Contributions
962 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsGiven this is my first Education questions of 2023, Mr Speaker, I would like to wish you, the House and everyone working in our education sector a happy new year, and to share…16 Jan 2023HANSARDInflationThe autumn statement announced significant additional investment in core schools funding. The core schools budget will increase by £2 billion in 2023-24 and 2024-25. That will be…16 Jan 2023HANSARDSchool BuildingsLast year the Government published updated guidance on identifying and managing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. In March 2022, all schools were asked to complete a…16 Jan 2023HANSARDSchool BuildingsI thank my hon. Friend for her excellent question. We encourage schools to play a positive role in their community, and many choose to provide access to sports and other…16 Jan 2023HANSARDFamily Hubs and Start for Life ProgrammeWe have regular meetings with all the devolved authorities, and we share ideas about what we are doing and our policies so that we can learn from one another. There is no monopoly…16 Jan 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am committed to reform in children’s social care across all sectors. The Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for East Surrey (Claire Coutinho), has been working…16 Jan 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Lady for her question. I always believe in constructive dialogue. The very first meeting I took as we welcomed in the new year was with all four main teaching…16 Jan 2023HANSARDTopical QuestionsI take special educational needs very seriously, as does the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing. It will be published very soon, so there is not long to wait. I am sure…16 Jan 2023HANSARDTeacher Recruitment and RetentionI thank the right hon. Gentleman. Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime and the Government are sympathetic to the victims and survivors of such abuse. As set out in November in…16 Jan 2023HANSARDInflationSchools, like families and businesses across the world, are facing global inflationary pressures. The Prime Minister has pledged to halve inflation, and school funding will…16 Jan 2023HANSARDFamily Hubs and Start for Life ProgrammeI assure the hon. Lady that the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing—the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for East Surrey (Claire Coutinho)—is working…16 Jan 2023HANSARDSchool BuildingsIn December, I announced a further 239 schools that will benefit from large-scale rebuilding and refurbishment projects as part of our school rebuilding programme, which will…16 Jan 2023HANSARDChildcare: Accessibility, Affordability and QualityOf course we are always focused on what more we can do. We obviously have pupil premium funding, school uniform guidance and the highest number of children benefiting from free…16 Jan 2023HANSARDTeacher Recruitment and RetentionMy hon. Friend makes a good point. In line with our manifesto commitment to raise the starting salary, it is £28,000 this year and it will be £30,000 from September next year. I…16 Jan 2023HANSARDFamily Hubs and Start for Life ProgrammeFamily hubs are one-stop shops that make it easier for families to get the support they need and I strongly support them. The Government are investing £300 million in the Family…16 Jan 2023HANSARDChildcare: Accessibility, Affordability and QualityI thank the hon. Lady for her question. Actually, Ofsted data shows that the number of childcare places has remained broadly stable at 1.3 million since August 2015. At the…16 Jan 2023HANSARDFamily Hubs and Start for Life ProgrammeI strongly agree with my hon. Friend. We are funding 75 councils for the current spending review period. I have no doubt that the excellent work in East Sussex, led by Becky Shaw…16 Jan 2023HANSARDSchool BuildingsObviously some schools are disappointed that they did not have access to those funds. We have announced funding for 400 schools so far and a further 100 will be included in future…16 Jan 2023HANSARDChildcare: Accessibility, Affordability and QualityI reassure my hon. Friend and the whole House that childcare is important to this Government —indeed, I met the Chief Secretary to the Treasury about this issue only last week.…16 Jan 2023HANSARDChildcare: Accessibility, Affordability and QualityI know how important childcare is to the Chair of the Education Committee, and I look forward to his Committee’s report on that issue. Getting this right is fundamentally…16 Jan 2023