Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

“Break Down Barriers to Opportunity” Mission

Monday 10 March 2025 · 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 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Labour Government is determined to ensure background is no barrier to getting on in modern Britain
  • Reforming special educational needs and disabilities system to ensure all children get needed support
  • Starting learning earlier through accessible and affordable early years education

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Warinder Juss Lab Wolverhampton West
Education Children & Families
Context

MP references systemic barriers faced by constituents in Wolverhampton West, including those with special educational needs, from ethnic minority backgrounds, and lower socioeconomic status.

Question

What specific steps are being taken to ensure that the plan for change will help those in my constituency of Wolverhampton West who have historically faced systemic barriers to opportunity, such as those with special educational needs, those from ethnic minority backgrounds, and those from a background of lower socioeconomic status?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)

In Wolverhampton West and across our country, this Labour Government are determined to ensure that background is no barrier to getting on in modern Britain. That is why we will reform the special educational needs and disabilities system to ensure that all our children get the support that they need to thrive. Alongside that, we have delivered the biggest ever uplift in the early years pupil premium. We are rolling out breakfast clubs in our primary schools and will be launching the first phase of primary-based nurseries, ensuring that all our children have access to fantastic early years education.

Answered
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Q2 Josh Dean Lab Hertford and Stortford
Education
Context

MP visited Hertfordshire and Essex high school, Sele school, and Hertford regional college in Bishop’s Stortford to meet young people with exciting ambitions. The MP welcomes Government action on building confidence and opening opportunities.

Question

Last week, I visited Hertfordshire and Essex high school in Bishop’s Stortford, Sele school in Hertford, and Hertford regional college in Ware. At each one, I met young people with exciting ambitions for the future. I welcome the action that the Government are taking to build our young people’s confidence and open up opportunities for them. As we break down the barriers to opportunity, will the Secretary of State set out in further detail how the Government are supporting young people in constituencies like mine to discover a subject that they are passionate about, develop a new skill and find the path that is right for them?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)

My hon. Friend has evidently had a busy week in his constituency, and I know he champions young people and the need to drive up standards in education. Under our plan for change, we are starting learning earlier through accessible and affordable early years education. We are ensuring that all young people will have the skills that they need to seize opportunity, with strong pathways into post-16 learning. We also want to ensure that throughout people’s lives, they have the chance to get on at work. The changes that I set out during National Apprenticeship Week—we are cutting red tape to create more than 10,000 apprenticeships—will make a big difference to adult learners in his constituency and right across our country.

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