The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many employees of the big six energy companies are currently seconded to his Department.
Gregory Barker
There are currently no employees, seconded from any of the big six energy companies, working in the Department of Energy & Climate Change.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2015-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 12 July 2010, Official Report, columns 577-8W, on teachers: Hartlepool, what the teacher to pupil ratio was in each school in Hartlepool constituency in each of the last five years.
Mr David Laws
The following table provides the pupil to teacher ratio (PTR) for each school in Hartlepool constituency in England, November 2010 to 2013. Prior to 2010 comparable PTR information is not available on a consistent basis because the methodology changed to include sole and dual registered pupils. The information provided is from the School Workforce Census which takes place in November each year. November 2013 is the latest information available.
|
20101,2 |
20111,2 |
20121,2 |
20132,3 |
|
|
HARTLEPOOL LOCAL AUTHORITY |
17.0 |
17.3 |
16.7 |
15.9 |
|
Nursery Schools |
||||
|
Seaton Carew Nursery School |
14.8 |
11.1 |
11.6 |
15.0 |
|
Primary Schools |
||||
|
Ward Jackson Primary School |
13.8 |
19.5 |
18.1 |
17.3 |
|
Hart Primary School |
20.0 |
18.4 |
20.0 |
19.9 |
|
Owton Manor Primary School |
13.6 |
18.2 |
14.5 |
15.0 |
|
Brougham Primary School |
17.9 |
16.7 |
16.0 |
14.0 |
|
Golden Flatts Primary School |
19.9 |
18.3 |
19.8 |
16.4 |
|
Jesmond Gardens Community Primary School |
18.8 |
19.1 |
20.2 |
18.6 |
|
Eldon Grove Academy |
20.1 |
18.5 |
19.7 |
16.4 |
|
Lynnfield Primary School |
19.7 |
21.7 |
21.7 |
15.7 |
|
Stranton Primary School |
18.5 |
21.3 |
16.4 |
15.2 |
|
Fens Primary School |
22.8 |
24.0 |
24.4 |
24.1 |
|
Kingsley Primary School |
21.1 |
20.1 |
18.9 |
17.2 |
|
St Helen’s Primary School |
20.7 |
18.9 |
20.1 |
19.2 |
|
West View Primary School |
19.6 |
18.7 |
16.9 |
14.5 |
|
Throston Primary School |
21.9 |
23.9 |
22.9 |
23.5 |
|
West Park Primary School |
19.3 |
22.0 |
21.7 |
20.6 |
|
Clavering Primary School |
23.1 |
20.1 |
21.8 |
20.7 |
|
Barnard Grove Primary School |
19.6 |
17.2 |
18.6 |
19.2 |
|
Rift House Primary School |
19.4 |
17.5 |
18.9 |
19.9 |
|
Rossmere Primary School |
17.5 |
19.6 |
19.2 |
19.0 |
|
Grange Primary School |
16.9 |
17.7 |
20.0 |
19.8 |
|
St Peter’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School |
19.9 |
20.5 |
20.8 |
20.5 |
|
Greatham CofE Primary School |
21.7 |
21.4 |
21.2 |
20.3 |
|
St Aidan’s CofE Memorial Primary School |
21.8 |
22.4 |
19.5 |
17.9 |
|
Sacred Heart RC Primary School |
24.7 |
23.6 |
21.7 |
24.1 |
|
St Cuthbert’s RC Primary School |
22.8 |
23.6 |
26.3 |
23.1 |
|
St Joseph’s RC Primary School |
20.7 |
21.5 |
20.8 |
22.7 |
|
St Teresa’s RC Primary School |
23.5 |
21.2 |
21.5 |
20.9 |
|
St Bega’s RC Primary School |
17.3 |
26.1 |
17.5 |
17.3 |
|
St John Vianney RC Primary School |
19.3 |
22.4 |
22.2 |
16.0 |
|
Holy Trinity Church of England (Aided) Primary School |
24.0 |
26.5 |
17.9 |
23.3 |
|
Secondary Schools |
||||
|
St Hild’s Church of England Voluntary Aided School |
15.3 |
14.6 |
13.8 |
12.9 |
|
Dyke House Sports and Technology College |
14.7 |
13.4 |
13.3 |
14.0 |
|
High Tunstall College of Science |
15.5 |
16.4 |
15.2 |
14.1 |
|
Manor College of Technology |
14.0 |
14.6 |
14.3 |
14.9 |
|
The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College |
14.5 |
15.0 |
14.9 |
14.0 |
|
Special Schools |
||||
|
Catcote School |
6.8 |
7.1 |
5.8 |
4.2 |
|
Springwell School |
4.8 |
4.3 |
4.5 |
4.7 |
Source: School Workforce Census
[1] PTRs are calculated by dividing the total full time equivalent (FTE) number of pupils on roll in schools by the total FTE number of qualified teachers regularly employed in schools.
[2] For statistical purposes only, pupils who do not attend both morning and afternoon at least five days a week are regarded as part-time. Each part-time pupil is treated as 0.5 FTE.
[3] PTRs are calculated by dividing the total FTE number of pupils on roll in schools by the total FTE number of qualified and unqualified teachers regularly employed in schools.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what consultation his Department undertook before excluding damage sustained in utero as a result of illegal drug taking from the definition of a crime of violence under Annex B paragraph 4(e) of the Criminal Compensation Scheme; and if he will make a statement.
Damian Green
I sympathise deeply with anyone who suffers from an injury or debilitating condition sustained in utero. As part of the ‘Getting it right for victims and witnesses’ consultation, which was published in January 2012, we looked in detail at the definition of a “crime of violence” for the purposes of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS). After the consultation, a decision was taken to exclude injuries sustained by an unborn child if the mother willingly consumes harmful substances during pregnancy. We implemented a new Scheme in November 2012.
Below is a link to the ‘Getting it right for victims and witnesses’ Consultation Paper and the Government’s Response.
https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/victims-witnesses
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in piloting new approaches to improving business and skills system engagement and sharing of good practice.
Matthew Hancock
These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government’s industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry’s agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.
The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.
The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy’s ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer’ initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.
The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools’ reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.
The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.
The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.
The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.
My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.
The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.
Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities.
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to A UK Strategy for Agricultural Technologies, what progress he has made in establishing a Centre for Agricultural Informatics.
Mr David Willetts
Over the last few months we have held a number of discussions and consultation events to identify priorities for this Centre and others that will follow. Building on this input, a sub-group of the Agri-Tech Leadership Council has developed a specification that will be published later this month. The application process will open shortly thereafter.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in the development of the growth voucher scheme; and if he will make a statement.
Matthew Hancock
Since its launch in January 2014, the Growth Vouchers programme has attracted over 2,500 applications from small businesses and more than £2.5m worth of vouchers have been distributed. Vouchers can only be spent on strategic advice in 5 key areas; raising finance and managing cash flow; recruiting and developing staff; improving leadership and management skills; marketing, attracting and keeping customers; and making the most of digital technology.
We have been working closely with the Professional and Business Services sector and so far over 2,700 private sector business support providers offer their services through a new online marketplace (run by Enterprise Nation), of which over 1,000 are approved to deliver advice under the Growth Vouchers programme.
Providers interested in offering their services should register at: marketplace.enterprisenation.com/marketplaces/users/new
Businesses wishing to apply should visit: www.gov.uk/apply-growth-vouchers
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to A UK Strategy for Agricultural Technologies, whether UK Trade & Investment has established a new dedicated team to increase the volume and value of overseas investment into the UK agri-tech sector.
Mr David Willetts
Yes. The Agri-Tech Investment Organisation was established on 1 August 2013 within UK Trade and Investment. It is staffed by a mix of civil servants and industry experts dedicated to increasing the value and volume of overseas investment into the UK agri-tech sector.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, how many further education colleges have engaged with business as a condition of achieving chartered status.
Matthew Hancock
These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government’s industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry’s agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.
The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.
The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy’s ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer’ initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.
The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools’ reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.
The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.
The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.
The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.
My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.
The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.
Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities.
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to A UK Strategy for Agricultural Technologies, if he will list the activities undertaken by the UK Trade and Investment Business Ambassador to champion UK agri-tech; and which early stage markets have been identified for future growth.
Mr David Willetts
James Townshend, the UK Business Ambassador for agri-tech, has undertaken the following activities to raise the UK’s reputation in agri tech; to support inward investment and exports:
2013
London – 18 April. Met Hamish Renton, UK dairy specialist, in advance of visit to Qatar in May 2013.
London – 29 April. Met my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Owen Paterson), to discuss HMG Agri-Tech Industrial Strategy.
London – 30 April. Attended and delivered the keynote speech at the UK Dairy Export Forum.
London – 8 May. Met the Ambassador of Belarus to the UK to discuss potential business opportunities in Belarus for UK agricultural companies.
Qatar – 20 – 23 May. Led a scoping mission aimed at positioning UK companies to win potential contracts. .
Turkey – 1 September. Visited the Agroexpo/Animal Expo, Eurasia.
Angola 8 – 9 October. Led, with my noble Friend Lord Marland, a multi-sector trade mission to Luanda, which included calls on the Angolan Ministers for Finance, Petroleum, Agriculture, Defence, Energy, Trade & Industry and Education.
2014
Burma 19 – 23 January. A scoping visit and meetings with key decision makers and practitioners.
Early stage markets already identified are Angola and Qatar and we continue to keep our activity under review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what progress his Department has made in encouraging bodies to find innovative ways of improving employability of young people within the national curriculum.
Matthew Hancock
These questions ask about a number of actions related to skills development from “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services”, published in July 2013 as part of Government’s industrial strategy. The strategy was developed in collaboration with the professional and business services sector, focusing on the industry’s agenda for long term growth. It is led by the Professional and Business Services Council.
The strategy reflects two key business priorities in skills development. First, to expand recruitment routes into the sector, in particular higher apprenticeships, to access a wider, more diverse talent pool. Second, to help businesses engage with the education system to raise aspirations and promote work readiness. A business-led skills taskforce for professional and business services has been established. It is developing approaches to implement the strategy and will report progress at the end of this year.
The skills taskforce is leading work to help towards the strategy’s ambitious target to treble the number of higher apprenticeship starts across professional and business services to 10,000 over five years; and to follow progress in the interim, so that the numbers of these apprenticeships can be monitored. As a first step, the taskforce is supporting the London Professional Apprenticeship scheme, which was launched in December 2013, and is now recruiting apprentices and employers to take part. The scheme will pilot the proposal for a “clearing house” to help small firms access higher apprenticeships in professional and business services. In addition, the taskforce is backing new ‘trailblazer’ initiatives, announced in March 2014, to develop employer-driven standards for apprenticeships in several professional and business services occupations.
The skills taskforce is currently researching the metrics for schools’ reporting and their effect on the prestige of higher apprenticeships as initial career destinations. It will consider if more could be done to ensure higher apprenticeships have parity of esteem with higher education.
The taskforce is also mapping current school engagement activity involving professional and business services firms with a view to identifying and sharing good practice.
The new emphasis on wider use of higher apprenticeships across professional and business services should contribute towards a greater diversity of routes into these careers in the years to come; potentially offering opportunities to a wider pool of talent.
The skills taskforce intends to consider how the employability of young people can be supported within the national curriculum, but believes that greater engagement between employers and young people is the best way of improving employability skills.
My noble friend Lord Lingfield has set up the independent Institution for Further Education to take forward work on a new chartered status quality schemeand is considering the application and assessment process for Further Education providers.
The skills taskforce is exploring how web-based services can support engagement between firms and the education sector, including a planned digital “inspiration” tool being developed by this Department to encourage business-schools engagement.
Further information on the implementation of “Growth is our business: a strategy for professional and business services” is included in a progress report on industrial strategy, published on 23 April 2014: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-early-successes-and-future-priorities.
“