here - United Kingdom Parliament

1265W
Written Answers
6 JUNE 2013
Written Answers
1266W
The Secretary of State for Education has said that
following the current review swimming will remain
compulsory in the national curriculum.
We do not prescribe how teachers should teach
swimming, or any other subject, as we believe that
individual schools and teachers are best placed to decide
how to address the particular needs of their pupils.
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for
Education what guidance his Department issues to
primary schools in relation to the spending of
ring-fenced funds for physical education and sport.
[158306]
Mr Timpson: Advice about the nature, purpose and
extent of the additional ring-fenced funding to support
physical education (PE) and sport in primary schools
was placed on the Department’s website immediately
following the announcement by the Prime Minister on
16 March. This advice includes lists of possible activities
to support the provision of PE and sport, and can be
found at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/adminandfinance/
financialmanagement/b00222858/primary-school-sport-funding
We will also publish a range of best practice examples
from schools with a proven track record of delivering
high quality PE and sport. Further advice will be included
with information about the conditions of grant that will
accompany the payment to schools.
Schools can also draw on support from County Sports
Partnerships to help them improve the range and quantity
of their offer of PE and sport.
Sign Language
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for
Education what steps his Department is taking to
ensure the services it offers are accessible to British
Sign Language users. [157928]
Mr Timpson: All public bodies, including schools,
early years providers, post-16 institutions and local
authorities, have duties towards disabled people, including
those who are deaf and use British Sign Language
(BSL), under the Equality Act 2010. The Department
publishes guidance for schools on these duties 1 .
Schools and local authorities have crucial responsibilities
to ensure support, including sign language support, is
available to deaf children.
The Children and Families Bill will encourage a more
joined-up approach to supporting deaf children and the
provision of clearer information on the support that
families can expect locally. The Bill will introduce the
option of a personal budget for some parents and
young people, which will give them more control over
the support they receive.
The Department does not use British Sign Language
for direct service provision but provides a Typetalk
service for the deaf and hearing impaired and also
offers translation services.
1
http://education.gov.uk/aboutdfe/advice/f00215460/equalityact-2010-departmental-advice
Third Sector
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for
Education how much direct funding his Department
provided to each civil society organisation it funded in
(a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; how much
he expects to provide to each such organisation in (i)
2013-14 and (ii) 2014-15; and if he will make a
statement. [158315]
Mr Timpson: The Department’s central register of
grants does not identify recipients as civil society
organisations but does identify them as members of the
voluntary and community sector (VCS). Details of funding
for VCS organisations for 2011-13 is available online at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/
earlylearningandchildcare/delivery/funding/a0077703/grantfunded-projects-early-years-and-childcare
Details for funding for 2013-15 is available at:
http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/families/
a00216108/vcs-funding
The VCS also receives money indirectly from the
Department through a number of routes, including
through Executive Agencies (and previously arm’s length
bodies), through the money the Department gives to
local authorities, and through services commissioned
by schools.
PRIME MINISTER
Food Banks
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Prime Minister if the
Government will record and publish the number of
referrals to food banks made by government agencies
bi-annually in (a) Greater London and (b) the UK.
[157746]
Esther McVey: I have been asked to reply on behalf
of the Department for Work and Pensions.
Civil society has always played a role in helping the
worst off.
To better enable this the Government reversed the
decision of the previous Government not to signpost
claimants to food banks through Jobcentre Plus. Statistics
are not currently collected on the number of referrals to
food banks. As with all policy this is kept under review.
Tax Avoidance
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Prime Minister with
reference to his letter to the leaders of the UK’s Crown
Dependencies and Overseas Territories of 20 May 2013
on tax information exchange and beneficial ownership,
whether he has received any replies to that letter; and if
he will publish any replies received in full. [158182]
The Prime Minister: I have placed a copy of my letter
in the Library of the House.
We expect the UK’s Crown Dependencies and Overseas
Territories to make their policies clear publicly.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to
the hon. Member for Blyth Valley (Mr Campbell) on 3
June 2013, Official Report, column 1251.