HC Deb 13 July 1995 vol 263 cc716-8W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, if she will list the members of her Front-Bench team and their responsibilities. [34039]

Mrs. Gillian Shephard

Ministerial responsibilities within the Department for Education and Employment are as followsSecretary of State Gillian Shephard has overall responsibility for the Department and its policies. In particular, she will have responsibility for the public expenditure survey and pay in the education sector. Minister of State Eric Forth is responsible for the jobseeker's allowance; employment policy and benefit issues; labour market statistics; higher education: including content and quality, structure and funding, building programmes, and Higher Education Funding Council matters; the private finance initiative in higher education; student support, overseas students, and other student issues; European Union and international issues and the careers service/education. Minister of State Lord Henley is responsible for the school curriculum and assessment; examinations and qualifications including GCSE, GCE A-Level, NVQs GNVQs and the review of 16 to 19 qualifications; performance tables; the Employment Service; education-industry links; special education in schools; people with disabilities; special needs training; and school transport. He is designated departmental Minister responsible for the citizen's charter; next steps; general legal questions and departmental purchasing. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Robin Squire is responsible for pre-school education; grant-maintained schools borrowing legislation; school effectiveness and action on failing schools; the common funding formula and the national funding formula; the private finance initiative in schools; local management of schools and school governor matters; teacher matters including training and supply, teachers' misconduct, the Teacher Training Agency, appraisal, pensions and the Teachers' Pensions Agency. He is also responsible for grants for education support and training; truancy, discipline and attendance; IT in schools and new technologies; departmental management issues; environmental and energy issues and research. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State James Paice has responsibility for post-16 issues including post-16 school organisation; further education, including content and quality, structure and funding, building programmes, and Further Education Funding Council matters; the Youth Service; adult learning/training; the private finance initiative in FE; training strategy and infrastructure and training and enterprise councils. He also has responsibility for regional government offices; regional and urban policy; inner cities and the single regeneration budget and section 11 matters. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Cheryl Gillian has responsibility for the development and implementation of the policy of choice and diversity in schools; GM school casework; five to 16 school reorganisations and admissions policies; city technology colleges; technology colleges and other specialist schools; independent schools; the assisted places schemes; school meals and schools capital issues. She also has responsibility for women's issues, older workers and equal opportunities.

Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which of the former Department of Employment's responsibilities her Department has now taken on; and which Minister is in charge of each area of responsibility. [34044]

Mrs. Shephard

Ministerial responsibilities within the Department for Education and Employment are as follows. Those areas of work which were previously the responsibility of the former Department of Employment are shown in bold type.Secretary of State Gillian Shephard has overall responsibility for the Department and its policies. In particular she will have responsibility for the public expenditure survey and pay in the education sector. Minister of State Eric Forth is responsible for the Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA); employment policy and benefit issues; labour market statistics; higher education, including content and quality, structure and funding, building programmes, and Higher Education Funding Council matters; the private finance initiative in higher education; student support, overseas students, and other student issues; European Union and international issues and the Careers service/education. Minister of State Lord Henley is responsible for the school curriculum and assessment; examinations and qualifications including GCSE, GCE A-Level, NVQs, GNVQs and the review of 16 to 19 qualifications; performance tables; the Employment Service; education-industry links; special education in schools; people with disabilities; special needs training; and school transport. He is designated departmental Minister responsible for the citizens charter; next steps; general legal questions and departmental purchasing. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Robin Squire is responsible for pre-school education; grant-maintained schools borrowing legislation; school effectiveness and action on failing schools; the common funding formula and the national funding formula; the private finance initiative in schools; local management of schools and school governor matters; teacher matters including training and supply, teachers' misconduct, the Teacher Training Agency, appraisal, pensions and the Teachers' Pensions Agency. He is also responsible for grants for education support and training; truancy, discipline and attendance; IT in schools and new technologies; departmental management issues; environmental and energy issues and research. Pariliamentary Under-Secretary of State James Paice Paice has responsibility for post-16 issues including post-16 school organisation; further education, including content and quality, structure and funding, building programmes, and Further Education Funding Council matters; the Youth Service; adult learning/training; the private finance initiative in FE; training strategy and infrastructure and training and enterprise councils. He also has responsibility for regional Government offices; regional and urban policy; inner cities and the single regeneration budget and section 11 matters. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Cheryl Gillan has responsibility for the development and implementation of the policy of choice and diversity in schools; GM school casework; five to 16 school reorganisations and admissions policies; city technology colleges; technology colleges and other specialist schools; independent schools; the assisted places scheme; school meals and schools capital issues. She also has responsibility for women's issues, older workers and equal opportunities.

I am taking steps to ensure the effective integration of functions within the new Department as quickly as possible. I have today written to education and training organisations inviting comments on an initial statement of aims and objectives for the new Department. This will provide a framework for bringing together all the policies and programmes designed to educate and train young people and adults and help unemployed people into work.

I have also invited urgent comments on proposals for the grouping of work within the Department, so that a top management structure can be put in place within the next few weeks.

I have placed a copy of my letter to education and training bodies, with the statement of aims and objectives and the proposed top management structure, in the Library of the House.