Contributions
680 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSEND Delivery: Rural AreasIf the hon. Lady had been listening, she would know that I just said we will be publishing early in the new year; if she was not just reading out a scripted question, she might…28 Nov 2022HANSARDSEND Delivery: Rural AreasI will be happy to look into that in detail and write to the right hon. Gentleman further about it, but I would say that the Department is working to improve all schools in terms…28 Nov 2022HANSARDSEND Delivery: Rural AreasI would like to thank my hon. Friend for a productive discussion last week. I absolutely agree with her—I know she is a former teacher—that empowering schools is crucial to ensure…28 Nov 2022HANSARDSEND Delivery: Rural AreasAll local authorities, including those in rural areas, are subject to robust special educational needs and disabilities inspections, and Ofsted will shortly be announcing plans…28 Nov 2022HANSARDAccessible and Affordable ChildcareI thank the hon. Gentleman for that question. Childcare is of course enormously important, and it is this Conservative Government who have expanded the childcare offer…28 Nov 2022HANSARDEarly Years Teacher TrainingAs I said in answer to earlier questions, we put an extra £0.5 billion into the early years sector in the 2021 spending review to increase the hourly rate. We are also spending…28 Nov 2022HANSARD Independent Review of Children’s Social CareAs someone who has been working on the cost of living challenge for the past 18 months, I can say that it has been a priority of this Government, during the pandemic and into the…24 Nov 2022HANSARD Independent Review of Children’s Social CareI thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention and I will be looking at that carefully. The heart of what we want to do is to make sure that all people have these powerful…24 Nov 2022HANSARD Independent Review of Children’s Social CareI have been asked to keep my comments relatively brief, so I hope I can do justice to this tremendous debate and set out some of the Government’s vision. I start by thanking the…24 Nov 2022HANSARD Adoption: Support for Birth FamiliesI am very familiar with the Mockingbird programme, which I think is excellent, so I will look at that as well. I also agree with the Children’s Commissioner Rachel de Souza’s…17 Nov 2022HANSARD Adoption: Support for Birth FamiliesI congratulate the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne Central (Chi Onwurah) on securing a debate on this important subject as well as the hon. Members for Strangford (Jim…17 Nov 2022HANSARD Adoption: Support for Birth FamiliesI thank the hon. Lady for that important intervention. Yes, I recognise there is retention and churn in the social care worker system. I am looking at that very closely and am…17 Nov 2022HANSARD Adoption: Support for Birth FamiliesI thank the hon. Lady; that is an excellent point. I have seen, in my work in social justice areas over the years, how much of a difference peer-to-peer support makes,…17 Nov 2022HANSARD Adoption: Support for Birth FamiliesI will.17 Nov 2022HANSARD Adoption: Support for Birth FamiliesI would be delighted to, so let me take that away and see what we can do.17 Nov 2022HANSARDEducationThe Government consulted on the draft changes to Social Work England’s regulatory framework from 23 March to 11 May this year. We received 48 responses from a range of interested…14 Nov 2022HANSARDEducationThe Government consulted on the draft changes to Social Work England’s regulatory framework from 23 March to 11 May this year. We received 48 responses from a range of interested…14 Nov 2022HANSARDEarly Years Childcare: Staff-Child RatiosIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Harris. I thank the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North (Catherine McKinnell) for opening this important debate on…14 Nov 2022HANSARDDraft Social Workers (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2022I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Social Workers (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2022. It is a pleasure to serve under your…09 Nov 2022HANSARDDraft Social Workers (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2022I thank the hon. Lady for her constructive contribution, and I look forward to her perhaps making more such contributions in similar roles in the future. I think she is right to…09 Nov 2022