Contributions
1,367 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI share the hon. Lady’s concern about the mental health challenges that many of our young people are experiencing, and we are committed to rolling out mental health support right…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillNo; I invite the right hon. Lady to look carefully at the measures in the Bill. We will not hesitate to intervene in failing schools—indeed, we will intervene a lot sooner than…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillThat is just not the case. I invite him to read the Bill, and I will come on to further measures that we are proposing. If we believe that every child deserves the best, that…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy hon. Friend brings a wealth of experience as a teacher to the House. I know that teachers will want to hear what this will mean for their pay, so I reiterate that the measures…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI agree with my hon. Friend. We have been led by the evidence on this, which is clear: this measure provides real support to parents at the start of the school day, but also…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI welcome the hon. Lady’s interest in this area, because I share her concern about the growing number of children in our country who are deeply unhappy, and the growing challenge…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillA number of provisions in the Bill deal precisely with that challenge. We recognise that in London—but shortly this will be the case right across our country—there are challenges…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillAbsolutely. The Bill will put hundreds of pounds back into family finances and back into parents’ pockets by cutting the cost of school uniform, and by introducing breakfast clubs…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. In my time with her on the Public Accounts Committee, I learned all too well the importance of those principles. The previous Government had…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillThat is simply a mischaracterisation, and the right hon. Gentleman knows it. I will come on to the wider schools measures in this Bill later in my speech, but I note that he had…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. In the week in which we return to this House and our children return to school, I am proud to be the Secretary of State for…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI am afraid that I am concluding now. We are bringing together the system’s many parts into a collaborative, coherent whole with children at its heart. Our ambition to support…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI agree with my hon. Friend. I recognise the challenge that she faces in her constituency and that we see right across our country. We have seen a big increase in the number of…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillWe are looking carefully at all the schools in the pipeline, but we need to ensure that in every case there is a strong case for the need for the school and good value for the…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI agree with my hon. Friend that we need to ensure that local authorities are working with schools, health services and other partners in their areas. Through the last Budget, we…08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI will give way a final time and then conclude.08 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillThat is a total misunderstanding of the Bill. The hon. Gentleman should not seek to speak for others in this regard. We are restoring academies to their core intended purpose of…08 Jan 2025HANSARDFuture Earnings: Impact of Socioeconomic DisadvantageI strongly agree with my hon. Friend that, while the Conservatives have said that they think parental leave is excessive, we want to give families more choices. Through the…18 Dec 2024HANSARDFuture Earnings: Impact of Socioeconomic DisadvantageI share my hon. Friend’s concern in this area, which is why we are committed to enacting the socioeconomic duty of the Equality Act 2010, and we shall give more information on…18 Dec 2024HANSARDFuture Earnings: Impact of Socioeconomic DisadvantageI agree with my hon. Friend that it is absolutely crucial that we take action on regional inequalities. He champions that cause very strongly on his constituents’ behalf. He will…18 Dec 2024