Contributions
1,271 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCovid-19: GCSE and A-level ExamsMy Lords, the effect on children, even within a region, can be variable and any regional approach could easily mean that there would be unfairness—for instance, if a child has…03 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: GCSE and A-level ExamsMy Lords, exams give students an opportunity to show what they know and to be assessed on it objectively. I pay tribute to schools and exam centres that, even during the recent…03 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: GCSE and A-level ExamsMy Lords, the noble Lord’s Question is certainly topical, as the Secretary of State for Education made an Oral Statement on 2021 exams in the other place earlier this morning. In…03 Dec 2020HANSARDCovid-19: GCSE and A-level ExamsMy Lords, the Government indeed recognise that there has been differential learning loss and—working alongside Ofqual, which has responsibility in this matter—we considered a…03 Dec 2020HANSARDChildren in Care: Unregulated AccommodationMy Lords, I am happy to tell my noble friend that the Minister for Children and Families meets regularly with the President of the Family Division. Secure schools, which provide…17 Nov 2020HANSARDChildren in Care: Unregulated AccommodationMy Lords, every child or young person looked after by the local authority should have an education plan which outlines their future education. If they are in 16 to 19 provision,…17 Nov 2020HANSARDChildren in Care: Unregulated AccommodationMy Lords, all these placements are for children looked after by local authorities, which, when they commission any placement, also have a duty to look at the safeguarding and at…17 Nov 2020HANSARDChildren in Care: Unregulated AccommodationMy Lords, the Government do not make such an assumption, and the placement of looked-after children is primarily and statutorily the responsibility of the local authority. The…17 Nov 2020HANSARDChildren in Care: Unregulated AccommodationMy Lords, obviously, avoiding the criminal justice system is a priority for these young people. Over the past decade, it is astonishing that the youth justice population has…17 Nov 2020HANSARDChildren in Care: Unregulated AccommodationMy Lords, we are clear that unregulated provision for children in care and care leavers needs to be reformed. We have consulted on new measures, including banning the placement of…17 Nov 2020HANSARDChildren in Care: Unregulated AccommodationMy Lords, obviously, if criminal activity is taking place, that is a matter for the police. Unfortunately, due to Covid, the response to the consultation has been delayed, but we…17 Nov 2020HANSARDChildren in Care: Unregulated AccommodationMy Lords, the local authority has the primary statutory duty to safeguard all young people in their area up until the age of 18, or beyond under certain initiatives. I pay tribute…17 Nov 2020HANSARDChildren in Care: Unregulated AccommodationMy Lords, last year we published the higher education principles for care leavers. We are delighted that 60 higher education institutions have signed the care leaver covenant and…17 Nov 2020HANSARDChildren in Care: Unregulated AccommodationMy Lords, the circumstances that the noble Baroness has outlined are precisely why we recognise that this sector needs regulation. However, that does not bypass local authorities’…17 Nov 2020HANSARDUN Convention on the Rights of the ChildMy Lords, I have outlined the usual practice, which is why this convention is not incorporated directly into domestic law. As the noble Lord outlined, there are safeguards in…16 Nov 2020HANSARDUN Convention on the Rights of the ChildMy Lords, the Government’s position is that the protections afforded by the UN convention are already present in domestic law. Specifically on the Online Harms White Paper, there…16 Nov 2020HANSARDUN Convention on the Rights of the ChildAs I outlined with regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, there are protections in domestic law, and we have protected children’s right to education. Our schools,…16 Nov 2020HANSARDUN Convention on the Rights of the ChildMy Lords, since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Government have spent more than £340 million on food vouchers for those who needed free school meals while schools were closed.…16 Nov 2020HANSARDUN Convention on the Rights of the ChildMy Lords, the voices of children domestically and on international platforms are course important—we can look at the role models of Malala and Greta Thunberg in this regard. We…16 Nov 2020HANSARDUN Convention on the Rights of the ChildMy Lords, the training was one of the recommendations from 2016. I will have to write to the noble Baroness on her specific questions.16 Nov 2020