| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Baroness Hilton of Eggardon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they support the Howard League recommendations that teachers working in the juvenile prisons should be qualified to work with students with special educational needs. [HL5050]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: We are committed to ensuring that the needs of all learners in prisons are met. Under the new specification for learning and skills for juvenile offenders, teachers working in juvenile prisons will be expected to have or gain the qualifications they need to be able to deliver the curriculum to a high standard and to ensure all the learning needs of the young people in their care are met.
As part of our investment programme we are funding special educational needs co-ordinators (SENCO) backed by learning and support assistants in each young offenders institution.
Teachers
Baroness Howe of Idlicote asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What incentives are in place to attract good experienced teachers from the independent schools sector into maintained schools. [HL5136]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: No incentives are designed specifically to attract teachers away from the independent sector. All qualified teachers who enter or re-enter the maintained schools sector will benefit equally from the improvments to the pay and working conditions of teachers that her Majesty's Government's reforms are bringing about.
Historical Manuscripts Commission
Lord Dubs asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will make an announcement on the future of the Historical Manuscripts Commission in the light of the Chipperfield Report.[HL5249]
The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone): I am pleased to announce today the publication of the report into the review of the functions carried out by the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (HMC) by Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield.
The Government accept the key recommendations of the report and as a result of consultations with the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Public Record Office and the Historical Manuscripts Commission, I am able to announce that the Government intend to establish a new body, the national archives. This will bring together functions relating to public and private records in order to serve the nations's archives in a more efficient and effective way. It will also enhance access by Members of the public to this uniquely rich national resource. The new body will report to the Lord Chancellor.
To help facilitate the establishment of this new body, my department has agreed to provide additional investment to enable the HMC to upgrade the National Register of Archives.
I am arranging for copies of the report to be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
Brixham Marina
Lord Corbett of Castle Vale asked Her Majesty's Government:
What annual or other inspections, independent of the operator, have been carried out by which authorities or agencies to confirm that Brixham marina and its wave screen (operated and managed by Marina Developments Ltd) comply with its design and build specifications.[HL4836]
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): I understand from Torbay Council that prior to installation the operators were required to undertake a detailed technical analysis, including wave testing of the proposed installation, to ensure it had an appropriate design life, would be adequate for the conditions it was to function in and would achieve a suitable level of wave attention. Under the terms of its lease, MDL is the responsible body for its inspection and maintenance. No inspections of the installation have been carried out by Torbay Council. The council is however undertaking a review of its arrangements for inspection under health and safety legislation following the introduction of new requirements by the HSE earlier this year and this will lead to a new risk assessed regime.
Government Consultancy Contracts
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the cost of external public relations and consultancy contracts entered into by Government departments for each of the years 1998–99,
- 1999–2000 and 2000–01; and what is their estimated cost for the current financial year.[HL3039]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): This information is not held centrally. In November 1999 the Treasury published a Statement of Best Practice on the use of consultants in government. This represents a set of principles that should apply to many areas of consultancy but is not binding on departments and has no status in law.
| Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |