Topical Questions 2025-07-21
2025-07-21
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
South Gloucestershire schools receive the lowest funding per pupil in England due to a funding formula inherited from the previous government.
Those working in our schools do a brilliant job, but they receive the lowest funding per pupil. Does the Minister have plans to review the formula as part of wider work to ensure every child receives the education they need?
We recognise that schools are working incredibly hard. School funding includes factors such as rural or urban nature and pupil numbers; we have discussed declining rolls. We will continue to keep the school funding formula under review carefully to ensure certainty for schools about their funding planning.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to specific adjustments or timeline for a review, instead noted ongoing monitoring without concrete plans or dates
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Cambridgeshire has one of the worst records for delivering Education, Health and Care Plans within statutory deadlines. Over 99% of SEND tribunals find in favor of parents.
What steps is the Secretary of State taking to improve the process that sees so many applications require a tribunal and to improve delivery of EHCPs in Cambridgeshire?
The hon. Gentleman raised serious concerns about reforms for children with SEND. If the Conservative party wants to work on this, I would be very happy. At the moment, all we seem to get is opposition for opposition's sake.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address specific steps or timeline for improvement and instead criticised the Opposition party
Opposition For Opposition’S Sake
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
Victoria college, a specialist further education college in Birmingham, does outstanding work but lacks dedicated capital grant funding.
Will the Minister be so good as to look into the issue and agree to meet me to discuss it further?
Ensuring that schools and colleges have resources and buildings is a key part of our mission. I will be very happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss these issues further.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Universities in Leicester are facing significant financial difficulties, including making hundreds of redundancies and shutting down faculties.
What financial commitment is the Department making to secure academic jobs, especially in subjects such as chemistry, humanities, and languages?
The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that universities are independent institutions able to make their own decisions about financial management. We have sought to stabilise the higher education sector, which is why we increased tuition fees. Later this year, a post-16 strategy will deal with many of his questions.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific financial commitment or plan and instead noted general efforts without concrete details
Independent Institutions
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Many parents are facing unacceptable waits for EHCPs, with one parent informed that her son's assessment is unallocated and 789 children ahead.
Can she talk more about her ambitions to support people caught in the horrible waiting game for EHCPs?
We are laying foundations with more investment, through both high needs budget and capital. We will improve some of the unacceptable waits parents currently face.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific plans or timelines but noted ongoing efforts without concrete details
Laying Foundations
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
John Hampden school, an infant-only school in Wendover, reports a £109,000 deficit supporting students with significant SEND while awaiting assessments.
Will the Minister look at how the system is working for infant-only schools to make it fairer?
We are looking at reforms to the system. We know there are challenges right across the system inherited from previous governments. We will look at every detail and announce reforms in the White Paper in autumn.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to immediate investigation or specific changes but noted ongoing review without concrete plans
Looking At Reforms
Response accuracy
Q7
Direct Answer
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Context
There are significant problems in the current SEN system, and there is a need for urgent reform.
Will the Secretary of State confirm that the legal right to specialist support will remain a core principle as Labour rebuilds this broken system?
I confirm that children with SEND have a legal right to additional support. Labour will protect this. We are discussing with families, campaigners, and school leaders to ensure we get the system right—a better system with strengthened support and more timely intervention and early identification of need.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy