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Schools and Educational Settings (Essential Infrastructure and Opening During Emergencies)
03 November 2021
Lead MP
Robert Halfon
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
NHSMental Health
Other Contributors: 1
At a Glance
Robert Halfon raised concerns about schools and educational settings (essential infrastructure and opening during emergencies) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Mr. Halfon argues that school closures during the pandemic have severely impacted children's education, mental health, and life chances, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. He proposes a Bill to classify educational settings as essential infrastructure, ensuring they remain open during national emergencies with protections such as seeking advice from the Children’s Commissioner before closure decisions are made, parliamentary debates on closures, and periodic reviews of closures.
Robert Halfon
Con
Benfleet and Brantridge
He emphasises that school closures have widened the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers, led to a significant loss in learning time, and caused a mental health crisis among children. He also highlights that British schools were closed for more than double the time compared to other European countries during the pandemic.
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About House of Commons Debates
House of Commons debates take place in the main chamber of the House of Commons. These debates cover a wide range of topics including government policy, legislation, and current affairs. MPs from all parties can participate, question ministers, and hold the government accountable for its decisions.