HC Deb 11 July 1989 vol 156 cc500-1W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many children currently attend schools run by the service children education authority in(a) north-west Europe, (b) Gibraltar, (c) Hong Kong, (d) Cyprus and (e) elsewhere.

Mr. Neubert

Figures at summer term 1989:

Number
North West Europe 23,880
Gibraltar 679
Hong Kong 1,610
Cyprus 1,655
Elsewhere 163
TOTAL 27,987

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many teachers are employed in schools run by the service children education authority.

Mr. Neubert

Figures are for summer term 1989:

Number
North West Europe 1,319
Gibraltar 38
Hong Kong 108
Cyprus 122
Elsewhere 11
TOTAL 1,598

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the members of the service children education authority.

Mr. Neubert

Controller of the service children education authority (SCEA) is a tri-service rotational appointment currently filled by a Royal Air Force group captain of the administrative branch (education specialisation). There are three deputy controller appointments, currently filled by a Commander RN, a lieutenant colonel RAEC, and a civil servant, senior executive officer. The three deputy controllers are between them responsible for SCEA sections each headed by a major (or service-civilian equivalent), and staffed mainly by civil servants. The total complement of SCEA headquarters is currently 30 personnel.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the relationship between the service children education authority and Hampshire county council.

Mr. Neubert

Hampshire local education authority is one of a number of authorities represented on the standing committee for the education of service children (UK), chaired by controller SCEA. SCEA purchases from Hampshire local education authority, among other sources, a range of advisory support services for service children's schools (SCS) overseas. This includes careers guidance, which is provided by local education authority careers officers visiting overseas schools. In addition SCEA buys in Hampshire local education authority advisory time for both primary and secondary schools.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether schools run overseas by the service children education authority are subject to inspection by Her Majesty's inspectors operating from the Department of Education and Science; and whether the inspectors' reports are published.

Mr. Neubert

Yes.

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether work experience programmes are available to children in north-west Europe attending schools run by the service children education authority.

Mr. Neubert

Yes. Work experience in north-west Europe is normally organised for 4th-year children (age 14 to 15) in two-week blocks usually during the summer term. Fifteen to 16-year-old children who are following CPVE (Certificate of Pre-Vocational Education) also have a short period of work experience.