Contributions
1,330 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I shall speak to the amendments in group 5. These amendments mainly concern the requirement to seek consent should a parent wish to withdraw their child from school in…03 Jul 2025HANSARDSchool LibrariesMy dad did the same, and I have always been extremely grateful to him for that. The noble Lord is right that the first people who can encourage children to love books are their…30 Jun 2025HANSARDSchool LibrariesIn citizenship, RSHE, maths, economics and history classes throughout this country, children are learning about all the things that my noble friend just mentioned, so whether or…30 Jun 2025HANSARDSchool LibrariesMy noble friend makes an important point about the power of books and reading to enable children—in fact, all of us—not only to recognise the world in which we live but to have…30 Jun 2025HANSARDSchool LibrariesTo clarify, I think the survey showed not that 50% of books were withdrawn but that in 50% of cases there was pressure to withdraw books—pressure that might have come to fruition.…30 Jun 2025HANSARDSchool LibrariesThe noble Baroness is absolutely right. It is part of the role of reading to challenge us and broaden our horizons, as I have said, and it is part of the skill of teaching for…30 Jun 2025HANSARDSchool LibrariesThe noble Baroness consistently argues for freedom of speech and the opportunity for people to engage with a whole range of different arguments and views. It is important that…30 Jun 2025HANSARDSchool LibrariesIt will be important to ensure that the RSHE guidance, which of course the previous Government also took a very long time to consider, is appropriate and provides the right…30 Jun 2025HANSARDSchool LibrariesMy Lords, no authors, books or genres have been banned by the Government. Schools make their own choices about which specific books or other resources they use within the…30 Jun 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: Tax ChangesWe have also, of course, announced in the most recent spending review a considerable increase in the funding available to our schools, a real-terms increase over the period of…25 Jun 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: Tax ChangesMy Lords, the Government published impact notes on the anticipated impact of the VAT and business rates changes affecting private schools. We monitor the impact on the sector and…25 Jun 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: Tax ChangesOf course, it is a good thing if private schools ensure that their facilities are on some occasions open to other people, not least because quite often—and certainly in the case…25 Jun 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: Tax ChangesWhere a pupil is eligible to have an education, health and care plan and that has allocated them a place in a private school, of course the impact of VAT on those schools will not…25 Jun 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: Tax ChangesNo, I will not, because once again I emphasise that this was a decision made by the Government in order to be able to invest in the over 93% of our children who are educated in…25 Jun 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: Tax ChangesMy Lords, this Government worry about people in all schools. My noble friend is right that as a Government we have a job to put right some of the underinvestment of the last…25 Jun 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: Tax ChangesNo, because I am proud that this Government are prioritising investment in the 93% of our children who attend state schools. On the point about the legal action that the noble…25 Jun 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: Tax ChangesMy noble friend is right about that. In fact, as of May 2024, 84% of primary schools and 76% of secondary schools had one unfilled place or more. I know that people have been…25 Jun 2025HANSARDMusic and Dance SchemeMy Lords, improved access to the arts is important for all young people, which is why the Government are committed to continuing to fund the music and dance scheme, including the…24 Jun 2025HANSARDMusic and Dance SchemeThe Government have maintained a commitment to providing generous support to help students to access the specialist music and dance education and training that this scheme funds,…24 Jun 2025HANSARDMusic and Dance SchemeMy noble friend makes an important point. There is an enormous amount of expertise in the schools supported by the music and dance scheme, as there is in other parts of the…24 Jun 2025