Topical Questions 2026-03-02

2026-03-02

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Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
James MacCleary Lib Dem
Lewes
Context
Plumpton college in the questioner's constituency is celebrating 100 years of land-based education, growing from 17 students in 1926 to a nationally recognized center for agriculture, viticulture and environmental studies with over 1,200 full and part-time students today. The questioner seeks assurance that the Government will ensure the college has the funding, certainty and support it needs for the next century.
Plumpton college in my constituency is celebrating 100 years of land-based education. It has gone from 17 students in 1926 to a nationally recognised centre for agriculture, viticulture and environmental studies, with more than 1,200 full and part-time students today. Farming and land-based producers are vital to our food security, rural economy and environmental stewardship. Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating Plumpton college on its centenary and set out how the Government will ensure that specialist agricultural colleges have the funding, certainty and support that they need for the next century?
I join the hon. Gentleman in celebrating the amazing success of his local college. We want to ensure that we provide the kinds of support that he talks about, and we are investing more in further education and post-16 education. If he would like to raise further areas, I will ensure that they are picked up by a Minister.
Assessment & feedback
The answer avoids specific details on funding, certainty and support.
Want To Ensure That We Provide The Kinds Of Support That He Talks About, And We Are Investing More In Further Education And Post-16 Education.
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Mary Foy Lab
City of Durham
Context
The questioner welcomes the reform to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision but expresses concerns due to schools making redundancies because of funding. The recently announced inclusion grant is considered too small by teaching unions, equivalent to one part-time teaching assistant for primary schools and two for secondary schools.
I truly welcome the reform to SEND provision, but, with some schools already making redundancies because of funding, I echo the concerns of teaching unions that the recently announced inclusion grant is too small; it equates to one part-time teaching assistant for the average primary school and two TAs for the average secondary school. Can the Minister reassure me and educators in Durham that adequate funding will be available to make our schools more inclusive for children with SEND while allowing schools to protect the support that children with SEND in mainstream classrooms already have?
We are committed to investing in schools. Our plans include an extra £1.6 billion going directly into schools and £1.8 billion going into the wider “experts at hand” service, on top of increasing funding to the schools core budget. In this Parliament, we will continue to grow our investment in both SEND and schools to ensure that every child gets the best start in life.
Assessment & feedback
The answer avoids specific reassurances about adequate funding.
Our Plans Include An Extra £1.6 Billion Going Directly Into Schools And £1.8 Billion Going Into The Wider “Experts At Hand” Service, On Top Of Increasing Funding To The Schools Core Budget.
Response accuracy
Q3 Partial Answer
Laura Trott Con
Sevenoaks
Context
The questioner asks about the Secretary of State's views on the circumstances under which it is appropriate for a five-year-old to socially transition, referencing guidance that suggests it is never appropriate.
Under what circumstances does the Secretary of State think it is appropriate for a five-year-old to socially transition?
I genuinely expected better from the right hon. Lady. I encourage her to go away and look at the guidance we have published, which will be statutory in nature and makes the involvement of parents very clear. My view—which is also the view of Dr Hilary Cass—is that we should let children be children.
Assessment & feedback
The answer changes the subject to guidance and the view of Dr Hilary Cass, without addressing the specific question asked.
I Encourage Her To Go Away And Look At The Guidance We Have Published, Which Will Be Statutory In Nature And Makes The Involvement Of Parents Very Clear.
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Laura Trott Con
Sevenoaks
Context
The questioner expresses concern about the celebration of an ayatollah at University College London and questions the Secretary of State's actions to address hate speech on campus, contrasting this with the treatment of gender-critical feminists.
The answer should have been “never”. That is what our guidance said, and that is what the Government's guidance should have said. In our universities, gender-critical feminists have been kicked off campus, while today the ayatollah is being celebrated as a martyr at University College London. This is completely unacceptable, so what is the Secretary of State doing to crack down on this two-tier system, or is she going to sit on her hands while an enemy of Britain is celebrated?
No, absolutely not. While I am clear that universities should be places of open discussion and dialogue, where views should be challenged and questioned—that is an important principle that this party has long supported—there can of course be no place for hate speech or intimidation on campus. Anyone involved in that kind of activity should face consequences, but that is entirely different from the wider question that the right hon. Lady started with, which is about the wellbeing of children. We all have a responsibility to approach this issue sensibly and do what is right by children. She obviously has not read the guidance properly.
Assessment & feedback
The answer avoids addressing the specific question about hate speech and enemies of Britain being celebrated.
That Is Entirely Different From The Wider Question That The Right Hon. Lady Started With, Which Is About The Wellbeing Of Children.
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Dave Robertson Lab
Lichfield
Context
The questioner refers to nine days of strike action by staff in the Arthur Terry learning partnership due to a multimillion-pound budget shortfall. The trust was consulting on staff cuts, but new leadership is now in place.
The ministerial team will be aware that schools in the Arthur Terry learning partnership across my constituency and six others in the west midlands saw nine days of strike action in January and February. The trust was consulting on staff cuts because it had a multimillion-pound hole in its budget, a hole that senior leaders put down to a mistake in the finances. I am glad that there is now new leadership in place at the Arthur Terry learning partnership, but what steps can our Government take to ensure that trusts are held to account much more strongly than they currently are?
I really appreciate the way in which my hon. Friend has been working closely with me on this issue. The Department sets clear financial management expectations for trusts through funding agreements in the academy trust handbook, and we are bringing in inspections of multi-academy trusts to ensure good governance and financial management.
Assessment & feedback
The answer avoids addressing specific steps to hold trusts accountable.
The Department Sets Clear Financial Management Expectations For Trusts Through Funding Agreements In The Academy Trust Handbook, And We Are Bringing In Inspections Of Multi-Academy Trusts To Ensure Good Governance And Financial Management.
Response accuracy
Q6 Partial Answer
Munira Wilson Lib Dem
Twickenham
Context
The questioner questions the Secretary of State's proposal to rebalance the pupil premium budget, expressing concern about the impact on children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Secretary of State has quite rightly said that someone's background should be no barrier to success, so if she does not propose to increase the pupil premium budget, will she confirm how many children will lose out when she seeks to rebalance it, and will she guarantee that the money will always follow the individual child, not where they live?
As the hon. Lady knows, we intend to consult on getting the best outcomes for children through the use of the money we are targeting at disadvantage. Free school meals are a rather blunt way of doing that, and we are keen to explore ways of ensuring that all children from less well-off backgrounds, including pupil premium children, get the very best from their education. However, it is a consultation, and I would be more than willing to discuss it further with the hon. Lady.
Assessment & feedback
The answer avoids confirming how many children will lose out when the pupil premium budget is rebalanced and does not provide a guarantee that the money will follow the individual child.
It Is A Consultation, And I Would Be More Than Willing To Discuss It Further With The Hon. Lady.
Response accuracy
Q7 Partial Answer
Claire Hazelgrove Lab
Filton and Bradley Stoke
Context
A constituent with stage 4 cancer had her daughter placed far from home due to the school admissions code not considering medical conditions.
I thank the Schools Minister for meeting my constituent Christine Lote to discuss her campaign to see the school admissions code broadened, following her own stage 4 cancer not being factored into her daughter's primary school allocation, which has seen her placed further from home. Christine cannot walk her daughter to school anymore, and her daughter cannot access the specialist bereavement support at the more local school. Will the Minister please confirm whether this change can be considered as part of the admissions code consultation, and whether information about this issue can be shared with other local authorities to inform their policies and help prevent this for other families?
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend's constituent, whose courage, commitment and care for others in the most impossible circumstances is truly inspiring. In the schools White Paper, we committed to consulting on changes to the school admissions code to promote fairness for all families. As part of that work, we will be looking at how to ensure that cases such as this are better supported through admissions policy in the future and, in the meantime, that schools and admissions authorities make use of the social and medical criteria.
Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm whether the change can be made or if information will be shared with other local authorities
Looking At This Will Be Looking At How
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
Ashley Fox Con
Bridgwater
Context
The Government has not yet commenced section 8 of the Act to ensure protection of academic freedom.
In 2023, Parliament legislated to protect freedom of speech on our university campuses, but we are still waiting for the Government to bring section 8 of the Act into force, so will the Minister set out a clear timetable for commencing the complaints scheme to ensure that our academics are protected from censorship and silencing?
Yes, we intend to do that shortly. To be clear, universities should be places of open discussion, where academics can operate freely and everyone is exposed to views that they may sometimes find challenging and with which they may disagree. We have commenced many of the provisions within the Act that are upholding and safeguarding free speech and academic freedom in our universities.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a clear timetable for commencing the complaints scheme.
We Intend To Do That Shortly
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Oliver Ryan Ind
Burnley
Context
Burnley college bid to become one of the UK's four new advanced manufacturing technical excellence colleges.
The brilliant Burnley college has bid to become one of the UK's four new advanced manufacturing technical excellence colleges. Its bid is the only one from Lancashire. It is backed by the North West Aerospace Alliance and the Northern Automotive Alliance, our big local world-class manufacturing employers, neighbouring colleges across the north-west and—of course—me. Will the Secretary of State do her best to look fondly on the bid, and will she back Burnley's technical excellence?
I thank my hon. Friend for his advocacy for a technical excellence college in his constituency. We have launched the applications for 19 of those. They get to the core of what this Labour Government are about, which is creating opportunities in every corner of this country.
Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm whether the bid will be supported.
We Have Launched The Applications For 19 Of Those
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Desmond Swayne Con
New Forest West
Context
The Secretary of State's cap on the number of branded items of school uniform.
Instead of the Secretary of State's cap on the number of branded items of school uniform, will she substitute that for a monetary cap, which would afford much greater flexibility to schools?
We were elected on a manifesto to deliver a limit on the number of branded items to cut the cost of school uniform. Unfortunately, some of what the right hon. Gentleman proposes could have unintended consequences that would not tackle the problem we are facing, which is that children should be smart when they go to school, but it should not cost their parents the earth.
Assessment & feedback
Did not agree to substitute the cap on branded items for a monetary cap.
Could Have Unintended Consequences
Response accuracy
Q11 Partial Answer
Darren Paffey Lab
Southampton Itchen
Context
Literacy levels among Southampton's children remain a challenge.
Literacy levels among Southampton's children remain a challenge, and I commend the work of so many teachers in attempting to close that gap. Can the Minister say how schools in my constituency can best engage with the National Year of Reading? Will she join me in welcoming plans for a Southampton literary festival to inspire a lifelong love of reading in every child in Southampton?
I welcome and celebrate the launch of the Southampton literary festival by Bitterne Park school, and I thank my hon. Friend for all his advocacy in his constituency. The National Year of Reading is packed full of exciting events for all to participate in, and I encourage Members to do so.
Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific guidance on how schools can engage.
Packed Full Of Exciting Events
Response accuracy
Q12 Partial Answer
Lisa Smart Lib Dem
Hazel Grove
Context
Financial education is included in the curriculum and assessment review.
The children of Banks Lane junior school recently visited the parliamentary education establishment, and kindly invited me along. They were fizzing with enthusiasm and excitement for their learning. We know that attitudes to money are embedded at a really young age, so it is welcome that financial education is included in the curriculum and assessment review. We also know that 80% of teachers are reporting heavy workloads. What additional funding and training is coming in to ensure that children get what they need?
Children and young people often say to me that financial education is the big change they want to see in the curriculum. We are pleased that we are making that change as part of the curriculum and assessment review and including financial education at primary and secondary level. We are developing a new digital national curriculum to make things easier for teachers, and we are increasing funding for schools to implement these wider changes.
Assessment & feedback
Did not specify the amount of additional funding and training.
We Are Increasing Funding For Schools
Response accuracy
Q13 Partial Answer
Douglas McAllister Lab
West Dunbartonshire
Context
Scottish colleges are struggling with staff and funding cuts.
Scottish colleges are struggling to cope with huge cuts to staff and funding, including West College Scotland in my constituency. The Scottish National party has cut funding by 20% in five years. What can the Minister do, working with other Departments such as Defence, to ensure that Scottish colleges become engines of growth and opportunity again, particularly for the young people of West Dunbartonshire?
The SNP's track record on education is so poor they needed to pull out of the programme for international student assessment—or PISA—league tables because Scotland was plummeting so low. There is a chance to fix that in the elections later on this year. Skills policy is devolved, but as part of our defence boost we are seeing fantastic opportunities to bring colleges in Scotland along on that journey.
Assessment & feedback
Did not specify what the Minister can do to ensure growth and opportunity.
Track Record On Education Pulling Out Of The Pisa League Tables
Response accuracy
Q14 Partial Answer
Andrew Rosindell Con
Romford
Context
Promotion of British heritage in schools.
Does the Secretary of State agree that we should prioritise the promotion of British heritage in schools? If so, will she bring in a policy to ensure that every school flies the Union Jack outside its premises, and that a different pupil gets the chance to raise the national flag every morning?
We already teach British values, and we are proud to teach our British heritage and our past to set us up for the future.
Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm whether a policy will be brought in to ensure schools fly the Union Jack and pupils raise the flag.
We Already Teach British Values
Response accuracy
Q15 Partial Answer
Leigh Ingham Lab
Stafford
Context
Stafford College has 1,150 students on manufacturing courses and works with 250 local employers. It has applied to become an advanced manufacturing technical excellence college.
Given that this is Colleges Week, may I take the opportunity to mention Stafford college, which is widely accepted to be the best college in the country? It already has 1,150 students on manufacturing courses, and works with 250 local employers in the sector. Does the Minister agree that if Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group were made an advanced manufacturing technical excellence college, it could build on its excellent relationship with manufacturers locally?
I gladly congratulate Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group on its recent Ofsted rating, which is fantastic, and I note my hon. Friend's support for its application to become a wave 2 technical excellence college. The applications closed on 16 February, and we expect to make and announce a decision next month.
Assessment & feedback
The decision has not been made and the Minister did not provide a direct opinion on the application's merits.
Response accuracy
Q16 Partial Answer
Esther McVey Con
Tatton
Context
Alderley Edge school for girls has announced its closure due to increased costs, including national insurance and VAT on school fees. The closure is affecting pupils who are now being forced to change schools.
Alderley Edge school for girls, in my constituency, has just announced its closure, blaming increased costs, such as national insurance costs, and, most significantly, VAT on school fees. Given that the Secretary of State is responsible for its closure, what will she do to help minimise the disruption to pupils who are now being forced to change school against their wishes, and to look for places in schools in the Cheshire East area that either no longer exist or are full?
I am sorry to hear about the closure of the school in the right hon. Lady's constituency, but closures of private schools have been in line with historical trends. All pupils are entitled to a state school place, and the right hon. Lady should contact the local authority to discuss this further.
Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not address the specific disruption to pupils and did not propose any specific actions to help them.
The Closure Is In Line With Historical Trends Contact The Local Authority For Further Discussion
Response accuracy
Q17 Direct Answer
Rachael Maskell Lab Co-op
York Central
Context
Many children in York are not in school due to disciplinary processes run by multi-academy trusts and the culture that ensues. There is a need to ensure that leaders in such trusts are held to account.
I welcome the Education Secretary's commitment to inclusion, but many children in York are not in school because of the disciplinary processes run by multi-academy trusts and the culture that ensues. What will she do to ensure that leaders in such trusts are held to account for that?
We think it is absolutely essential for all children to have access to an inclusive education. That is why Ofsted is now inspecting inclusion in all schools. As part of the schools White Paper and the special educational needs and disabilities consultation, we have set out new guidance on reasonable adjustments to support schools with that, and we will inspect multi-academy trusts on their decision-making.
Assessment & feedback
null
Response accuracy
Q18 Partial Answer
Suella Braverman Con
Fareham and Waterlooville
Context
A pro-ayatollah students' society plans to host a commemorative event on the campus of University College London in the name of “the fallen”—supporting those who backed the brutal regime of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This is seen as a misuse of taxpayer-funded university resources.
Disgracefully, a pro-ayatollah students' society plans to host a commemorative event on the campus of University College London in the name of “the fallen”—in other words, in support of those who backed the brutal regime of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Does the Secretary of State agree that it is utterly wrong that taxpayer-funded university resources are being used to propagate the murderous ideology of the Tehran regime, which has attacked UK bases, and with which we are effectively at war?
We expect to see the strongest possible action where hate speech or illegal activity takes place, whether on a campus or anywhere else, and I would expect any suggestions of that kind of activity to be fully investigated by those responsible for enforcing the law.
Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not directly address the use of taxpayer-funded university resources but focused on hate speech and illegal activity.
Strongest Possible Action For Hate Speech Or Illegal Activity
Response accuracy
Q19 Partial Answer
Jonathan Brash Lab
Hartlepool
Context
Hartlepool College of Further Education is part of Colleges Week and the MP wants to recognise the work of college staff in the region and the importance of vocational qualifications.
As this is Colleges Week, will the Secretary of State join me in paying tribute to the incredible college staff in Hartlepool and across the country for the work that they do? Does she agree that we must end the misguided prejudice that the academic route is always best, and champion vocational qualifications, which will give us the workforce we need to rebuild our country?
I do indeed pay tribute to the amazing people who work in our colleges and in further education, including in Hartlepool college of further education, and I look forward to being in Hartlepool very soon with my hon. Friend to observe that work at first hand.
Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not directly address the prejudice against vocational qualifications or champion them explicitly.
Paying Tribute To College Staff Looking Forward To Visiting Hartlepool
Response accuracy