Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Children: Equality of Opportunity

Wednesday 10 February 2021 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Spreading opportunity is a top priority, including levelling up school standards and investing over 7.1 billion more in schools by 2022-23.
  • Working closely with all parts of the UK to ensure every child receives the best education, using data from the equality data programme to inform future policy.
  • Committed to getting all pupils and students back into schools and colleges when public health allows, with plans for full school reopening from Monday 8 March if conditions permit.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Henry Smith Con
Education Children & Families
Context

The question addresses the government's efforts to ensure that all children in the UK have equal opportunities.

Question

What steps she is taking to ensure that children throughout the UK have equality of opportunity.

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

Spreading opportunity is a top priority. Levelling up school standards and investing over £7.1 billion more in schools by 2022-23 than in 2019-20, providing extra support for disadvantaged children through the £350 million national tutoring programme.

Answered
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Q2 Rob Roberts
Education Women & Equalities
Context

The question highlights the reduction in real-terms education spending in Wales and seeks assurance that Welsh children will not be forgotten.

Question

In Wales, there has been a reduction in real-terms education spending in the last 10 years of 8.4%. As my hon. Friend's brief effectively spans all Government Departments from an equalities standpoint, what can she do to ensure that children in Wales are not forgotten by the UK Government?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

Working closely together to ensure every child receives the best education, wherever they live. Using data from across the UK through our equality data programme to inform future policy and make equality of opportunity a reality.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions not detailed

How: My Hon Friend'S Brief Spans All Government Departments

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Q3 Laura Trott Con Sevenoaks
Education
Context

The question addresses the need to safely reopen schools as quickly as possible to address the unequal impact of school closures on children.

Question

I thank the Minister for her reply and the initiatives contained within it. We know school closures have had a very unequal impact on children. Does she agree that the best way to address that is to safely reopen schools as quickly as possible?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

Committed to getting all pupils and students back into schools and colleges when public health allows, with plans for full school reopening from Monday 8 March if conditions permit.

Answered
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Q4 Henry Smith Con
Education Children & Families
Context

The question focuses on the government's efforts to provide support for children and young people with special educational needs during the pandemic.

Question

What support for children with learning disabilities are the Government pursuing to ensure equality of opportunity?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

Providing £40.8 million this year for the Family Fund, including £13.5 million specifically in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which may include assistive technology to aid remote learning.

Answered
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