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  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether the activities of the new UK-China joint research and innovation centre will be subject to oversight by (a) the Office for Nuclear Regulation and (b) her Department’s national nuclear stakeholder forum.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Joint Research and Innovation Centre (JRIC) is envisaged to be the subject of a commercial agreement between the National Nuclear Laboratory and the Chinese National Nuclear Corporation.

    These two organisations are still in the process of negotiating such an agreement and will need to consider details on the structures, funding, governance and accountability of the JRIC. As such, it is too early for Government to be able to comment on the outcomes of such a negotiation.

    We continue to maintain an interest in developments of these discussions and will work, where appropriate, with our counterparts in the Chinese government to ensure that outcomes are mutually beneficial to the research landscape of both nations.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the annual budget is for the UK’s Centre of Nuclear Excellence.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Centre of Nuclear Excellence is a Cumbrian partnership of public and private organisations which aims to maximise the benefit of the region’s nuclear capability and expertise for the local economy and UK as a whole. The organisations involved support the initiative’s work with in-kind contributions of manpower.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, which projects have been undertaken to date under the UK-China Memorandum and Understanding on Enhancing Cooperation in the Field of Civil Nuclear Industry Fuel Cycle Supply; and what the (a) location and (b) cost is of each such project.

    Andrea Leadsom

    A number of communication meetings, seminars, and reciprocal visits have taken place under the Memorandum of Understanding. No projects have as yet been taken forward.

  • Kate Hoey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Kate Hoey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish the October 2015 census data for primary school reception class places for each school in the London Borough of Lambeth.

    Edward Timpson

    The department does not publish information from the October school census, and instead publishes information from the January census which is the only one of the termly censuses that covers all school types and collects information on class sizes. We collect data on pupils but not on places in schools. Data from the January 2016 school census will be published in June 2016.

  • 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 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to increase the number of former Armed Forces personnel who retrain as teachers through the Troops to Teachers programme.

    Nick Gibb

    The government recognises that service leavers have a wealth of skills and experiences that have been proven to be transferable to the classroom, including teamwork, leadership and the ability to inspire and engage. Former armed forces personnel model attributes such as self-discipline and resilience.

    The University of Brighton, who are contracted to run the programme, continue to promote Troops to Teachers through a range of methods including service leaver employment fairs.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much (a) revenue and (b) capital funding was provided to per pupil in state (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in Devon (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 Devon 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 pupilfunding (cash)

    2005-06 (baseline)

    2006-07

    2007-08

    2008-09

    2009-10

    2010-11

    2011-12

    2012-13

    Devon LA (£)

    3,560

    3,800

    4,050

    4,220

    4,430

    4,680

    4,600

    4,600

    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

    Devon LA (£)

    4,370

    4,530

    4,700

    4,770

    4,880

    5,010

    4,850

    4,770

    Per pupil figures use 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 Devon LA.

    DSG schoolsblock per pupil funding (£)

    2013-2014

    2014-2015

    2015-2016

    Devon LA (cash)

    4,156

    4,156

    4,342

    Devon LA (real) [1]

    4,215

    4,156

    4,299

    [1] 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 universal infant free school meals (UIFSM), 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 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

    LookedAfter Children

    £488

    £623

    £900

    £1900[2]

    £1900[2]

    [2] Also includes children adopted from care.

    Total Pupil Premium allocations for Devon 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.)

    Devon

    5.486

    11.161

    17.221

    22.942

    23.220

    These figures in real terms:

    Pupil Premium Allocations (£ millions)

    2011-2012

    2012-2013

    2013-2014

    2014-2015

    2015-16 (prov.)

    Devon

    5.786

    11.559

    17.467

    22.942

    22.990

    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.

    Devon £m

    Capital allocations

    2005-06

    30.5

    2006-07

    53.0

    2007-08

    68.1

    2008-09

    56.8

    2009-10

    71.6

    2010-11

    31.8

    2011-12

    31.1

    2012-13

    37.5

    2013-14

    48.4

    2014-15

    42.3

    2015-16 (prov.)

    10.2

    Notes:

    • Capital allocations includes capital grant and supported borrowing allocations.
    • Figures are rounded to the nearest £100,000.
    • 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.
  • Jim Fitzpatrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jim Fitzpatrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Fitzpatrick on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will implement the recommendations of the All-Party Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood on encouraging play in childhood development and learning in school.

    Edward Timpson

    We want all children to lead healthy active lifestyles. Physical activity and play are important throughout childhood and can contribute enormously to the healthy development of children. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework emphasises this and makes clear that in their early years children learn through play. When inspecting childcare providers, including schools, Ofsted look at how staff are enabling children to play in ways that help them develop and learn. Ofsted’s recent report on Teaching and Play is available to view at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teaching-and-play-in-the-early-years-a-balancing-act

    The EYFS framework can be found here at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework–2

    “

  • 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 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the progress made by the Careers and Enterprise Company on (a) increasing employer output into schools and colleges and (b) managing its network of enterprise advisers to assist schools and colleges in choosing good careers and enterprise partner organisations.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    The Careers & Enterprise Company, which was set up to take a lead role in transforming the provision of careers, enterprise and employer engagement experiences for young people, was incorporated in February 2015. It has since been working with employers, schools and colleges, careers, enterprise and employer engagement providers and others to devise its strategy for transforming the way in which schools and colleges, in partnership with employers, help to prepare young people for adult life. The Careers & Enterprise Company has made good progress with its set up and its delivery plans but it is too early to be able to assess impact.

    In September 2015 The Careers & Enterprise Company launched its Enterprise Adviser Network. Through this network Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) will co-ordinate employer volunteers to work with secondary schools and colleges to support the development of whole school careers and enterprise strategies, assist schools and colleges in choosing good careers and enterprise organisations to partner with, and increase the number and effectiveness of employer-school interactions. LEPs started work from September 2015.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the potential for future UK airstrikes in Syria.

    Michael Fallon

    I have not held discussions with my Russian counterpart.

    I have regular conversations with my US counterpart on a range of subjects, including the campaign against ISIL, and most recently met him on 9 October 2015. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said, there is a strong case to do more against ISIL in Syria, but the UK will not join Coalition air strikes against ISIL in Syria without the endorsement of Parliament.

  • Stewart Jackson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Stewart Jackson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stewart Jackson on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made towards full disregard of military compensation payments for veterans in respect of their care costs; and if he will make a statement.

    Alistair Burt

    Armed forces veterans receive payments either through the War Disablement Pension (WDP) or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS). The AFCS applies to veterans injured from April 2005. It has always been the case that personal injury compensation payments have been disregarded in when assessing how much a person can contribute towards the cost of local authority arranged care and support. Since October 2012 Guaranteed Income Payments made under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme have also been disregarded. The Department of Health has been in discussion with the Royal British Legion about how WDP payments are currently treated.

    The Government is in the process of considering the future funding of social care as part of the current spending review.