Contributions
793 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEducation: Industrial StrategyMy Lords, we have protected the base rate of 16 to 19 funding to 2020 and we are putting in money in slightly different ways. For example, we are providing some £500 million this…24 Jun 2019HANSARDEducation: Industrial StrategyThe noble Baroness will know that we have put a floor under funding for young people from 16 to 19. I cannot speak for what happened in 2010 or earlier, but if she would like me…24 Jun 2019HANSARDChildren’s Homes etc. Inspection Fees, Childcare Fees, Adoption and Children Act Register (Amendment) Regulations 2019My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Russell, for tabling this Motion. I understand that he has a strong interest in this area, so I appreciate his desire to have this…18 Jun 2019HANSARDChildren’s Homes etc. Inspection Fees, Childcare Fees, Adoption and Children Act Register (Amendment) Regulations 2019I assure the noble Lord that I will specifically address the issue of harder-to-place children in a moment. Since we announced the closure back in August 2018, the Government have…18 Jun 2019HANSARDSure StartFirst, on funding generally, it is important to remind noble Lords of the opening comments in the IFS report executive summary, which state that we are now, “one of the highest…05 Jun 2019HANSARDSure StartThe noble Baroness is quite right that the provision of services in rural areas is much more difficult. Again, we have taken the education route, which is why we have looked at…05 Jun 2019HANSARDSure StartMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I will now repeat an Answer to an Urgent Question given earlier today in another place. The Statement is as follows: “Thank you, Mr Speaker.…05 Jun 2019HANSARDSure StartMy Lords, in answer to the noble Lord’s question about the exact number of children’s centres, as at the current state, there are 2,353 main children’s centres and a further 700…05 Jun 2019HANSARDSchools: Free School MealsIt is certainly incumbent on parents to set an example of good nutrition and diet in the home. I know of a number of schools that operate cookery classes and cookery clubs for…22 May 2019HANSARDSchools: Free School MealsMy Lords, if the noble Baroness would like to write to me with examples of this, I will certainly look into it.22 May 2019HANSARDSchools: Free School MealsThe noble Lord is quite correct. Family Action was deployed in March last year on a two-year contract. It has since provided support to improve breakfast clubs in some 1,770…22 May 2019HANSARDSchools: Free School MealsMy Lords, a great deal of work has gone on over the past few years to remove any chance of stigma, principally through the cashless facilities that schools now operate in their…22 May 2019HANSARDSchools: Free School MealsMy Lords, compliance with school food standards is mandatory for all maintained schools and has been part of funding agreements for academies and free schools since 2014. We have…22 May 2019HANSARDSchools: Free School MealsMy Lords, I will certainly take the noble Baroness’s suggestion back to the department for consideration. It is, however, a statutory requirement that all state schools provide…22 May 2019HANSARDSchools: Free School MealsMy Lords, the reality is that we have not done that and are providing some 1.5 million infant meals at a cost of some £600 million a year.22 May 2019HANSARDSchools: Free School MealsMy Lords, this Government want pupils to be healthy and well nourished. It is important that all pupils have access to healthy and nutritious meals at school, including those…22 May 2019HANSARDSchools: Free School MealsI agree with the noble Baroness that nutritious food is essential for children. That is why that is set out clearly in the food standards. We are working to understand more about…22 May 2019HANSARDSchools: Free School MealsMy Lords, we are running a number of pilot schemes on food in school holidays, and we have quadrupled the amount of money this year to strengthen programmes to encourage…22 May 2019HANSARDEducation: Climate Change ScienceThe noble Lord makes a very interesting suggestion, which I shall pass on to the Foreign Office.16 May 2019HANSARDEquality of Opportunity for Young PeopleMy Lords, I congratulate the noble Baroness on securing this important debate. I am grateful for the opportunity to outline the Government’s work on delivering opportunities for…16 May 2019