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1484673

registered interest
date	29/06/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Further Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of recent representations submitted to his Department by the Association of Colleges on (a) pay differentials between schoolteachers and further education lecturers, (b) changes to workloads relating to potential grade inflation and changes to sixth-form student numbers resulting from exam cancellations and (c) the availability of shared funding for approved capital projects.
tabling member constituency	New Forest East
tabling member printed	Dr Julian Lewis
uin	27498
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>Setting pay rates for lecturers in further education (FE) is the responsibility of colleges and the department plays no role in this process. However, we recognise that the department’s funding does affect college finances and, therefore, pay decisions. We will make available an additional £1.6 billion for 16-19 education in the 2024/25 financial year compared with the 2021/22 financial year. This is in addition to the £291 million extra funding for 16-19 education in the 2021/22 financial year, and the £400 million that the department provided in the 2020/21 financial year. We will be investing nearly £52 million in the FE Workforce in the 2022/23 financial year, to continue to support the FE sector with the recruitment, retention, and development of teachers. This includes bursaries worth up to £26,000 each tax-free, which are available to support FE teacher training in priority subject areas for the 2022/23 academic year.</p><p>We recognise that arrangements for GCSEs during the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed toa fall in student numbers for some providers and an increase for others. We increased the funding rates to colleges and other providers in the 2022/23 financial year, which will cushion the impact on allocations for institutions with falling student numbers.</p><p>We are aware of the challenges facing capital projects across different types of education providers. Many colleges who have approved bids for capital funding will also be contributing match funding towards their projects, and it is for colleges to manage their projects within the budget available. We will monitor progress across all college projects.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 04/07/2022 16:12:40 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	54 label Biography information for Sir Julian Lewis

1484886

registered interest
date	29/06/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	T-levels
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his targets are for the number of t-level placements by subject available in academic years (a) 2022-23, (b) 2023-24 and (c) 2024-25.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	27599
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>The industry placement is a mandatory component of the T Level and every student must complete a placement in order to complete their T Level. We currently do not, nor plan to, set targets on the number of T Level students and industry placements, in each academic year. This is a conscious decision as we want students to enrol on the T Level courses because they are the right choice for them to make the career progression they want. The quality of the qualification and the value to the student’s future career are what will drive take-up of T Levels.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 04/07/2022 16:07:22 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1484193

registered interest
date	28/06/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Qualifications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the independent assessors that were commissioned by his Department to evaluate qualifications that overlap with T-Levels in waves one and two (a) started and (b) concluded their work; and how many qualifications those assessors evaluated.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	26814
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>There are over 2,000 qualifications available at level 3, and as part of first overlap process T Levels we asked independent assessors to look at over 700 of these as they are in similar subject areas to wave 1 and 2 T Levels.</p><p>Assessors were asked to assess qualifications against three tests:</p><p> </p><ul><li>is it a technical qualification, in that it primarily aims to support entry to employment in a specific occupational area(s)?</li><li>are the outcomes that must be attained by a person taking the qualification similar to those set out in a standard covered by a T Level?</li><li>does the qualification aim to support entry to the same occupation(s) as a T Level?</li></ul><p> </p><p>Only qualifications which met all three tests in relation to a wave 1 and 2 T Level were included on the provisional list. Assessors considered evidence such as qualification specifications to determine whether these tests were met.</p><p>To ensure the rigour of this process recommendations were moderated internally and we published a provisional list of 160 qualification on 11 May. We have put in place an appeals process if awarding organisations do not feel we have applied the criteria correctly, and awarding organisations have until 8 July 2022 to submit appeals.</p><p>The assessors commenced work in summer 2021 and their involvement in the wave 1 and 2 overlap process will conclude once the appeals process has been completed in September 2022.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart grouped question UIN 26815 question first answered 04/07/2022 15:19:46 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1484194

registered interest
date	28/06/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Qualifications
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the guidance by his Department entitled Qualifications that overlap with T Levels, published on 11 May 2022, what the evidential basis is for his Department's assessment that 160 qualifications overlap with T-levels in waves one and two.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	26815
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>There are over 2,000 qualifications available at level 3, and as part of first overlap process T Levels we asked independent assessors to look at over 700 of these as they are in similar subject areas to wave 1 and 2 T Levels.</p><p>Assessors were asked to assess qualifications against three tests:</p><p> </p><ul><li>is it a technical qualification, in that it primarily aims to support entry to employment in a specific occupational area(s)?</li><li>are the outcomes that must be attained by a person taking the qualification similar to those set out in a standard covered by a T Level?</li><li>does the qualification aim to support entry to the same occupation(s) as a T Level?</li></ul><p> </p><p>Only qualifications which met all three tests in relation to a wave 1 and 2 T Level were included on the provisional list. Assessors considered evidence such as qualification specifications to determine whether these tests were met.</p><p>To ensure the rigour of this process recommendations were moderated internally and we published a provisional list of 160 qualification on 11 May. We have put in place an appeals process if awarding organisations do not feel we have applied the criteria correctly, and awarding organisations have until 8 July 2022 to submit appeals.</p><p>The assessors commenced work in summer 2021 and their involvement in the wave 1 and 2 overlap process will conclude once the appeals process has been completed in September 2022.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart grouped question UIN 26814 question first answered 04/07/2022 15:19:46 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1484334

registered interest
date	28/06/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Students: Loans
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether it is his policy to increase the size of student loans in line with the rate of inflation.
tabling member constituency	Putney
tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
uin	26873
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>The department is currently reviewing options for uprating maximum grants and loans for the 2023/24 academic year.</p><p>Maximum grants and loans for living costs were increased by 3.1% this academic year, and the department has announced that they will increase by a further 2.3% in the 2022/23 academic year.</p><p>In addition, we are freezing maximum tuition fees for the 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years. By the 2024/25 academic year, maximum fees will have been frozen for seven years.</p><p>The 2022/23 financial year guidance to the Office for Students (OfS) confirms universities will continue to be able to support students in hardship through the student premium. Ministers’ Strategic Priorities Grant guidance letter to the OfS asks that the OfS looks to protect the student premium in cash terms for the 2022/23 financial year.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 04/07/2022 16:55:04 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson

1485436

registered interest
date	28/06/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals: Universal Credit
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 help ensure that children from families in receipt of Universal Credit receive free school meals.
tabling member constituency	South Shields
tabling member printed	Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
uin	900849
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>Under the benefits-related criteria the department provides a free healthy meal to around 1.9 million children, ensuring they are well nourished and can concentrate, learn and achieve. We also spend around £600 million per year ensuring around 1.25 million infants enjoy a free, healthy and nutritious meal at lunchtime following the introduction of the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy in 2014.</p><p>Schools fund benefit-related free school meals (FSM) from their core funding which they receive through the schools block of the dedicated schools grant and is derived from the national funding formula. For 2022-23, the funding schools attract through the 'FSM factor' in the national funding formula (NFF) is increasing to £470 per eligible pupil. The per meal rate for Universal Infant Free School Meals was increased in 2022-2023 to £2.41.</p><p>Under this government, eligibility has been extended several times and to more groups of children than any other government over the past half a century, including the introduction of universal infant free school meals and further education FSM. The department has permanently extended eligibility to children from all groups with no recourse to public funds.</p><p>The number of pupils eligible for FSM has been increasing since 2018, when we introduced new eligibility criteria for Universal Credit families that was estimated to increase the number of free school meal pupils by 2022. Alongside this, we also introduced generous protections that meant no child would lose their free school meal eligibility as a result of this criteria change and throughout the rollout of Universal Credit.</p><p>We want to make sure as many eligible pupils as possible are claiming their FSM, and to make it as simple as possible for schools and local authorities to determine eligibility. To support this:</p><ul><li>We provide an Eligibility Checking System (ECS) to make the checking process as quick and straightforward as possible for schools and local authorities.</li><li>We have developed a model registration form to help schools encourage parents to sign up for free school meals.</li><li>We also provide guidance to Jobcentre Plus advisers so that they can make Universal Credit recipients aware that they may also be entitled to wider benefits, including free school meals.</li></ul> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 04/07/2022 16:24:03 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4277 label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

1485438

registered interest
date	28/06/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Disability
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 ensure adequate provision of social care services for children and young people with disabilities and their families.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	900855
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>In the past three months we have published the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Green Paper, and the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care published its final report.</p><p>The SEND and AP Green Paper aims to ensure the right support is delivered in the right setting at the right time for children and young people with SEND. Our proposals include the introduction of national standards for how needs are assessed, identified and met across education, health and care in order to drive greater national consistency</p><p>The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care has also now published its final report, making a number of recommendations on the support that disabled children and their families should receive. To respond to this Review we will publish a detailed and ambitious implementation strategy later this year. We are committed to aligning this with the SEND and AP reforms so that we build a coherent system with the best interest of all vulnerable children at its heart.</p><p>Local authorities have access to £54.1 billion core spending power in the 2022/23 financial year to deliver their services, including for children and young people, this is £3.7 billion more than in the 2021/22 financial year.</p><p>As part of this, the government has boosted the social care grant, increasing it by £636 million, and so bringing it to a total of around £2.35 billion in the 2022/23 financial year. Local authorities will have access to a one-off Services Grant in the 2022/23 financial year, which is worth over £800 million and can be used for all services, including children’s social care.</p><p>The department is also making better respite care available for those who care for children with special educational needs and disabilities, with councils invited to bid for an extra £30 million for the next three years to set up more than 10,000 additional short break and respite placements for vulnerable children.</p><p>We will publish proposals to improve support for young people with disabilities and their families.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 04/07/2022 16:34:22 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1473152

registered interest
date	24/06/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Overseas Students: Fees and Charges
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate he has made of the number of overseas university students resident in the UK who have not paid full fees in each of the last three years; what recent assessment he has made of the impact of non-payment of full fees due to the effects of the covid-19 pandemic on (a) university finances, (b) overseas students being unable to complete their courses and (c) overseas students losing their migration status; and what recent steps he has taken to support overseas university students whose difficulty paying fees is related to the covid-19 pandemic.
tabling member constituency	West Ham
tabling member printed	Ms Lyn Brown
uin	24567
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>The setting and payment of fees is a matter for universities as autonomous institutions and therefore, the department does not hold data on the exact number of international students in the UK who have not paid full fees in each of the last three years.</p><p>The Office for Students (OfS) collects and analyses financial data from higher education (HE) providers in England to ensure they have an up to date understanding of the sustainability of the sector. We work closely with the OfS and recognise that although there is variation in the performance and strengths of individual institutions the overall financial position of the HE sector remains sound.</p><p>Where the OfS identifies concerns about the financial viability of an HE provider, they will implement enhanced monitoring of that provider.</p><p>Payment of tuition fees and course progression is a matter between a student and their sponsor (HE institution). If a sponsor decides to withdraw a student from a course for non-payment of fees, they are required to notify the UK Visas and Immigration which may subsequently result in the student’s visa being cancelled</p><p>During the COVID-19 pandemic the department, alongside the government, worked hard to ensure that international students were supported throughout this difficult time, including visa concessions so that students who could not travel to the UK during the pandemic were not adversely impacted.</p><p>In addition, the department provided grant funding to the OfS for the 2021/22 financial year included an allocation of £5 million to HE providers in England in order to provide additional support for student hardship. This hardship funding could be accessed by international students and would be allocated by providers to where the need was greatest.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 04/07/2022 09:36:06 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	1583 label Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown

1473244

registered interest
date	24/06/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Greater London
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of removing the London weighting element of the Strategic Priorities Grant on London universities in the context of rising inflation.
tabling member constituency	Twickenham
tabling member printed	Munira Wilson
uin	24660
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>The Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) is funding supplied by the government on an annual basis to support teaching and students in higher education (HE), including expensive to deliver subjects, such as science and engineering, students at risk of discontinuing their studies, and world-leading specialist providers.</p><p>We asked the Office for Students (OfS) to reform the SPG in the 2021/22 financial year. The removal of London weighting was required to enable the reprioritisation of this funding towards the provision of high-cost subjects that support the NHS and wider healthcare policy, STEM, and specific labour market needs. The London weighting previously accounted for a small proportion of London providers’ income. For example, £64 million was allocated through the London weighting in the 2020/21 academic year SPG, which was less than 1% of London providers estimated total income.</p><p>As set out in the guidance letter from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to the OfS in March we are investing an additional £750 million over the next three years to support high quality teaching and facilities including in science and engineering, subjects that support the NHS, and degree apprenticeships. Further information on this guidance letter can be found here: <a href="https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/bb422aae-54fb-42c8-b5db-26e7ed48df80/strategic-priorities-grant-20220331_amend.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/bb422aae-54fb-42c8-b5db-26e7ed48df80/strategic-priorities-grant-20220331_amend.pdf</a>. This includes the largest increase in government funding for the HE sector to support students and teaching in over a decade. The recurrent SPG budget is £1,397 million for the 2022/23 financial year, which is 5% higher than last year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan grouped question UIN 24661 question first answered 04/07/2022 16:31:08 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
tabling member	4776 label Biography information for Munira Wilson

1473245

registered interest
date	24/06/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Higher Education: Greater London
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department is taking steps to help support higher education institutions in London affected by the the removal of the London weighting element of the Strategic Priorities Grant in the context of rising inflation.
tabling member constituency	Twickenham
tabling member printed	Munira Wilson
uin	24661
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2022 answer text <p>The Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) is funding supplied by the government on an annual basis to support teaching and students in higher education (HE), including expensive to deliver subjects, such as science and engineering, students at risk of discontinuing their studies, and world-leading specialist providers.</p><p>We asked the Office for Students (OfS) to reform the SPG in the 2021/22 financial year. The removal of London weighting was required to enable the reprioritisation of this funding towards the provision of high-cost subjects that support the NHS and wider healthcare policy, STEM, and specific labour market needs. The London weighting previously accounted for a small proportion of London providers’ income. For example, £64 million was allocated through the London weighting in the 2020/21 academic year SPG, which was less than 1% of London providers estimated total income.</p><p>As set out in the guidance letter from my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to the OfS in March we are investing an additional £750 million over the next three years to support high quality teaching and facilities including in science and engineering, subjects that support the NHS, and degree apprenticeships. Further information on this guidance letter can be found here: <a href="https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/bb422aae-54fb-42c8-b5db-26e7ed48df80/strategic-priorities-grant-20220331_amend.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/bb422aae-54fb-42c8-b5db-26e7ed48df80/strategic-priorities-grant-20220331_amend.pdf</a>. This includes the largest increase in government funding for the HE sector to support students and teaching in over a decade. The recurrent SPG budget is £1,397 million for the 2022/23 financial year, which is 5% higher than last year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan grouped question UIN 24660 question first answered 04/07/2022 16:31:08 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
tabling member	4776 label Biography information for Munira Wilson