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3,240 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]20 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their contributions to the debate and acknowledge particularly the work of the noble Lord, Lord Soley, in making sure that the issue of…20 Jun 2022HANSARDSpecial Educational NeedsThe Government have made a big commitment to increasing funding in this area. High needs funding has risen by 40% over the past three years, but we work proactively with local…20 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]I understand. However, that would be a civil matter but we will confirm it in writing. If I may proceed, I thank my noble friend Lord Lucas, the noble Baronesses, Lady Whitaker,…20 Jun 2022HANSARDApprenticeship Levy SchemeMy Lords, the apprenticeship levy has enabled government to increase apprenticeship funding to £2.7 billion by 2024-25. We are continuing to improve apprenticeships to meet the…16 Jun 2022HANSARDApprenticeship Levy SchemeOur conclusion is that we listen to employers and respond to what they ask for. I shall give the noble Lord one example. Employers have told us that they need young people to be…16 Jun 2022HANSARDApprenticeship Levy SchemeAs the noble Baroness will be aware from our debate last night, it is not the Government’s plan to micromanage schools in terms of how they celebrate. We are promoting…16 Jun 2022HANSARDApprenticeship Levy SchemeI absolutely reassure the noble Earl that the department is actively engaging with all key sectors, including the creative sector. On the specifics, obviously the apprenticeship…16 Jun 2022HANSARDApprenticeship Levy SchemeI think the noble Baroness would acknowledge that some of the changes that we have introduced, including the levy, to create a sustainable model of funding for apprenticeships,…16 Jun 2022HANSARDApprenticeship Levy SchemeI thank the noble Baroness very much for acknowledging that we absolutely have listened to the sector with the flexi-job apprenticeships. She will be aware that there is enormous…16 Jun 2022HANSARDApprenticeship Levy SchemeThe noble Lord is a bit harsh; we are very focused on SMEs, in part because of the productivity potential that apprentices can offer them, but also because of the opportunities…16 Jun 2022HANSARDApprenticeship Levy SchemeI do not accept the noble Lord’s assertion that the changes that the Government have introduced are not working. Clearly, the context of the last 12 months, with the pandemic, has…16 Jun 2022HANSARDApprenticeship Levy SchemeI absolutely agree with my noble friend. We are doing a lot of work to make sure that we can connect young people in schools and colleges with employers and providers much earlier…16 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]15 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]Just to be clear, there has been significant growth in funding in the system. In 2022-23, schools in the north-east, to which the noble Baroness opposite referred, will see a…15 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]I may have to write to the noble Lord on that. However, he will know that, through the Education and Skills Funding Agency—the ESFA—we already deal with payments to, as I think he…15 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]I am glad that I have been promoted to be the noble Lord’s “noble friend”; things are looking up. I am very happy to take this offline with the noble Lord. It is just not case…15 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]The noble Lord’s point is a little broader than what we are talking about at the moment. With the free school applications that have come across my desk I have certainly tried to…15 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]The Government are clear—we are talking about cases where a local authority wants a school to convert to an academy. I referred to the Government’s current criteria earlier in…15 Jun 2022HANSARDSchools Bill [HL]My Lords, the amendments in this group are concerned mainly with rights of consultation and consent when a local authority intends to apply for an academy order on behalf of a…15 Jun 2022