Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Monday 16 January 2023 · 22 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 6 Partly answered 15 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister for Education wishes the House and education sector a happy new year and announces a comprehensive plan to reform children's social care.
  • Improvement plan for special educational needs will be published very early in the new year to address concerns raised by parents and families.
  • Government is funding an additional 600 educational psychologists to ensure early diagnosis and better access to neurodevelopmental services.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Education
Context

The question arises as the Minister begins her first Education questions of 2023.

Question

Given this is your first Education questions of 2023, I would like to know if you will make a statement on your departmental responsibilities and outline what is to come from your Department in terms of funding and reforms.

Answer from Gillian Keegan

I would like to wish you, the House and everyone working in our education sector a happy new year. This month, along with the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, we will announce our comprehensive plan to reform children's social care. Soon after, we will bring forward our transformational improvement plans to support children with special educational needs. In February, Members are invited to join me in celebrating National Apprenticeship Week. Schools will receive their funding by April, which includes the £2 billion uplift announced at the autumn statement, bringing overall funding up by 15% in two years.

Answered
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Q2 Chi Onwurah Lab Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Children & Families
Context

The MP highlights a case of parents contacting her due to issues with special educational needs provision in schools, including lack of mention of autism or neurodiversity.

Question

Parents contact me regarding access to and adequacy of special educational needs provision. A family with two neurodiverse children is suffering from bullying and self-harm because their school's SEN policy does not even mention autism or neurodiversity. The Minister said this morning that the Government's response to the review will be published imminently. Can she confirm it will be published within the month and that clear standards will be enforced?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

I take special educational needs very seriously, as does the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing. The hon. Member will be delighted with the improvement plan we are publishing very early in the new year, and it will be published soon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not confirm a specific publication date or enforcement of standards.

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Q3 Duncan Baker
Education Children & Families
Context

A constituent, Hayley Turner, is an inspirational campaigner for special educational needs and uses her experience to help others.

Question

Hayley Turner uses her experience with special educational needs to help many in the community. What are the Government doing to support neurodevelopmental services and recruit more educational psychologists?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

I commend Hayley for her work. We are funding an additional 600 educational psychologists—200 in 2023 and 400 in 2024—to ensure access to early diagnosis.

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Q4 Bridget Phillipson Lab Houghton and Sunderland South
Education
Context

The Department for Education raised the risk rating of school buildings collapsing to “critical/very likely”. A promise to publish the data on these dangerous buildings was made but not fulfilled.

Question

Parents, staff and pupils are still in the dark despite a previous commitment by the schools Minister to publish data on dangerous school buildings by December 2021. When will this data be published?

Answer from Nick Gibb

Our spending on capital funding since 2015 has been £13 billion. We take school safety seriously and have asked schools to complete a questionnaire regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. Summary findings from the condition data collection have already been published, with more detailed data planned for release shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide a specific date for publishing the safety data.

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Q5 Bridget Phillipson Lab Houghton and Sunderland South
Education Children & Families
Context

Conservative Members have described the Government's childcare policy as “crazy” and “unnecessarily expensive”. Labour is proposing changes.

Question

The schools Minister said we would see this data last year. Conservative colleagues describe their own policies as 'crazy' and 'unnecessarily expensive'. If even the Secretary of State's own colleagues can see the case for change, why can't she?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

When Labour was in power for 13 years it did nothing on this issue. The Conservative Government expanded offers for two, three and four-year-olds. However, we are committed to increasing flexibility and affordability of childcare for parents.

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Q6 Chloe Smith Con
Children & Families
Context

The Green Paper on special educational needs and disabilities aims to provide early support to families and young people.

Question

I welcome the Secretary of State's brief update on the SEND Green Paper. The 9,000 young people in Norfolk with education, health and care plans will see what progress they can expect in 2023?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

Not only have we increased overall SEND funding by about 50% since 2019 but the number of specialist school places is also increasing. In reforms, we will set out national standards to improve their educational experience.

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Q7 Carol Monaghan SNP
Education
Context

The Government is planning anti-strike legislation, and one of its colleagues has described striking teachers as “Bolsheviks” and “commies”.

Question

As a former teacher, I support the right of our teachers to strike. Does the Secretary of State agree that constructive dialogue with our dedicated teachers is vital rather than demonising them?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

I always believe in constructive dialogue. The very first meeting I took as we welcomed in the new year was with all four main teaching unions, and I will be meeting them again later this week.

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Q8 Peter Gibson
Education
Context

Carmel College in Peter Gibson's constituency lost its accreditation to train teachers, affecting teacher recruitment and the 'levelling up' initiative.

Question

If we are levelling up, and trying to recruit and train more teachers in the north-east, why has Carmel College been stripped of its accreditation to train teachers, destroying 20 years of hard work and leaving the north-east worse off?

Answer from Nick Gibb

The initial teacher training reforms are a key part of the Government's commitment to levelling up. Following an expert review, a robust accreditation process was undertaken to approve 179 providers, including those in the north-east. I would be happy to meet with Peter Gibson to discuss his concerns.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific reasons why Carmel College lost its accreditation

How: Referral To Meeting

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Q9 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
Children & Families
Context

Barnsley has one of the highest numbers of EHC plans in the country, requiring increased provision for children with special educational needs.

Question

What resources will the Government commit to ensure that special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision is improved where it is needed most?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

High needs funding for Barnsley has increased by 12% year on year for 7 million for high needs provision capital from 2023-25.

Answered
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Q10 Tim Loughton Con
Social Care
Context

The independent sector cares for over 80% of children in care, but is not represented on the Government's national implementation board.

Question

Why has the independent sector been refused a representative on the national implementation board tasked with progressing findings from the children's social care review?

Answer from Gillian Keegan

The Under-Secretary of State has been working hard in partnership with the national implementation board and the wider sector to design a plan for reform. The group is small but I will ask my hon. Friend to take a look at ensuring it is representative.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm or deny lack of representation from independent sector

How: Referral To Colleague

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Q11 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
Education
Context

The number of PE teachers has fallen by nearly 3,000 in the past decade, with a decrease in hours taught.

Question

With nearly a third of young people inactive, what will the Government do to stop physical activity flatlining in schools?

Answer from Nick Gibb

We have met the target for PE teacher recruitment for most of the past 10 years. We have the school sport and activity action plan in place, with a new plan being worked on.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address declining numbers specifically

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Q12 Siobhan Baillie
Children & Families
Context

Stroud families with children with SEND receive only a few hours of schooling each week, causing disruption.

Question

What is being done to ensure that local authorities and parents are key in implementing the new reforms for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

I am exercised about this issue; I speak to parents of children with SEND all the time. We are setting out more details in the implementation strategy shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify what involvement local authorities and parents will have

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Q13 Sharon Hodgson Lab Washington and Gateshead South
Education
Context

The current national school breakfast programme reaches only one quarter of children in areas with high levels of deprivation.

Question

When will the Government join Labour's commitment to universal free breakfasts for all children?

Answer from Nick Gibb

We are spending £30 million between 2021 and 2024 on the school breakfast programme, which offers free breakfast to children in disadvantaged areas.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to a universal offer like Labour

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Q14 Matthew Hancock Con
Education
Context

Four out of five dyslexic children leave school not identified, and teachers are not trained to support them specifically.

Question

Will the Minister ensure that early intervention is put in place for the identification of dyslexia and other neurodivergent conditions?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

Absolutely, early identification is key. We have been looking carefully at this in the implementation plan that I will be setting out shortly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific plans for early intervention

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Q15 Emma Lewell Lab South Shields
Children & Families
Context

Ian Dickson, a respected advocate for children in care, passed away on New Year's Eve.

Question

Will the Minister implement the recommendations of the pioneering care experienced conference led by Ian Dickson?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

I pay tribute to Ian's work. I would love to look at that in more detail and speak to Emma Lewell further about what we can take forward.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to implementing recommendations

How: Referral For Discussion

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Q16 Paul Howell
Education
Context

The MP visited Chilton Academy, discussing its Go Well support programme. Schools face challenges with the visibility and extended timelines of funding.

Question

We all visit many schools, and the latest for me was Chilton Academy where I talked about its Go Well support. We all talk about funding, but the biggest thing about funding is not just the amount, but its visibility and extended timelines. Can the Minister please explain what can be done to make sure that the schools know earlier and for longer what money they will have available?

Answer from Nick Gibb

I understand and agree with my hon. Friend about the importance of certainty over funding. The dedicated school grant allocations for 2023-24 were published in December 2022, including indicative allocations for the mainstream schools' additional grant, which will distribute the additional £2 billion of funding that was announced in the autumn statement.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific measures to improve visibility and timelines of funding

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Q17 Paul Blomfield Lab
Education Economy Taxation
Context

Additional £15 million hardship funding for students amounts to less than £10 per head, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. The all-party parliamentary group for students is launching an inquiry into student hardship due to cost of living crisis.

Question

As we have heard, the additional £15 million hardship funding for students announced last week amounts to less than £10 per head—significantly less, according to my sums—while the Institute for Fiscal Studies says that students are £1,500 a year worse off. Today, the all-party parliamentary group for students is launching an inquiry into the impact of the cost of living crisis on students, inviting submissions from students, their unions and institutions across the UK. Will the Minister agree to meet us to consider the evidence we receive?

Answer from Robert Halfon

Of course I would be delighted to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss the £276 million, along with other measures the Government have introduced, including the energy rebate and other support that we try to give students who are facing cost of living challenges.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to meeting regarding specific hardship funding inquiry details

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Q18 Priti Patel Con Witham
Education
Context

The Government has a new emphasis on numeracy, and the MP's initiative “Get Witham Reading” raises standards in education.

Question

In light of the Government's new emphasis on numeracy in schools, may I make a plea that the Government do not forget about literacy in schools and in particular how we can continue to raise standards? My initiative “Get Witham Reading” has been running for 10 years now, and I urge colleagues on the Front Bench to come to Witham to see the scheme in action this year and see how it has raised standards in education.

Answer from Nick Gibb

I could not agree more with my right hon. Friend, and I share her passion, so I would be delighted to come and see the scheme in place in her constituency. We take reading very seriously; we have risen from joint 10th to joint eighth in the progress in international reading literacy study league tables, and in those surveys it is the least able children who are improving fastest.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to visiting Witham specifically

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Q19 Mike Amesbury Lab
Education
Context

James Kerfoot, headteacher of Rudheath Senior Academy, introduced free school meals for all pupils to address cost-of-living challenges.

Question

James Kerfoot, the headteacher of Rudheath Senior Academy, which serves my constituents, has introduced free school meals for all pupils. Why does the Minister not do the same?

Answer from Nick Gibb

As I said, we are spending £1.6 billion each year on free school meals, which is targeted at the most disadvantaged children, but schools are able to use their pupil premium funding, which is worth £2.5 billion a year to schools, if they wish to extend the coverage of free school meals to more pupils. As I said earlier, we extended free school meals to all pupils in infant schools in an early decision of the Conservative-led coalition Government.[Official Report, 23 January 2023, Vol. 726, c. 8MC.]

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to mandating free school meals for all schools

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Q20 Jerome Mayhew Con Broadland and Fakenham
Children & Families
Context

Children's services in Norfolk were judged as requiring improvement since 2008, but have now been assessed as good.

Question

Children's services in Norfolk have been judged as requiring improvement all the way back to 2008, so will my hon. Friend join me in congratulating executive director Sara Tough and all her staff, as well as Councillor John Fisher, on last week's assessment that Norfolk's children's services are now good and well on their way to outstanding?

Answer from Claire Coutinho

I do indeed congratulate that team; that is quite a hard thing to do and it is brilliant that they have been able to get that recommendation.

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Q21 Margaret Ferrier SNP
Education
Context

The Government takes the safety of schools seriously, but does not mandate sprinkler installation based on risk factors.

Question

The Government take the safety of schools very seriously, as the Minister said in response to an earlier question, so will Ministers reconsider mandating the fitting of sprinklers in new-build schools to minimise the risk posed by fires to buildings, equipment, pupils' school work and people?

Answer from Nick Gibb

The hon. Lady will know that there is revised guidance; the new buildings bulletin has been issued after wide consultation and makes some changes to requirements for when sprinklers are to be installed in schools, particularly when the risk factor of the students in the school is high—for example, for children with special educational needs or residential schools.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to reconsidering mandate for all new-build schools

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Q22 Nickie Aiken
Community Security
Context

Jewish students in universities face daily antisemitism, and a recent NUS report highlights challenges in handling this issue.

Question

When I met Jewish students studying in universities in my constituency, I was appalled to learn of the antisemitism they have to suffer, often on a daily basis. That was made worse by the recent report into the National Union of Students' handling and challenging of antisemitism. In the month when we mark Holocaust Memorial Day, I would be interested to hear the Minister's assessment of that NUS report.

Answer from Robert Halfon

I have been shocked and sobered by reading that report that the NUS was in essence a hostile place for Jewish students. That is not acceptable. The National Union of Students, the main body for students, should be a place that is not just safe but welcoming for Jewish students. The proof of the pudding with this report will be in the eating; I expect to see the changes and the recommendations implemented in full, and once that has occurred I will re-engage with the National Union of Students.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific assessment or plan for addressing issues raised by report

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