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My Lords, I declare an interest as the writer of a report for the Government. Following the point made by my noble friend Lady Coussins, does the Minister agree that there are times when advertising and promotion can be fruitful? Does he further agree that the Olympic Games would be a very fruitful time for the Government to finance extra advertising to promote languages to children and that the Government should make a budget available for that?
My Lords, I declare an interest as the writer of a report for the Government. Following the point made by my noble friend Lady Coussins, does the Minister agree that there are times when advertising and promotion can be fruitful? Does he further agree that the Olympic Games would be a very fruitful time for the Government to finance extra advertising to promote languages to children and that the Government should make a budget available for that?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
16 December 2008
My Lords, the noble Lord makes a most useful suggestion and we are grateful for the work that he has done in the area of language education. We are still some distance away from the Games and the necessary preparations at the present time are all to do with structure. However, in due course they will be about the way in which London welcomes the peoples of the world to the Games. It will be enormously important that language and language skills play their part in that.
Subjects
Languages; Olympic Games 2012
Date
16 December 2008
Reference
706 c732
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I understand the purpose of the noble Lord’s Question and the need for the body to be seen as independent. Having said that, I know from attending an international conference how very highly regarded the independence of the adjudicator is. Will the Minister confirm that students pursuing courses of higher education in colleges of further education have access to the independent adjudicator? If they do, will she ensure that those students are aware of any such right?
My Lords, I understand the purpose of the noble Lord’s Question and the need for the body to be seen as independent. Having said that, I know from attending an international conference how very highly regarded the independence of the adjudicator is. Will the Minister confirm that students pursuing courses of higher education in colleges of further education have access to the independent adjudicator? If they do, will she ensure that those students are aware of any such right?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
14 July 2008
My Lords, I believe that that is the case, but it is still very early days for the office and we should be very encouraged by the enormously important work that it does. The organisation was led by the first independent adjudicator, the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, whom we all should congratulate on her contribution. We also welcome the new independent adjudicator, Rob Behrens, and wish him well in his role. This is not something that we take lightly. The work of the independent adjudicator is also about ensuring that institutions know how to resolve complaints locally rather than elevating them to the higher status that this body represents.
Subjects
Conflict of interests; Higher education; Universities; Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education
Date
14 July 2008
Reference
703 c975-6
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the Office for National Statistics has forecast an increase of 500,000 in the number of children of primary school age by 2015, pointing to the need for an extra 3,000 teachers in primary schools a year. Do the Government feel that they can respond to that?
My Lords, the Office for National Statistics has forecast an increase of 500,000 in the number of children of primary school age by 2015, pointing to the need for an extra 3,000 teachers in primary schools a year. Do the Government feel that they can respond to that?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
17 June 2008
My Lords, we believe that it will be possible to respond to that. The recruitment for primary school teacher training places has risen from 11,790 in 1997 to 18,320 last year, which is an increase of 55 per cent. As the noble Lord rightly says, with the changes in the pupil cohort we will need more in due course. However, on the basis of our success in recruiting in recent years, I believe that we will be able to meet the additional numbers.
Subjects
Recruitment; Teachers; Training
Date
17 June 2008
Reference
702 c911-2
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I can understand why we must take action to contain irresponsible dysfunctional behaviour, but, to some extent, the ASBO is dealing with the symptoms rather than the cause. To what extent are the Government committed in the acceptable behaviour contracts to putting in resources which identify the problem and seek to deal with it at its heart, perhaps in the family?
My Lords, I can understand why we must take action to contain irresponsible dysfunctional behaviour, but, to some extent, the ASBO is dealing with the symptoms rather than the cause. To what extent are the Government committed in the acceptable behaviour contracts to putting in resources which identify the problem and seek to deal with it at its heart, perhaps in the family?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 June 2008
My Lords, that is exactly what we are doing. The number of ASBOs being used has declined because we are using a number of other tools and powers; for example, written warnings, home visits, acceptable behaviour contracts, and parenting orders and contracts. We have closed crack houses using premises closure orders, which have been very useful, and dispersal zones. We use the anti-social behaviour order only when there is nothing else we can do. It is very interesting that the Home Affairs Select Committee, the Audit Commission and the NAO report have found that 65 per cent of those people who had an intervention 1, a written warning, desist from anti-social behaviour after that; 85 per cent desist after an intervention 2, which is something like a parenting order and a contract; and 93 per cent of people desisted after an intervention 3, which is the ASBO. So it is having a dramatic effect and is making a difference. Admittedly, it leaves the 7 per cent, but very often, those people have each committed something like 31 offences.
Subjects
Anti-social behaviour orders
Date
9 June 2008
Reference
702 c366
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the Minister used the word ““reform”” and spoke of the fact that a group of Ministers is taking personal responsibility for these matters. In view of the importance of the issue, can she say whether prison governors are personally accountable for pre-set targets for achievement in this area and for the quality of the work that takes place?
My Lords, the Minister used the word ““reform”” and spoke of the fact that a group of Ministers is taking personal responsibility for these matters. In view of the importance of the issue, can she say whether prison governors are personally accountable for pre-set targets for achievement in this area and for the quality of the work that takes place?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
1 May 2008
My Lords, I come back to the importance of educational outcome, responsibility for which must rest with the education providers. However, responsibility for ensuring that offenders attend classroom and educational activities is very much with the prison governors, who have targets for achieving results in this area.
Subjects
Education; Prisoners; Prisons; Training
Date
1 May 2008
Reference
701 c321
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, since the ability to fill in complex government forms is an important part of anybody’s education, in the light of the indication that 7 per cent are not being reached, would it not be a good idea to invite schools to get all the kids to fill in a form before they leave?
My Lords, since the ability to fill in complex government forms is an important part of anybody’s education, in the light of the indication that 7 per cent are not being reached, would it not be a good idea to invite schools to get all the kids to fill in a form before they leave?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
29 April 2008
My Lords, no forms could be simpler than those issued by my department. The only problem is understanding what the department’s acronym stands for but that is not one of the questions which EMA applicants have to answer before they are eligible for their £30 a week. However, in addition to the paper application forms by which people currently apply for EMAs, from this September it will also be possible to apply by phone and online. So we are meeting all needs in this respect.
Subjects
Education maintenance allowance; Marketing; Take-up
Date
29 April 2008
Reference
701 c125
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, the Minister said in her reply that the target included the public as well as the private sector. Can she make clear what specific action the Government have taken in connection with their Skills Pledge to encourage enterprises and concerns in the public sector to offer apprenticeships? Further, will she consider the extent to which young people in secure settings can be helped by public-sector employers to gain apprenticeships?
My Lords, the Minister said in her reply that the target included the public as well as the private sector. Can she make clear what specific action the Government have taken in connection with their Skills Pledge to encourage enterprises and concerns in the public sector to offer apprenticeships? Further, will she consider the extent to which young people in secure settings can be helped by public-sector employers to gain apprenticeships?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
21 April 2008
My Lords, the noble Lord is extremely knowledgeable about these matters and he is absolutely right to draw attention to the important role of the public sector. As a Government we have to take the lead and put our own house in order because we do not do as well as we should. For example, in my department the Permanent Secretary, Ian Whatmore, is leading a government-wide initiative to make sure that we make our full contribution and that we expect to see new apprenticeships created in government, starting with at least 500 new apprenticeships this year. Moreover, in DIUS we aim to ensure that we have new apprenticeships beginning this year as well.
Subjects
Apprentices
Date
21 April 2008
Reference
700 c1255
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, in view of the limited progress made by the Government in achieving the 2010 carbon emissions target and in view of the importance of domestic boilers in this regard, will they consider making it a requirement that by, say, 2020, all boilers, including those already installed, will have to meet certain efficiency standards?
My Lords, in view of the limited progress made by the Government in achieving the 2010 carbon emissions target and in view of the importance of domestic boilers in this regard, will they consider making it a requirement that by, say, 2020, all boilers, including those already installed, will have to meet certain efficiency standards?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
3 March 2008
My Lords, as I have said, we are making real progress towards the introduction of condensing boilers, and I think that we are making good progress in terms of the 2010 target. Our assumed savings by that date are going to be in the order of 4 million tonnes from all dwellings. I will think hard about what the noble Lord has said because it is an important point.
Subjects
Conservation; Building regulations; Housing; Energy; Standards; Carbon emissions
Date
3 March 2008
Reference
699 c868
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does the Minister agree that one of the immediate needs is for the QCA and the awarding bodies to review a number of the applied A-levels so that they provide relevant, challenging and motivating courses for young people?
My Lords, does the Minister agree that one of the immediate needs is for the QCA and the awarding bodies to review a number of the applied A-levels so that they provide relevant, challenging and motivating courses for young people?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
4 February 2008
My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State announced in October that, based on the advice of the expert advisory group that he appointed at that time, we would bring forward for consultation our 14-to-19 qualification strategy early this year, which will include consideration of applied A-levels within the overall A-level offer.
Subjects
Admissions; Higher education; Standards; Universities; GCE A-level
Date
4 February 2008
Reference
698 c843
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. My Question derived from the experience of a man who was convicted of murder at the age of about 20 and given a tariff of 15 years. He has now been in prison for 27 years, consistently denying the offence. I understand that the rehabilitation of such long-term prisoners is based very much on acceptance of their guilt. Does the Minister accept that rehabilitation needs to be aimed especially at those who, like the man I mentioned, deny their guilt? Secondly, does the Minister accept that, with more lifers in British prisons than in the whole of France, Germany, Russia and Turkey combined, the very high levels of recidivism among prisoners and the Government’s need to double their planned expenditure on prisons to £2.5 billion to accommodate an extra 10,000 prisoners, we have an urgent need to review the amount of money that we are spending on the successful rehabilitation of prisoners so that they become good citizens rather than stay in prisons?
My Lords, I thank the Minister for his reply. My Question derived from the experience of a man who was convicted of murder at the age of about 20 and given a tariff of 15 years. He has now been in prison for 27 years, consistently denying the offence. I understand that the rehabilitation of such long-term prisoners is based very much on acceptance of their guilt. Does the Minister accept that rehabilitation needs to be aimed especially at those who, like the man I mentioned, deny their guilt? Secondly, does the Minister accept that, with more lifers in British prisons than in the whole of France, Germany, Russia and Turkey combined, the very high levels of recidivism among prisoners and the Government’s need to double their planned expenditure on prisons to £2.5 billion to accommodate an extra 10,000 prisoners, we have an urgent need to review the amount of money that we are spending on the successful rehabilitation of prisoners so that they become good citizens rather than stay in prisons?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
14 January 2008
My Lords, the noble Lord raises some profound questions about prison policy. The release of prisoners such as the ones he mentions is a matter for the Parole Board and is done on the basis of risk of harm.
On access to programmes for people who deny their offence, some offender management programmes will not be suitable because they are concerned with discussions about the offence itself, but other educational and training programmes are available, and people who have denied their offence are regularly released by the Parole Board.
On the noble Lord’s general question, we are due to debate that. The Government believe that they are on track, that they have the right programme and that prison is and should be available for the most serious offences but that community sentences should be used for other offenders.
Subjects
Parole; Prisoners; Life imprisonment; Rehabilitation
Date
14 January 2008
Reference
697 c1060
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, will the Minister consider whether there could be sufficient provision in the foundation level and in additional and specialised learning in the diplomas to enable people who see themselves as apprentices to get sufficient hands-on practical work?
My Lords, will the Minister consider whether there could be sufficient provision in the foundation level and in additional and specialised learning in the diplomas to enable people who see themselves as apprentices to get sufficient hands-on practical work?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
14 January 2008
My Lords, I think that some of the streams that have been identified in the new diplomas will have exactly that effect. The new diplomas have not been rolled out yet, and whether they have the whole of that effect will be seen in practice rather than just in theory. I will ensure that the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Dearing, is drawn to the attention of those working on the pathways through diplomas to ensure that we get that outcome.
Subjects
Apprentices
Date
14 January 2008
Reference
697 c1057
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Whether they have any plans to increase the resources committed to the rehabilitation of life prisoners who have served more than their tariff.
Whether they have any plans to increase the resources committed to the rehabilitation of life prisoners who have served more than their tariff.
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
14 January 2008
Answered on
14 January 2008
My Lords, all life-sentence prisoners should have a sentence plan that includes appropriate interventions to promote rehabilitation, including where their tariffs have expired. In negotiating service-level agreements with prisons, regional offender managers will need to take this into account when allocating resources.
Subjects
Prisoners; Life imprisonment; Rehabilitation
Date
14 January 2008
Reference
697 c1060
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, will the Minister consider whether a possibly unintended consequence of the present emphasis on SATs and league tables is that schools may tend to concentrate on pupils who are near the borderline to the detriment of those who are underperforming and form part of our scandalously long tail? Will he also consider whether greater prominence should be given to value added as the true measure of schools’ achievement and accountability in respect of all children?
My Lords, will the Minister consider whether a possibly unintended consequence of the present emphasis on SATs and league tables is that schools may tend to concentrate on pupils who are near the borderline to the detriment of those who are underperforming and form part of our scandalously long tail? Will he also consider whether greater prominence should be given to value added as the true measure of schools’ achievement and accountability in respect of all children?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
27 November 2007
My Lords, it is precisely to seek to meet the concerns expressed by the noble Lord that we are taking forward the Making Good Progress pilots, which introduce single-level tests in primary schools. Children are entered for them when they are ready for them rather than, as they do at the moment, taking the single key stage 1 and key stage 2 tests at the ages of seven and 11. These tests are being piloted in 460 primary schools and the project is taking place over the next two years. We will, of course, carefully evaluate the results.
Subjects
Assessments; Pupils; Primary education
Date
27 November 2007
Reference
696 c1116-7
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I welcome the Minister’s assurance on that. In considering the further research proposed by the institute, would he consider the desirability of adding whether social class has any bearing? While further research is taking place, would he see advantage in informing primary schools of the extent of the difference, particularly at key stage 1, where there is only as much as a 50 per cent chance of achieving the required level.
My Lords, I welcome the Minister’s assurance on that. In considering the further research proposed by the institute, would he consider the desirability of adding whether social class has any bearing? While further research is taking place, would he see advantage in informing primary schools of the extent of the difference, particularly at key stage 1, where there is only as much as a 50 per cent chance of achieving the required level.
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
15 November 2007
My Lords, the noble Lord makes an excellent point, which is that we need this research to be well understood by professionals in schools. The publication of this report and the significant media debate to which it has given rise are ensuring that teachers become increasingly well aware of the issues raised. It is the Government’s intention to put out to schools materials which make these issues clear so that those people who are best placed to make the difference—head teachers and teachers—school by school are in a position to do so.
Subjects
Age; Pupils; Standards; Schools; Teachers; Research
Date
15 November 2007
Reference
696 c575
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
What plans they have to address the particular educational needs of children born in August who are at present substantially less likely to enter higher education than those born in September.
What plans they have to address the particular educational needs of children born in August who are at present substantially less likely to enter higher education than those born in September.
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Lord Adonis
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
15 November 2007
Answered on
15 November 2007
My Lords, the recent research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies which we have commissioned on this issue shows that August-born children perform less well in schools than those born later in the school year. We are examining its recommendations and will report back shortly.
Subjects
Age; Pupils; Standards; Schools
Date
15 November 2007
Reference
696 c575
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, will the Government consider giving guidance to the Learning and Skills Council so that sufficient funding is given to bodies that organise work experience to ensure that children can work safely in the premises of small to medium-sized firms and that those firms are not discouraged from offering such opportunities?
My Lords, will the Government consider giving guidance to the Learning and Skills Council so that sufficient funding is given to bodies that organise work experience to ensure that children can work safely in the premises of small to medium-sized firms and that those firms are not discouraged from offering such opportunities?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
29 October 2007
My Lords, such guidance is available but I am sure that it can always be improved. I shall draw the noble Lord’s remarks to the attention of the Learning and Skills Council.
Subjects
Children; Employment; Health and safety
Date
29 October 2007
Reference
695 c1214
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I have great concern about the points made on all sides of the House. Does the Minister agree that the imperative is now to shut up and enable this dispute to be settled and then to debate the profound issues that have been raised?
My Lords, I have great concern about the points made on all sides of the House. Does the Minister agree that the imperative is now to shut up and enable this dispute to be settled and then to debate the profound issues that have been raised?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
17 October 2007
My Lords, I agree.
Subjects
Industrial disputes; Postal services; Small businesses; Royal Mail; Strikes
Date
17 October 2007
Reference
695 c700
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, will the Minister congratulate Ofsted on producing something unique—a very short public report? Has he noticed in this remarkably short report that of the eight examples of outstanding practice, six were in primary, which suggests to me that there is a particular problem in secondary, particularly perhaps in the area of social deprivation? Will the Government encourage Ofsted to extend its excellent work and see that the lessons are learnt and conveyed at the National College for School Leadership?
My Lords, will the Minister congratulate Ofsted on producing something unique—a very short public report? Has he noticed in this remarkably short report that of the eight examples of outstanding practice, six were in primary, which suggests to me that there is a particular problem in secondary, particularly perhaps in the area of social deprivation? Will the Government encourage Ofsted to extend its excellent work and see that the lessons are learnt and conveyed at the National College for School Leadership?
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
24 July 2007
My Lords, the report is 19 pages, so brevity is in the eye of the beholder—though the noble Lord has experience of writing somewhat longer reports which I have had to deal with, on very complex issues such as the whole future of student finance—and I look forward to seeing how they can be distilled more briefly. His point is very well taken, though. The best practice in this area is often to be found in primary schools where parents are more used to engaging directly with the education of their children, and it is important to ensure that they engage similarly in secondary schools. The role of induction is one of the issues raised in the report, ensuring that parents are properly welcomed into the work of secondary schools when their children begin in year seven. That work is vital. The way in which schools approach the beginning of children’s education and engage parents often characterises the whole approach thereafter.
Subjects
Carers; Parents; Schools; Ofsted
Date
24 July 2007
Reference
694 c691-2
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I thank the Minister sincerely for his reply, as I had hoped that he would wish to undertake research. In this research, will he note that, when gender is brought into the equation, girls born in September are 50 per cent more likely to get a university place than boys born in August? That suggests that maturity, as powerfully indicated by gender and age at entry, is a major factor in the educational opportunities being offered to our children. We are seriously failing children who, through their relative lack of maturity, are not responded to properly by the educational system. This needs to be researched, and I welcome the Minister’s response.
My Lords, I thank the Minister sincerely for his reply, as I had hoped that he would wish to undertake research. In this research, will he note that, when gender is brought into the equation, girls born in September are 50 per cent more likely to get a university place than boys born in August? That suggests that maturity, as powerfully indicated by gender and age at entry, is a major factor in the educational opportunities being offered to our children. We are seriously failing children who, through their relative lack of maturity, are not responded to properly by the educational system. This needs to be researched, and I welcome the Minister’s response.
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
5 July 2007
My Lords, I notice that the noble Lord was born at the end of July, which means that, as many of us had suspected, his advancement in life was because of natural brilliance and hard work and nothing whatever to do with birth dates. Of course, he raises an issue that is immensely serious, which is why we have commissioned research from the Centre for the Economics of Education, an organisation jointly run by the LSE, the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the University of London’s Institute of Education. We will receive its report in October, and I will look forward to having further discussions with the noble Lord and other interested noble Lords after that.
Subjects
Admissions; Age; Higher education; Pupils; Standards; Universities; Schools; Research
Date
5 July 2007
Reference
693 c1132-3
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
What is their response to the finding that children born in August are 20 per cent less likely to go to university than those born in September.
What is their response to the finding that children born in August are 20 per cent less likely to go to university than those born in September.
Asked by
Lord Dearing
(Crossbench)
Answered by
Lord Adonis
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Procedure
Topical questions (HL)
For answer on
5 July 2007
Answered on
5 July 2007
My Lords, evidence suggests that the lower propensity to enter higher education of August-born children reflects their lower attainment in the compulsory school years. Schools may admit children at age four or five, but younger children who remain longer in nursery provision will benefit from the same early years foundation stage as their counterparts in school. This issue is complex, and we are undertaking further research, on which I expect to report in October.
Subjects
Admissions; Age; Higher education; Pupils; Universities; Schools
Date
5 July 2007
Reference
693 c1132
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords