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1178425

registered interest
date	13/02/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Ofcom: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what Ofcom's budget was in each year since its inception; what proportion of that budget was allocated by Her Majesty's Treasury; and whether the Government plans to change Ofcom's funding model when it is responsible for the regulation of online harms.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	1976
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2020 answer text <p>Please see the table below which sets out Ofcom’s budget for each year during the current spending review period, including what proportion of that budget was allocated by HM Treasury. Information in relation to Ofcom’s budget for previous years since its inception can be found in Ofcom's published accounts, copies of which are lodged in the House of Commons Library and published on Ofcom's website.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018/19</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019/20</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Ofcom Budget</strong></p></td><td><p>£114.3m</p></td><td><p>£116.6m</p></td><td><p>£121.7m</p></td><td><p>£124.2m</p></td><td><p>£124.2m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Grant-in-Aid</strong></p></td><td><p>£60.2m</p></td><td><p>£74.4m</p></td><td><p>£115.5m*</p></td><td><p>£72.5m</p></td><td><p>£85.8m**</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>The above table provides funding for both Ofcom’s core responsibilities (including managing the UK spectrum) and 700 MHz clearance programme.</p><p>*The additional Grant-in-Aid was to cover the costs of managing the UK spectrum, given the significant infrastructure work taking place across the UK in 2017/18.</p><p>** Figure taken from the published <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/865499/Supplementary_Estimates_2019-20_-_Web.pdf" target="_blank">Supply Estimates 2019-20</a>.</p><p> </p><p>In relation to Ofcom’s responsibility for the regulation of online harms, the Government is carrying out extensive analysis on potential funding options taking Ofcom’s existing funding model into consideration. As outlined in the Government’s ‘The Online Harms White Paper - Initial consultation response’, published on 12 February 2020, ‘The White Paper makes clear that in order to recoup both the implementation costs and running costs of the regulator, the government is considering fees, charges or a levy on companies whose services are in scope. This could fund the full range of the regulator’s activity. The government intends the new regulator to become cost neutral to the public sector.’ Full details on the funding mechanism for the Online Harms regulatory regime will be set out in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 24/02/2020 15:31:38 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage attachment 1 file name Supplementary_Estimates_2019-20_-_Web.pdf title Supplementary Estimates 2019-20
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

513565

registered interest
date	18/04/2016
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Terminal Illnesses
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to bring forward legislative proposals to make terminal illness a protected characteristic in order to ensure that employees cannot be dismissed for being terminally ill.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	34383
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2016 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 already protects employees from direct disability discrimination where they are diagnosed with cancer, HIV and multiple sclerosis, any of which may be terminal illnesses. Where a diagnosis of serious illness is not (or not initially) terminal, protection from discrimination would still be available where an employee’s condition fits the definition of a disability, which in the 2010 Act is defined as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.</p><p>Where a disabled employee is dismissed because they have a terminal illness, they can seek redress under the 2010 Act. Also, should an employer effectively force such an employee to resign from their job, the constructive dismissal provisions in employment law may be applicable.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 26/04/2016 16:16:41 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

536669

registered interest
date	15/07/2016
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Day Care
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve the quality of early education and childcare.
tabling member constituency	Bradford South
tabling member printed	Judith Cummins
uin	42944
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2016 answer text <p>The Government wants all children, regardless of their starting point, to have access to quality early education and childcare, as we know this makes a difference to their outcomes in later life. That is why we have taken the following steps to support the quality of early years provision:</p><p> </p><ul><li>The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) helps early years providers to prepare young children for school and improve their life chances by requiring them to deliver high-quality provision. The 2014-15 EYFS Profile results show that the proportion of children achieving a good level of development continues to increase – 66% in 2015, compared to 60% in 2014, and 52% in 2013.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>We work closely with Ofsted to ensure a robust regulatory and inspection framework to drive continuous improvement in quality. The sector has responded very positively and the latest statistics show that 86% of early years providers were rated “good” or “outstanding” as of 31 March 2016.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The quality of the workforce continues to improve, with 87% of staff in full day care settings now qualified to level 3 (equivalent level of study to A-level). We are developing a workforce strategy that will aim to remove barriers to attracting, retaining and developing staff.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>From September 2016, all newly qualified level 2 and level 3 staff must also have paediatric first aid training if they are to count in the EYFS staff:child ratios. This will mean an extra 15,000 staff a year coming into the sector with first aid training, providing vital reassurance to parents that their children will be well cared for.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>We have also introduced the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP). Each eligible child will is funded for an EYPP of 53p per hour on top of the rate currently paid for the funded entitlement. This amounts to over £300 a year for a child taking up the full entitlement. Providers have flexibility about how they spend this money in order to improve the quality of provision for eligible children, but are held to account by Ofsted for using it effectively.</li></ul> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 25/07/2016 14:47:58 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4391 label Biography information for Judith Cummins

539532

registered interest
date	18/07/2016
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Teachers: Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the trends in the number of applications to Early Years Teacher training courses over the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Bradford South
tabling member printed	Judith Cummins
uin	43027
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2016 answer text <p>The Head of Profession for Statistics for the Department is currently reviewing the data collected on Early Years initial teacher training. We are unable to provide any data or assessment of trends while this review is ongoing. It is intended that the first data will be published in November 2016.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 05/09/2016 16:47:27 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4391 label Biography information for Judith Cummins

540013

registered interest
date	19/07/2016
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will ensure that the review of fair funding for early years education includes steps to close the gender attainment gap at age five.
tabling member constituency	Tewkesbury
tabling member printed	Mr Laurence Robertson
uin	43415
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2016 answer text <p>The Government published a consultation on an Early Years National Funding Formula and changes to funding for the three- and four-year old free entitlements to childcare on Thursday 11 August. The consultation focuses on a creating a fair and transparent way of distributing Government funding to childcare providers. Our proposals set out the means by which every child in receipt of the free entitlement attracts funding to meet their individual needs, regardless of their gender. We rely on the early years profession to spend the money appropriately to meet those needs.</p><p> </p><p>We are making a significant investment in early years education – the expenditure on the free entitlements alone will rise by 38% over this Parliament. Our investment supports the continued increase in the number of qualified staff and the number of providers rated good or outstanding by Ofsted. More than 80% of children are reaching the expected communication and language skills by age five, but we will continue working with the sector until every child gets the high quality education they deserve.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 05/09/2016 16:45:29 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	253 label Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson

540998

registered interest
date	20/07/2016
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pre-school Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how the planned early years workforce strategy will increase recruitment and improve retention of early years teachers.
tabling member constituency	Pudsey
tabling member printed	Stuart Andrew
uin	43475
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2016 answer text <p>The government recognises the importance of the early years workforce in improving quality and delivering better outcomes for children. That is why we are committed to publishing an early years workforce strategy. The strategy will set out how government will help to remove barriers to attracting, retaining and developing staff. As part of the strategy government will look at the barriers to growing the body of graduates in the workforce.</p><p> </p><p>The government wants to see more trained graduates in the workforce, and we are supporting this by providing funding for course fees and bursaries to eligible trainees, and also funding for employers to support trainees. Information about training routes is available on the Get into Teaching website at: <a href="https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/</a></p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 05/09/2016 16:46:48 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew

542165

registered interest
date	21/07/2016
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pre-school Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies (a) in general and (b) on the gender gap for early language attainment at age five of the findings of Save the Children's report entitled The Lost Boys: How boys are falling behind in their early years published in July 2016.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield South East
tabling member printed	Mr Clive Betts
uin	43937
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2016 answer text <p>The government recognises a key part of raising the standard of education for all children, regardless of background or gender, is to ensure they receive a good level of development in literacy and numeracy before they start school at age five.</p><p> </p><p>The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework sets the prime areas of learning which early years providers must follow. This includes a focus on communication and language. The Early Years Foundation stage is published on gov.uk and can be accessed through the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/335504/EYFS_framework_from_1_September_2014__with_clarification_note.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/335504/EYFS_framework_from_1_September_2014__with_clarification_note.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The 2014-15 EYFS Profile results tell us that the proportion of children achieving a good level of development continues to increase – 66 % in 2015, compared to 60% in 2014 and 52% in 2013. The EYFS Profile results also show that more than 80% of children are reaching the expected communication and language skills by age five. A higher proportion of children eligible for free school meals are achieving a good level of development – 51% in 2015 compared to 45% in 2014. Although the gap between disadvantaged children and their peers is narrowing, we recognise there is still some way to go.</p><p> </p><p>The government is making a significant investment in the early years sector, working closely with the profession to help improve its status. As a result, numbers of qualified staff have risen, numbers of graduates in the workforce continues to rise, and a record number of providers are rated good or outstanding, with 86% of providers currently on the Early Years Register judged good or outstanding for overall effectiveness at 31 March 2016. This represents an eight percentage point increase on the position at 31 March 2014.</p><p> </p><p>The quality of the workforce continues to rise with 87% of staff in full day care settings now qualified to level 3 (equivalent level of study to A-level). To improve the quality of the workforce further, we have introduced early years teachers who must meet the same entry qualification requirements as teachers of older children.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 05/09/2016 16:46:05 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	394 label Biography information for Mr Clive Betts

573626

registered interest
date	02/09/2016
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's funding of free early education of the conclusions of the report of the Family and Childcare Trust, Driving High Quality Childcare: the role of local authorities, published on 11 August 2016, on the proportion of local authorities which use such funding to encourage graduate-led care.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	44489
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2016 answer text <p>We recognise that high quality childcare improves children’s long-term educational outcomes and helps close the gap in attainment between the most disadvantaged children and their peers. We want to enable all children, whatever their background and individual needs, to access high quality early education. Investment has an important part to play in achieving continued improvements in quality. We have committed over £1 billion more per year by 2019-20 to fund the early years entitlements – this includes £300 million per year from 2017-18 for a significant increase to the rate paid for the two, three and four year old entitlements.</p><p> </p><p>We know that high quality childcare has the most significant impact on those from disadvantaged homes. Therefore it is important that funding is targeted at those areas and children who need it most. This is why we propose an additional needs factor in the early years national funding formula, on which we are currently consulting. This will channel funding towards local authorities with a higher relative proportion of children with additional needs.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst we know funding plays a role in the quality of childcare, we also recognise the importance of the early years workforce in improving quality and delivering better outcomes for children. That is why we are committed to publishing an early years workforce strategy. The Government currently delivers early years initial teacher training places in England. We fund eligible graduates to undertake the training, and provide student bursaries. Information about training routes is available on the Get into Teaching website at: <a href="https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/</a></p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 12/09/2016 14:31:13 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

573628

registered interest
date	02/09/2016
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will ensure that the review of fair funding for early years education includes steps to close the attainment gap in children at age five.
tabling member constituency	Derby North
tabling member printed	Amanda Solloway
uin	44446
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2016 answer text <p>This Government is committed to narrowing the gap in attainment between the most disadvantaged children and their peers, including in the early years. We will be investing over £1 billion more per year by 2019-20 to fund our commitments on the early years entitlements – this includes £300 million per year from 2017-18 for a significant increase to the hourly rate paid for the two, three and four year old entitlements.</p><p> </p><p>The 2014-15 Early Years Foundation Stage Profile results tell us that the proportion of children achieving a good level of development continues to increase – 66% in 2015, compared to 60% in 2014 and 52% in 2013. A higher proportion of children eligible for free school meals are achieving a good level of development – 51% in 2015 compared to 45% in 2014.</p><p> </p><p>We need to continue this improvement. This is why we propose an additional needs factor in our new early years national funding formula, to channel funding towards local authorities with a higher relative proportion of children with additional needs.</p><p> </p><p>The Government already provides additional funding for the most disadvantaged three- and four-year olds through the Early Years Pupil Premium. This will continue as a separate funding stream, additional to the early years national funding formula.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 08/09/2016 16:14:31 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4372 label Biography information for Amanda Solloway

573633

registered interest
date	02/09/2016
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Communication Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure that (a) all children start their first year of school with the expected levels of language and communication skills and (b) the gap in those skills between children aged five from richer and poorer backgrounds is closed.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hall Green
tabling member printed	Mr Roger Godsiff
uin	44605
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/09/2016 answer text <p>The Government recognises a key part of raising the standard of education for all children, regardless of background, is to ensure they receive a good level of development in literacy and numeracy before they start school at age five, which is why in 2010 we extended the free entitlement to 15 hours for all three and four year olds</p><p> </p><p>The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework sets the prime areas of learning which early years providers must follow. This includes a focus on communication and language. The Early Years Foundation stage is published on gov.uk and is available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/335504/EYFS_framework_from_1_September_2014__with_clarification_note.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/335504/EYFS_framework_from_1_September_2014__with_clarification_note.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The 2014-15 EYFS Profile results tell us that the proportion of children achieving a good level of development continues to increase – 66 % in 2015, compared to 60% in 2014 and 52% in 2013. The EYFS Profile results also show that more than 80% of children are reaching the expected communication and language skills by age five. A higher proportion of children eligible for free school meals are achieving a good level of development – 51% in 2015 compared to 45% in 2014. Although the gap between disadvantaged children and their peers is narrowing, we recognise there is still some way to go.</p><p> </p><p>The quality of early education is improving, the numbers of qualified staff have risen, the numbers of graduates in the workforce continues to rise, and a record number of providers are rated good or outstanding, with 86% of providers currently on the Early Years Register judged good or outstanding for overall effectiveness at 31 March 2016.</p><p> </p><p>The quality of the workforce continues to rise with 87% of staff in full day care settings now qualified to level 3 (equivalent level of study to A-level). To improve the quality of the workforce further, we have introduced early years teachers who must meet the same entry qualification requirements as teachers of older children. We have also introduced an early years pupil premium to help providers support the learning and development of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 12/09/2016 14:41:24 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	304 label Biography information for Mr Roger Godsiff