Contributions
281 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundI appreciate the strength of feeling regarding the adoption and special guardianship support fund. Last month, I met campaigners, adopters and those running adoption services to…01 Dec 2025HANSARDFree School ApplicationsAs was mentioned earlier, the Government took the sensible, pragmatic decision to pause a number of free school applications in order to consider real concerns about value for…01 Dec 2025HANSARDPost-16 Vocational QualificationsI thank the hon. Member for this timely question, following the Budget last week, when the Government made the welcome decision to change the apprenticeship system by fully…01 Dec 2025HANSARDPost-16 Vocational QualificationsOur curriculum and assessment review recommended the introduction of new V-levels, which will simplify the qualification landscape while giving students choice and flexibility.…01 Dec 2025HANSARDDefence Technical College: SwindonI appreciate my hon. Friend championing the work of local businesses such as Rowden’s, and other defence industries across the UK, and I will gladly ask my noble friend the…01 Dec 2025HANSARDDefence Technical College: SwindonRolling out technical excellence colleges is one way that Labour is rewiring our skills system, to unlock opportunity for our young people and drive growth for our country, and…01 Dec 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend himself was an apprentice before entering this place, and he welcomed the Secretary of State to his constituency to open a construction technical excellence college…01 Dec 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsAs I have previously said to the House, it is really important that we get the policy regarding special educational needs and the future of the schools system in exactly the right…01 Dec 2025HANSARDPost-16 Vocational QualificationsI thank my hon. Friend for raising this important issue, and I will be happy to ask my noble Friend in the other place to meet him. The qualifications that we are defunding are…01 Dec 2025HANSARDEton Star Sixth Form: OldhamThank you, Mr Speaker. I thank my hon. Friend for raising that point. As somebody who was a teacher in Oldham, I know many of the institutions he is referring to, and I…01 Dec 2025HANSARDAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundWe want to ensure a sustainable, long-term future for adoption support in this country. I will set out plans in the near future that will hopefully address a number of the…01 Dec 2025HANSARDAdoption and Special Guardianship Support FundI thank the hon. Member for drawing the attention of the House to a very powerful radio documentary, which I listened to last week. We do not have perfect data on this issue, but…01 Dec 2025HANSARDEton Star Sixth Form: OldhamIn 2017, the Government’s spending watchdog estimated that free schools would create 57,500 surplus places. This Government took the sensible, pragmatic decision to pause a number…01 Dec 2025HANSARDFree School ApplicationsThere is a very simple answer to that question: the last Government left us with crumbling school buildings and a limited capital budget to allocate across the entire school…01 Dec 2025HANSARDFree School ApplicationsThe reason this Government need to create a policy and a budget for this system is that it was left in a complete mess—not that many months ago, the former Education Secretary…01 Dec 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank my hon. Friend for her question. My noble Friend the Minister for Skills is working across both Departments to ensure that we bring the very important work on careers and…01 Dec 2025HANSARDSixth-form Provision: BolsoverIt is an honour to serve under your chairship, Ms Butler. I start by congratulating my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Natalie Fleet) on securing this important debate on…11 Nov 2025HANSARDIndependent Review of Social Work Regulation: EnglandThe Government are taking a step today to ensure that social workers can continue to support and protect the most vulnerable and marginalised members of our society by announcing…05 Nov 2025HANSARDCare LeaversI thank my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster Central (Sally Jameson) for securing this debate at the start of Care Leavers Month. She brings to this place her insights from the…03 Nov 2025HANSARDCare LeaversI completely agree. I first came across these issues as a secondary school teacher, and I see fully the impact that teachers, schools, colleges, and universities can have when…03 Nov 2025