Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Monday 2 March 2020 · 9 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 9 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Kate Osborne reported a 6.1% cash increase in school funding for her constituency.
  • Duncan Baker highlighted the apprenticeship levy's success and called for support for small and medium-sized businesses.
  • Angela Rayner raised concerns about university and college staff strikes due to pay cuts and attacks on education.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kate Osborne Lab Jarrow
Education
Context

Funding cuts have led to overcrowded classrooms, staff reductions, and building deterioration in Jarrow.

Question

In my constituency of Jarrow, headteachers tell me they are struggling financially. Cuts to school funding have resulted in overcrowded classrooms and staff reductions. Buildings are crumbling. Does the Minister agree that our teachers and children deserve better?

Answer from Gavin Williamson (The Prime Minister)

What we are seeing in the hon. Lady's constituency is a 6.1% cash increase in what is going to be going to schools and a 4.8% per-pupil increase. That is a positive step forward in making sure that every school benefits from the increases in funding that we announced last year.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Duncan Baker Con North Norfolk
Employment Business & Trade
Context

The apprenticeship levy has been successful but needs to be taken up by more small and medium-sized enterprises.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the apprenticeship levy has been a fantastic success for many young people across the country—not least for constituents of mine in North Norfolk? What can he do to help more small and medium-sized businesses take up the levy, to ensure that more young people can unlock their potential?

Answer from Gavin Williamson (The Prime Minister)

My hon. Friend raises an important point about how we make sure that we get the highest level of training to every business—not just to large businesses but to the small and medium-sized enterprise sector as well. The apprenticeship levy has revolutionised how people think about apprenticeships, and we need to continue to build on that. I look forward to working with my hon. Friend to make sure that SMEs get the benefit.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Angela Rayner Lab Ashton-under-Lyne
Education
Context

Staff in universities and colleges have been on strike due to effective cuts to pay and attacks on education.

Question

Across the country, hard-working staff in universities and colleges have been forced to strike against effective cuts to their pay and attacks on education that hurt students and staff alike. So far, the Education Secretary's response to the crisis is much like the Health Secretary's response to the coronavirus: wash your hands of it and hope it goes away. Will Ministers finally step in, respond to the urgent letter they received from the University and College Union, urge universities to make a fair offer, and ensure that next week's Budget gives teachers in colleges the pay that they deserve?

Answer from Gavin Williamson (The Prime Minister)

I thank the hon. Lady for raising this issue. I want to see a resolution to this matter as swiftly as possible, and I urge both parties to come to a resolution. The people suffering most of all are the students whose studies are being impacted. We need a resolution as swiftly as possible, and I urge both the unions and the universities to get an agreement within the next few weeks.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Education
Context

The rate of funding for 16 to 19-year-olds has been raised, but it is still lower than the recommended amount by the Select Committee on Education.

Question

In answer to written question 8315, my hon. Friend the Member for Chippenham (Michelle Donelan) confirmed that the rate of funding for 16 to 19-year-olds of £4,000 per student in 2013 would be worth £4,435 last year and £4,760 this year. However, the funding is at £4,188. Do Ministers agree that we should increase the rate, as recommended by the Select Committee on Education?

Answer from Gillian Keegan (The Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills)

As my hon. Friend knows, the Government have announced increased funding for 16 to 19-year-olds of £400 million in 2020-21. That is the biggest injection of new money in a single year for a decade. As our manifesto made clear, there will be further investment in T-levels and further education college estates, and we will of course be looking again at further education funding as part of future spending reviews.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Theresa Villiers Con Chippenham
Education Children & Families Local Government
Context

Barnet has not benefited from transitional funding for maintained nursery schools, causing severe financial stress.

Question

Barnet has not benefited from the transitional funding for maintained nursery schools. As a result, our maintained nursery schools are under severe financial stress. May I urge the Secretary of State to ensure that Barnet is included in the long-term funding solution that he has promised for the maintained nursery school sector?

Answer from Gavin Williamson (The Prime Minister)

My right hon. Friend has been campaigning on this issue on behalf of her constituents for a long time. An extra £60 million has been provided for the coming financial year. I know that we are going to be meeting shortly to discuss the particular circumstances that arise in Barnet, and look forward to working with her to find a solution for the maintained nursery schools in her constituency.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Richard Holden Con Consett
Education
Context

Derwentside College in Consett is rated No. 1 in the north-east for student and employer satisfaction.

Question

What are the Government doing to support great technical and vocational colleges such as Derwentside to deliver more for students in the future?

Answer from Gavin Williamson (The Secretary of State for Education)

I thank my hon. Friend for all the work that he did when he was at the Department for Education. I know that this topic is something that he feels very passionately about. The roll-out of T-levels, the expansion of technical and vocational qualifications, and the extra money that we are putting into colleges all make a vital difference. What makes Derwentside College successful is collaboration with local employers—ensuring that it is training people with the right skills really to contribute to the local labour market.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q7 Andrew Rosindell Reform Romford
Education
Context

9 March is Commonwealth day.

Question

Will the Minister undertake to ensure that all schools across the United Kingdom celebrate the Commonwealth's history, that assemblies and special lessons take place, and that schools are encouraged to fly the Commonwealth flag for Commonwealth week?

Answer from Nick Gibb (The Minister of State for School Standards)

I know that my hon. Friend feels very strongly about this issue. The curriculum gives teachers and schools the freedom to use specific examples from history to teach pupils about the history of Britain and the wider world, and this does mean that there are opportunities to teach pupils about the Commonwealth and Britain's overseas territories.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q8 James Daly Lab Bury North
Education Children & Families
Context

Need to strengthen specialist mainstream provision for primary-age children with autistic spectrum conditions and those with social, emotional and mental health needs.

Question

Will the Secretary of State or the relevant Minister agree to meet me and representatives of Bury Metropolitan Borough Council to discuss how we can fund two new bases to provide much-needed support for some of the most vulnerable pupils in my town?

Answer from Vicky Ford (The Minister for Children and Families)

I thank my hon. Friend for his concern for children with autism and social, emotional and mental health needs. We do understand that there can be challenges for these children in achieving their potential in education, although the vast majority of them go to mainstream schools. Specialist bases within the schools can be a help. We have invested £365 million through the special provision capital fund. I am very happy to meet him to discuss the situation in Bury.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q9 Sarah Jones Lab Croydon Central
Education
Context

Parents are anxiously waiting for their children's secondary school placements.

Question

Jones asks if the Secretary of State will send his best wishes to all students in Croydon awaiting their first choice schools and what measures he is taking to address high demand areas.

Answer from The Secretary of State for Education (Gavin Williamson)

Williamson acknowledges parents' concerns and highlights the importance of expanding educational establishments, mentioning the free school programme as a means to improve quality and level up across the country.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email