House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 12 Mar 2002 (pt 25)

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Student Drop-out Rates

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have dropped out of university at the end of the first year for each university; and of those how many were subsequently re-admitted or started a new course at another university in each of the past three years. [36624]

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 25 February 2002]: The available information on the non-continuation of students beyond the first year in each university, and the proportion who resume after a year out, is contained in "Performance Indicators in Higher Education in the UK" published by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, a copy of which is available from the House Library.

Secondments

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the names of staff who have been seconded to her Department from the private sector since May 1997, indicating (a) the names of the organisation from which each has come, (b) their responsibilities and civil service grades within her Department, (c) the organisation responsible for paying their salary and (d) the start and end dates of their secondment. [35839]

Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 12 February 2002]: Since May 1997 23 staff have been seconded to this Department from the private sector. The following table sets out (a) the names of the relevant private sector organisations, (b) the secondees' responsibilities and their grades, (c) the organisation responsible for paying salary and (d) the start and end date of the secondment.

Inward secondees from private sector from May 1997 to date

Name of parent organisation Responsibilities Grade Funding arrangements Start/end date

Ernst and Young School Leadership Division, Policy adviser Consultant DfES 9/10/2000 to 31/3/2001

International Computers Ltd. UfI Transition Team, Assisted in establishment of UfI organisation as a public private partnership G7 Parent Organisation 2/6/1998 to 30/11/1998

Aqumen Services Private Finance Division, Advising Department on public/private finance. Adviser DfES 10/4/1998 to 1/11/1998

Ernst and Young Teachers Pay and Pensions, Policy Adviser Consultant DfES 1/1/2000 to 31/12/2000

Pannell, Kerr, Foster Private Finance Division, Finance Adviser G7 DfES 30/7/1997 to 31/3/1998

The Link Group Workplace Learning Division, Head of Learning Projects G6 Parent Organisation 2/4/2001 to 31/3/2002

XANSA New Deal Task Force, Co-ordination of Ambition IT Project G7 Parent Organisation 1/1/2001 to 30/9/2001

Ernst and Young National College for School Leadership, Consultant Consultant Parent Organisation 15/5/2000 to 14/11/2000

Next Employment Agency Member of the Secretariat for the National Disability Council SEO Parent Organisation 1/9/1998 to 31/8/2000

Ernst and Young Transforming Secondary Education, Policy adviser Consultant DfES 3/10/2000 to 22/12/2000

Enigma Productions Financial and Analytical Services, Financial adviser Consultant DfES 13/3/2000 to 12/3/2001

National Westminster Bank Financial and Analytical Services, Adviser on Communications G6 Shared 6/3/2000 to 5/3/2001

Ernst and Young Transforming Secondary Education Delivery, Unit Policy Adviser Consultant DFES 10/1/2000 to 22/12/2000

Nationwide Anglia Building Society People Skills Division, Assistant Director developing the Work-Life Balance Campaign. G7 DfES 5/9/2001 to 4/9/2002

Ernst and Young Teachers Pay and Pensions, Policy adviser Consultant DfES 27/9/2000 to 31/1/2001

Glaxo Wellcome Schools Directorate, Adviser on best practice in Science Adviser Employing Organisation 3/11/1998 to 31/1/2000

National Westminster Bank Business Manager Adviser Shared funding 13/3/2000 to 12/3/2001

Centre for British Teachers Schools Impact and Feedback Division, Policy Adviser G6 DfES 1/4/2001 to 31/3/2004

Price Waterhouse Cooper Surestart Unit, Providing financial and audit advice G7 DfES 1/10/2000 to 30/9/2001

National Westminster Bank Performance and Innovation Unit, Project Manager G7 DfES 6/3/2000 to 23/6/2000

Centre for School Standards Pupil Standards Division, Support on delivery and operational matters. EO DfES 14/1/2002 to 12/7/2002

International Communications Ltd. Lifelong Learning and Technologies Division, Assist with the operation of Learning Direct and the UfI launch 2000 G6 DfES 1/2/2000 to 31/3/2001

Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research Research for Analytical Services SRO DfES 6/1/1997 to 21/10/1997

Name of parent organisation	Responsibilities	Grade	Funding arrangements	Start/end date
Ernst and Young	School Leadership Division, Policy adviser	Consultant	DfES	9/10/2000 to 31/3/2001
International Computers Ltd.	UfI Transition Team, Assisted in establishment of UfI organisation as a public private partnership	G7	Parent Organisation	2/6/1998 to 30/11/1998
Aqumen Services	Private Finance Division, Advising Department on public/private finance.	Adviser	DfES	10/4/1998 to 1/11/1998
Ernst and Young	Teachers Pay and Pensions, Policy Adviser	Consultant	DfES	1/1/2000 to 31/12/2000
Pannell, Kerr, Foster	Private Finance Division, Finance Adviser	G7	DfES	30/7/1997 to 31/3/1998
The Link Group	Workplace Learning Division, Head of Learning Projects	G6	Parent Organisation	2/4/2001 to 31/3/2002
XANSA	New Deal Task Force, Co-ordination of Ambition IT Project	G7	Parent Organisation	1/1/2001 to 30/9/2001
Ernst and Young	National College for School Leadership, Consultant	Consultant	Parent Organisation	15/5/2000 to 14/11/2000
Next Employment Agency	Member of the Secretariat for the National Disability Council	SEO	Parent Organisation	1/9/1998 to 31/8/2000
Ernst and Young	Transforming Secondary Education, Policy adviser	Consultant	DfES	3/10/2000 to 22/12/2000
Enigma Productions	Financial and Analytical Services, Financial adviser	Consultant	DfES	13/3/2000 to 12/3/2001
National Westminster Bank	Financial and Analytical Services, Adviser on Communications	G6	Shared	6/3/2000 to 5/3/2001
Ernst and Young	Transforming Secondary Education Delivery, Unit Policy Adviser	Consultant	DFES	10/1/2000 to 22/12/2000
Nationwide Anglia Building Society	People Skills Division, Assistant Director developing the Work-Life Balance Campaign.	G7	DfES	5/9/2001 to 4/9/2002
Ernst and Young	Teachers Pay and Pensions, Policy adviser	Consultant	DfES	27/9/2000 to 31/1/2001
Glaxo Wellcome	Schools Directorate, Adviser on best practice in Science	Adviser	Employing Organisation	3/11/1998 to 31/1/2000
National Westminster Bank	Business Manager	Adviser	Shared funding	13/3/2000 to 12/3/2001
Centre for British Teachers	Schools Impact and Feedback Division, Policy Adviser	G6	DfES	1/4/2001 to 31/3/2004
Price Waterhouse Cooper	Surestart Unit, Providing financial and audit advice	G7	DfES	1/10/2000 to 30/9/2001
National Westminster Bank	Performance and Innovation Unit, Project Manager	G7	DfES	6/3/2000 to 23/6/2000
Centre for School Standards	Pupil Standards Division, Support on delivery and operational matters.	EO	DfES	14/1/2002 to 12/7/2002
International Communications Ltd.	Lifelong Learning and Technologies Division, Assist with the operation of Learning Direct and the UfI launch 2000	G6	DfES	1/2/2000 to 31/3/2001
Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research	Research for Analytical Services	SRO	DfES	6/1/1997 to 21/10/1997

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Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many staff in her Department have been seconded to jobs in the (a) private and (b) public sector in each of the last four years. [31768]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 7 February 2002, Official Report, columns 1129–30W.

Departmental Retirement Ages

Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the retirement ages that apply to the employees of her Department and its agencies, including how many and which categories of employees are affected by each; and if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on flexible retirement. [32832]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: Within my Department, all staff outside the senior civil service can choose to retire between 60 up to a maximum retirement age of 65. This is subject to satisfying fitness and efficiency requirements. Staff in the senior civil service grades retire at age 60. Out of a total of 4,258 staff, 109 are in the senior civil service grades.

My Department's policy on flexible retirement is intended to improve opportunities and choice for people aged 50 to 65 in the Department and to support the Department's equality strategy.

Asylum Seekers

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether her duty under section 10 of the Education Act 1996 extends to the promotion of education for asylum seekers in detention and reception centres. [37278]

Mr. Ivan Lewis [holding answer 28 February 2002]: No individual or class of persons is owed a specific duty under section 10 of the 1996 Act. The Secretary of State does not have a specific duty to promote education for asylum seekers in detention and reception centres. The duty is very wide and general and applies to "the people of England and Wales". However, one of the Secretary of

12 Mar 2002 : Column 948W

State's roles when exercising this duty is to work with all bodies and institutions with education responsibilities and to assist them to provide effective education. The Department has been in contact with the Home Office and local education authorities and encouraged them to work together to provide facilities and services that are appropriate to meet the educational needs of the residents of these centres.

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether education provided to asylum-seeking children in accommodation centres will deliver the national curriculum. [42408]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: Under the current legislation the national curriculum applies to schools maintained by local education authorities. This Department is working closely with the Home Office on issues relating to the education of children of asylum seekers in accommodation centres. A final decision has yet to be made about the detail of the education provision that will be made available in accommodation centres.

Human Rights

Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the activities undertaken by the UK in the framework of the Decade for Human Rights Education. [40527]

Margaret Hodge: There are a number of activities undertaken by the UK which promote human rights education relevant to the UN Decade for Human Rights. These include:

the introduction of citizenship education, which teaches children about legal and human rights, as part of the Personal, Social and Health Education and Citizenship framework in primary schools. This will be a compulsory subject in the National Curriculum from September 2002 in England. Citizenship education is also available within the curricula of Wales and Scotland.

the introduction of a human rights perspective into the Department for International Development's work, as set out in DFID's Target Strategy Paper, "Realising Human Rights for Poor People".

12 Mar 2002 : Column 949W

a "human rights helpline" and website managed by the Home Office on the Human Rights Act. National roadshows have also been held to explain its implications to a wider audience.

the website developed by the British Council, which provides a news service on human rights issues in the UK. It also contains information on international developments on civil and political rights, the rights of children, and the rights of minority groups. A set of booklets on Citizenship Education and Human Rights Education has also been distributed to UK and overseas audiences.

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