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1228243

registered interest
date	29/07/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendation in the National Food Strategy Part One report, published on 20 July, that free school meals should be extended to all children in families receiving Universal Credit.
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL7534
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/08/2020 answer text <p>The government will carefully consider the findings of the National Food Strategy Part One report and will be responding fully in due course.</p><p>Free school meals are an integral part of our provision for families on low incomes and our wider actions to promote social mobility. We are supporting around 1.4 million of the most disadvantaged children through free school meals, saving families around £400 a year. It is right that we are targeting our support towards those families that are most in need of it.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 11/08/2020 14:03:12 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1228260

registered interest
date	29/07/2020
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Racial Discrimination
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the study by Number Cruncher Politics, published on 16 July, which stated that 55 per cent of ethnic minorities said that racism has stayed the same or has got worse during their lifetimes.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL7561
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/08/2020 answer text <p>This Government is committed to tackling prejudice, racism and discrimination - and to improving the quality of data and evidence about the types of barriers faced by people from different backgrounds to help drive effective and lasting change.</p><p>That is why we have established a new Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities. This cross-government commission will examine all aspects of continuing racial and ethnic inequalities in Britain. The Commission aims to set out a new, positive agenda for change - balancing the needs of individuals, communities and society, maximising opportunities and ensuring fairness for all.</p><p>It will build on the work of the Race Disparity Unit. The Commission will carry out a deeper examination of what the causes of these disparities are, and seek to establish what works to address them effectively.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 12/08/2020 10:05:43 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1228261

registered interest
date	29/07/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	STEM Subjects: Equality
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to increase the diversity of students taking STEM subjects, in particular engineering.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL7562
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/08/2020 answer text <p>We want all students to see science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) as potential career options, and the government is committed to ensuring that anyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to pursue a rewarding career in a STEM occupation. There are a growing number of girls taking STEM subjects at A level and the 2018/19 A Level results showed, for the first time, more girls taking science subjects than boys. Although proportionally fewer pupils from BAME groups take STEM A Levels, they perform well with 67.1% of entrants from BAME groups achieving A*-C in 2018/19. UK domiciled BAME students are also more likely to study STEM subjects in higher education than their white counterparts – 47% of BAME students were accepted to full-time STEM subjects in 2019/20 compared to 42% of white students.</p><p> </p><p>However, we recognise there is more we can do, which is why we are building on that progress through the STEM Ambassadors programme, creating a network of Maths Hubs, and funding gender balance programmes in physics and computing to increase STEM take up amongst girls. In 2019/20, 45% of STEM Ambassadors were female and 15% were from BAME groups. This programme helps broaden pupils’ understanding of careers in science and engineering and how they can apply their individual skills and interests to different opportunities.</p><p> </p><p>We are also funding the Institute of Physics to deliver the Improving Gender Balance research trial. This randomised control trial will scale up an approach that has shown significant early promise in increasing girls’ uptake of A level physics. Gender balance coaches will support girls’ resilience, tackle subject-specific teaching issues, and address whole school gender stereotyping.</p><p> </p><p>The government is backing the New Model in Technology and Engineering (NMiTE) institute which has been established in Herefordshire to provide a world leading institution where students can learn engineering. NMiTE will take its first full cohort of students in 2020 and has a 50:50 gender balance recruitment target.</p><p> </p><p>The government is also funding Institutes of Technology (IoTs), which will be the pinnacle of technical training. These unique collaborations between further education colleges, universities and businesses offer higher technical education and training (mainly at Levels 4 and 5) in key sectors such as digital, construction, advanced manufacturing and engineering.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 11/08/2020 15:46:50 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1228266

registered interest
date	29/07/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Social Services
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the demand likely to be placed upon children’s social care services in the autumn.
tabling member printed	Lord Watson of Invergowrie
uin	HL7571
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/08/2020 answer text <p>The department has been working closely with local authorities to assess the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, setting up dedicated regional teams that are in frequent contact. Bringing together expertise from across the department, these teams monitor the challenges that local authorities are facing, including any increases in demand, and they can provide support and guidance where appropriate.</p><p>We are aware that there may be an increase in demand for children’s social care services in autumn. We are monitoring referrals via our regional teams and via a new Vulnerable Children and Young People Survey, which collects data fortnightly from local authorities in England. It includes data on contact with children supported by children’s social care, workforce, cost and system pressures as well as the number of referrals to children’s social care. We are planning to publish the data in due course.</p><p>The government has provided £3.7 billion of additional funding to support local authorities in meeting COVID-19 related pressures, including in children’s services.</p><p>We will continue to work closely with local authorities as the outbreak progresses.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 11/08/2020 14:37:11 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	1241 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Invergowrie

1228267

registered interest
date	29/07/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many early years settings are registered in England; and of those, what proportion were open in the week beginning 13 July.
tabling member printed	Lord Watson of Invergowrie
uin	HL7572
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/08/2020 answer text <p>There are approximately 69,000 Ofsted-registered early years childcare providers and school based early year providers in England. In the week beginning 13 July, it was estimated that 43,000 settings were open based on data supplied by local authorities. This represented 62% of all settings, with 30% closed and the status of 9% unknown. See <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 11/08/2020 14:38:05 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	1241 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Invergowrie

1228268

registered interest
date	29/07/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to support the re-opening of all registered early years settings in September.
tabling member printed	Lord Watson of Invergowrie
uin	HL7573
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/08/2020 answer text <p>In order to control the spread of COVID-19, early years providers were initially only open for children of critical workers and vulnerable children.</p><p>From 1 June, early years providers have been able to welcome back children of all ages and since 20 July, they have been able to return to their normal group sizes. This paves the way for more children to transition back to their early education and support parents to return to work.</p><p>The department has provided detailed guidance for early years providers to support them to welcome back more children and implement the required protective measures:<br> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures</a>.</p><p>On 20 July, we announced our commitment to continue paying local authorities for the childcare places they usually fund throughout the autumn term. This means that providers who are caring for fewer children can continue to be funded at the same levels as before the COVID-19 outbreak. Local authorities will also continue to fund providers which have been advised to close, or left with no option to but close, for public health reasons. These measures give another term of secure income to nurseries and childminders who are open for the children who need them.</p><p>Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, the early years sector has also been able to access a wider package of government support in the form of a business rates holiday, business interruption loans and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Full details of the support available can be found at:<br> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures#funding" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures#funding</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 11/08/2020 14:37:41 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	1241 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Invergowrie

1228290

registered interest
date	29/07/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the response by Baroness Berridge on 17 June (HL Deb, col 2180), when they intend to respond to the proposal to ask supermarkets involved in the free school meals scheme (1) to contribute to the cost of the scheme, and (2) to provide additional benefits to those using the vouchers; and what discussions they have had with supermarket chains about ways to support the poorest families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Lord Rennard
uin	HL7550
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/08/2020 answer text <p>Throughout the duration of the free school meal voucher scheme, we have been working closely with supermarkets. We recently wrote to and met with participating supermarkets to ensure their ongoing support and welcome their efforts to support families across the country. The voucher scheme and the COVID Summer Food Fund will shortly be coming to an end as children return to school in September and school kitchens re-open, providing free meals for those that are eligible.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 11/08/2020 14:28:25 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	2484 label Biography information for Lord Rennard

1228143

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Remote Education: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding they will make available to education establishments to invest in virtual learning environments.
tabling member printed	Lord Aberdare
uin	HL7413
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/08/2020 answer text <p>In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the department is investing £14.3 million to fund expert technical support for schools to get set up on an accredited digital education environment. Using this funding, schools and multi academy trusts can apply to get set up on one of two free-to-use digital education environments: Google’s G Suite for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education.</p><p>Further information is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-technology-for-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19#get-help-using-online-education-platforms" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-technology-for-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19#get-help-using-online-education-platforms</a>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 03/08/2020 13:49:31 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	3898 label Biography information for Lord Aberdare

1228144

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Remote Education
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to simplify tender processes for education establishments to procure cloud-based virtual learning environments.
tabling member printed	Lord Aberdare
uin	HL7414
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/08/2020 answer text <p>The department has published user tested procurement guidance on GOV.UK as well as approved frameworks as part of our Buying for Schools guidance. At present this does not currently provide a recommendation for virtual learning environments, but approved frameworks are regularly reviewed to ensure they meet the current and future buying needs of schools.</p><p>In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are funding support for school to get set up on one of two free-to-use digital education environments: Google’s G Suite for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 11/08/2020 15:26:17 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	3898 label Biography information for Lord Aberdare

1228170

registered interest
date	28/07/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Social Services
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect that the review of children’s social care, set out in the Conservative Party's 2019 General Election manifesto, to commence.
tabling member printed	Lord Watson of Invergowrie
uin	HL7487
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/08/2020 answer text <p>The Care Review is a fundamental part of the government’s manifesto. While work has been delayed due to our immediate response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the review will be launching as soon as possible. The review will be bold, broad, and independently led, taking a fundamental look across children’s social care, with the aim of better supporting, protecting and improving the outcomes of vulnerable children and young people.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 11/08/2020 14:02:34 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	1241 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Invergowrie