§ Mr. StevensonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what resources have been allocated to Stoke-on-Trent LEA in the last five years. [112979]
§ Mr. MilibandThe following table shows the resources allocated to Stoke-on-Trent Local Education Authority since 1999–2000.
§ Mr. MilibandA table showing the number of teacher vacancies in maintained secondary schools in England has been placed in the Library. Vacancies by subject are available only for secondary schools. The most recent data available at local education authority level are for January 2002. Vacancy rates are not available because data for the denominator (teacher numbers by subject) are not available at LEA level.
837WThe most recent data available at local authority level is for January 2002. Recently published provisional vacancy information at national level shows that vacancies in maintained schools decreased from 4,540 in 2002 to 3,400 in 2003. The vacancy rate reduced from 1.2 per cent. in 2002 to 0.9 per cent. in 2003.
Vacancies are recorded for posts which have been advertised for full-time appointments of at least one term's duration, that exist on the 618G survey date of the third Thursday in January. These are posts which the Local Education Authority/school intends to fill, including those for which they have unsuccessfully attempted to make an appointment, or for which an appointment has been made but the appointee has not taken up the post. A post which has been filled by a temporary appointment of less than one term, pending the finding of a more permanent appointee, is regarded as a vacancy. A post would not be recorded as a vacancy if someone appointed to that post on a full-time contract of one term or more has filled the post.
§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vacant teacher posts there were in(a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools, (c) special schools and (d) all schools, as a percentage of the total number of teachers, in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority. [110132]
§ Mr. MilibandThe information requested has been placed in the Libraries.
§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vacant(a) head teacher posts, (b) deputy head teacher and (c) teacher posts there were in (i) primary schools, (ii) secondary schools and (iii) special schools in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority. [110133]
§ Mr. MilibandThe information requested has been placed in the Libraries.
§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vacant deputy head teacher posts there were in(a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools, (c) special schools and (d) all schools as a percentage of the total number of deputy head teachers, in each year since 1997, broken down by local education authority. [110147]
§ Mr. MilibandThe information requested has been placed in the Libraries.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with(a) local authorities and (b) trade unions on the subject of early retirement. [114939]
§ Mr. MilibandWe have not had any specific discussions with either local authorities or teacher unions about early retirement. There are provisions within the Teachers' Pension Scheme under which employers can award premature retirement to teachers over the age of 50. The decision on whether an individual teacher should be granted early retirement is for the employer to take having regard to cost and the circumstances of each case.
838W
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the state of the Teachers' Superannuation Fund. [114942]
§ Mr. MilibandThe Teachers' Pension Scheme is unfunded. It is, however, subject to periodic valuations by the Government Actuary. The most recent valuation, covering the five years up to March 2001, was published in March of this year. A copy of the valuation report has been placed in the Library.