Contributions
3,240 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDKinship CareMy Lords, the Government are grateful to the APPG for its work and its recent report on kinship care and the legal labyrinth. The noble Baroness will be aware that the Ministry of…14 Nov 2022HANSARDHigher Education (Freedom of Speech) BillMy Lords, the amendment tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Collins, also in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett of Manor Castle, would make the Bill subject to a sunset…14 Nov 2022HANSARDHigher Education (Freedom of Speech) BillMy Lords, I will now address the amendments concerning the appointment of the new director for freedom of speech and academic freedom at the Office for Students. Amendments 67 and…14 Nov 2022HANSARDFamily: Protective EffectMy noble friend makes a very important point. Dame Rachel points out in her report that 11% of families in need turn to council services, but almost the same number—10%—turn to…07 Nov 2022HANSARDFamily: Protective EffectThe noble Baroness makes a fair point, and I am happy to write to her setting out in more detail the Government’s strategy on expanding the workforce. She will appreciate that…07 Nov 2022HANSARDFamily: Protective EffectA significant part of the investment we are making in family hubs and the Start for Life programme is specifically related to mental health. Some £100 million of the almost £302…07 Nov 2022HANSARDEducation Technology: Oak National AcademyIt is tempting to try to answer the last part of my noble friend’s question but I will resist. I would like to set the record straight. My noble friend suggests that nobody…07 Nov 2022HANSARDEducation Technology: Oak National AcademyI have to say it sticks in my throat to have private equity investors who are responsible for considerable distortions in the children’s home market lecturing the Government on…07 Nov 2022HANSARDEducation Technology: Oak National AcademyI am delighted to be able to reassure the noble Baroness that Oak will never be mandated; it is an optional resource for teachers.07 Nov 2022HANSARDEducation Technology: Oak National AcademyThe procurement of materials for key stages 1 to 4 is largely discrete from the review. Oak will be providing resources only for key stages 1 to 4, and only digital resources.…07 Nov 2022HANSARDFamily: Protective EffectI will certainly take the point that my noble friend has raised back to the department. I am delighted to express my support for the incredibly important, difficult and sensitive…07 Nov 2022HANSARDFamily: Protective EffectThe right reverend Prelate will have heard me say already the scale of the investment we are making in family services and the importance we place on them. In particular, the…07 Nov 2022HANSARDFamily: Protective EffectMy noble friend knows that working to strengthen families is a key priority across several government departments and although there is not currently a designated Minister, we…07 Nov 2022HANSARDFamily: Protective EffectThe noble Baroness will be aware that the Government are committed to improving parents’ access to affordable and flexible childcare. We will set out these plans in more detail in…07 Nov 2022HANSARDEducation Technology: Oak National AcademyThese are very early days; this is strategic investment for the next many years. I challenge the House to think of the questions it would be posing to the department if we were…07 Nov 2022HANSARDEducation Technology: Oak National AcademyI will look at the numbers to which my noble friend refers. I wonder whether she is referring to lessons delivered by Oak during the pandemic, when they were online and children…07 Nov 2022HANSARDFamily: Protective EffectMore than 150,000 children live in kinship care, so the noble Baroness raises an incredibly important point. The Government recognise the need to support kinship carers more, and…07 Nov 2022HANSARDEducation Technology: Oak National AcademyIn relation to geoblocking, Oak will not be internationalising its content; materials will be geoblocked. The noble Baroness is right that the department has received a challenge…07 Nov 2022HANSARDEducation Technology: Oak National AcademyI agree entirely with my noble friend. She is absolutely right that almost half of teachers who used Oak reduced their workload by three hours a week. She is also right, and I…07 Nov 2022HANSARDFamily: Protective EffectMy Lords, the Children’s Commissioner’s review is centred on the protective effect of families. We agree. A strong and safe family home helps children to meet their full potential…07 Nov 2022