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1357412

registered interest
date	22/09/2021
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, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of Action for Children in their report, Barriers to accessing early years services for children, published 21 September 2021.
tabling member constituency	Hayes and Harlington
tabling member printed	John McDonnell
uin	53172
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2021 answer text <p>The department is leading a cross government approach to champion the family hub model. The government is investing over £34 million to champion family hubs. This includes a National Centre for Family Hubs to provide expert advice, guidance and advocacy; a £10 million transformation fund to open family hubs in around 10 new areas in England; an evaluation innovation fund to build the evidence base; and work with local authorities to develop data and digital products that will support the practical implementation of family hubs. Further details are available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/20m-to-provide-more-early-help-for-vulnerable-families" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/20m-to-provide-more-early-help-for-vulnerable-families</a>.</p><p>Alongside this, the government is committed to delivering the action areas set out in the Early Years Healthy Development Review led by my right hon. Friend, the member for South Northamptonshire: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-best-start-for-life-a-vision-for-the-1001-critical-days" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-best-start-for-life-a-vision-for-the-1001-critical-days</a>.</p><p>One key action area was to champion Family Hubs as a place where parents and carers can access Start for Life services. To support delivery of this, the National Centre for Family Hubs will support councils to understand how best to build a Family Hub network and to take steps at a national and local level to reduce the stigma some parents or carers experience when asking for help. We will consider the recommendations in the Action for Children report as we take forward this work.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 53173 question first answered 18/10/2021 16:15:48 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	178 label Biography information for John McDonnell

1357413

registered interest
date	22/09/2021
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, what plans he has to introduce a minimum guarantee of access to early years services.
tabling member constituency	Hayes and Harlington
tabling member printed	John McDonnell
uin	53173
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2021 answer text <p>The department is leading a cross government approach to champion the family hub model. The government is investing over £34 million to champion family hubs. This includes a National Centre for Family Hubs to provide expert advice, guidance and advocacy; a £10 million transformation fund to open family hubs in around 10 new areas in England; an evaluation innovation fund to build the evidence base; and work with local authorities to develop data and digital products that will support the practical implementation of family hubs. Further details are available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/20m-to-provide-more-early-help-for-vulnerable-families" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/20m-to-provide-more-early-help-for-vulnerable-families</a>.</p><p>Alongside this, the government is committed to delivering the action areas set out in the Early Years Healthy Development Review led by my right hon. Friend, the member for South Northamptonshire: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-best-start-for-life-a-vision-for-the-1001-critical-days" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-best-start-for-life-a-vision-for-the-1001-critical-days</a>.</p><p>One key action area was to champion Family Hubs as a place where parents and carers can access Start for Life services. To support delivery of this, the National Centre for Family Hubs will support councils to understand how best to build a Family Hub network and to take steps at a national and local level to reduce the stigma some parents or carers experience when asking for help. We will consider the recommendations in the Action for Children report as we take forward this work.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 53172 question first answered 18/10/2021 16:15:48 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	178 label Biography information for John McDonnell

1357420

registered interest
date	22/09/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Institutes of Technology: Hertfordshire
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of locating an Institute of Technology in Hertfordshire for (a) people and (b) businesses in that county.
tabling member constituency	Hitchin and Harpenden
tabling member printed	Bim Afolami
uin	53327
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2021 answer text <p>The department is conducting a competition to deliver our manifesto commitment to establish 8 more high quality Institutes of Technology (IoT). The selected 8 will join the 12 IoTs that have already been established. While it would not be appropriate to comment on the merits of any individual proposal, the department can confirm that we have received an application for the Hertfordshire area. Proposals are being assessed and we plan to announce the outcome of the competition in the autumn.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 18/10/2021 16:45:46 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
tabling member	4639 label Biography information for Bim Afolami

1357466

registered interest
date	22/09/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals: Migrants
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the levels of take-up of free school meals among families with No Recourse to Public Funds in 2019-2021.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	53165
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2021 answer text <p>We are working with departments across government to evaluate access to free school meals for families with no recourse to public funds. In the meantime, the extension of eligibility will continue with the current income threshold until a decision on long-term eligibility is made.</p><p>At present, data is not available regarding the take up of free school meals by no recourse to public funds groups during the temporary extension.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 18/10/2021 16:17:35 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1357467

registered interest
date	22/09/2021
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has conducted research on the stigmatisation of children who receive free school meals; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	53166
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2021 answer text <p>There is absolutely no reason for schools to stigmatise pupils by limiting choice for free school meal pupils at lunchtime. The vast majority of schools and caterers already make use of cashless systems and other methods to ensure that children who are eligible for free school meals are not identified separately, removing any stigma for receiving the benefit.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 18/10/2021 16:17:09 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1357468

registered interest
date	22/09/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Free School Meals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of extending means-tested free school meals to all universal credit or equivalent benefits claimants.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	53167
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2021 answer text <p>Under this government, eligibility for free school meals (FSM) has been extended several times, and to more groups of children than any other government over the past half century. Our analysis in 2018 estimated that extending eligibility to all families on Universal Credit would result in almost half of all school pupils becoming entitled to FSM. We think it is important that FSM support is targeted at those that need it most, and FSM is an integral part of our provision for families on low incomes, and our wider actions to promote social mobility.</p><p>In 2018, the government introduced new eligibility criteria for families on Universal Credit, following a consultation in 2017. It is estimated that this will be more generous in its reach by 2022, in comparison to the legacy benefit system. Further to this we included generous protections, which mean any family eligible for FSM transitioning to Universal Credit from a legacy benefit will continue to have access to FSM even if they move above the earnings threshold.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 18/10/2021 16:16:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1357474

registered interest
date	22/09/2021
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, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the (a) proposal to introduce a minimum guarantee of early years services and (b) recommendations of the Action for Children’s report entitled Beyond reach: barriers to accessing early years services for children, published on 21 September 2021.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Erdington
tabling member printed	Jack Dromey
uin	53207
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2021 answer text <p>The department is leading a cross government approach to champion the family hub model. The government is investing over £34 million to champion family hubs. This includes a National Centre for Family Hubs to provide expert advice, guidance and advocacy; a £10 million transformation fund to open family hubs in around 10 new areas in England; an evaluation innovation fund to build the evidence base; and work with local authorities to develop data and digital products that will support the practical implementation of family hubs. Further details are available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/20m-to-provide-more-early-help-for-vulnerable-families" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/20m-to-provide-more-early-help-for-vulnerable-families</a>.</p><p>Alongside this, the government is committed to delivering the action areas set out in the Early Years Healthy Development Review led by my right hon. Friend, the member for South Northamptonshire, more information is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-best-start-for-life-a-vision-for-the-1001-critical-days" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-best-start-for-life-a-vision-for-the-1001-critical-days</a>. One key action area was to champion family hubs as a place where parents and carers can access Start for Life services. To support delivery of this, the National Centre for Family Hubs will support councils to understand how best to build a family hub network, and to take steps at a national and local level to reduce the stigma some parents or carers experience when asking for help. We will consider the recommendations in the Action for Children report as we take forward this work.</p><p>We have not made an assessment of the accessibility of early years services in the West Midlands specifically. The work that the government is doing to champion the family hub model and support parents and carers to access Start for Life services is national in scope, and applicable, with local nuance, in all regions.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 53208 question first answered 18/10/2021 16:13:06 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	3913 label Biography information for Jack Dromey

1357477

registered interest
date	22/09/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pre-school Education: West Midlands
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 accessibility of early years services in the West Midlands.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Erdington
tabling member printed	Jack Dromey
uin	53208
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2021 answer text <p>The department is leading a cross government approach to champion the family hub model. The government is investing over £34 million to champion family hubs. This includes a National Centre for Family Hubs to provide expert advice, guidance and advocacy; a £10 million transformation fund to open family hubs in around 10 new areas in England; an evaluation innovation fund to build the evidence base; and work with local authorities to develop data and digital products that will support the practical implementation of family hubs. Further details are available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/20m-to-provide-more-early-help-for-vulnerable-families" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/20m-to-provide-more-early-help-for-vulnerable-families</a>.</p><p>Alongside this, the government is committed to delivering the action areas set out in the Early Years Healthy Development Review led by my right hon. Friend, the member for South Northamptonshire, more information is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-best-start-for-life-a-vision-for-the-1001-critical-days" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-best-start-for-life-a-vision-for-the-1001-critical-days</a>. One key action area was to champion family hubs as a place where parents and carers can access Start for Life services. To support delivery of this, the National Centre for Family Hubs will support councils to understand how best to build a family hub network, and to take steps at a national and local level to reduce the stigma some parents or carers experience when asking for help. We will consider the recommendations in the Action for Children report as we take forward this work.</p><p>We have not made an assessment of the accessibility of early years services in the West Midlands specifically. The work that the government is doing to champion the family hub model and support parents and carers to access Start for Life services is national in scope, and applicable, with local nuance, in all regions.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 53207 question first answered 18/10/2021 16:13:06 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	3913 label Biography information for Jack Dromey

1357496

registered interest
date	22/09/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Chidren: Afghanistan
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 ensure effective support for refugees arriving from Afghanistan, including the enrolment of school aged children.
tabling member constituency	Bolton South East
tabling member printed	Yasmin Qureshi
uin	53222
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2021 answer text <p>Work is underway across government departments, and with charities and local authorities, to ensure refugees arriving from Afghanistan are properly supported so they can rebuild their lives. Local authorities will receive a funding package to support the resettlement of these families.</p><p>We are prioritising making sure that children of all ages have access to education, including by working with local authorities and other networks to make sure this can happen as soon as possible.</p><p>We are providing at least £12 million in extra education funding, which prioritises additional school places for children and young people, but also covers school transport, extra English lessons, specialist teachers and more.</p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker question first answered 20/10/2021 16:34:21 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
tabling member	3924 label Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi

1357506

registered interest
date	22/09/2021
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Warwickshire College: Closures
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Board of Warwickshire College Group on their policy on site closures.
tabling member constituency	West Worcestershire
tabling member printed	Harriett Baldwin
uin	53234
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/10/2021 answer text <p>The Board of Warwickshire College Group (trading as WCG) has a legal duty as charitable trustees to act in the best interest of the corporation and maximise the value of surplus assets. Decisions made by the board are expected to be in line with their Estates Strategy and Space Management Policy. The Education and Skills Funding Agency nor the Department for Education have the powers to influence the board’s decision on individual site closures.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 22/10/2021 11:26:53 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
tabling member	4107 label Biography information for Dame Harriett Baldwin