Contributions
1,529 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEducational Disadvantage: Covid-19I am pleased to report that Knowsley Council has seen good sense and is working with the Department to ensure that all schools in Knowsley are opening up, which is a welcome…22 Jun 2020HANSARDEducational Disadvantage: Covid-19One key element of the £1 billion package is ensuring that children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds have extra support through one-on-one tutoring and tutoring in small…22 Jun 2020HANSARDEducational Disadvantage: Covid-19I would very much like to associate myself with the hon. Member’s comments about the sad passing of Fred Jarvis, and I am sure all Government Members would wish to do the same.…22 Jun 2020HANSARDEducational Disadvantage: Covid-19Before I begin, may I take this opportunity to express my deepest condolences to the family of James Furlong and the other victims of the terrorist attack in Reading? We have…22 Jun 2020HANSARDMental Health Support: Covid-19No, we will not.22 Jun 2020HANSARDMental Health Support: Covid-19There is a great deal of cross-party consensus on this issue and how important it is. Often, people approach schools as almost the first port of call—the easiest way to access…22 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meals: Summer HolidaysMy hon. Friend is correct in her assessment: the best place to really benefit children is school. She is also right to highlight the amazing work that is done by so many voluntary…16 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meals: Summer HolidaysI would be more than happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss that issue. What we have been doing on the holiday activities programmes is an important step forward. To pick up on…16 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meals: Summer HolidaysI ask hon. Members to give me the opportunity to make some progress. We have understood that, in holiday time, there is a need to offer a wide range of support. This summer, tens…16 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meals: Summer HolidaysThe hon. Gentleman is probably aware that we have already made it clear to schools that they have flexibility on this and that they would be reimbursed any costs if they needed to…16 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meals: Summer HolidaysI will write to the hon. Member with the details on that.16 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meals: Summer HolidaysI can assure my hon. Friend that measures are in place to ensure that the vouchers are not used for things such as alcohol, cigarettes or gambling. That is an important…16 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meals: Summer HolidaysIn this House we all understand the profound impact that this pandemic has had on people’s lives. Supporting those on lower incomes and vulnerable families is at the heart of…16 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meals: Summer HolidaysI will make some progress. It might be that the retailer was in a sparse area and there were no other retailers that the family were able to use, or the family were in an area…16 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meals: Summer HolidaysThis is where we need to drive things further, to build up layer upon layer of support for children who are not in school to make sure that they are constantly learning, that they…16 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meals: Summer HolidaysI assure my hon. Friend that I will continue to focus on doing the right thing. That will be the key aim of all this. My hon. Friend makes a really important point about the…16 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meals: Summer HolidaysI should make some progress, if my hon. Friend will forgive me, because I am very conscious that Mr Deputy Speaker requested that we keep our speeches short. Next summer, I want…16 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meals: Summer HolidaysMy hon. Friend is absolutely right, as we would always expect from a Staffordshire Member of Parliament. He is right that the best place for free school meals to be delivered is…16 Jun 2020HANSARDFree School Meals: Summer HolidaysI am very familiar with the schemes that have been run in Stoke-on-Trent and have had the opportunity to meet Mrs Shanahan, whom I commend, as well as Stoke-on-Trent City Council…16 Jun 2020HANSARDEducationPeople will be required to follow the same regulations on both home-to-school transport and general public transport. The approach we have taken to bringing schools back has had…15 Jun 2020