here - United Kingdom Parliament

855W
Written Answers
1 DECEMBER 2010
Written Answers
856W
That is why we are introducing a pupil premium which
will provide extra funding for those schools with the
most challenging intakes.
Special Educational Needs: Children in Care
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for
Education what steps his Department is taking to reduce
the incidence of special educational needs among lookedafter
children. [22917]
Sarah Teather [holding answer 9 November 2010]:
Just over half (52%) of looked after children have
special educational needs (SEN). We are publishing a
Green Paper which will set out how we will improve
identification of and support for all children with SEN,
including looked after children with SEN. All looked
after children are required to have a care plan which is
drawn up and reviewed by the local authority which
looks after them. This overall plan must include a plan
describing how the child’s educational needs will be met
and whether s/he has a statement.
Special Educational Needs: Lancashire
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for
Education how many teachers in Lancashire have a
mandatory qualification in teaching deaf children; and
what recent estimate he has made of the number of
children in Lancashire who are deaf. [22810]
Sarah Teather [holding answer 15 November 2010]:
We do not routinely collect data regarding the number
of British sign language qualified teachers teaching
deaf children in mainstream schools either nationally
or by region. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring
that teachers of hearing impaired and deaf children
possess the appropriate mandatory qualification to
undertake the role. It is a matter for local authorities to
ensure that they have enough qualified teachers to meet
their statutory commitments.
Regarding the estimate of the number of children in
Lancashire who are deaf, these figures are available
from the Statistical First Release ‘Special Educational
Needs in England: January 2010’. This shows that there
were 426 pupils in Lancashire at School Action Plus or
with statements that had hearing impairment as a primary
need and were being educated within the maintained
sector or at special schools as at January 2010.
At the end of the year the Government plan to
publish a Green Paper on special educational needs and
disabilities, which will explore how we can improve
support for all children with special educational needs
and disabilities, including those who are deaf or hearing
impaired.
It is a priority to improve the educational outcomes
for all children and we recognise the important role
specialists, such as Teachers of the Deaf, play in meeting
this goal.
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for
Education if he will bring forward legislative proposals
to incorporate the provisions of the UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child into his Ministerial responsibilities.
[21731]
Sarah Teather [holding answer 4 November 2010]:
The Government are committed to the implementation
of the United Nations convention on the rights of the
child (UNCRC) and takes their obligations to the
convention seriously.
In March 2010, the previous Administration published
an analysis setting out how legislation, policy and practice
comply with the UNCRC. That analysis is being reviewed
in order to assess how broader changes in legislation
and policy align with the UNCRC and will decide if any
further action is needed to give further effect to the
convention.
World War II: Education
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education
whether his Department has taken steps to promote (a)
knowledge of and (b) interest in the 70 th anniversary of
the Battle of Britain in schools; and if he will make a
statement. [24888]
Mr Gibb: The battle of Britain was a significant event
in the second world war; and the second world war is a
compulsory subject in the secondary school curriculum.
Schools determine whether to include the battle of
Britain as part of their studies, and the Government
believe that schools should be free to decide how best to
mark the 70 th anniversary of the battle of Britain.
Youth Services: Manpower
Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education
how many full-time equivalent youth support workers
there are in each local authority area. [21377]
Tim Loughton: The Department for Education does
not collect these data. However, the Children’s Workforce
Development Council (CWDC) published an audit of
the workforce in December 2009 and this includes some
national level estimates of the numbers of youth and
community workers. The report is available on CWDC’s
website at:
http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk/young-peoples-workforce/
state-of-the-young-peoples-workforce-report
WORK AND PENSIONS
Atos Healthcare
Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for
Work and Pensions what services Atos is providing
under contract to his Department; and whether he
plans to renew his Department’s contract with Atos in
2012. [26484]
Chris Grayling: The information is as follows.
Medical Services
Following a competitive tender exercise the medical
services agreement between Atos Healthcare and the
Department for Work and Pensions was awarded on
15 March 2005 by the Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions. The contract went live on 1 September 2005,
for a period of seven years, with options to extend for a
further three and two years. On 1 November 2010 the
Minister of State for Employment awarded a contract