House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 5 Feb 2002 (pt 23)

Schools (Harwich)

Mr. Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new primary and secondary schools were opened in the Harwich constituency between 1979 and 1997; and what proposals have been made for building new schools within the Harwich constituency since 1997. [30982]

John Healey: Reliable information is not available on the number of new primary and secondary maintained schools opened prior to 1996. Since 1996, proposals have been made to establish one new maintained school in the Harwich constituency. The new community secondary school is expected to open on 1 September 2002 in Clacton.

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We do not hold information on the building of new schools. It is for local education authorities to determine the need for additional school places in the maintained sector and, where necessary, to build or support the provision of new schools. The Department makes available capital funding for new school places; many of these are provided in existing schools.

Skills Shortages (Construction)

Mr. Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of recent research by Communities Scotland on skill shortages in the construction industry; and what steps she will take to tackle such skills shortages. [31175]

John Healey: Skills policy for Scotland was devolved to the Scottish Parliament in 1999. However, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), which is sponsored by my Department, continues to exercise its statutory functions for Scotland as a cross-border public authority. In the first instance, it is therefore for the Board to consider, in conjunction with the Scottish Executive, how to address the findings of the report.

Temporary Classrooms

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2002, Official Report, column 1006W, if he will publish the latest available information on the overall floor area of temporary school accommodation in each local education authority; and if she will make a statement. [31609]

John Healey [holding answer 4 February 2002]: The data we have on temporary buildings will be appraised shortly with a view to publishing analysis later this year, to support benchmarking.

Theft and Fraud

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional security measures are planned by her Department to deter and detect theft and fraud. [31787]

Estelle Morris: My Department takes the threat of fraud very seriously, and pursues those who attempt to perpetrate fraud against it, either internal staff or outsiders (eg contractors). This is set out clearly in the Department's "Fraud Policy Statement".

Current measures which are in place for determining and detecting theft and fraud are as set out:

(i) our Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is a specialist team which investigates cases of suspected fraud/irregularity

(ii) we have set out, in the Department's Fraud Response Plan, our strategy for dealing with the threat of fraud

(iii) the Fraud Sub Committee (a committee of the Department's Audit Committee) was set up in early 2000, to oversee the Department's Fraud Response Plan and the work of the SIU

(iv) we have a clear Whistleblowers Policy to which all staff have ready access. This enables staff, in confidence, to raise any concerns of wrongdoing

(v) the Standards of Behaviour and Departmental value which we expect all staff to practice are communicated to staff and reinforced in the Department's Fraud Policy Statement

(vi) SIU delivers a three year rolling programme of Fraud and Control Awareness to staff across the Department. This includes highlighting our anti-fraud policies, the actions that

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we have taken against offenders, lessons learned from cases which have been investigated, and stresses the need for sound systems of internal control as being key to combat the threat of fraud

(vii) we have a strong Internal Audit function, which promotes the delegation of risk management to operational managers, and the maintenance of risk registers as a management tool

(viii) Internal Audit is involved in programme design and project boards

(ix) the head of SIU chairs the Fraud Response Liaison Group, which provides a forum for the exchange and sharing of relevant information, and facilitates a co-ordinated approach to investigations by all interested parties.

Proposed enhancements to the current arrangements are:

(i) we are developing a Fraud Risk Assessment Strategy which will inform us as to those areas which represent the greatest threat of fraud and where resources can be targeted

(ii) SIU is to become more proactive in undertaking a programme of inspection work to detect irregularity in those areas most exposed to the risk of fraud. The results of this work will support the level of assurance given by Internal Audit to the Accounting Officer

(iii) we are forming a 'High Level Senior Management Risk Group' which will alert the board to key areas of risk, including the risk of fraud

(iv) we are in the process of reviewing the current contact procurement and management arrangements, which will include reviewing the policy for the Financial Appraisal and Monitoring of all DfES contracts in order to enhance the current contract monitoring arrangements

(v) consideration is also to be given to enhancing the current guidance to staff on contract management which will include raised awareness as to the possibility of fraud.

In our determination to prevent and detect fraud, the measures set out above have been developed over the years as we have taken on board concerns and lessons learned from past experiences.

School Computers (Pornographic Material)

Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what systems are in place to monitor school computer systems for misuse by staff or students with particular reference to pornographic material; [31829]

(a)

(b)

John Healey: The monitoring of schools systems for misuse by staff or students with particular reference to pornographic material is the responsibility of the individual school. However, access to unsuitable materials is something we take very seriously and we have produced advice for schools and local education authorities on all aspects of the internet safety.

Schools deal with misuse through their normal disciplinary procedures, involving the police where appropriate. The Department ensures that information and advice is available to governors and head teaches who have to prevent access to unsuitable material and deal with any problem directly.

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The Department's 'Superhighway Safety' guide includes such advice on how to monitor content and activity on the internet and take action if necessary.

Prisoners Learning and Skills Unit

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects the prisoners learning and skills unit to complete its review of the funding procurement and delivery of prison education. [32253]

John Healey [holding answer 4 February 2002]: The prisoners' learning and skills unit review of the funding and procurement arrangements for prison education should be completed by November 2002. The comprehensive review is designed to ensure that there are more equitable funding arrangements across the prison estate.

Student Funding

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average annual funding per student aged 16–18 is in 2001–02 in (a) school sixth forms, (b) sixth form colleges and (c) further education colleges; and what the average annual funding is per mature student studying for level 3 courses in colleges. [32263]

John Healey: Separate average funding figures by age and level of study are not available. However the latest estimate of the average delegated funding per sixth form student in schools for 2001–02 is £3,330. The total funding per full time equivalent student in further education sector colleges per year in 2001–02 is £3,660. A separate figure for sixth form colleges is not available. It should be noted that these figures are not directly comparable, as the FE funding figure includes total public funding allocated for further education, while the schools' figure is based only on delegated funds and excludes other funding which the school receive centrally from LEAs which impact on post-16 students. The Department intends to make more comparable funding figures available shortly.

Graduate Teacher Scheme

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the funding for the graduate teacher scheme has been allocated; how many places are being provided on the scheme; and how many people have applied for the scheme. [32636]

Mr. Timms: For information on how graduate teacher programme places are allocated, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) on 16 January 2002, Official Report, column 290W.

In 2000–01, there were 1,507 new entrants to the graduate teacher programme. In 2001–02, 2,250 fully funded places are available. These attract grants of up to £4,000 towards training costs and of up to £13,000 towards the trainee's salary costs. In addition to that, over 1,000 places with funding of up to £4,000 each are being offered this year to schools willing to meet trainees' salary costs from their own budgets. In the current academic year to date, the Teacher Training Agency has received a total of 3,307 applications for places on the graduate teacher programme, 2,350 of which have been approved.

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Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when schools were given details of the number of places on the graduate teacher scheme. [32637]

Mr. Timms: The Teacher Training Agency informs schools of the likely number of graduate teacher programme places that will be available in each of the three annual allocations rounds approximately six weeks before the deadline for submission of applications.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the number of teachers taken on by schools who have not received funding under the graduate teacher scheme. [32639]

Mr. Timms: Information on the number of unqualified teachers whose schools are not receiving funding under the graduate teacher programme is not collected centrally. There is no requirement that schools should appoint prospective trainees before receiving confirmation that a place on the programme will be offered.

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