Contributions
1,058 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsI recognise the difficulties my hon. Friend has outlined. Changes to pension entitlement have caused the significant backlog in processing that we have inherited, but good…09 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Lady raises an important matter, which far too many people are having to raise. I would be happy to meet her not only to discuss this matter further, but to reiterate the…09 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Lady raises an important point. We are working at pace to ensure that we have more professionals, along with the Department of Health and Social Care, which is also…09 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsLocal authorities have a statutory duty to ensure that there are sufficient secondary school places and that children can go to school, and travel should not be a barrier to their…09 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsLocal authorities normally support special units in schools with funding from their high needs budget, but officials would be happy to investigate the funding arrangements for…09 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI agree with my hon. Friend. Outcomes in some schools in Hastings are just not good enough. We are all determined to drive up standards. Department officials continue to work with…09 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend raises an important point. Rather than obsessing about structures and names over doors, we are determined to ensure that every child in every community has a good…09 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is a strong advocate for special educational needs in his community. We know that SENCOs perform a vital function in making sure that children and their families…09 Dec 2024HANSARDCreative Education: SchoolsAll children deserve a rich and broad education so that they do not miss out on subjects, such as music, art and drama. As part of our opportunity mission, we have launched an…09 Dec 2024HANSARDSEN Provision: FundingThe Government recognise that breaking down barriers to opportunity for children with special educational needs and disabilities will take a cross-Government approach. To that…09 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMay I, too, take this opportunity to wish a merry Christmas to all of our teachers and school support staff when they finally get to the Christmas break? We are working at pace to…09 Dec 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI recognise the issue the hon. Gentleman raises. It is important that we have the right balance between mainstream inclusion and specialist provision where it is needed. If it…09 Dec 2024HANSARD Home-to-School Transport: Children with SENDI congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Jen Craft) on securing this incredibly important debate—its importance clearly marked by the number of contributions. I know…03 Dec 2024HANSARD Home-to-School Transport: Children with SENDI would like to, but I also want to respond on many of the issues that have been raised, so I apologise that I am not able to take an intervention. Many local authorities offer…03 Dec 2024HANSARDChildren and BereavementI thank the hon. Member for Stevenage (Kevin Bonavia) for introducing this timely debate on an incredibly important subject in National Grief Awareness Week. It really is an…02 Dec 2024HANSARDSchool Funding: Provisional 2025-26 AllocationsToday we are confirming provisional funding allocations for 2025-26 through the schools, high needs and central school services national funding formulae (NFFs). Overall, core…28 Nov 2024HANSARD Government and Democracy EducationMy hon. Friend makes an important point. The last Labour Government recognised the importance of citizenship and participation in our education system, which is why they…20 Nov 2024HANSARD Government and Democracy EducationI warmly congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby (John Slinger) on securing this timely debate on an incredibly important subject. He inspired us with his speech and the…20 Nov 2024HANSARD School Transport: NorthumberlandIt is an honour to serve under you as Chair today, Mrs Harris. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Hexham (Joe Morris) on securing the debate today on this very important…12 Nov 2024HANSARD School Transport: NorthumberlandAll those details are being worked through and will be announced in due course. I appreciate the hon. Member’s keenness to have advance sight of the statement—it is coming, and it…12 Nov 2024