House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 15 Feb 1999 (pt 39)

Teachers (Pensions)

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if provision exists for teachers to take early retirement without the need for schools to top up their pensions, on the occasions when such teachers are prepared to accept actuarially reduced pensions; and if he will make a statement. [71138]

Mr. Charles Clarke: There is no current provision in the Teachers' Pensions Regulations for teachers to take an actuarially reduced pension at their own request. Whether such a provision should be introduced was included in the Terms of Reference of the Working Group undertaking the Long Term Examination of the Teachers' Pension Scheme. I anticipate receiving the Working Group's report and recommendations on this question in the very near future.

Design Technology Graduates

Mrs. Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many students are (a) currently taking a postgraduate certificate in education in design technology and (b) in their fourth year of a B.Ed design technology course. [70442]

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Mr. Charles Clarke: The following table shows registrations to design and technology postgraduate initial teacher training in England in 1998-99. Information on registrations to the fourth year of an undergraduate design and technology initial teacher training course in 1998-99 is not available.

Table 1: Actual and forecast registrations to design and technology postgraduate initial teacher training (ITT) course in England, in 1998-99

Registrations

Actual(61) 502

Forecast(62) 44

Assumed total 546

	Registrations
Actual(61)	502
Forecast(62)	44

Assumed total	546

(61) Actual registrations represent those students who registered between 1 August and 14 October 1998.

(62) Forecast registrations represent those students whom the ITT provider forecasts to register between 15 October 1998 and 31 July 1999. Therefore, registrations to Open University and Maryvale Institute, whose ITT course commence in January, are included in forecast registrations.

Source:

TTA recruitment survey, 1998-99

The most recent data available on the number of registrations in the final year of both postgraduate and an undergraduate design and technology initial teacher training course in England are as follows:

Final-year trainees registered on a design and technology initial teacher training course, by level, in England 1996-97

Final-year trainees

Postgraduate 606

Undergraduate 584

Total 1,190

	Final-year trainees
Postgraduate	606
Undergraduate	584

Total	1,190

Source:

TTA Survey under the Framework for the Assessment of Quality and Standards in ITT

CABINET OFFICE

Civil Servants (Misconduct)

Mr. Maclean: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the offences or acts of misconduct

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under which a civil servant in his Department could have his pension removed or reduced; and how often this has happened during the last five years. [70786]

Mr. Kilfoyle: The rules of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) provide that Civil Service pension benefits may be withheld in whole or in part if a serving or former civil servant is convicted of:

one or more offences under the Official Secrets Act 1911 to 1989 for which the person concerned has been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of at least 10 years or has been sentenced on the same occasion to two or more consecutive terms amounting in the aggregate to at least 10 years; or

an offence in connection with any employment to which the PCSPS applies, being an offence which is certified by a Minister of the Crown either to have been gravely injurious to the State or to be liable to lead to serious loss of confidence in the public service.

In addition, forfeiture of pension benefits where a person is convicted of treason is provided for in the Forfeiture Act 1870.

In the last five years there has been one case of forfeiture of pension involving a serving or former civil servant.

Departmental Expenditure

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the expenditure incurred by his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on (a) the setting up and (b) the operation of web sites, indicating the cases in which the expenditure has been above that budgeted; and if he will list for each web site (i) the topics covered, (ii) the current average number of hits per month and (iii) the estimated expenditure on each web site for each of the next three years. [70977]

Mr. Kilfoyle: My Department fully supports the open government initiative and the Internet forms an integral part of our overall communications, publications and information strategy.

The Cabinet Office, its Agencies and NDPBs, and the Central Office of Information are responsible for a total of sixteen web sites, the details of which are given in the table.

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Cabinet Office agencies, NDPBs and other associated web sites

Name Content of site Expenditure Initial and running costs Estimated expenditure over the next 3 years Hits per month (average)

10 Downing Street (www.no-10.gov.uk) The full range of the Government's activities, including current news, live broadcasts, discussion forums, and the history of No 10 and past Prime Ministers The cost to my Department of redesigning the 10 Downing Street web site was £27,048. The running costs for the site are met by the budget of the Prime Minister's Office and separate figures are not identifiable. Not separately identifiable. 900,000

Cabinet Office (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk) The site provides a wide range of information, for example, cabinet and its committees, ministerial responsibilities, pan Government programmes, guidance, codes and best practice Not separately identifiable. Expenditure is part of the wider Cabinet Office Communications and publications activities Not separately identifiable. 60,700

Direct Access Government (www.open.gov.uk/gdirect) This web site is a one-stop-shop providing access to the regulatory guidance and forms commonly required by businesses. Not separately identifiable. £70,000 to upgrade the web site--excludes running costs. 243,900

Central IT Unit (www.open.gov.uk/citu) This web site features guidance on electronic government The Central IT Unit web site was set up at a cost of £14,000. The operational charges for 1998-99 are £20,000. Both are within budget £20,000 per year Not available

Central Communications and Telecommunications Agency (www.ccta.gov.uk) This site contains details of the services that CCTA offers and guidance on technological issues The estimated cost of maintaining CCTA's own web site is under £5,000 per year. The estimated marginal cost of initially establishing the CCTA web site is under £10,000. Estimated expenditure on this web site for 1999-2000 is around £20,000. 46,600

CGIS (www.open.gov.uk) CGIS hosts information from around 130 public sector organisations and units, plus the Royal Household. It is one of the largest public sector web sites in Europe. The set-up costs for this site were under £50,000. Estimated operational costs for 1998-99 are £330,000. Estimated expenditure on this web site for 1999-2000 is around £595,000. Figures are not yet available for 2000-02. 22.95 million

Her Majesty's Stationery Office (www.hmso.gov.uk) The HMSO web site was set up in 1996 following a decision by Ministers to publish all new Acts and Statutory Instruments on the Internet. The site describes HMSO and its responsibilities There were no charges to Government in setting up the site. Maintenance charges for calendar year 1998 were £8,299. Estimated charges for 1998-99 are £9,174. Costs of up to £19,756 have been allocated for 1999-2000. 44,600

Central Office of Information COI site (www.coi.gov.uk/coi) COI's role and performance; description of COI's services; frequently asked questions; an extensive guide to the use of the web. -- £64,000 (total). Included in figure of 1.2 million (below)

Government Press Release site Press Releases from 54 Government sites. Set up costs were £32,000. Upgrade costs were £28,500 and this year's operational costs are estimated at £82,500. £176,500 (total). 1.2 million

British Monarchy Site (www.royal.gov.uk) Information on the British Monarchy. Set up costs were £38,000. This year's operational costs are estimated at £44,000. Estimated expenditure over the next three years is expected to be in line with current costs. However, the popularity of the site has prompted a review of its scope and this may result in changes to planned operational costs. 11.2 million

Civil Service College (www.open.gov.uk/college) This site contains a full directory of courses offered by the College. The Civil Service College web site was set up, at no charge to Government, in 1995. The operational charges for 1997-98 were £7,050 and this year is £1,175--both within budget. £1,175 per year. 16,500

The Buying Agency (www.open.gov.uk/tba) The site covers a basic overview of The Buying Agency's operations, their Year 2000 programme and details of their suppliers who claim to be year 2000 compliant. The site occasionally promotes events such as the Public Sector Expo. The Buying Agency's web site was developed in-house but costs are not separately identifiable. The Agency pays £3,000 operational costs per year. £3,000 per year. 2,200

Womens National Commission (www.thewnc.org.uk) The WNC web site covers: the remit of the WNC, how it works, some of the key issues with which it is concerned and a list of the membership and the publications. It also has cross references to the web sites of some of the member organisations. The direct cost to the WNC is setting up of the WNC web site was around £30 for the registration of the name. The design costs were met centrally by DSS where the WNC was located until October 1998. The cost of operating the site is still being met centrally through the DSS IT budget. Costs will be met centrally by Cabinet Office and are not separately identifiable. Not known

Committee On Standards In Public Life (www.open.gov.uk/cspl) The web site includes: background information on the work of the Committee; information on individual Committee Members; the Register on Interests of Committee Members; a list of Committee Publications; abstracts of Committee Publications; and links to other relevant web sites. The web site for the CSPL was set up in May 1997. The cost of establishing and maintaining the web site to date is £2,500. The web site was redesigned in 1998 at a cost of £3,888. All costs were met from within the Committee's budget. Budgeted at less than £1,000 per year 4,400

Public Appointments Unit (www.open.gov.uk/pau) The purpose of the Directory is to provide an open, public record of key public appointments made by Government departments. It contains details of appointments made to executive NDPBs, advisory bodies, public corporations, nationalised industries and NHS bodies. The Public Appointments Unit's Directory of Appointments was launched in January 1997. The cost of setting up the web-site was £7,000. The current cost of operating the site is £10,000 per year. Total estimated expenditure for the next three years is likely to be around £24,000. 4,000

Property Advisers To The Civil Estate (www.property.gov.uk) PACE's web site details its structure and services There were minimal setting up charges and the annual connection charge currently stands at £14,000 per year. £14,000 per year. 100

Name	Content of site	Expenditure Initial and running costs	Estimated expenditure over the next 3 years	Hits per month (average)
10 Downing Street (www.no-10.gov.uk)	The full range of the Government's activities, including current news, live broadcasts, discussion forums, and the history of No 10 and past Prime Ministers	The cost to my Department of redesigning the 10 Downing Street web site was £27,048. The running costs for the site are met by the budget of the Prime Minister's Office and separate figures are not identifiable.	Not separately identifiable.	900,000
Cabinet Office (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk)	The site provides a wide range of information, for example, cabinet and its committees, ministerial responsibilities, pan Government programmes, guidance, codes and best practice	Not separately identifiable. Expenditure is part of the wider Cabinet Office Communications and publications activities	Not separately identifiable.	60,700
Direct Access Government (www.open.gov.uk/gdirect)	This web site is a one-stop-shop providing access to the regulatory guidance and forms commonly required by businesses.	Not separately identifiable.	£70,000 to upgrade the web site--excludes running costs.	243,900
Central IT Unit (www.open.gov.uk/citu)	This web site features guidance on electronic government	The Central IT Unit web site was set up at a cost of £14,000. The operational charges for 1998-99 are £20,000. Both are within budget	£20,000 per year	Not available

Central Communications and Telecommunications Agency (www.ccta.gov.uk)	This site contains details of the services that CCTA offers and guidance on technological issues	The estimated cost of maintaining CCTA's own web site is under £5,000 per year. The estimated marginal cost of initially establishing the CCTA web site is under £10,000.	Estimated expenditure on this web site for 1999-2000 is around £20,000.	46,600

CGIS (www.open.gov.uk)	CGIS hosts information from around 130 public sector organisations and units, plus the Royal Household. It is one of the largest public sector web sites in Europe.	The set-up costs for this site were under £50,000. Estimated operational costs for 1998-99 are £330,000.	Estimated expenditure on this web site for 1999-2000 is around £595,000. Figures are not yet available for 2000-02.	22.95 million

Her Majesty's Stationery Office (www.hmso.gov.uk)	The HMSO web site was set up in 1996 following a decision by Ministers to publish all new Acts and Statutory Instruments on the Internet. The site describes HMSO and its responsibilities	There were no charges to Government in setting up the site. Maintenance charges for calendar year 1998 were £8,299.	Estimated charges for 1998-99 are £9,174. Costs of up to £19,756 have been allocated for 1999-2000.	44,600

Central Office of Information COI site (www.coi.gov.uk/coi)	COI's role and performance; description of COI's services; frequently asked questions; an extensive guide to the use of the web.	--	£64,000 (total).	Included in figure of 1.2 million (below)

Government Press Release site	Press Releases from 54 Government sites.	Set up costs were £32,000. Upgrade costs were £28,500 and this year's operational costs are estimated at £82,500.	£176,500 (total).	1.2 million

British Monarchy Site (www.royal.gov.uk)	Information on the British Monarchy.	Set up costs were £38,000. This year's operational costs are estimated at £44,000.	Estimated expenditure over the next three years is expected to be in line with current costs. However, the popularity of the site has prompted a review of its scope and this may result in changes to planned operational costs.	11.2 million

Civil Service College (www.open.gov.uk/college)	This site contains a full directory of courses offered by the College.	The Civil Service College web site was set up, at no charge to Government, in 1995. The operational charges for 1997-98 were £7,050 and this year is £1,175--both within budget.	£1,175 per year.	16,500

The Buying Agency (www.open.gov.uk/tba)	The site covers a basic overview of The Buying Agency's operations, their Year 2000 programme and details of their suppliers who claim to be year 2000 compliant. The site occasionally promotes events such as the Public Sector Expo.	The Buying Agency's web site was developed in-house but costs are not separately identifiable. The Agency pays £3,000 operational costs per year.	£3,000 per year.	2,200

Womens National Commission (www.thewnc.org.uk)	The WNC web site covers: the remit of the WNC, how it works, some of the key issues with which it is concerned and a list of the membership and the publications. It also has cross references to the web sites of some of the member organisations.	The direct cost to the WNC is setting up of the WNC web site was around £30 for the registration of the name. The design costs were met centrally by DSS where the WNC was located until October 1998. The cost of operating the site is still being met centrally through the DSS IT budget.	Costs will be met centrally by Cabinet Office and are not separately identifiable.	Not known
Committee On Standards In Public Life (www.open.gov.uk/cspl)	The web site includes: background information on the work of the Committee; information on individual Committee Members; the Register on Interests of Committee Members; a list of Committee Publications; abstracts of Committee Publications; and links to other relevant web sites.	The web site for the CSPL was set up in May 1997. The cost of establishing and maintaining the web site to date is £2,500. The web site was redesigned in 1998 at a cost of £3,888. All costs were met from within the Committee's budget.	Budgeted at less than £1,000 per year	4,400

Public Appointments Unit (www.open.gov.uk/pau)	The purpose of the Directory is to provide an open, public record of key public appointments made by Government departments. It contains details of appointments made to executive NDPBs, advisory bodies, public corporations, nationalised industries and NHS bodies.	The Public Appointments Unit's Directory of Appointments was launched in January 1997. The cost of setting up the web-site was £7,000. The current cost of operating the site is £10,000 per year.	Total estimated expenditure for the next three years is likely to be around £24,000.	4,000

Property Advisers To The Civil Estate (www.property.gov.uk)	PACE's web site details its structure and services	There were minimal setting up charges and the annual connection charge currently stands at £14,000 per year.	£14,000 per year.	100

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