Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1272042

registered interest
date	17/12/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Educational Institutions: Coronavirus
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 extending the Christmas 2020 holidays for students in schools and universities by one week to provide a circuit breaker for the covid-19 virus.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Marco Longhi
uin	131492
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2021 answer text <p>On 4 January, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, announced new national restrictions in England. During this period, primary, secondary, alternative provision, special schools and colleges will remain open to vulnerable children and young people and the children of critical workers only. In universities, we are prioritising the return to face to face teaching only for courses which are most important to be delivered in-person in order to support the pipeline of future key workers. Wherever possible, teaching should be provided online. The list of subjects where face to face learning can continue is available here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950583/Students_returning_to_and_starting_higher_education_in_Spring_Term_2021_FINAL_v3.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950583/Students_returning_to_and_starting_higher_education_in_Spring_Term_2021_FINAL_v3.pdf</a>.</p><p>The reason for restricting attendance, more broadly, is to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 by reducing mixing of households in the community. This decision to restrict attendance in the spring term does not suggest that schools and colleges are no longer safe places for children and young people. Instead, limiting attendance is about reducing the number of contacts that all of us have with people in other households.</p><p>The Government is doing all it can to minimise the risks to those working and studying in our registered childcare settings, schools, colleges, and universities in this unprecedented situation, while mitigating the impact on education.</p><p>On the 7 January, the Department published:</p><ul><li>Guidance to universities and students returning to higher education in the spring term: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950367/Students_returning_to_and_starting_higher_education_in_Spring_Term_2021.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950367/Students_returning_to_and_starting_higher_education_in_Spring_Term_2021.pdf</a>. This guidance sets out how we will support higher education providers to enable students to return as safely as possible following the winter break, by staggering this process following the period of national lockdown and to facilitate testing for all</li><li>Guidance: Actions for schools during the COVID-19 outbreak: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak</a>. This sets out what all schools will need to do during the COVID-19 outbreak from January 2021.</li><li>Guidance for all early years settings and local authorities in England: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950653/Education_and_childcare_settings_-_national_lockdown_from_5_January_2021_.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950653/Education_and_childcare_settings_-_national_lockdown_from_5_January_2021_.pdf</a>. This provides information on how the national lockdown restrictions, to control the spread of COVID-19, impact early years and childcare settings.</li></ul><p> </p><p>On the 8 January, the Department published guidance on actions for further education colleges and providers during the COVID-19 outbreak: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision</a>.</p><p>On the 14 January, the Department published additional guidance for special schools, specialist post-16 providers and alternative provision during the national lockdown: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/952377/Guidance_for_special_schools__specialist_post-16_providers_and_alternative_provision_during_the_national_lockdown.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/952377/Guidance_for_special_schools__specialist_post-16_providers_and_alternative_provision_during_the_national_lockdown.pdf</a>. This provides further information on actions schools can take to support and encourage the attendance of vulnerable children and young people, as attending their school is crucial so that they can receive high quality teaching, remain engaged in education and are kept safe from harm, and receive the specialist professional support they need.</p><p>The Department will continue to keep its plans under review and ensure our position is informed by the latest evidence.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 20/01/2021 18:29:05 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4789 label Biography information for Marco Longhi

1272071

registered interest
date	17/12/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Nurseries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether nurseries that have closed due to covid-19 and continue to charge parents full fees are eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	131233
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>The Competition and Markets Authority issued an open letter on 28 July 2020, followed by detailed advice to the sector, following complaints from parents about allegedly unfair charging practices during early days of the COVID-19 outbreak. These are available here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904194/Open_letter_to_Nursery_and_Early_Years__settings.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904194/Open_letter_to_Nursery_and_Early_Years__settings.pdf</a> and <a href="https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fnursery-and-early-years-sector-covid-19-restrictions-and-consumer-law%2Fnursery-and-early-years-sector-covid-19-restrictions-and-consumer-law-advice&amp;data=04%7C01%7CCraig.McClue%40cma.gov.uk%7C13f076f944ec466e247908d89b80c830%7C1948f2d40bc24c5e8c34caac9d736834%7C1%7C0%7C637430324728268280%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=9en2gwX9WZOMNHfFhbXioDVoJg1XujuKtWgAahheiVM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fnursery-and-early-years-sector-covid-19-restrictions-and-consumer-law%2Fnursery-and-early-years-sector-covid-19-restrictions-and-consumer-law-advice&amp;data=04%7C01%7CCraig.McClue%40cma.gov.uk%7C13f076f944ec466e247908d89b80c830%7C1948f2d40bc24c5e8c34caac9d736834%7C1%7C0%7C637430324728268280%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=9en2gwX9WZOMNHfFhbXioDVoJg1XujuKtWgAahheiVM%3D&amp;reserved=0</a>.</p><p>The letter supported the government’s position that providers must be balanced and fair in their dealings with parents, and that they must avoid unfair charging practices. While contracts are a private arrangement between consumers and providers, the provisions of the letter are still broadly applicable. If parents or their children test positive for COVID-19, or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace, the principle that parents should not be charged for a service that cannot be provided without breaching government legal requirements would apply. We ask that providers continue to be fair and balanced in dealings with parents and must continue to avoid unfair charging practices.</p><p>An early years provider can access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to cover up to the proportion of its salary bill which could be considered to have been paid for from that provider’s private income. This would typically be income received from ‘parent-paid’ hours that have not yet returned because of COVID-19, and excludes all income from the government’s free entitlements. Providers should use the month of February 2020 to represent their usual income, in calculating the proportion of its salary bill eligible to be covered by the scheme, taking into account parent-paid income that has returned. Providers should adjust these proportions in subsequent furloughing applications if their income from the governments free entitlements changes.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 11/01/2021 11:50:45 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

1272106

registered interest
date	17/12/2020
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Health and Social Care on incorporating children’s social care services into Integrated Care Systems.
tabling member constituency	Hampstead and Kilburn
tabling member printed	Tulip Siddiq
uin	131357
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2021 answer text <p>As the ‘NHS Integrating Care – The next steps to building strong and effective integrated care systems across England’ guidance sets out, “as Integrated Care Systems are established and evolve, this will create opportunities to further strengthen partnership working between local government, the NHS, public health and social care”.</p><p>The department is wholly supportive of closer partnership working that improves safeguarding and protection of children. We are clear in the arrangements set out in the <em>‘</em>Working Together to Safeguard Children’ guidance that there is a shared responsibility between organisations and agencies to safeguard, and promote, the welfare of all children in a local area. That is why we have placed an equal duty on health, police, and local authorities to ensure these agencies make arrangements to promote the welfare of children. We will continue to work closely with colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care, and the wider safeguarding sector, on this vital agenda.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 12/01/2021 12:04:40 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
tabling member	4518 label Biography information for Tulip Siddiq

1272108

registered interest
date	17/12/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish the data his Department holds on the effect of school bubble isolation following positive covid-19 cases on local transmission of covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Hampstead and Kilburn
tabling member printed	Tulip Siddiq
uin	131359
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2021 answer text <p>The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has commissioned the COVID-19 Schools Infection Survey (SIS) which aims to investigate the prevalence of current COVID-19 infection and COVID-19 antibodies among pupils and staff in sampled primary and secondary schools in England. In addition, it aims to examine the impact of attendance of pupils and staff, school implementation measures and outbreak investigations. The first round of survey results was published on the 17 December 2020. More information is available at: <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/covid19schoolsinfectionsurveyround1england/november2020" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/covid19schoolsinfectionsurveyround1england/november2020</a>.</p><p>The ONS has also commissioned the COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS) which looks to identify the percentage of the population testing positive for COVID-19 and whether they have symptoms or not. The latest survey results were published on 18 December 2020. More information is available at: <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveypilot/18december2020#measuring-the-data" target="_blank">https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveypilot/18december2020#measuring-the-data</a>.</p><p>When comparing data across the two surveys, prevalence figures from the SIS are lower than prevalence within equivalent age-matched groups from CIS data. This suggests that many positive cases are staying away from school, in line with COVID-19 safety guidelines. The Department continues to review data, analysis, and advice from several different sources, including the ONS, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, Public Health England, and the Joint Biosecurity Centre, to ensure our policies are guided by the most up to date scientific evidence.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 15/01/2021 13:58:42 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4518 label Biography information for Tulip Siddiq

1272157

registered interest
date	17/12/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pre-school Education
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 changes in the (a) numbers and (b) hours of children attending early years settings since February 2019.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	131381
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2021 answer text <p>From January 2019 to January 2020, the numbers of children benefiting from funded entitlements at early years settings decreased slightly. However, the percentage of children aged 3 and 4 benefiting from funded entitlements at these settings remained stable, whilst the percentage of eligible 2-year-olds benefiting from funded entitlements increased slightly. Full data is available at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/28af6122-62d8-4901-beb4-e02d9e56f069" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/28af6122-62d8-4901-beb4-e02d9e56f069</a>.[1]</p><p>From January 2019 to January 2020, the number of hours of funded childcare used by children in early years settings increased, with a higher percentage of all age groups taking between 12.5 and 15 hours per week, the highest band. Full data is available at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/411250f5-91ca-4269-8ef5-72891b3f3216" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/411250f5-91ca-4269-8ef5-72891b3f3216</a>.</p><p>To understand the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, wave two of the Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers and COVID-19 assessed attendance in September/October for open school-based providers, open group-based providers, and open childminders. Attendance during the survey was compared to the expected attendance for a typical autumn term. The survey showed that, on average, fewer children attended than would have been expected to attend across all age groups. The survey is available at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945249/SCEYP_COVID-19_Wave2_Main_Report_171220.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945249/SCEYP_COVID-19_Wave2_Main_Report_171220.pdf</a>. Further information is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/survey-of-childcare-and-early-years-providers-and-coronavirus-covid-19-wave-2" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/survey-of-childcare-and-early-years-providers-and-coronavirus-covid-19-wave-2</a>.</p><p>[1] The figures for four-year-olds do not sum to 100% as 63.5% of four-year-olds are in maintained schools, benefiting from over 15 funded hours of provision per week.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford grouped question UIN 131382 question first answered 15/01/2021 11:15:56 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1272158

registered interest
date	17/12/2020
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 assessment he has made of the changes in the number of eligible two year olds taking up 15 hours of funded childcare since March 2020.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	131382
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2021 answer text <p>From January 2019 to January 2020, the numbers of children benefiting from funded entitlements at early years settings decreased slightly. However, the percentage of children aged 3 and 4 benefiting from funded entitlements at these settings remained stable, whilst the percentage of eligible 2-year-olds benefiting from funded entitlements increased slightly. Full data is available at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/28af6122-62d8-4901-beb4-e02d9e56f069" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/28af6122-62d8-4901-beb4-e02d9e56f069</a>.[1]</p><p>From January 2019 to January 2020, the number of hours of funded childcare used by children in early years settings increased, with a higher percentage of all age groups taking between 12.5 and 15 hours per week, the highest band. Full data is available at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/411250f5-91ca-4269-8ef5-72891b3f3216" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/411250f5-91ca-4269-8ef5-72891b3f3216</a>.</p><p>To understand the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, wave two of the Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers and COVID-19 assessed attendance in September/October for open school-based providers, open group-based providers, and open childminders. Attendance during the survey was compared to the expected attendance for a typical autumn term. The survey showed that, on average, fewer children attended than would have been expected to attend across all age groups. The survey is available at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945249/SCEYP_COVID-19_Wave2_Main_Report_171220.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945249/SCEYP_COVID-19_Wave2_Main_Report_171220.pdf</a>. Further information is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/survey-of-childcare-and-early-years-providers-and-coronavirus-covid-19-wave-2" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/survey-of-childcare-and-early-years-providers-and-coronavirus-covid-19-wave-2</a>.</p><p>[1] The figures for four-year-olds do not sum to 100% as 63.5% of four-year-olds are in maintained schools, benefiting from over 15 funded hours of provision per week.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford grouped question UIN 131381 question first answered 15/01/2021 11:15:56 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1272159

registered interest
date	17/12/2020
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	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 financial costs of securing (a) PPE, (b) cleaning costs and (c) staff replacements for early years providers delivering early education during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	131383
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2021 answer text <p>Keeping children and staff safe is our utmost priority. The majority of early years staff in settings will not require PPE beyond what they would normally need for their work, and our early years guidance confirms what PPE should be used in the event a child becomes symptomatic while in a setting.</p><p>If an education or childcare setting cannot obtain the PPE they need they should approach their local authority.</p><p>Local authorities should support them to access PPE suppliers and available stock locally, including through coordinating the redistribution of available supplies between settings according to priority needs.</p><p>The department has undertaken surveys of providers about their finances throughout the pandemic. The latest report is available here: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945249/SCEYP_COVID-19_Wave2_Main_Report_171220.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945249/SCEYP_COVID-19_Wave2_Main_Report_171220.pdf</a>. The next wave of the study is currently taking place and asks questions about the cost of PPE, cleaning and workforce. Findings from this wave of the study will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 12/01/2021 16:54:25 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1272165

registered interest
date	17/12/2020
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, with reference to the finding of the survey by Pregnant Then Screwed that 46 per of mothers who had been made redundant or expected to be made redundant said that a lack of childcare provision played a role in their redundancy, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of childcare places to support working parents.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	131384
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2021 answer text <p>The government prioritised the opening of early years settings in full because of the clear benefits to children’s education and wellbeing, and to support working parents. In July 2020, when the Pregnant Then Screwed survey was in the field from the 16-18 of July, official data shows there were an estimated 43,000 settings open with 417,000 children attending. This data is available here: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/2020-week-29" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/attendance-in-education-and-early-years-settings-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/2020-week-29</a>.</p><p>Since then, we have continued to see more early years settings open, and attendance has steadily increased over the course of the 2020 autumn term. As of 10 December 2020, official data, also available via the above link, shows an estimated 55,000 early year settings were open with 792,000 children in attendance. On a typical day in the autumn term, we expect attendance to be 929,000, due to different and part-time patterns of childcare during the week. We estimate that the 792,000 children attending early years settings was approximately 85% of the usual daily level.</p><p>On 21 December 2020, I wrote to Directors of Children’s Services at local authorities, to remind them of the statutory responsibilities shared between local authorities and the Secretary of State for Education to ensure there is enough Early Years childcare for parents. We are not aware of any local authority reporting a current sufficiency issue. However, we anticipate that the role of local authorities in market stewardship through the next year may prove significant in ensuring that the market is able to continue providing free early education entitlements, and to meet the needs of parents.</p><p>We will continue to both monitor sufficiency of childcare places through our regular ongoing contact with early years departments in local authorities, and work in partnership with local authorities and the sector to support working parents.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chelmsford answering member printed Vicky Ford question first answered 12/01/2021 13:20:46 answering member 4674 label Biography information for Vicky Ford
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1272167

registered interest
date	17/12/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Educational Exchanges: EU Countries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will take steps to help schools to continue making arrangements for pupil exchanges with EU Member States after 1 January 2021: and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	New Forest West
tabling member printed	Sir Desmond Swayne
uin	131162
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>School exchanges provide pupils with the chance to experience different cultures, improve their language skills and to build their independence. It is for individual schools to choose where and how they might wish to run a school exchange, including whether they use the support of third-party companies and organisations such as the British Council.</p><p>The Department funds the British Council-delivered International School Exchange programme, which provides opportunities for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to take part in an international exchange and visit partner schools around the world, including in EU Member States. It is hoped to restart the programme in the latter part of 2021.</p><p>The newly announced Turing scheme, which replaces the UK’s participation in Erasmus+, will allow thousands of students to study and take part in work placements in the EU and beyond. The Turing scheme will be backed by over £100 million, providing funding for around 35,000 students in universities, colleges and schools to go on placements and exchanges overseas, starting in September 2021.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 11/01/2021 13:32:54 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne

1272170

registered interest
date	17/12/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with (a) teaching unions and (b) headteachers’ associations on the effect of rising rates of covid-19 infection on the start of the school term in January.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	131344
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text The Department’s ministers and officials regularly engage with the teacher and headteacher unions around the Government’s COVID-19 response and will continue to to do so. answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 11/01/2021 15:47:36 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes