Topical Questions 2023-10-23
2023-10-23
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Prime Minister condemned the terrorist attacks on Israel, addressing concerns over antisemitism.
I join my right hon. Friend in condemning the barbaric terrorist attacks on Israel and the rise in antisemitism faced by students in Jewish education communities. However, what further steps is she taking to protect children from the impact of future strike action?
The Government are introducing minimum service levels in schools and colleges to protect children and parents from the damaging impact of future strike action. We have asked unions to work with us on a voluntary agreement.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not specify any concrete steps beyond general statements about balancing teachers' rights and protecting children's education.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Rates of persistent absence are now double what they were five years ago, affecting many children's education.
I recognise the impact of the conflict on our education system. Persistent absence is a symptom of a wider breakdown of trust in schools. The Prime Minister's first step was to say that he had maxed out on supporting our children, and now the Secretary of State is blaming parents for keeping children at home with minor ailments. When are Ministers going to get a grip on this serious problem?
We take this issue seriously and have established the Attendance Action Alliance, which includes various stakeholders working together. We also supported Chris Whitty's letter to help parents clarify whether they should send their children to school with minor ailments.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific ask about getting a grip on persistent absence.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The Labour Party aims to reset the relationship between families and schools, deliver new mental health hubs, and have counsellors in every secondary school and breakfast clubs for primary school children.
Persistent absence is a symptom of a breakdown of trust right across our school system. The Conservatives reopened pubs before they reopened schools, left schools to crumble, and allowed disruptive strike action to drag on for months. Labour's first priority will be to rebuild that relationship between schools, families, and Government. Does the Secretary of State not believe that parents and children deserve a lot better than the sorry mess she is presiding over today?
The hon. Lady talks about responsibility and accountability but fails to acknowledge Labour's failure to act on warnings regarding RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) in 1997, 1999, 2002, and 2007.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address the specific ask about rebuilding trust between schools, families, and government.
Changing Subject
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Cases of antisemitism have risen by 582%, and Jewish students on campuses feel very unsafe.
In the wake of the massacre that occurred in Israel, cases of antisemitism in this country have risen dramatically. Will my right hon. Friend join me in condemning antisemitism and state what she will do to ensure that Jewish students feel safe on campus?
Sadly, there are a number of Hamas's useful idiots—a fifth column—across some of our universities. The Secretary of State has said that she will not stand for it; the Home Secretary will not stand for it. We have written to universities.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific actions beyond general condemnation.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The pay offer for teachers in England did not match the award for teachers in Scotland, leading to current strike action. Minimum service levels are seen as an overtly hostile act.
If the pay offer for teachers had matched the award for teachers in Scotland, there would have been no strike action. Will the Secretary of State explain how she expects to tackle the staffing crisis in teaching when her approach goes out of her way to alienate the profession?
We have a record number of teachers in schools: 468,000. That is 27,000 more teachers today than in 2010. We accepted the recommendations of the School Teachers' Review Body for a 6.5% pay rise—the highest in 30 years—for teachers and headteachers.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address how to tackle the staffing crisis without alienating teachers.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q6
Direct Answer
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Staffordshire County Council faces challenges with special educational needs and disabilities support, leading to delays in issuing education, health and care plans. There is a shortage of educational psychologists.
Like all county councils, Staffordshire County Council is struggling with the rising demand for special educational needs and disabilities support in schools, and with lengthy delays in issuing education, health and care plans. That is leaving children and families with a lack of vital support and appropriate education for their needs. What steps are the Government taking to tackle the shortage of educational psychologists and to ensure that children receive the education that they need to achieve good outcomes?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the importance of educational psychologists. We are investing £21 million to train 400 more educational psychologists, building on the £10 million already announced to train more than 200 from this term.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q7
Direct Answer
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Context
The Department for Education has stated that responsible bodies must take action regarding lead piping. Questions arise about the proactive search requirement.
The Department for Education has stated that
“Where responsible bodies discover lead piping, they must take action”.
Will the Secretary of State confirm whether those bodies are asked to look proactively for lead piping? What action are they asked to take if any is found?
“Where responsible bodies discover lead piping, they must take action”.
Will the Secretary of State confirm whether those bodies are asked to look proactively for lead piping? What action are they asked to take if any is found?
Schools must have suitable drinking water facilities. Where responsible bodies, such as local authorities or academy trusts, discover lead piping in a school, they must take action, working as appropriate with water companies. Capital funding allocated to schools each year can be used to fund the removal of pipe work if required, but when a school has a particular concern, it can contact the Department for assistance.
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Q8
Direct Answer
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Context
The advanced British standard assessment is being explored, and concerns about its structure and impact on existing qualifications like GCSEs are raised.
I welcome the idea of the advanced British standard assessment, although the name is unwieldy—acronyms are used elsewhere—and difficult to export. That aside, has there been any more exploration of what the curriculum would look like and of how many years young people would need to study for the qualification? Does it mean the end of GCSEs?
No, it does not. The advanced British standard will offer a broad, balanced and knowledge-rich curriculum that builds on reforms of the last decade. Its curriculum will form a core part of the formal consultation in the coming months. GCSEs remain important, rigorous and highly regarded qualifications, providing preparation for the new advanced British standard.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
There are concerns about the delivery timeline of education, health and care plans for children with special educational needs.
When does the Minister anticipate that it might be possible to deliver at least half of all education, health and care plans for SEND children within the Government's own legal timeframe?
We are undertaking a significant programme of reform to ensure not only that EHCPs are delivered in the right timeframe but that children get the support they need at an earlier stage without needing one.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific timeline not provided
Response accuracy
Q10
Direct Answer
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Context
The Metropolitan Borough of Bury requires support to enhance educational provision for children with special educational needs.
Will my right hon. Friend outline the support provided to the Metropolitan Borough of Bury by the Government to enhance educational provision for children with special educational needs?
The Metropolitan Borough of Bury is getting significant support. In addition to the funding increases, we have appointed a SEND adviser to work with the borough to improve services. The Council for Disabled Children is supporting it to strengthen EHCPs. Two special free schools have been approved, and Bury is also one of 34 areas in our safety valve programme.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q11
Direct Answer
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Context
Recent reports indicate a significant rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia, affecting Jewish and Muslim students.
In recent weeks, we have seen reported instances of antisemitism rise by 1,300% and Islamophobia by 150%, with Jewish kids afraid to go to school and Muslim kids asked, “Whose side are you on?” What are the Government doing to ensure that children are taught sensitively but robustly about the wrongs of such intolerance, and does Ofsted have a role in ensuring consistency of approach in all schools?
The hon. Member is absolutely right: antisemitism has no place in education. It was an honour to join the Secretary of State's visit to Menorah High School last week, together with the whole ministerial team, standing in solidarity with that school and with the Jewish community. We have written to all schools and colleges urging a swift response to hate-related incidents and active reassurance for their students and staff, and we continue to work with faith leaders, schools and Ofsted to monitor the response to those concerns.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q12
Direct Answer
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Context
Hamas's recent attack led to a surge in antisemitic incidents on campus, affecting Jewish students.
Further to the question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman), since Hamas's attack, Jewish students on campus report that they have had a year's worth of antisemitic incidents in only two weeks. Some have been targeted, the attack itself was celebrated, and some have received death threats. As such, does the Minister agree that universities should work with the Union of Jewish Students to publicise the welfare hotline that it has established; avail themselves of the training that the UJS offers; and work to implement the recommendations of the recent report of the taskforce on antisemitism in higher education?
I have made it clear that we will not tolerate antisemitism on campus. We are working closely with the Union of Jewish Students and the higher education Jewish chaplaincy service, as well as the Community Security Trust. I welcome the taskforce's report and its recommendations, and we absolutely urge universities to prioritise the implementation of that report.
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Q13
Partial Answer
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Local nursery staff are concerned about their ability to plan provision due to uncertainty over hourly rates.
Having recently visited a local nursery in Birdwell, I know that its staff are very concerned about their ability to plan for provision for children in the year 2024-25. When will the Government give them certainty on hourly rates?
We will be setting out the funding rates very shortly.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific timing not provided
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
A student at the University of Manchester made a statement expressing pride and joy after Hamas's attack in Israel, raising concerns about possible extremism on university campuses.
One day after Hamas's brutal massacre in Israel, a student at the University of Manchester spoke of being full of “pride and joy” at a once-in-a-lifetime experience—not only a disgusting comment but one that points to possible extremism in our university campuses. Far too many think that there are no consequences for spreading such hate in our educational settings, so will my right hon. Friend set out what the real consequences are?
I mentioned previously that unfortunately, we have some of Hamas's useful idiots across our campuses, and we will not stand for it—they represent a fifth column supporting terrorism. We are doing everything possible. The Prevent duty requires higher education providers to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism, and we will work with the universities to ensure that they take any extremist activity very seriously.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific consequences for spreading hate were not detailed
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
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Context
James, a 14-year-old from the constituency, struggles with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism. He has been passed between multiple schools without proper support.
James, a 14-year-old lad from my constituency, has been passed from pillar to post by schools that simply cannot deal with his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism. Will the Minister meet me on that specific case?
I would be delighted to meet with the hon. Gentleman.
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Assessment & feedback
No commitment beyond willingness to meet
Response accuracy