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11 Jan 2012 : Column WA91



11 Jan 2012 : Column WA91

Written Answers

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Afghanistan

Question

Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead

Baroness Northover: The World Bank's report on transition in Afghanistan projects a budget shortfall of 25 per cent of GDP by 2021-22 ($7.2 billion in 2011 prices). This shortfall includes both security and development costs. At the Bonn conference on Afghanistan in December, the international community, including the UK, agreed in principle to provide long-term financial support, in line with the Government of Afghanistan's priorities. Plans for the long-term financing of both security and development will be discussed by the international community at the Chicago and Tokyo conferences planned for later this year. In parallel, the UK will continue to support the efforts of the Afghan Government to increase tax revenue and economic growth, to reduce its dependence on aid.

Agriculture and Food

Question

Asked by Lord Boateng

Baroness Northover: The coalition Government recognise the important role the private sector plays in promoting economic growth and poverty reduction. In 2011, the Department for International Development (DfID) set out its increased commitment to working closely with private enterprise in its paper, The Engine of Development: the Private Sector and Prosperity for Poor People. The new DfID Private Sector Department established in 2011 includes a business engagement hub that provides practical support to UK enterprises in order to catalyse their contribution to development.

The agricultural industry in the UK has the potential to contribute to food security and economic growth in developing countries of the Commonwealth and beyond, by sharing relevant technology and expertise and by investing in agricultural businesses and supply chains that benefit smallholder farmers. Two DfID challenge funds actively support such linkages: DfID is a founding member and significant supporter of the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, which offers grants to private enterprises

11 Jan 2012 : Column WA92

to support new and innovative business models in Africa; the Food Retail Industry Challenge Fund, which has been running for three years, supports innovative business partnerships between African farmers and UK and European enterprises.

Arts: Funding

Question

Asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

Baroness Rawlings: The Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries holds meetings every three months with Councillor Chris White of the Local Government Association to discuss a range of subjects including arts activities. The Minister wants to empower local communities and local authorities to make the decisions that are most appropriate for their area at arm's length from Government.

Dyslexia

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): Support provided for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) including dyslexia is subject to clear statutory requirements on schools and local authorities. In fulfilling these, schools and local authorities must have regard to the SEN Code of Practice: http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/s/sen%20code%20of%20practice.pdf.

Ministers announced in the SEN and disability Green Paper, Support and Aspiration: ANew Approach to Special Educational Needs and Disability, that the statutory guidance would be simplified and improved. It will also reflect any changes introduced through the Green Paper reforms.

In addition, we are supporting workforce development, including an online module on dyslexia to be available as part of initial teacher training, emphasising the importance of meeting the needs of all pupils including those with SEN as part of the standards for qualified teacher status, funding 9,000 special educational needs co-ordinators to complete the higher level SENCO award by the end of 2011-12 and introducing a greater focus on the teaching of systematic synthetic phonics,

11 Jan 2012 : Column WA93

which has been shown to be effective in supporting dyslexic pupils to read. In addition, 3,200 teachers have been supported to take specialist dyslexia training courses approved by the British Dyslexia Association in 2009-11.

It is important, however, that local authorities and schools are also able to adapt the support provided to local needs and to the needs of individual pupils. There is not, therefore, a standardised approach across every local area.

Environment: Contaminated Land

Question

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The variation in the contaminated land remediation project consisted of an additional cost of £1,600 in financial year 2010-11. The reason for the variation was to undertake revision of the draft final report to take account of revised assessment criteria.

Gaza

Question

Asked by Baroness Tonge

Baroness Northover: The UK is at the forefront of the international effort pushing for the easing of movement and access restrictions for Gaza, and regularly raises these issues with Israeli Ministers, senior officials and the Israeli Defence Forces. We have made frequent representations on access to medical supplies in Gaza and will continue to monitor the situation. We have not made representations on the specific issue of dialysis filters.

The UK supports healthcare in Gaza through our financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The PA provides healthcare services to non-refugees and hospital care for all Gazans. UNRWA provides primary healthcare to the 70 per cent of the population in Gaza who are refugees. We also support the UN Access Co-ordination Unit to work with the World Health Organisation, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and aid agencies to facilitate the transfer of medical equipment and supplies into Gaza.



11 Jan 2012 : Column WA94

Immigration

Questions

Asked by Lord Berkeley

The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): UK Border Agency officers operating in Paris-Gare du Nord carry out immigration controls on all passengers travelling to St Pancras. Full immigration checks are not routinely carried out on these passengers upon arrival at St Pancras. However targeted checks based on intelligence may sometimes be carried out. The UK Border Agency does not have juxtaposed controls at Paris-Marne-la-Vallee. All passengers travelling from this station are therefore subject to immigration checks at St Pancras International.

Asked by Lord Marlesford

Lord Henley: There are currently no plans to introduce closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at all immigration desks.

Justice: Legal Complaints

Question

Asked by Baroness Hooper

The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The arrangements for the handling of legal services complaints were reformed with the establishment in 2009 of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC), under the provisions of the Legal Services Act 2007. The OLC administers the Legal Ombudsman scheme-a single independent service which, since October 2010, has handled consumer complaints in respect of legal services provided by persons authorised under the 2007 Act. This includes services provided in the context of court proceedings.

If consumers are unhappy with the way in which their complaint has been dealt with by their legal services provider, they can refer the matter to the Legal Ombudsman. The Legal Ombudsman may

11 Jan 2012 : Column WA95

investigate issues relating to poor service, and will refer any conduct issues (which could include issues relating to fraud and dishonesty) to the relevant approved regulator-for example, the Bar Standards Board for allegations about a barrister; or the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for issues relating to a solicitor. Following investigation, the approved regulator may take disciplinary action as appropriate.

As fraud is a criminal offence, it may also be appropriate for the consumer to report allegations of such activity to the police who, if they consider that there is a case to answer following investigation, may refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Music: Youth Orchestras

Question

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

Baroness Rawlings: Arts Council England is committed to supporting young people's access to music, and encourages their supported organisations in London to provide opportunities for young people. Examples of this include the London Symphony Orchestra bringing together young people from the East London boroughs to experience their work and the Barbican establishing a youth orchestra for young Londoners. The London Philharmonic Orchestra has provided a wide range of opportunities for children and young people in London, from attending orchestral concerts to working alongside the professional players in workshops and ongoing rehearsal opportunities with musicians in ensembles run by the orchestra.

Arts Council England also contributes to the National Youth Music Organisation which, alongside funding from the Department for Education's Music and Dance scheme, supports a national portfolio of youth orchestras, bands and choirs. These organisations offer the most talented young people from across the country, including London, advanced training and ensemble performance opportunities. The fund supports outstanding opportunities for development, learning and progression into education and professional music-making for young musicians, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Overseas Aid

Question

Asked by The Lord Bishop of Derby

Baroness Northover: As stated in the coalition agreement, this Government are fully committed to enshrining in law the target of spending 0.7 per cent of

11 Jan 2012 : Column WA96

gross national income from 2013 as official development assistance. We intend to bring forward legislation to this effect as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Royal Family: Royal Titles

Question

Asked by Lord Lexden

The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The Government have no current plans to change the laws of succession with regard to hereditary peerages. Changes to the law on succession to the throne can be effected without any change to the legitimate expectations of those in the line of succession. Changes to the rules governing succession to hereditary titles would be far more complicated to implement fairly.

Schools: Academies

Question

Asked by Lord Lexden

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): There are currently 30 independent schools actively involved in the academies programme working with existing underperforming schools to deliver rapid and sustainable transformation. This includes seven schools acting as lead sponsor, nine as co-sponsor and a further 14 as educational partners. This type of involvement does not require the independent school to become an academy to be an academy sponsor.

In addition, seven independent schools have converted to academy status:

Belvedere Academy (capacity 810);Bristol Cathedral Choir Academy (capacity 650);Colston's Girls School (capacity 720);William Hulme's Grammar School (capacity 1,040);the Hereford Steiner Academy (capacity 314); Birkenhead High School Academy (capacity 998); andthe Duke of York's Royal Military School (capacity 500).

There are then a further five independent schools that have become free schools:

Batley Grammar School (capacity 700);Maharishi School (capacity 1801);Moorlands Free School (capacity 5042);

11 Jan 2012 : Column WA97

Priors Free School (capacity 60); and Sandbach School (capacity 1,315).

Collectively these will account for 7,791 new places in the state maintained sector.

1 Maharishi is looking to expand from its current capacity of 86 to 135 (Sept. 2011) pupils in the first year, rising to 155 (Sept. 2012) in the second and 180 (Sept. 2013) in the third year. This expansion will take place in all years of the school.

2 Moorlands currently have 287 pupils on their roll but are moving to larger premises in September 2013 and will have a final capacity of 504 pupils by the academic year of 2015-16.



11 Jan 2012 : Column WA98

Schools: Teachers

Question

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of regular teachers employed in publicly funded schools in each of the 32 London boroughs and the City of London in each year from January 1995 to November 2010, the latest information available.



11 Jan 2012 : Column WA99



11 Jan 2012 : Column WA100

Full-time equivalent regular teachers1 (excluding occasionals) in publicly funded schools
Years: January 1995 to November 2010
Coverage: London Region
199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009Jan 2010Nov 2010

England

399,540

399,730

399,180

397,660

401,160

405,780

411,340

420,770

425,030

429,590

434,220

438,420

439,280

441,080

442,600

447,990

435,360

London

55,930

56,480

56,770

56,670

57,120

57,660

58,650

60,370

61,390

62,310

63,660

64,730

65,250

66,570

67,600

67,620

68,050

Camden

1.420

1,470

1,500

1,480

1,440

1,340

1,430

1,570

1,450

1,420

1,480

1,520

1,560

1,410

1,410

1,470

1,460

City of London

20

10

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

20

10

10

20

20

20

10

Hackney

1,490

1,470

1,450

1,490

1,520

1,510

1,480

1,470

1,600

1,550

1,650

1,690

1,730

1,750

1,780

1,750

1,800

Hammersmith and Fulham

990

950

930

920

930

1,000

1,000

1,010

1,060

1,120

1,140

1,110

1,100

1,110

1,040

1,030

1,170

Haringey

1,820

1,880

1870

1,830

1,860

1,850

1,850

1,890

1,960

1.960

2,000

2,070

2,040

1,980

2,020

2,080

2,130

Islington

1,430

1,440

1,420

1.410

1,330

1,350

1,300

1.460

1.380

1,440

1,440

1,450

1,450

1,470

1,480

1,500

1,410

Kensington and Chelsea

680

670

680

670

680

650

660

670

720

690

690

700

700

700

700

740

710

Lambeth

1.830

1,750

1,710

1,700

1,660

1,620

1,580

1,670

1,620

1,670

1,790

1,770

1,850

1,910

2,050

2,120

2,130

Lewisham

1,910

1,890

1,870

1,870

1.810

1,970

2,060

2,160

2,130

2,100

2,090

2,080

2,110

2,200

2,260

2,140

1,850

Newham

2,010

2,090

2.190

2,200

2,290

2,350

2,420

2,520

2,570

2,790

2,820

2,900

2,940

2,960

2,960

2,990

2.980

Southwark

1,740

1,760

1,750

1,800

1,850

1.920

2,050

2,150

2,170

2,210

2,220

2,270

2,340

2,350

2,410

2,370

2,300

Tower Hamlets

2,330

2,330

2,270

2,170

2,310

2,250

2,180

2,220

2,310

2,280

2,310

2,420

2,470

2,570

2,650

2,650

2,840

Wandsworth

1,700

1,710

1,690

1,680

1,710

1,760

1,800

1,840

1,820

1,840

1,910

1,930

1,950

2,010

2,060

2,070

2,070

Westminster

1,130

1,120

1,140

1,160

1,160

1,190

1,250

1,300

1,320

1,290

1,340

1,240

1,290

1,320

1,450

1,440

1,460

Inner London

20,500

20,530

20,490

20,380

20,550

20,770

21,080

21,940

22,140

22,380

22,900

23,160

23,540

23,750

24,300

24,350

24,320

Barking and Dagenham

1,420

1,460

1,450

1,420

1.450

1,470

1,480

1,510

1,570

1,680

1,650

1,700

1,730

1,810

1,830

1,870

2,030

Barnet

2,690

2.800

2,770

2,730

2,720

2,710

2,740

2,820

2,850

2,800

2,880

2,930

2,840

3,060

3,190

3,230

3,320

Bexley

1,830

1,800

1,860

1,870

1.940

1,920

2,030

2,160

2,130

2,170

2,150

2,260

2,270

2,300

2,260

2,250

2.140

Brent

2,010

2,150

2,160

2,190

2.160

2,100

2.110

2,160

2,380

2.420

2,560

2,600

2,640

2,700

2.740

2,510

2,680

Bromley

2,230

2,290

2.280

2,330

2.340

2,340

2,540

2,640

2,590

2,620

2,690

2,710

2,760

2,780

2.770

2,770

2,570

Croydon

2,490

2,610

2,620

2,640

2,590

3,010

2.950

2,930

2,990

3,010

3,120

2,910

2.860

2,980

3,000

3,130

3,080

Ealing

2,190

2,200

2,230

2,220

2,250

2,240

2,220

2,320

2,310

2,360

2,410

2,430

2,470

2.530

2,610

2,640

2,750

Enfield

2,450

2,510

2,550

2,610

2,650

2,740

2,670

2,670

2,820

2,880

2,950

3,030

3.040

3,020

3,150

3,160

3,160

Greenwich

2,070

2,060

2,070

2.010

2,030

2,040

2,030

2,080

2,140

2.190

2,260

2.380

2,400

2,540

2,420

2,320

2,350

Harrow

1,600

1,590

1,580

1.500

1,490

1,380

1,490

1,500

1.550

1,560

1,590

1.640

1,680

1,750

1,770

1,820

1,820

Havering

1,880

1,840

1,870

1,870

1,900

1,890

1,950

2,040

2,060

2,090

2,050

2,160

2,100

2,090

2,070

2,100

2,130

Hillingdon

1,920

1,940

2,000

2,030

2,030

2,130

2,180

2,230

2,230

2,350

2,440

2,490

2,530

2,550

2,560

2,650

2,650

Hounslow

1.920

1,970

2,000

1,940

1.980

1,950

2.020

2.010

2,010

2,120

2,160

2,190

2,170

2,260

2.280

2,210

2,200

Kingston upon Thames

1,070

1,070

1,060

1,050

1,040

1,060

1,070

1,070

1,170

1,150

1,190

1,210

1,230

1,240

1,350

1,320

1,360

Merton

1,310

1,260

1,210

1,170

1,190

1,150

1,210

1,210

1,240

1,180

1,260

1,270

1,260

1,360

1,310

1,270

1,340

Redbridge

2,020

2,080

2,100

2,130

2,180

2,200

2,370

2,380

2.470

2,510

2,470

2,650

2.690

2,750

2,830

2,810

2.910

Richmond upon Thames

1,060

1,070

1,070

1,070

1,060

1,030

1,040

1,090

1,100

1.050

1.060

1,100

1,040

1,090

1,100

1,160

1.100

Sutton

1,370

1,400

1,390

1,420

1,450

1.480

1,530

1,590

1.710

1,700

1.750

1,730

1,800

1,850

1,850

1,920

1,900

Waltham Forest

1,900

1,850

2,010

2,080

2,090

2,060

1,940

2,020

1,940

2,080

2,120

2,170

2,210

2,150

2,210

2,140

2,240

Outer London

35,430

35.950

36,290

36,300

36,570

36,900

37,570

38,430

39,250

39,930

40,750

41,570

41,700

42.820

43,300

43,270

43,730

Source: 618g survey of teachers in service and teacher vacancies, School Census and School Workforce Census (November 2010).

1 Regular teachers includes those on a contract of 28 days or more.

Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Schools: Teaching Assistants

Question

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants employed in publicly funded schools in each of the 32 London boroughs and the City of London in each year from January 1995 to 2010, the latest information available broken down by local authority area.



11 Jan 2012 : Column WA101



11 Jan 2012 : Column WA102

Full-time equivalent teaching assistants in publicly funded schools.
Years: January 1995 to 2010
Coverage: London local authorities and England
1995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010

England

50,820

56,070

60,600

65,560

69,630

79,050

95,020

105,440

121,270

132,240

147,250

153,510

163,800

176,990

183,700

194,230

Camden

140

180

200

240

250

300

360

440

470

550

580

640

660

720

740

790

City of London

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

Hackney

190

190

210

250

290

380

420

490

530

610

690

730

890

880

810

770

Hammersmith and Fulham

150

170

190

200

210

250

240

260

300

360

380

430

410

450

530

510

Haringey

320

330

350

360

380

420

490

650

690

810

900

970

950

1,000

1,040

1,060

Islington

210

240

250

250

270

350

360

350

480

520

560

620

680

680

750

730

Kensington and Chelsea

100

130

130

140

140

170

210

220

260

270

300

280

330

360

380

410

Lambeth

250

280

300

350

390

500

560

580

640

720

780

760

810

960

1,060

1,230

Lewisham

210

250

280

290

320

410

570

470

570

630

680

750

850

970

1,020

1,100

Newham

240

260

280

280

390

500

960

720

1,070

1,190

1,300

980

1,180

1,590

1,830

1,960

Southwark

280

320

350

420

440

650

810

790

710

930

1,040

1,090

1,210

1,300

1,320

1,370

Tower Hamlets

280

350

370

400

450

510

800

970

950

1,070

1,150

1,320

1,390

1,450

1,600

1,610

Wandsworth

290

310

340

380

370

460

470

380

530

590

740

800

880

1,000

1,130

1,060

Westminster

110

120

150

170

160

190

190

310

280

330

420

370

500

500

600

670

Inner London

2,780

3,130

3,400

3,720

4,060

5,090

6,440

6,630

7,480

8,580

9,530

9,750

10,740

11,860

12,840

13,280

Barking and Dagenham

230

260

300

290

310

320

400

500

510

560

540

560

570

620

660

710

Barnet

260

310

290

340

400

480

550

740

720

850

990

1,080

1,170

1,270

1,350

1,460

Bexley

140

170

200

230

280

310

380

320

560

570

620

600

690

700

770

840

Brent

210

230

260

300

360

390

440

450

470

570

660

700

770

970

1,030

1,150

Bromley

160

170

210

230

230

270

360

440

500

520

550

620

690

790

850

880

Croydon

290

350

400

410

510

530

660

630

870

950

1,010

990

1,010

1,090

1,060

1,070

Ealing

300

310

340

360

370

400

510

450

530

640

690

690

780

750

850

940

Enfield

180

200

250

290

290

500

590

810

880

970

1,050

1,160

1,290

1,360

1,480

1,530

Greenwich

240

320

360

400

430

510

650

650

730

750

820

940

880

1,080

1,080

1,030

Harrow

220

240

270

270

290

300

300

330

430

480

540

550

680

750

800

810

Havering

140

140

170

170

200

260

300

310

520

590

680

660

700

750

740

840

Hillingdon

270

290

300

340

380

420

510

520

590

620

750

820

900

990

990

1,120

Hounslow

250

270

280

280

290

330

380

400

400

550

580

680

650

720

830

850

Kingston upon Thames

100

110

130

130

150

170

220

220

250

310

360

380

440

450

500

580

Merton

160

170

190

200

220

240

290

250

300

370

530

460

580

650

710

790

Redbridge

150

190

190

230

270

370

450

580

620

730

820

910

1,020

1,110

1,180

1,190

Richmond upon Thames

80

90

100

110

110

130

160

210

220

250

330

350

390

410

420

470

Sutton

120

140

160

170

210

230

260

340

310

360

430

360

460

570

560

630

Waltham Forest

330

360

380

400

410

470

490

610

640

670

780

760

770

880

960

920

Outer London

3,810

4,340

4,770

5,160

5,730

6,650

7,900

8,760

10,050

11,310

12,720

13,280

14,440

15,910

16,800

17,810

London

6,590

7,470

8,170

8,870

9,800

11,750

14,348

15,390

17,530

19,890

22,250

23,030

25,180

27,770

29,640

31,090

Source: School Census.

Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

- = Nil or negligible.

UK Border Agency: Staff


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