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1133867

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2019
	answering body	Attorney General
	answering dept id	88
	answering dept short name	Attorney General
	answering dept sort name	Attorney General
	hansard heading	Criminal Proceedings: Travel
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Attorney General, what his Department's policy is on the reimbursement of travel expenses to people who have been in the criminal justice system.
	tabling member constituency	Delyn
	tabling member printed	David Hanson
	uin	267721
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>It is essential that victims are supported in the criminal justice system, and the Government has made this a key priority. The reimbursement of travel expenses can be made to those who have been called as a witness in the Criminal Justice System.</p><p> </p><p>The payment of expenses and allowances to prosecution witnesses, where the Crown Prosecution Service is the prosecuting authority, is governed by the Crown Prosecution Service (Witnesses’ etc. Allowances) Regulations 1988. Full guidance on expenses and allowances for prosecution witnesses can be found here: <a href="https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/witness-expenses-and-allowances" target="_blank">https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/witness-expenses-and-allowances</a></p><p> </p><p>The rates or scales of expenses for defence witnesses are determined by the Ministry of Justice. The payment of expenses incurred by those called as a witness on behalf of a defendant are set out in Regulations made under Sections 19 and 20 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. Full guidance on expenses and allowances can be found here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/592291/guide-allowances-under-part-v-costs-criminal-cases-general-september-2016.doc" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/592291/guide-allowances-under-part-v-costs-criminal-cases-general-september-2016.doc</a>. In addition, any acquitted defendant whose costs are ordered by a court to be paid out of central funds may be allowed the same travelling and subsistence allowances as if they attended to give evidence (i.e. an ordinary witness subsistence allowance, plus travelling expenses).</p> answering member constituency South East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Lucy Frazer question first answered 05/07/2019 10:35:20 answering member 4517 label Biography information for Lucy Frazer
	tabling member	533 label Biography information for Lord Hanson of Flint

1134717

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Academies: Standards
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the effectiveness of multi-academy trusts in delivering improvements in academic performance in schools.
	tabling member printed	Lord Watson of Invergowrie
	uin	HL16684
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>Performance data illustrates how disadvantaged pupils in academy trusts are making more progress at GCSE level than the equivalent national average. Data for key stage 4 and academy trust performance in 2018 is attached and is available here:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/774014/2018_KS4_main_text.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/774014/2018_KS4_main_text.pdf</a>.</p><p>In primary schools within academy trusts, disadvantaged pupils performed significantly better than the equivalent national average in writing and maths. Data for key stage 2 and academy trust performance is attached and is available here:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/774446/KS2_Revised_2018_text_MATS_20190130.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/774446/KS2_Revised_2018_text_MATS_20190130.pdf</a>.</p><p>The ‘Academy Trust Survey’, published by the department in 2017, indicates that virtually all academy trusts surveyed (96%) with 2 or more academies believe that their structure has facilitated collaboration, and most have formal relationships with schools outside their academy trust. By working in partnership with each other, schools can benefit from sharing staff, curriculum expertise and effective pedagogy, and drive down the costs of procurement.</p><p>Our ambition is for every school that wants to, to benefit from the autonomy and freedom to innovate that academy status offers and for schools to collaborate through strong academy trusts.</p><p>The ‘Academy Trust Survey’ has been attached and is available here:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/629779/Academy_Trust_Survey_2017.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/629779/Academy_Trust_Survey_2017.pdf</a>.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton attachment 1 file name HL16684_KS4_performance .pdf title HL16684_chart 2 file name HL16684_KS2_national_curriculum.pdf title HL16684_chart 3 file name HL16684_Academy_Trust_Survey_2017.pdf title HL16684_survey question first answered 05/07/2019 11:00:16 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
	tabling member	1241 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Invergowrie

1134930

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Plagiarism: Universities
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle plagiarism among students at university.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	269680
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>The government has been clear that the Office for Students (OfS) should take firm and robust action to ensure that threats to academic integrity are tackled. We are determined to beat the cheats who threaten the integrity of our higher education (HE) system.</p><p> </p><p>The OfS requires HE providers to design courses that enable the reliable assessment of a student’s genuine achievements. Students are nearly always obligated by their provider to sign a ‘student contract’ at the commencement of their studies. The contract sets out acceptable student behaviours. Many contracts contain a reference to plagiarism and academic fraud. Many also set out possible sanctions that students may face if they are found to have broken the contract.</p><p> </p><p>As independent and autonomous bodies, HE providers have discretion when imposing sanctions, provided that those sanctions are authorised by the contract. The most recent guidance from the Quality Assurance Agency highlights the importance of severe sanctions of suspension or expulsion if ‘extremely serious academic misconduct’ has been discovered.</p><p> </p><p>HE providers' approaches to tackling cheating include deduction of marks, no credit for the work in question, permanent exclusion for a second offence or immediate expulsion depending on seriousness.</p><p> </p><p>In March, the government challenged PayPal to stop processing payments for ‘essay mills’. PayPal is now working with businesses associated with essay-writing services to ensure its platform is not used to facilitate deceptive and fraudulent practices in education.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, our recently published Education Technology Strategy challenged technology companies to identify how anti-cheating software can tackle the growth of essay mills and stay one step ahead of the cheats. This publication can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/realising-the-potential-of-technology-in-education" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/realising-the-potential-of-technology-in-education</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kingswood answering member printed Chris Skidmore question first answered 05/07/2019 10:42:56 answering member 4021 label Biography information for Chris Skidmore
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1134932

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Technology: Vocational Guidance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to encourage more school leavers to pursue a career in the technology sector.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	269682
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>We have introduced computing as a statutory national curriculum subject at all 4 key stages and have introduced a new Computer Science GCSE and A level. The content was developed with industry experts to better equip pupils with the knowledge and skills they need to become active creators of digital technology.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Industrial Strategy, the government has committed substantial spending on mathematics, digital and technical education to increase the take-up and better teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects in schools. For example, in November 2018 we launched the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE), backed by £84 million of new funding. The NCCE is run by a coalition of STEM Learning, the British Computing Society and Raspberry Pi and supported by industry.</p><p> </p><p>The NCCE is delivering a comprehensive programme of continuing professional development to improve the teaching of computing and increase participation in computer science at GCSE and A level, particularly amongst girls. We expect that this, in turn, will help equip these young people with the knowledge they need to pursue a career in the technology sector.</p><p> </p><p>We are also improving careers advice in schools so that young people are aware of the high quality options available for both technical and academic routes into digital careers and they have access to information about the variety of careers that digital technology pathways have to offer. STEM activities, including employer talks and work visits, are built into school career programmes and the Careers &amp; Enterprise Company funds some opportunities for young people to meet a wide range of STEM employers, which include those from the technology sector.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 05/07/2019 09:20:04 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1134933

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Shipping: Vocational Guidance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to encourage more school leavers to pursue a career in the maritime industry.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	269683
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>It is important for young people to have information on a range of jobs and careers, as well as encounters with a variety of employers in different sectors to inspire them about what they can achieve. The Careers &amp; Enterprise Company is making sure that every young person has access to encounters with employers from a variety of sectors, which may include the maritime industry. In addition, information on a variety of careers, including the maritime industry, can be found on the National Careers Service website.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 05/07/2019 09:22:53 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1134963

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	STEM Subjects: Females
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of women taking up careers in STEM.
	tabling member constituency	Clacton
	tabling member printed	Giles Watling
	uin	269798
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>In order to increase the number of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) industries, we are encouraging more girls to take STEM subjects at school, college and university, as well as providing improved careers advice and awareness and working with the STEM sector to champion gender representation.</p><p> </p><p>We announced substantial spending commitments in the Autumn Budget 2017 on maths, digital and technical education. We are funding programmes to increase the take-up of maths, such as the Advanced Maths Premium, and physics, through the Stimulating Physics Network, which has a specific strand focusing on increasing the number of girls in physics A level.</p><p> </p><p>We are supporting better teaching of maths, science and computing in schools, including a new £84 million programme for computing teaching and participation. As part of this investment, we also launched the Gender Balance in Computing pilot programme this year, which aims to identify practical interventions that schools (at all stages, excluding post-16) can implement to improve girls’ participation in computing.</p><p> </p><p>We have committed to improving STEM careers advice in schools in the Careers Strategy, including making sure that STEM encounters, such as with employers and apprenticeships, are built into school career programmes by updating school and college statutory guidance. We are also raising awareness of the range of careers that STEM qualifications offer, through programmes such as STEM ambassadors. 44% of these ambassadors are women.</p><p> </p><p>Finally, we are taking steps to work with the sector through apprenticeships and using the employer Apprenticeships Diversity Champions Network, now employing 70 members, to champion gender representation in industries where improvement is needed.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 05/07/2019 09:25:47 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	4677 label Biography information for Giles Watling

1134983

	registered interest
	date	01/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Speech and Language Therapy: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference the June 2019 report of the Children’s Commissioner, We need to talk: access to speech and language therapy, if he will meet with the Local Government Association to discuss the implications for his Department's policies of the findings of that report.
	tabling member constituency	Swansea West
	tabling member printed	Geraint Davies
	uin	269599
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring more effective support for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). Ministers from the Department for Education (DfE) regularly meet with local government to discuss issues relating to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including SLCN.</p><p> </p><p>On 20 May 2019, we held the first SEND ministerial roundtable meeting between ministers from the DfE, Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and key SEND stakeholders to help inform future SEND policy. We will also be using these meetings to help inform the SEND System Leadership Board which aims to improve joint working and strategic commissioning for all children and young people with SEND, including those with SLCN.</p><p> </p><p>On 20 June 2019, the government issued a letter to I CAN and The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. That letter responded to the Bercow One Year Anniversary update report, and was co-signed by ministers from the DfE, DHSC and the Ministry of Justice. The letter reaffirms our commitment to supporting children and young people with SLCN, and sets out the key action the government is taking to address SLCN. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 05/07/2019 09:36:56 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	155 label Biography information for Geraint Davies

1135061

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Graduates: Pay
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that longitudinal education outcomes data take account of regional variations in salaries across the UK.
	tabling member printed	Lord Blunkett
	uin	HL16688
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>We have recently received data on the current region of residence of graduates in the 2016/17 tax year and have incorporated this into the Longitudinal Education Outcomes data. The Department for Education has announced that we will be publishing experimental statistics using this data to look at the employment and earnings outcomes of graduates by their geographical location on 18 July 2019.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 05/07/2019 11:37:21 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
	tabling member	395 label Biography information for Lord Blunkett

1135062

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Graduates: Employment
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the regional retention of graduates.
	tabling member printed	Lord Blunkett
	uin	HL16689
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>It is important that universities focus on ensuring that their graduates have the skills needed, including technical, vocational and transferable skills, to gain a positive outcome from their degree. The higher education regulator, the Office for Students’ (OfS), primary aim is to ensure that higher education delivers positive outcomes for students and it has a regulatory focus to ensure that students are able to progress into employment or further study.</p><p>The government is supporting regional growth and retention of graduates in a number of ways. For example, on 16 May 2019, the OfS announced £5.6 million funding for 15 projects aiming to support the transition to highly skilled employment and improve outcomes for graduates who seek employment in their home region. Details of this can be found here, and are also attached:</p><p><a href="https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-and-events/press-and-media/no-place-like-home/" target="_blank">https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/news-blog-and-events/press-and-media/no-place-like-home/</a></p><p>Similarly, the UK Research and Innovation “Strength in Places Fund” is a competitive fund for collaborative bids between research institutions and businesses to support significant regional growth through research and innovation. Details can be found here, and are also attached:</p><p><a href="https://www.ukri.org/funding/funding-opportunities/strength-in-places-fund/" target="_blank">https://www.ukri.org/funding/funding-opportunities/strength-in-places-fund/</a></p><p>University Enterprise Zones are specific geographical areas where universities and business work together to increase local growth and innovation. As part of Budget 2018, £10 million was announced to fund up to 10 further zones. Details can be found here, and are also attached:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/university-enterprise-zones/university-enterprise-zones" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/university-enterprise-zones/university-enterprise-zones</a></p><p>Furthermore, the government part funds the National Centre for Universities and Business Collaboration, which helps universities and businesses across the UK work together. This is important to support the creation of a cycle of economic growth, providing jobs and quality of life for highly skilled graduates.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie attachment 1 file name HL16689_OfS_Report.pdf title HL16689_Report 2 file name HL16689_UK_Research_and_Innovation_Report.pdf title HL16689_Report 3 file name HL16689_University_Enterprise_Zones_Report.pdf title HL16689_Report question first answered 05/07/2019 13:42:50 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
	tabling member	395 label Biography information for Lord Blunkett

1135066

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Primary Education: Closures
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria are used when reaching a decision on the closure of a primary school; and what role is played by (1) the Department for Education, and (2) the Secretary of State for Education specifically, in making such a decision.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hannay of Chiswick
	uin	HL16693
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p>The decision to close a local authority maintained primary school is a local decision. Neither the Department for Education nor my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, play a role in the process or decision making. Where the school is an academy, the final decision is made by the Secretary of State for Education.</p><p>When making a decision on a proposal to close a school, the decision maker (be it the local authority or the Secretary of State) will consider whether there is appropriate surplus capacity in the area to accommodate displaced pupils and any future projected increase in pupil numbers. They will also consider the impact of those likely to be affected by the closure, the balance of denominational provision, the impact on travel times for displaced pupils and any specialist provision (including sixth form provision or provision for pupils with special educational needs or disabilities).</p><p>Where the school is an academy, the Secretary of State will also consider the viability of the school under the current academy trust, including the effectiveness of any attempts to raise education and financial performance. They will also consider the availability of other academy trusts to take on the school and their capacity to drive the required improvements and the cost effectiveness of closure.</p><p>There is a presumption against the closure of rural primary schools. Where a school is designated as a rural school, the decision maker will also consider any alternatives to closure (e.g. amalgamation, federation, academy conversion or academy transfer). They will also consider the likely impact of the closure on the local community, the availability of, and likely cost of transport to alternative schools and any increase in the use of motor vehicles due to the closure and the likely impact of any increase.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 05/07/2019 11:01:22 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
	tabling member	2167 label Biography information for Lord Hannay of Chiswick