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Consultancies: Government Departments
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which companies are currently employed on a consultancy basis by each government department; what is the financial value of each contract; and what is the purpose of each contract. [HL336]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
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Universities: Chemistry Departments
Lord Watson of Richmond asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are considering to halt and reverse the decline in the numbers of chemistry departments in universities. [HL274]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Filkin) : The Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004–2014 sets out the Government's vision for science teaching and learning at every stage, including detailed proposals to stimulate demand from students and supply of excellent teaching.
The Secretary of State for Education and Skills has also asked the Higher Education Funding Council for England to advise him on subjects of national strategic importance, including chemistry, where intervention might be appropriate to strengthen or secure them.
Schools
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether teachers in foundation schools are eligible to stand for election to the local education authority in which their school is situated. [HL310]
Lord Filkin: Teachers in foundation schools are not eligible to stand for election to the local education authority in which their school is situated. The Education (Transition to New Framework) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 1999 provide that in this respect they are in the same position as teachers employed directly by the local education authority.
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the running costs for Ofsted and HM Inspectorate of Schools in the last financial year; and what, if any, savings will follow implementation of the Education Bill. [HL339]
Lord Filkin: The running costs for Ofsted in 2003–04 were £208.6 million. The Education Bill makes changes to school inspections and the inspection of early years education provision. Ofsted anticipates direct savings of at least £10 million per annum in the cost of school inspections and £4.7 million per annum in the cost of early years inspections as a consequence of these changes. In addition, Ofsted expects to make substantial savings in running costs as a result of structural changes to the organisation, facilitated by the provisions in the Bill. In total, these changes will deliver reductions of 20 per cent in the overall costs of Ofsted by March 2008.
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Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the open letter dated 6 December to the Prime Minister by the Chair of the Central Council for Physical Recreation, on when they intend to make an announcement on the amount of time devoted to physical education in schools; and [HL341]
Whether they support the "Club2School Sports Initiative" which includes the target of two hours high quality physical education in schools and two hours sport for every child provided by sports clubs outside the school curriculum. [HL342]
Lord Filkin: On Tuesday 14 December, the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills announced a further investment of £519 million from 2006–07 to 2007–08 for physical education and school sport.
We are well on the way to delivering the school sport public service agreement target that we share with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport that 75 per cent of pupils by 2006 and 85 per cent of pupils by 2008 should receive at least two hours each week of high quality PE and school sport. However, we want to do more.
By 2010, our ambition is for all children to be offered at least four hours of sport every week. This will comprise at least two hours of high quality PE and sport at school and, in addition, the opportunity for at least a further two to three hours beyond the school day, delivered by a range of school, community and club providers.
Aerospace Industry
Lord Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
Following an independent report on the future of the United Kingdom aerospace industry by the Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team, have they implemented a national aerospace plan. [HL228]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The Aerospace Innovation and Growth Team (AeIGT) implementation of the 20-year vision for the aerospace industry began in August 2003. Sir Richard Evans leads the AeIGT executive board overseeing its implementation. Progress is being made on all five themes of the AeIGT report.
The national aerospace technology strategy was launched in July 2004. The implementation of the plan to gain funding from government departments, regional development agencies, devolved administrations and research councils is being co-ordinated by the DTI; £15 million was secured for the aerospace industry from the first call for research and technology.
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Lord Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
What were the funds set aside for the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 for research and technology in the aerospace industry. [HL229]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: There was a rolling annual programme of about £20 million for research and technology demonstration in support of civil aeronautics, for collaboration projects undertaken by industry and universities, through the Aeronautics Research Programme (ARP). Actual disbursements were:
| Financial year | Amount (millions) |
| 1999–2000 | £19,993 |
| 2000–01 | £19,997 |
| 2001–02 | £18,666 |
| 2002–03 | £21,266 |
| 2003–04 | £19,694 |
The DTI has moved away from sectoral funding and closed the ARP to new projects in March 2004; existing projects will be funded until 2008. In April 2004 the DTI launched a new product to support a partnership approach to research and technology. The aerospace industry secured £15 million of the £50 million available from the first call.
Lord Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
16 Dec 2004 : Column WA108- what is the percentage broken down in civil and military terms. [HL230]
| 2000 | 2003 | |
| Value of exports | £11.0 billion | £10.9 billion |
| Civil share | 49 per cent | 59 per cent |
| Military share | 51 per cent | 42 per cent |
The Society of British Aerospace Companies provided these
figures.
Lord Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people are employed (a) directly; and (b) indirectly, in the United Kingdom aerospace industry. [HL231]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: In 2003, 121,979 were directly employed and around 150,000 were indirectly employed by the aerospace industry. The Society of British Aerospace Companies provided these figures.
Lord Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: There was a net increase of 4 per cent of aerospace jobs in the UK to 121,979. The Society of British Aerospace Companies provided these figures.
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