Contributions
941 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPost-16 Education: SkillsI thank my hon. Friend for her thoughtful question on the prefabs. We have a plan to build, and I will take up this matter further with the appropriate Minister.21 Jul 2025HANSARDPost-16 Education: SkillsI thank the hon. Member for his question and his thoughtfulness regarding the levy and its operation. As he is fully aware, skills are a devolved matter and funding in the…21 Jul 2025HANSARDPost-16 Education: SkillsI thank the hon. Member for his question. We are a Government who continue to invest in education. We have flexibility available, and we have foundation apprenticeships and…21 Jul 2025HANSARDSixth-form Colleges: FundingI thank my hon. Friend for mentioning his fantastic City of Stoke-on-Trent sixth-form college. I reassure him and other Members that this Government are committed to ensuring that…21 Jul 2025HANSARDSixth-form Colleges: FundingI take this opportunity to thank all post-16 providers and staff for their tireless work over the last academic year and wish them a restful summer break. Following the autumn…21 Jul 2025HANSARDPost-16 Education: SkillsI would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the great gains that the Labour Government have made through our plan for change. Since entering power, we have cut red tape,…21 Jul 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI absolute agree with my hon. Friend. This Government will indeed stop shutting good people out of good jobs. He is probably aware that the Department funds apprentices to achieve…21 Jul 2025HANSARDApprenticeshipsI thank my hon. Friend for his questions and, indeed, for his lobbying. Labour’s technical excellence colleges will be crucial to our plans to rewire our school system to unlock…21 Jul 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe adoption and special guardianship support fund provides valuable therapeutic support to children and families, which is why we have committed to continuing the £50 million to…21 Jul 2025HANSARDApprenticeshipsLabour is rebalancing opportunities towards young people, giving them the skills they need to get on. Apprenticeship starts, achievements and participation are all up under this…21 Jul 2025HANSARDApprenticeshipsI thank the hon. Member for sharing Jack Kellas’s wonderful achievement. Level 6 apprenticeships are a core part of our offer, and we continue to fund them.21 Jul 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI do indeed agree with my hon. Friend, and I applaud him for the work he did on the Derby Promise before he entered this place and for all he has done for children in Derby South…21 Jul 2025HANSARDAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundOn 14 April 2025, the Department announced changes to the management criteria of the adoption and special guardianship support fund. As with all policy decisions, my officials…17 Jul 2025HANSARD Giving Every Child the Best Start in LifeI thank the hon. Member for sharing that information. I will ask the Minister for Early Education to contact him. There will always be a legal right to the additional support that…16 Jul 2025HANSARD Giving Every Child the Best Start in LifeI am grateful to the many hon. Members who participated in this debate on such an important subject. I will refer to hon. Members as I progress through my closing speech. It would…16 Jul 2025HANSARD Giving Every Child the Best Start in LifeI thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. I remember that, soon after becoming a Minister, I met many voluntary and community organisations, and one of the first things I did…16 Jul 2025HANSARD Giving Every Child the Best Start in LifeI thank my hon. Friend for highlighting the significance of the Government’s work, the important issue of poverty, and the need to keep on making sure that the Government drive…16 Jul 2025HANSARD Giving Every Child the Best Start in LifeI thank my hon. Friend for the way in which he connects up the various agencies and Departments and points out the significance of working in close partnership. That is absolutely…16 Jul 2025HANSARD Giving Every Child the Best Start in LifeI do not know anybody who does not enjoy some type of music. Children must have the experience of enjoying music, and I cannot imagine a family hub that does not have some type of…16 Jul 2025HANSARD Giving Every Child the Best Start in LifeMy hon. Friend is absolutely right; there is nothing to disagree with there. Hubs will be open to all, with funding for these services in every single local authority. They will…16 Jul 2025