House of Commons · Westminster Hall
05 June 2025 · 7 other contributors · 11,523 words
Opened by Ian Sollom Lib Dem St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire
Responding minister: Michelle Donelan
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Ian Sollom raised concerns about maths: contribution to the uk in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Ian Sollom asks for increased research funding, protection of higher education in mathematics departments and better support for mathematics education at schools to ensure a steady pipeline of mathematicians and advanced mathematical skills for future innovation.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Mathematical sciences contributed £495 billion to the UK economy in 2023, more than the entire manufacturing sector. There is a 6.2% increase in jobs requiring undergraduate-level mathematics skills from 2019 to 2023 and over 100,000 students chose maths as an A-Level subject last year. However, recent policy decisions such as cuts to the advanced mathematics support programme and real-term cuts to UK Research and Innovation budget are concerning.
As a former maths teacher, Chris Vince highlights the importance of enjoying mathematics beyond its practical applications. He emphasizes the role of applied mathematics in innovation and criticizes the acceptability of adults admitting to being poor at maths. Argued that maths can be integrated into other subjects, suggesting a way to incorporate additional learning hours without reducing focus on critical areas.
Mathematics contributes to society by ensuring people can think critically about what they are told and make better decisions. The speaker highlights the importance of having a mathematically literate population. Emphasised the importance of understanding numbers for decision making and highlighted issues with dyscalculia.
Touched on financial education and the challenges faced by those who do not achieve grade 4 in mathematics.
Thanked the Minister for the Government’s response to the debate.
Congratulates Ian Sollom on securing the debate. Highlights that under the last Government, England's ranking in maths improved from 10th to 6th globally in TIMSS between 2011 and 2023. Emphasised the need to prioritise maths education and the importance of spending more time on it. Made a mathematics joke and described Hilbert space as apt.
Discussed the progress of education reforms in England compared to Scotland and Wales.
Stressed the importance of mathematics in personal development, economic growth, critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and social mobility. Emphasised the Liberal Democrats' commitment to ensuring access to high-quality maths education. Responded on behalf of the Lib Dems, congratulating others for being maths champions.
Government Response
Michelle DonelanThe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education
Responded with statistics on PISA results, highlighting improvements in school attainment by IDACI decile and the increase in real-terms per pupil funding. The minister mentioned reforms such as maths schools and hubs, low-stakes testing, and the opposition to these measures from some trade unions. She also addressed concerns about cuts to the advanced mathematics support programme and called for a reconsideration of those budget reductions. Acknowledged the importance of mathematics in economic growth and career opportunities, emphasising its relevance in AI development and overall national productivity. Discussed the current curriculum, highlighting key statistics such as the percentage of pupils meeting expected standards in maths and GCSE grade achievements. Mentioned initiatives like A-level support and funding for adults to study maths through legal entitlements. Emphasised the importance of undergraduate maths education and recruitment efforts for teachers.