kernoviae” has been found to cause damage to some tree species, including beech and pedunculate or 'English' oak. “Phytophthora ramorum” has caused major damage to larch trees and given favourable circumstances can affect a range of tree species, including oak, beech, sweet chestnut and Douglas fir.
The five-year, DEFRA-funded, Phytophthora Management Programme implemented by the Food and Environment Research Agency and the Forestry Commission was launched in April 2009 and addresses the risks from “Phytophthora ramorum” and “Phytophthora kernoviae”.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs recently announced the establishment of an expert taskforce to review our strategic approach to plant health and to prevent pests and diseases from entering the country. We are also urgently bringing forward those actions in the Tree Health and Plant Biosecurity Action Plan particularly aimed at keeping out serious pests and pathogens not currently present in the UK.
Water
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what projections his Department has made of the demand for water in each water company area in each year from 2012 to 2020; [127482]
(2) what the demand for water was in each water company area in each year from 2008 to 2012. [127483]
Richard Benyon: The total consumption for water in 2008 to 2012 has been broken down for each water company in the following table (table 1). The data have been taken from individual water companies’ Water Resources Management Plan Annual Review.
The projected consumption figures for 2012 to 2020 have been taken from individual water companies’ final Water Resources Management Plan. The trend in the total consumption figures does not appear to show much variation and even though per capita consumption is decreasing, population continues to increase. The consumption figure is the sum of household and non-household consumption.
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| Table 1 | |||||
| Data type and units: | Actual data (MI/d) | ||||
| Water company | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
| Data type and units: | Forecast data (MI/d) | ||||||||
| Water company | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 |
Water Charges
Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of households that will spend more than (a) three per cent and (b) five per cent of their disposable income on household water bills in each year between 2012 and 2016; [127360]
(2) what proportion of households spent more than (a) three per cent and (b) five per cent of their disposable income on household water bills in each year between 2007 and 2011. [127361]
Richard Benyon:
In 2010, Ofwat reported that 23% of households in England and Wales spent more than 3% of their disposable income on water and sewerage bills;
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11% spent more than 5%. This was published in Ofwat's ‘Affordability and Debt 2009-10—Current Evidence’ report, which can be found online at:
http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/future/customers/metering/affordability/pap_tec201105affevid.pdf
For 2007-08, 22% of households were spending more than 3% of income, and 10% of households were spending more than 5%. These figures are from ‘Ofwat's Analysis of Family Resource Survey, 2007-2009’, and were not published.
Every five years Ofwat sets price limits for the water and sewerage companies at its price review. The most recent, in 2009, set price limits for 2010-15. The next price review will take place in 2014, and Ofwat will publish its methodology for setting price caps post-2014. All companies have a charges scheme, which must be approved by Ofwat on an annual basis. Therefore, data for future years are unavailable.
While water and sewerage services are relatively cheap and good value, costing on average £1 per day, some households struggle to pay their water bill, either because they are on a low income or because they live in an area where bills are higher than average.
The Government wants everybody to have access to an affordable water supply. We have published guidance to companies on the introduction of social tariffs, which enable water companies to offer more support to customers at risk of affordability problems. Companies will need to work closely with their customers in designing social tariffs so that they reflect local circumstances and local views. Companies will be able to introduce social tariffs from April 2013.
Prime Minister
Middle East
Paul Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister with which Governments he specifically raised concerns over human rights violations in states they govern during his recent visit to the middle east; and in each case what response he received. [128531]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy) on 13 November 2012, Official Report, column 143.
Women and Equalities
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Sandra Osborne: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many staff working for the Equality and Human Rights Commission are employed through off-payroll arrangements; and how many such staff were recruited in each year since 2007. [128936]
Mrs Grant: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is an arm's length body. The following is based on information it has provided.
(i) At 14 November 2012, the EHRC had 16 individuals employed through off-payroll arrangements. All 16 are
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working either on time limited projects to support the EHRC’s Change Programme, or filling business critical posts.
In line with the Government's clear aim to improve the value for taxpayers' money delivered by the EHRC, the EHRC continues to reduce its use of interim staff. This has already delivered a significant reduction year on year, which will reduce further once the current change programme is completed.
(ii) The following table provides the number of individuals recruited since 2007 and employed through off-payroll arrangements:
| Financial year | Number of individuals(1) |
| (1) Where an individual's contract has been renewed, that individual is included only in the period during which they first took up post. | |
The table above excludes support workers (for example, those providing support to a disabled staff member) where the EHRC funds less than 50% of the total cost.
Communities and Local Government
Fire Services
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the oral answer of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of 12 November 2012, Official Report, column 15, on metropolitan fire services, how the figure of 0.5 per cent was calculated; and where it is published. [128667]
Brandon Lewis: Overall fire and rescue authorities have a reduction in their estimated revenue spending power of 0.5% in 2012-13. Information on the spending power calculations for 2011-12 and 2012-13, which includes data and definitions, are available on our website at:
http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1112/grant.htm
Affordable Housing
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the use of sustainable materials for future affordable housing; and which such materials are under consideration for such use. [128222]
Mr Foster: The Code for Sustainable Homes is the national standard for the sustainable design and construction of new homes. Where the building of new affordable housing has been funded by the Homes and Communities Agency, these homes are required to be built to Code Level 3. The code covers the use of sustainable materials and awards points which contribute to an overall rating according to the Building Research Establishment Green Guide to Specification.
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Affordable Housing: Havering
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much affordable housing has been built in Havering in each of the last five years. [128217]
Mr Prisk: Statistics on additional affordable housing provided in each local authority are published in the Department's live tables 1006, 1007 and 1008, which are available at the following link:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/livetables/
These figures include both newly built housing, which accounts for around 85% of additional affordable housing over the last five years, and acquisitions from the private sector.
From the 1 April 2012, the Mayor of London has had strategic oversight of housing, regeneration and economic development in London.
Bookmakers
Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of the increase in the number of bookmakers on local communities. [127729]
Nick Boles: My Department has made no specific assessment of the number of betting shops by locality. Gambling policy is the responsibility of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Gambling Commission.
In relation to the cumulative impact of development and the planning system, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 29 October 2012, Official Report, column 47W.
Broadband
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made on Nottinghamshire county council's application for a grant from his Department towards business broadband connectivity in eligible parts of the county; and if he will make a statement. [128916]
Brandon Lewis: Nottinghamshire county council submitted a European regional development fund priority axis 2 application in eligible parts of Nottinghamshire. However, the East Midlands operational programme currently does not allow broadband infrastructure investment. The DCLG East Midlands programme delivery team and East Midlands councils have been working jointly on a rationale to implement a technical change to the operational programme to allow broadband investment across all of Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands under priority axis 1. This change request will be submitted to the European Commission in November.
The programme delivery team has spoken to Nottinghamshire county council about submitting an eligible broadband outline application under priority axis 1 before the call for activity closes on 30 November 2012.
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Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the availability of European regional development fund funds for business broadband connectivity purposes; and if he will make a statement. [128917]
Brandon Lewis: I strongly support the use of European regional development fund for the roll-out of broadband for small and medium enterprises.
As announced in November 2011’s national infrastructure plan, this Government has taken the initiative of using the current European regional development fund programme to support actively the roll-out of superfast broadband in areas which do not have wide broadband coverage. Broadband was not a priority under the last Administration.
Eight of the 10 2007-13 operational programmes in England have either already approved projects supporting broadband or are putting themselves in a position to do so. The use of the European regional development fund to support the roll-out of superfast broadband has been implemented in eight of the 10 English operational programmes. The two exceptions, London and the south-east, already have wide broadband coverage so they do not consider it a priority to use the fund for this purpose.
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the extension of eligibility for grants from his Department for the purposes of business broadband connectivity to Gedling borough council; and if he will make a statement. [128918]
Brandon Lewis: Under the last Administration, broadband investment was not considered a key priority for the European regional development programme. By contrast, as announced in November 2011’s national infrastructure plan, this Government has taken the initiative of using the current programme to support actively the roll-out of superfast broadband.
The East Midlands Local Monitoring Committee has confirmed support for European regional development fund investment in local broadband infrastructure through its Operational Programme. The East Midlands Councils Programme and Delivery Team have been working jointly on a rationale to implement a technical change to the Operational Programme to allow European regional development fund broadband investment across all of Nottinghamshire and the east midlands. Gedling borough council would be eligible for support once the European Commission approves the change to the East Midlands Operational Programme.
Council Tax
Dr Thérèse Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of whether there is any reason why local authorities should not collect council tax by 12 equal payments per year rather than 10. [128189]
Brandon Lewis:
In its “Technical Reforms to Council Tax—Summary of Responses Report” published on 28 May 2012, the Government confirmed that from
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1 April 2013 council taxpayers will have the right to pay their bills in 12 monthly instalments. This will provide council taxpayers' with greater flexibility to manage their finances and may be particularly helpful to those on low or fixed incomes, such as pensioners.
We will be taking steps to highlight these new rights for taxpayers in due course.
Family Intervention Projects
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers of oversight and direction the Government has over the Troubled Families programmes operated by local authorities. [128011]
Brandon Lewis: In March 2012 the Government published the financial framework for the Troubled Families programme. This set out the criteria that local authorities should use in identifying families eligible for central funding, and what results they would need to achieve in order to claim the results-based payment. All top tier local authorities voluntarily signed up to the programme by June 2012.
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 8 October 2012, Official Report, column 654W, on children: protection, by what date he expects to have developed plans to evaluate the Troubled Families programme. [128012]
Brandon Lewis: We have worked closely with local authorities and other Government Departments to develop our evaluation plans and expect to commission an external evaluation through open market competition before the end of the year.
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Troubled Families co-ordinators there are in each local authority area. [128013]
Brandon Lewis: As part of signing up to the Troubled Families programme, all top-tier authorities in England except the Isles of Scilly agreed to appoint a co-ordinator to run the programme locally. There is a named person performing this role and in contact with my Department in every local authority area. Troubled Families co-ordinators have a strategic role in local authorities to plan, develop and co-ordinate services for troubled families and lever in resources from other organisations.
Government Procurement Card
Mr Marcus Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the Homes and Community Agency's Government Procurement Card transaction data, including value, date, merchant and merchant type for each item of expenditure incurred since the agency's inception. [118195]
Mr Prisk
[holding answer 3 September 2012]:A breakdown of expenditure by the Homes and Communities Agency using Government Procurement Cards since its establishment in December 2008 up to September 2012
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has been placed in the Library of the House. (Data covering the period between 1 December 2008 and 31 March 2010 was provided in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Andrew Griffiths) on 6 July 2011,
Official Report
, column 1232W.)
I note that the agency's card spending has been reducing from £2,251,595 in 2009-10 to £840,169 for the full year (2011-12), This historic spending data shows there is clear scope to save taxpayers' money by reducing wasteful spending, and it reinforces Ministers' view on the need for greater transparency and tougher checks on spending on government charge cards.
Homelessness: Plymouth
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will estimate the number of homeless young people in Plymouth in each year since 2007. [R] [129070]
Mr Prisk: The information requested is provided in the following table:
| Homeless young people in Plymouth | |||
| (b) Homelessness acceptances for priority need categories relating to young people | |||
| (a) Homelessness acceptances with applicant aged 16 to 24 | (i) Applicant 16 or 17 years old | (ii) Applicant formerly in care and 18 to 20 years old | |
| Note: Figures from category (a) above cannot be added to those from category (b) to give an overall total because they are the results of breaking down the same total number of homelessness acceptances in two different ways. Source: P1E returns from local authorities. | |||
A robust homelessness safety net remains in place for young homeless people. Local authorities have a statutory duty to house 16 and 17-year-olds, care leavers under the age of 21, and people over 21 who are vulnerable as a result of being in care.
The Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness published their second report in August 2012, which stresses the importance of supporting vulnerable young people to make a successful transition to adulthood. It champions a model of a ‘positive youth accommodation pathway' for those who cannot stay within the family network or are leaving care. The report can be obtained from the Department's website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/making-every-contact-count-a-joint-approach-to-preventing-homelessness
We secured an additional £70 million last year to help local agencies prevent and tackle rough sleeping and single homelessness. This is on top of the £400 million we are investing for homelessness prevention over four years (2011-12 to 2014-15) which includes £10.8 million to help single people access private rented sector accommodation.
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Housing: Construction
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how the decision was reached that the group reviewing building standards will comprise a membership of four. [127199]
Mr Foster: I would draw a distinction between the Housing Standards Review group which will be led by my Department, and by the separate Independent Challenge Panel which will feed their comments as a 'critical friend' into the Housing Standard Review.
The Standards Review is also being assisted by a broader group of external partners, as outlined in the public terms of reference. More information is outlined in the press notice available on my Department's website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/newsroom/22249851
The members of the Independent Challenge Panel were selected to provide a balanced range of viewpoints, and comprise an independent and experienced set of professionals to provide an external perspective, made up of an architect, a building control professional, a developer and a planner. The size of the panel allows it to work in a fast and flexible way.
Housing: Havering
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people are waiting for housing in the London borough of Havering. [128225]
Mr Prisk: The number of households on local authority waiting lists for each local authority is published in the Department's live tables 600, which is available at the following link:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/lahousing201011
Through the Localism Act, we have given back to councils the freedom to manage their own waiting lists. They are now able to decide who should qualify for social housing in their area, and to develop solutions which make best use of finite social housing stock.
Leasehold Valuation Tribunal
Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he last met people connected with improving the operation of the law relating to leaseholder disputes and access to the Leaseholder Valuation Tribunal. [128523]
Mr Prisk: Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations can be found online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments %5B%5D=department-for-communities-and-local-government&publication_type=transparency-data
I look forward to meeting shortly with my hon. Friend and individuals from the sector to discuss residential leasehold.
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Local Government
Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will not implement the proposals in Lord Heseltine’s report to allow local enterprise partnerships to become unitary authorities. [128580]
Brandon Lewis: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 5 November 2012, Official Report, column 473W.
Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if he will take steps to protect the historic and ancient county of Somerset from any encroachment by its neighbours as part of any response by his Department to Lord Heseltine’s report; [128581]
(2) if he will ensure the county of Avon is not recreated in any form as part of his response to Lord Heseltine’s report. [128582]
Brandon Lewis: As the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), informed the House on 12 November 2012, Official Report, columns 7-9, we are opposed to any imposition on local authorities of costly reorganisations, nor are we in the business of imposing boundary changes, whoever might be seeking them, on the councils concerned.
England’s counties continue to form an important part of our cultural and local identity in this country and people remain deeply attached to their home county. The historic English counties are one of the oldest forms of local government in western Europe, and Somerset itself dates back to both Anglo-Saxon and Norman times. This sense of pride and shared identity is one of the things that binds communities, and indeed our nation, together. Last year, my Department flew the Somerset flag alongside the Union flag to show our support for the county.
Members: Correspondence
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he intends to reply to the letter of 30 August 2012 from Wychavon district council on the implication for local decision making of government planning policies, a copy of which was sent to him by the hon. Member for Mid Worcestershire on 2 September 2012. [128579]
Nick Boles: A reply was sent to Wychavon district council on 14 November.
The response was delayed because it raised a number of important and relatively complex issues.
Non-domestic Rates
Mr Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to introduce regulations to give effect to the provisions of the Business Rate Supplement Act 2009 which allow for landlord contributions to business improvement districts in areas where a business rate supplement is being levied. [128252]
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Brandon Lewis: Business improvement districts are an important tool for growth and this is already recognised by landlords who are voluntarily contributing to individual projects. In our response to the Portas review we committed to explore with industry experts how a formal property owner business improvement district scheme may be delivered within the provisions of the Act. Further to that work we are now aiming to issue a consultation paper on how a scheme may work early next year.
Pay
Mr Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many employees of his Department are paid in excess of (a) £80,000 and (b) £100,000. [128490]
Brandon Lewis: As at 31 October 2012, the Department for Communities and Local Government had 28 staff being paid in excess of £80,000. Of these, 14 staff are being paid in excess of £100,000. All of the above staff are senior civil servants, the total number of staff in the Department being 1,722.
Details of senior salaries in the Department are published on the Department's website at the following address:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/senior-dclg-employee-salaries
Planning Permission
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State's answer to Question 65 of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee's evidence session on 15 October 2012, what discussions (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have had with developers that led them to conclude that developers do not apply for costs for risk of jeopardising their relationship with local authorities. [127123]
Nick Boles: Details of Ministers' meetings with external organisations can be found online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local-government/series/dclg-ministerial-data
The rationale for Clause 2 of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill can be found in the Impact Assessment to the Bill, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
The broad policy objective is to support development by encouraging all parties in the planning process to behave reasonably; for example by refusing applications only where there are sound reasons to do so; pursuing appeals only where there are good arguments why the council's decision should be overturned; and providing adequate information and/or evidence in line with appeal deadlines.
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authority in England had the largest number of major planning applications in respect of which a decision was made after 13 weeks in the 12 months to June 2012. [127999]
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Nick Boles: The authority with the highest number of major planning applications in respect of which a decision was made after 13 weeks in the 12 months to June 2012 was Cornwall, which decided 85 of its 175 major decisions in more than 13 weeks. This excludes planning performance agreements.
However, this absolute figure is a reflection of the size of the local planning authority, as Cornwall is the third largest local authority in England. What is more important is the proportion of major planning applications which are determined after longer than 13 weeks, not the absolute number.
Research
Chris Kelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what external policy research his Department has commissioned in each of the last six years; which organisation was commissioned to provide each such piece of research; and what the cost of each such piece of research was. [122364]
Brandon Lewis: The information can be accurately collated only at disproportionate costs.
Notwithstanding, published research reports can be found on my Department's website:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/researchand statistics/research1/
This includes a significant amount of research commissioned by the last administration that was otherwise unpublished, but which this Government have published in the interests of transparency.
Universal Credit
Mr McCann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how the qualifying conditions for each passported benefit for which he is responsible will change under universal credit. [128411]
Brandon Lewis: The administration of passported benefits is the responsibility of a number of Government Departments and the devolved Administrations. We are currently working across Government to ensure that we introduce universal credit in a way that works smoothly with all passported benefits while ensuring that these benefits continue to be available to the families that need them most.
We will announce our eligibility criteria in due course.
Education
Academies
Mr Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the Church of England can be a sponsor for a school transitioning to academy status. [127796]
Elizabeth Truss: Church of England dioceses are able to sponsor academies, as are other faith organisations. All potential sponsors are subject to an assessment of their capacity and capability before they are approved to sponsor an academy. The assessment includes:
The educational aims and objectives of the organisation;
Their understanding of the role of an academy sponsor as a leader, accountable for sustainable improvement;
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Evidence of their capacity and capability to deliver their aims and objectives, including any previous experience of working with an underperforming school/schools
The track record of success in their sector.
Children in Care
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to publish findings and recommendations from the task and finish groups on (a) data sharing around children's residential homes and (b) out of area placements, commissioned to report at the end of September. [127592]
Mr Timpson [holding answer 8 November 2012]:The Expert Data Group has been considering how to safeguard looked after children who go missing, or are at risk of going missing, by developing improved local and national data collection arrangements, and strengthening practice among carers, children's homes, local authorities and the police. Chaired by the Department, the group includes representatives from the Association of Directors of Children's Services, police organisations, The Children's Society and Ofsted. It has met frequently since July and is in the final stages of its work.
The Out of Area Placements Task and Finish Group has been focusing on how to improve arrangements, and the quality of care and support, for looked after children placed ‘out of area' by their local authorities. Chaired by the Department, the group has comprised senior expert representation from children's services, local authorities, providers, Ofsted and others. The Task and Finish Group has met frequently since July. We will consider the proposals from both groups and announce the actions we intend to take in due course.
Work is also under way to fulfil Ministers' commitment to change regulations to allow Ofsted to share information about the location of children's homes with the police and other relevant bodies in their areas. Sharing this information is key to ensuring children in care are properly protected. We intend to run a formal consultation on amended regulations later in the autumn.
Children: Custody
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to publish draft clauses relating to changes to shared parenting to be proposed in the forthcoming Children Bill. [125282]
Mr Timpson
[holding answer 29 October 2012]:The Government published clauses which aim to promote shared parenting on the Department for Education
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website on Monday 5 November. A copy of the clauses and explanatory notes has been placed in the House Libraries.
Children: Malnutrition
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the prevalence of undernourishment among children attending school; and what steps he is taking to maximise the availability of free school breakfasts to children affected by undernourishment. [128034]
Elizabeth Truss [holding answer 12 November 2012]: The Department has made no assessment of the prevalence of undernourishment among children attending school.
I understand the importance of children having a healthy breakfast, but if is for schools to decide what, if any, extended services to provide. Many schools already provide breakfast clubs, which parents and pupils can choose to use if they wish.
The requirements on the provision of free school meals only apply to food served at lunchtime. Although we have no plans to extend provision to food served outside of the school day, at breakfast clubs for example, local authorities and schools do have the freedom to provide additional free meals.
Children's Play
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of changes in the level of spending on children's play and recreation services by local authorities since May 2010. [128764]
Mr Laws: Provision of children's play and recreation services is a matter for local government. While the coalition Government recognises how important it is that children have safe, free and local places to play, we do not monitor local play provision or collect information on local levels of spending.
Class Sizes
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the teacher-pupil ratio was in (a) England, (b) the west midlands and (c) Birmingham in each of the last five years. [127985]
Mr Laws: The following table provides the publicly funded pupil-teacher ratios in England, the west midlands region and Birmingham local authority in January 2006 to 2009 and November 2010 and 2011.
| Local authority maintained(1) pupil-teacher ratios(2, 3), January 2006 to 2009 and November 2010 to 2011, England, west midlands region and Birmingham local authority | |||
| PTR | |||
| England | West midlands | Birmingham | |
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| (1) The PTR is based on the total FTE number of pupils on roll in local authority maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools and the FTE of all teachers in these schools (including: centrally employed; occasional teachers; those on employment-based routes to QTS; others without QTS, those on paid absence and any replacements). (2) For statistical purposes only, pupils who do not attend both morning and afternoon at least five days a week are regarded as part-time. Each part-time pupil is treated as 0.5 FTE. (3) November 2011 figures are calculated using the latest available figures e.g. January 2012 pupil numbers and November 2011 teacher numbers. Sources: School census for FTE pupils (January 2006 to 2009, 2011 and 2012), for FTE teachers school census and 618g up to and including 2009, school workforce census November 2010 and 2011. | |||
Education: Qualifications
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education at how many and which mainstream secondary schools 10 per cent or more pupils at the end of key stage 4 achieved (a) no GCSEs at grade A* to C, excluding equivalents and (b) no qualifications in each local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available. [128019]
Elizabeth Truss: In 2011, there were 2,177 state-funded mainstream secondary schools with more than five pupils(1) where 10% or more of their pupils at the end of key stage 4 achieved no GCSEs(2) at grade A* to C (excluding equivalents). There were no state-funded mainstream secondary schools with more than five pupils where 10% or more of their pupils at the end of key stage 4 achieved no qualifications.
Lists of these schools and their local authority area have been placed in the House Libraries.
Data for 2012 are not yet available; they will be published in late January 2013.
(1 )Schools with five or fewer pupils at the end of key stage 4 have been excluded from this analysis to protect individual confidentiality.
(2) GCSEs include short-course, full-course and double award GCSEs and accredited iGCSEs and international certificates. Pupils who have achieved at least grade C in a full-course GCSE or iGCSE, a grade CD in a double award or two grade Cs in short courses are deemed to have a GCSE at grade A*-C.
Engineering: Young People
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the value of the Bloodhound world land speed recent project in encouraging schools to stimulate their pupils to consider careers in engineering; and if he will make a statement. [128146]
Elizabeth Truss: The Bloodhound SSC Programme is one of a number of enhancement and enrichment activities that schools can use to encourage more pupils to study maths and science subjects and to consider a career in engineering. It provides a unique opportunity for schools to help solve some of the design problems in building the car that I very much hope will enable the British team to beat the world land speed record.
Free School Meals
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education at how many and which (a) primary and (b) secondary schools which fell below the Government's floor targets, fewer than (i) 15, (ii) five and (iii) one per cent of pupils were eligible for free school meals, by local authority area, in the most recent year for which figures are available. [126283]
Elizabeth Truss: In 2011, there were 1,310 primary schools that fell below the Government's floor standard:
210 out of those 1,310 schools had fewer than 15% of pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM);
20 schools had fewer than 5% of pupils eligible for FSM;
three schools had fewer than 1% of pupils eligible for FSM.
In 2011, there were 107 secondary schools that fell below the Government's floor standard:
eight out of those 107 schools had fewer than 15% of pupils eligible for FSM;
two schools had fewer than 5% of pupils eligible for FSM;
no schools had fewer than 1% of pupils eligible for FSM.
Lists of these schools and their local authority area have been placed in the House Libraries.
Data for 2012 is not yet available; it will be published in late January 2013.
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to publish his Department's consultation on eligibility for free school meals under universal credit; and what the reasons are for the time taken to publish the consultation. [128783]
Mr Laws: Given the significant number and complexity of passported benefits across Government —most of which have different eligibility criteria—we are working with the Department for Work and Pensions to simplify free school meals criteria under universal credit, while ensuring that free school meals continue to be available to the families who need them most. Our discussions with the Department for Work and Pensions include discussions about the timetable for introducing new criteria. We want to allow good time to enable schools, local authorities and children's charities to comment on our proposals before we introduce new criteria.
Further Education: Free School Meals
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what assessment he has made of the effect on take-up of places at further education and sixth form colleges of making students at such colleges eligible for free school meals; [127719]
(2) what representations he has received on extending free school meals to further education and sixth form college students aged 16 to 18 years old; and if he will make a statement. [127721]
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Mr Laws: The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has not assessed the effect on take-up of places at further education and sixth form colleges of making students eligible for free school meals, but we have received representations on their eligibility.
The then Minister for Schools, the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr Gibb), responded to a Westminster Hall debate on 13 June 2012, Official Report, column 94WH, called by the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough (Mr Blunkett) on this issue,. It was also raised during Education Questions on 18 June 2012, Official Report, column 595. We have received representations from the chief executive of the Association of Colleges and college principals. We have also responded to correspondence and parliamentary questions from a number of hon. Members.
As I explained in my response on 15 October 2012, Official Report, column 190W, to the right hon. Members
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for Birkenhead (Mr Field) and Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle (Alan Johnson), the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton has fulfilled the commitment he made during the debate to raise the issue with his ministerial colleagues, and we are now working through the available options.
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many further education and sixth form college students aged 16 to 18-years-old would be eligible for free school meals if they were attending a school sixth form in (a) Pendle constituency, (b) the North West and (c) nationally. [127720]
Mr Laws: It is not possible to determine whether learners in colleges would meet the current free school meals criteria. However, we can estimate how many 16 to 18-year-olds in FE colleges and sixth form colleges were eligible for free school meals (FSM) when they were in year 11 and this is shown in the following table.
| 16 to 18-year-olds in further education colleges and sixth form colleges in Pendle, the north west and England, 2010/11 by FSM status at age 15 | ||||
| Full-time/part-time status in post-16 study | Pendle | North West | England | |
| Note: Data are rounded to the nearest 5 students. The components of each table may not sum to the total due to independent rounding | ||||
Grammar Schools: Free School Meals
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of pupils at each state grammar school were eligible for free school meals in each local authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available. [128096]
Mr Laws: The information requested is shown in the following table.
The latest information on the number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (including school level data) has been published as part of the “Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics, January 2012” Statistical First Release at
http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s001071/index.shtml
| Selective schools(1, 2): Number and percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals. January 2012. By local authority area in England | |||||||
| Unique Reference Number (URN) | LA code | LA name | School number | School name | Number on roll(3, 4) | Number of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals(3, 4) | Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals |
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| x = 1 or 2 pupils, or a percentage based on 1 or 2 pupils. (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes secondary academies. (3) Includes full time and part time pupils who are sole or dual main registrations. Includes boarders. (4) Pupils who have full time attendance and are aged 15 or under, or pupils who have part time attendance and are aged between 5 and 15. Source: School Census | |||||||