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School Performance Tables
Lord Lucas asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will amend the methodology of the key stage 1 and key stage 2 value added performance tables to:
to provide further details on the measurement of pupils' progress, notably the progress made by pupils who achieve 2A or 3 at key stage 1. [HL3570]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The simple and transparent methodology now in use has done much to put VA on the education map and help people to understand the general concept. Now these foundations have been laid, we hope to move on and develop a methodology which takes account of contextual factors beyond pupils' prior attainment.
However, we have no plans at present to provide for sub-levels at key stage 2 (KS2). We would need the marks data to be more robust before we could consider incorporating these sub-levels into the VA methodology. Nor do we plan to provide levels above level 5; this is the highest level a pupil can currently achieve in the tests.
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The autumn package shows how pupils from different parts of the KS1 range are performing. This can be found on the web at: http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/performance/ap/ 2003 additional/?version=1
Lord Lucas asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will amend the methodology of the key stage 1 and key stage 2 value added performance tables so:
(a) the arithmetic mean rather than the median is used to decide what a pupil is expected to get at key stage 2; and
(b) a stability indicator is used that begins in year 3, to include junior schools. [HL3571]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: We have no plans to change the present value added (VA) methodology to include the use of the arithmetic mean rather than the median. We know of no particular advantages this would bring.
This year we will be publishing a mobility indicator, for each primary school, showing the proportion of pupils in the school for the whole of key stage 2, i.e. from the beginning of year 3 to year 6. This indicator, which will replace the stability indicator, can be applied to all including junior schools.
Lord Lucas asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish an indicator of the uncertainties which arise in performance measures in educational performance tables. [HL3572]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: We have no plans at present to publish an uncertainty indicator in performance tables. The explanatory text we publish does, however, have a section on the significance of the value added measures and how to interpret them, alongside examples for different cohort sizes. The text can be viewed on the department's website at www.dfes.gov.uk/performancetables
Northern Ireland Judiciary
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Filkin on 15 June (WA 61–62) whether the personal information requested is in the Lord Chancellor's possession; and, if so, why is it not being released, considering that the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission will be required by statute to publish such information. [HL3461]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Filkin): It would not be appropriate for the Lord Chancellor to release personal information held in relation to individual members of the judiciary or statistical information from which the identity of any person could be readily ascertained.
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Under Schedule 2 to the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002, the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission will be required to ensure that information published must not identify any person or include information from which the identity of any person could be readily ascertained.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Filkin on 15 June (WA 61–62) whether the senior judiciary in Northern Ireland is reflective of the community there; if so, when it became reflective of the community; and, if it is not, when they expect the senior judiciary to reflect the community in Northern Ireland; and [HL3462]
Whether Roman Catholics are under-represented or over-represented in the senior judiciary in Northern Ireland, distinguishing between the posts of Lord Chief Justice, Lord Justices of Appeal and High Court judges. [HL3481]
Lord Filkin: The reflectiveness of the senior judiciary is not monitored.
Retirement Age
Lord Taylor of Warwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham): There is no national statutory retirement age. Many employers set a compulsory retirement age for their employees—typically 60 or 65, but there are variations. The Government have no plans to raise the state pension age beyond changes provided for by the 1995 Pensions Act which will, between the years 2010 to 2020, equalise women's state pension age with that of men at 65.
The Government's position on state pension age was made clear in the pensions Green Paper—Simplicity, security and choice: Working and saving for retirement. The Government are considering the approach they should take to employers' compulsory retirement ages in legislation to outlaw age discrimination in employment and vocational training when implementing the European Employment Directive.
Electricity Consumption
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the annual amount of electricity used by:
(a) the National Insurance Contributions Office;
(b) the National Health Service Estates; and
(c) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. [HL3473]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey): National Health Service Estates are not the sole occupiers of buildings and their electricity consumption cannot be assessed.
In 2003–04, 20.4 million kwh were used at sites on which the National Insurance Contributions Office was the major occupier and 23.39 million kwh at locations where the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was the major occupier.
Depleted Uranium
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
What role the Department of Trade and Industry plays in the regulation of the use of depleted uranium. [HL3451]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The DTI UK Safeguards Office is concerned with the application of international safeguards on civil nuclear material in the UK, including depleted uranium. This involves working with the UK nuclear industry (and others with safeguards reporting requirements) and safeguards inspectors from the European Commission (currently part of the Directorate for Transport and Energy (DG-TREN) and based in Luxembourg) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS) the security regulator, promotes a robust security regime for civil nuclear material. We cannot comment on the security measures taken, which could be of potential use to terrorists.
Imports of depleted uranium into the United Kingdom do not require the specific approval of the department. All imports of armour-piercing ammunition, whether or not containing depleted uranium, require an individual import licence granted by the department under the Import of Goods (Control) Order 1954. No other product containing depleted uranium requires such an individual import licence.
Although strategic export controls do not regulate the actual use of depleted uranium, any exports of depleted uranium from the Community are controlled under Council Regulation (EC) No 1334/2000. The DTI is responsible for the licensing of goods controlled by the regulation.
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