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  • Hilary Benn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Hilary Benn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Palestinian Authority on action to prevent terrorist attacks in Israel.

    Mr Philip Hammond

    I spoke to President Abbas on 9 October about the violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and urged him to do everything in his power to reduce tensions and restore calm. In recent weeks, Her Majesty’s Consul General in Jerusalem has also pressed several senior Palestinian figures on the need to de-escalate the current tension.

    I strongly condemn the recent terrorist attacks. The effect that they are having on innocent civilians is appalling. I also strongly condemn all incitement to commit acts of violence by both sides.

  • Hilary Benn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Hilary Benn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli government on the use of force by Israeli security personnel in response to protests.

    Mr Philip Hammond

    On 15 October, the Charge d’Affaires at our Embassy in Israel raised our concerns with Israel’s Deputy National Security Adviser, including specific discussions around punitive demolitions and the security at the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif. On 16 October the National Security Adviser, Mark Lyall Grant, spoke with Israel’s National Security Adviser, Yossi Cohen, about the violence in Jerusalem and called for de-escalation and the need to do everything possible to keep the situation calm. Our officials at our Embassy in Tel Aviv continue to urge both sides to de-escalate the current tensions.

  • Andrew Griffiths – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Andrew Griffiths – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Griffiths on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Groceries Code Adjudicator in assisting farmers who have been unfairly treated by large retailers.

    Anna Soubry

    The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) regulates the relationships between the ten largest supermarkets and their direct suppliers only. The Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013 requires the Secretary of State to conduct and consult on a review every three years into the operational effectiveness of the GCA. The first of these reviews will cover the period from the establishment of the GCA in June 2013 to March 2016.

    The Act requires that the review must, in particular:

    • Consider how much the GCA’s powers have been exercised; and
    • Assess how effective the GCA has been in enforcing the Groceries Supply Code of Practice.

  • Christopher Chope – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Christopher Chope – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the estimated cost to the public purse is of the examination into the planning consent application for the Navitus Bay Wind Park under the Planning Act 2008.

    James Wharton

    The net cost to the Planning Inspectorate and the fees paid by Navitus Bay Development Ltd for examining the Navitus Bay Wind Park application is estimated to be £430,000.

  • Jo Churchill – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jo Churchill – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jo Churchill on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much (a) revenue and (b) capital funding has been provided per pupil in state (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in the county of Suffolk (A) in cash terms and (B) at 2015 prices in each financial year since 2005-06.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    Average per pupil revenue funding figures for Suffolk are given below. With the introduction of the dedicated schools grant (DSG) in 2006-07, the changes to the funding mechanism meant figures were no longer available to be shown split by phase of education.

    Figures for financial years 2005 to 2013 are shown below. These are in cash terms:

    Average revenue per pupil funding (cash)

    2005-06 (baseline)

    2006-07

    2007-08

    2008-09

    2009-10

    2010-11

    2011-12

    2012-13

    Suffolk LA

    3,590

    3,820

    4,100

    4,290

    4,500

    4,760

    4,680

    4,680

    These are in real terms using September 2015 GDP deflators in 2014-15 prices:

    Average revenue per pupil funding (real)

    2005-06 (baseline)

    2006-07

    2007-08

    2008-09

    2009-10

    2010-11

    2011-12

    2012-13

    Suffolk LA

    4,410

    4,560

    4,760

    4,840

    4,960

    5,100

    4,930

    4,840

    Per pupil figures are using DSG allocations plus other schools related grants, e.g. school standards grant, school standards grant (personalisation), standards fund, and pupils aged 3-15 rounded to the nearest £10. Most of the additional grants were mainstreamed into DSG in 2011-12.

    The changes to DSG funding in financial year 2013 to 2014 with funding allocated through three blocks, namely schools, early years and high needs, means there is no longer a comparable overall figure with previous years. The table below shows the DSG schools block unit funding figures in cash and real terms for Suffolk LA.

    DSG schools block per pupil funding

    2013-2014

    2014-2015

    2015-2016

    Suffolk LA (cash)

    4,241

    4,241

    4,354

    Suffolk LA (real)*

    4,302

    4,241

    4,311

    *Real terms figures shown in 2014-15 prices using GDP deflators at 30.09.15

    Since 2011-12 schools have received the Pupil Premium which targets funding at pupils from the most deprived backgrounds to help them achieve their full potential. In 2011-12, the Premium was allocated for each pupil known to be eligible for Free School Meals, looked after children and children of parents in the armed services. In 2012-13 coverage was expanded to include pupils known to have been eligible for Free School Meals at any point in the last six years. The amounts per pupil amounts for each type of pupil are shown in following table in cash terms:

    Pupil Premium per pupil (£)

    2011-2012

    2012-2013

    2013-2014

    2014-2015

    2015-2016

    Free School Meal Pupil Primary

    £488

    £623

    £953

    £1323

    £1320

    Free School Meal Pupil Secondary

    £488

    £623

    £900

    £935

    £935

    Service Children

    £200

    £250

    £300

    £300

    £300

    Looked After Children

    £488

    £623

    £900

    £1900*

    £1900*

    *Also includes children adopted from care

    Total Pupil Premium allocations for Suffolk local authority for each year are shown in the following table in cash terms:

    Pupil Premium Allocations (£ millions)

    2011-2012

    2012-2013

    2013-2014

    2014-2015

    2015-16 (prov.)

    Suffolk

    5.548

    12.021

    19.244

    26.165

    26.363

    These figures in real terms:

    Pupil Premium Allocations (£ millions)

    2011-2012

    2012-2013

    2013-2014

    2014-2015

    2015-16 (prov.)

    Suffolk

    5.851

    12.450

    19.519

    26.165

    26.102

    Price Base: Real terms at 2014-15 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 30.09.2015

    The table below shows capital funding for the financial years that are available. The data is in cash terms as allocations are phased across more than one year making real terms calculations meaningless. Complete information on the split of capital between phases of education is not held centrally.

    Suffolk

    £m

    Capital allocations

    2005-06

    41.7

    2006-07

    33.0

    2007-08

    42.5

    2008-09

    47.6

    2009-10

    86.4

    2010-11

    75.4

    2011-12

    45.2

    2012-13

    64.1

    2013-14

    53.4

    2014-15

    36.7

    2015-16 (prov.)

    11.3

    Notes:

    1. Capital allocations includes capital grant and supported borrowing allocations.

    2. Figures are rounded to the nearest £100,000.

    3. Funding in 2015-16 is still subject to project progress and is therefore subject to change. The funding figures provided for 2015/16 only include formulaic programmes and payments to date. Further funding is yet to be released for capital programmes dependent upon project progress and this has not been reflected in the figures.

  • Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential benefits of re-introducing compulsory work experience for under 16 year olds.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    We are making the whole education system much more closely linked to the world of work. We have put more emphasis on mastering vital skills, more respected qualifications, and given employers greater influence over the content of courses, so young people have the skills that universities and employers value.

    We want more young people to have the opportunity to take part in high quality work experience that helps to prepare them for the workplace and develop the employability skills that employers require. Work experience is an important element of post-16 provision – new personalised study programmes include some form of work experience or work-related learning that is relevant to the career aspirations of students.

    We recognise that younger children benefit from contact with employers but we trust head teachers to decide what is best for their pupils, including when and how to take part in work experience. We are providing valuable support through a new employer-led Careers & Enterprise Company has been tasked with increasing the level of employer input into schools and colleges.

  • Jo Churchill – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jo Churchill – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jo Churchill on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school students in (i) Suffolk and (ii) England and Wales have been funded by the pupil premium in each of the last five years.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    The pupil premium was introduced in April 2011 and applies only in England. During the first year of its operation, only pupils who were currently eligible for free school meals (FSM) attracted pupil premium funding. From April 2012, the funding has been paid to schools for the number of pupils who have been eligible for FSM at any point in the previous 6 years.

    Data which split the pupil premium into the primary and secondary phases of education are only available for the deprivation element of the premium. Information on deprivation pupil premium by primary and secondary year groups was first published in 2013/14. Total funding allocations were published for earlier years. The most useful data are provided in the tables attached.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2015 to Question 11448, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of providing free school meals for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils in each of the next five years.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    The government is currently conducting a Spending Review across all its programmes. Our assessment of cost scenarios forms part of that review.

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sharon Hodgson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many young people in young offenders institutions receive 30 hours education each week.

    Andrew Selous

    Since 16 August 2015, education providers in public sector Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) are required to provide 27 hours of education a week, which is supplemented by 3 hours of physical exercise. On average, 27 hours of education is being provided in these YOIs.

    Although the majority of education time is protected, the number of hours of education actually received by young people is sometimes lower than this due to a variety of necessary interruptions, such as court appearances, family visits, or medical appointments. The number of people in YOIs receiving 27 hours of education each week is not recorded centrally. The Youth Justice Board is currently working with the National Offender Management Service, YOIs and education providers to increase the number of education hours received by young people.

  • Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children are entitled to receive free school meals but do not receive them.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    The January 2015 census recorded that there were 2,755,021 children registered for free school meals (FSM). We do not hold information on the number of FSM entitled pupils who did not receive a school meal.

    Further information is available in the link below:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015

    “