Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Equality of Opportunity for UK Children

Wednesday 26 May 2021 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Nicola Richards asked about steps to ensure equality of opportunity for UK children, including investment in education for disadvantaged students.
  • The Government is investing in the education of lower-income families through the weighted national funding formula and pupil premium fund.
  • The Government provided 6 million to OnSide for pandemic support and allocated an additional 30 million as capital investment.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Nicola Richards
Education Children & Families
Context

The question addresses the government's efforts to ensure that children across the UK have equal opportunities, particularly focusing on educational support for students from lower-income families.

Question

What steps she is taking to help ensure that children throughout the UK have equality of opportunity. This includes investment in education for disadvantaged students and initiatives such as the weighted national funding formula and pupil premium fund, along with recent programmes like the national tutoring programme and holiday activities and food programme.

Answer from Vicky Ford

This Government believe in levelling up for people of all ages and are investing more in the education of students from lower-income families through the weighted national funding formula and pupil premium fund. These funds support academic interventions and pastoral care, supplemented by programmes like the national tutoring programme and holiday activities and food programme during challenging times.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific commitments or timelines for additional measures beyond existing initiatives.

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Q2 Nicola Richards
Education Employment
Context

The question is about the campaign for an OnSide youth centre in West Bromwich, which aims to provide state-of-the-art facilities supported by local businesses, similar to successful models in Wolverhampton.

Question

Young people in my constituency deserve the very best opportunities outside of education. That is why I have been campaigning for an OnSide youth centre in West Bromwich, backed by local business support. Will the Government support this campaign to truly level up opportunities for young people in West Bromwich East?

Answer from Vicky Ford

I congratulate my hon. Friend on her passion for young people in West Bromwich. The Government recognise the impact of youth services, which improve life chances and wellbeing. Last year, £6 million was provided to OnSide for pandemic support, with an additional £30 million allocated as capital investment from the Youth Investment Fund in 2021-22. Further details on timetable and allocations will be announced soon.

Answered
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