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  • Jesse Norman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jesse Norman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jesse Norman on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to announce funding for music hubs in 2016-17.

    Mr Nick Gibb

    The Secretary of State confirmed £75 million of funding for music hubs for 2015-16 on 26 January 2015. The next spending review, covering the 2016-17 financial year, will take place after this year’s general election, and therefore no commitments can be made at this stage.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department provides to its managers on how many days training should be made available to staff.

    Mr Nick Gibb

    In line with the Capabilities Plan as part of the Civil Service Reform, the Department for Education recommends that all staff undertake at least five days of training and development every year. This could include formal training courses but may also be made up of other professional development opportunities, for example job shadowing and on the job training. This is not a maximum or minimum target, but a benchmark of expectations. This guidance is available to all managers and staff through the Department’s intranet pages.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff employed in her Department was in each of the last three financial years.

    Mr Nick Gibb

    The civil service aspiration is for five days’ training and development for each member of staff every year.

    The majority of training and development is not formal training but is carried out within teams and groups and includes: research; on the job training; shadowing; mentoring; and coaching. Staff record their own personal development in line with the Department for Education’s Capability Review which is on an individual and local basis.

    Information on the amount of time spent undertaking informal training is not collated centrally.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department’s training budget was in each of the last three financial years.

    Mr Nick Gibb

    The Department for Education holds a central training and development budget covering core education and training undertaken through Civil Service Learning. This includes development in core Civil Service skills including leadership and management, financial management and analysis. The table below shows the centrally managed budget for each of the past three financial years.

    Financial Year

    Budget

    12/13

    £700,000

    13/14

    £700,000

    14/15

    £600,000

    Additionally, directorates across the Department spend an element of their budgets on training and development which varies dependant on in-year development needs. The table below shows both central training and development spend and Directorate spend for each last 3 financial years.

    Financial Year

    Total spend

    Average number of staff (based on Full Time Equivalents)

    Average spend per member of staff (based on Full Time Equivalents)

    2014/15 (covering the period April to December only)

    £1.3m

    3353.7

    £390

    2013/14

    £2.2m

    3539.4

    £620

    2012/13

    £3.2m

    3801.1

    £840

    In addition to formal training, the Department for Education encourages staff to take advantage of a variety of different professional development opportunities not captured by this expenditure, including job shadowing, on-the-job training and peer mentoring.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department spent on training in each of the last three financial years.

    Mr Nick Gibb

    The Department for Education holds a central training and development budget covering core education and training undertaken through Civil Service Learning. This includes development in core Civil Service skills including leadership and management, financial management and analysis. The table below shows the centrally managed budget for each of the past three financial years.

    Financial Year

    Budget

    12/13

    £700,000

    13/14

    £700,000

    14/15

    £600,000

    Additionally, directorates across the Department spend an element of their budgets on training and development which varies dependant on in-year development needs. The table below shows both central training and development spend and Directorate spend for each last 3 financial years.

    Financial Year

    Total spend

    Average number of staff (based on Full Time Equivalents)

    Average spend per member of staff (based on Full Time Equivalents)

    2014/15 (covering the period April to December only)

    £1.3m

    3353.7

    £390

    2013/14

    £2.2m

    3539.4

    £620

    2012/13

    £3.2m

    3801.1

    £840

    In addition to formal training, the Department for Education encourages staff to take advantage of a variety of different professional development opportunities not captured by this expenditure, including job shadowing, on-the-job training and peer mentoring.

  • Tom Watson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tom Watson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Strategic Defence and Security Review will address the issues identified in Joint Doctrinal Note 2/11, the UK Approach to Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

    Michael Fallon

    The next Strategic Defence and Security Review will be a matter for after the General Election.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on training in each of the last three financial years.

    Anna Soubry

    The Ministry of Defence undertakes a wide range of training activity; from phase 1 and phase 2 training for new recruits to complex joint exercises with other nations to specialist training for specific trades and skills requirements, such as nuclear engineering. The costs for these activities encompass nearly all of the Defence Lines of Development and can not be broken out without incurring disproportionate cost.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department’s training budget was in each of the last three financial years.

    Anna Soubry

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 3 March 2015 to Question 224510.

    http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&uin=224510

  • Nick Harvey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nick Harvey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Harvey on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the decision to review the scope and delivery schedule for Project Pegasus at the Atomic Weapons Establishment was taken; and when he expects a revised scope and delivery schedule to be approved.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Consistent with industry best practice for all projects, Pegasus is under regular review. If a project requires a revised approval then this may be sought once a robust evidence base has been established.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance his Department provides to its managers on how many days training should be made available to staff.

    Anna Soubry

    The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to helping all employees realise their full potential. This is why all civilian staff are strongly encouraged to take up the offer of completing five days training each year. I am pleased to report that the Department is investing an additional £10 million to develop the skills of our civilian personnel.

    The MOD does not hold information centrally on the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff. Some data is available from Civil Service Learning for the period July 2012 – June 2013. This showed that the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff via Civil Service Learning was 1.3 days per head.

    However, this is not a true indication of the total number of days training staff have undertaken, as staff may receive training through a variety of other measures. The Defence Academy undertakes training and development which is specific to Defence, including command and staff courses, languages, acquisition and technology training for military and civilian personnel. It also has a considerable range of leadership, management, project management and commercial training which is specific to Defence.

    The Defence Learning Portal hosts e-learning including a wide range of military and technical training, and mandatory training for civilian and military personnel. This is complemented by a range of learning and development opportunities available to predominately civilian staff, through Civil Service Learning.

    There is also a range of other activities such as coaching, mentoring, shadowing and 360 degree feedback which count towards five training days a year, but may not be recorded officially.