Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that non-departmental Government bodies that report to his Department do not change their redundancy policy prior to the completion of a full consultation with staff.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department’s arm's length bodies (ALBs) are usually responsible for the management of their own staff terms and conditions, including the need to consult with staff on any changes. Governance arrangements are in place to ensure the Department has oversight of any changes which require Departmental input or approval and to ensure this is managed compliantly. The guidance about the Department’s overall approach to ALBs, as set out in the Cabinet Office guide to public bodies, is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/partnerships-with-arms-length-bodies-code-of-good-practice.
Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Construction Industry Training Board on recent changes to its redundancy policy; and if he will make an assessment of the effect of those changes on staff.
Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education
The Industrial Training Act 1982, delegates employment matters to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). Schedule 1 (11) of the Act states, ‘An industrial training board may appoint such officers and servants, upon such terms as to remuneration, pension rights and other conditions of service, as the board may determine.’
The Department maintains ongoing dialogue with the CITB and is sighted on key activity impacting on CITB colleagues.
Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of steel procured by his Department was produced in the UK, in each of the last five years.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Based on data available, the Department estimates that the proportion of steel procured by the Department that has been produced in the UK is as follows:
The above data excludes the tonnage that may have been used for modular projects – which would be minimal given the small quantities of modular schools delivered to date.
Data collection on steel usage, source and type only commenced in 2017 as a result of Procurement Policy Note 15/16, issued by the Cabinet Office.
Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department will complete its internal review of health and safety advice to schools; when she plans to publish revised advice on school trips and travel; and whether that advice will take into account risks posed by poor driver accommodation and driver fatigue.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department’s internal review of its health and safety advice is ongoing. Officials are currently working with key stakeholders to ensure schools are provided with appropriate and up-to-date advice, including information about the potential risks associated with travel on school trips. The Department will publish revised health and safety advice later in the year.
Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her Oral Answer of 4 July 2016 to Question 905617, on Mindfulness in Schools, when she plans to publish the results of the national survey.
Answered by Edward Timpson
The survey will provide the first nationally representative assessment of activities carried out by schools and colleges to support their pupils’ and students’ mental health and development of character traits.
The fieldwork for the survey has now begun and the Department expects to publish the results early in 2017.
Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children with a postal address in Wales attended a school in England in the most recent year for which figures are available.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The information requested is published in the ‘Schools, pupils and characteristics: January 2015’ statistical first release, tables 14a to 14c, which is available at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015
Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations she has received on the BUSK campaign for safe coach transport in relation to coach tour companies being contracted for long-distance school trips.
Answered by David Laws
I am aware of the BUSK campaign for safe coach transport. The safety of children and young people is of the utmost importance. All school employers must adhere to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They must conduct a risk assessment and put measures in place to minimise any known risk. Where schools use a coach tour company to provide transport for their trip, we expect them to apply sensible and proportionate health and safety measures to assess the company’s suitability.
Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues to schools on the sleeping conditions for coach drivers on long-distance school trips.
Answered by David Laws
The Department for Education issues advice to schools on health and safety, making them aware of their statutory duty to conduct a risk assessment and put measures in place to minimise any known risks. This advice does not provide specific guidance on sleeping conditions for coach drivers, since this would be for an employer to consider as part of the risk assessment. The Department is currently reviewing this advice to include reference to British Standard 8848:2014 which provides guidance on the risks of driver fatigue.
Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when guidance on safe transport for long-distance school trips was last reviewed.
Answered by David Laws
The Department for Education’s advice to schools on health and safety was last reviewed before publication in February 2014. This advice sets out the statutory duty that school employers must conduct a risk assessment and put measures in place to minimise any known risk. The Department is currently reviewing this advice to include reference to British Standard 8848:2014 which provides guidance on the risks of driver fatigue.
Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has issued to schools on ensuring that safe conditions apply to coach drivers contracted to provide transport for long-distance school trips.
Answered by David Laws
The Department for Education issues advice to schools on health and safety, making them aware of their statutory duty to conduct a risk assessment and put measures in place to minimise any known risks. This advice does not provide specific guidance on sleeping conditions for coach drivers, since this would be for an employer to consider as part of the risk assessment. The Department is currently reviewing this advice to include reference to British Standard 8848:2014 which provides guidance on the risks of driver fatigue.