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1687467

registered interest
date	05/02/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Asbestos
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of how many schools who have incurred a financial cost to manage asbestos on their premises in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	12893
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2024 answer text <p>Safe and well-maintained school buildings are a priority for the department. The department has allocated over £15 billion to improve the condition of schools since 2015, including £1.8 billion this financial year. This funding is informed by consistent data on the condition of the estate.</p><p>The department expects responsible bodies, including local authorities, governing bodies and academy trusts, to have robust plans in place to manage any asbestos in school buildings effectively in line with their legal duties.</p><p>The department follows advice from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which states that, as long as asbestos is in good condition, not vulnerable to damage and carefully managed, it is usually safer to manage it in situ. The department is committed to working collaboratively with HSE, as the regulator, to support schools and duty holders.</p><p>The department has not made an assessment of how many schools have incurred a financial cost to manage asbestos. Asbestos is managed by responsible bodies and schools at a local level, including determining how management is funded. The department supports them by providing guidance on the safe management of asbestos and providing access to capital funding each year. Schools are either eligible for School Condition Allocation funding to prioritise improving the condition of their schools, or they are able to bid into the Condition Improvement Fund annual bidding round, to apply for funding for specific capital projects. All schools also receive funding to spend on their capital priorities or to contribute to larger projects through an annual Devolved Formula Capital allocation. Condition funding can be used to remove asbestos when required, often as part of a wider condition project.</p><p>Where responsible bodies have serious issues with buildings that cannot be managed locally, the department provides additional support on a case-by-case basis.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 13/02/2024 12:41:51 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1676609

registered interest
date	08/12/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Inspections
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Ofsted inspections have been paused due to headteacher distress in each of the last 3 years.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	5921
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2023 answer text <p>Matters concerning the pausing of school inspections and the consideration of complaints about the conduct of inspectors are for Ofsted, which is a separate non-ministerial department and independent inspectorate.</p><p>The department does not collect specific data on correspondence received that refers to the conduct of inspectors.</p><p>I have asked His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, to write to the hon. Member, the Member for Harrow West, directly on these matters and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds grouped question UIN 5922 question first answered 20/12/2023 16:10:25 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1676619

registered interest
date	08/12/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Inspections
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many complaints her Department has received about the conduct of Ofsted inspectors during school inspections in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	5922
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2023 answer text <p>Matters concerning the pausing of school inspections and the consideration of complaints about the conduct of inspectors are for Ofsted, which is a separate non-ministerial department and independent inspectorate.</p><p>The department does not collect specific data on correspondence received that refers to the conduct of inspectors.</p><p>I have asked His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, to write to the hon. Member, the Member for Harrow West, directly on these matters and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds grouped question UIN 5921 question first answered 20/12/2023 16:10:25 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1671938

registered interest
date	21/11/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Asbestos
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2023 to Question 22 on Schools: Asbestos, what information her Department holds on levels of asbestos in Harrow schools.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	2751
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2023 answer text <p>Buildings erected from 2000 have not used asbestos in their construction. Most older buildings will still have asbestos present in them, although some have undertaken asbestos removal programmes.</p><p> </p><p>Asbestos ‘dutyholders’ for schools, who usually include local authorities and academy trusts, must comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. These require dutyholders to have a robust asbestos management plan, train staff, and maintain an asbestos register detailing location, type, and condition of asbestos in their buildings.</p><p> </p><p>The department takes the safety of children and those who work with them incredibly seriously, which is why we expect all local authorities, governing bodies and academy trusts to have robust plans in place to manage asbestos in school buildings effectively, in line with their legal duties.</p><p> </p><p>The asbestos management assurance process (AMAP) was a survey launched by the department in March 2018 to understand the steps schools and those responsible for their estate were taking to manage asbestos.</p><p> </p><p>Data published in 2019 reflecting returns from 88.4% of schools showed that 80% of schools had some asbestos present in their estate. The department can confirm that from responses captured, the position in Harrow schools suggests a slightly lower percentage than the national picture, though we continue to gather data in this area through the Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme. The 2019 AMAP report is available at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f28153ed3bf7f1b17facda7/AMAP_Report_2019.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f28153ed3bf7f1b17facda7/AMAP_Report_2019.pdf</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The department expects current percentages to reduce over time as schools are rebuilt or refurbished, and asbestos is removed. Information on how schools are managing asbestos is now being collected via the department’s CDC2 programme, which started in 2021 and will complete in 2026, and is expected to cover all state-funded schools.</p><p> </p><p>The department follows the Health and Safety Executive’s advice that, provided asbestos-containing materials are in good condition, and unlikely to be disturbed, it is generally safest to manage them in place. Where asbestos-containing materials are likely to be disturbed by maintenance works or daily use of the building, and cannot be easily protected, schools should have them removed.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 27/11/2023 16:28:12 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1667514

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Asbestos
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools have asbestos on their estate; how many schools have an asbestos management plan in place; and what funding her Department has provided to the London Borough of Harrow for the (a) removal and (b) management of asbestos in each of the last 13 years.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	22
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2023 answer text <p>The Department takes the safety of children and those who work with them very seriously and expects Local Authorities, governing bodies and academy trusts to have robust plans in place to manage asbestos in school buildings effectively, in line with their legal duties.</p><p>Asbestos duty holders, such as Local Authorities and academy trusts, are responsible for understanding the presence of asbestos in schools and putting appropriate measures in place for its management.</p><p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates schools’ compliance with legislation to manage their asbestos safely. These require duty holders to have a robust asbestos management plan, train staff, and maintain an asbestos register detailing location, type, and condition of asbestos in their buildings.</p><p>Information on how schools are managing asbestos is now being collected via the Department’s Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme, which started in 2021 and will complete in 2026.</p><p>The Department has committed £1.8 billion of capital funding for the 2023/24 financial year to improve the condition of school buildings, as part of over £15 billion allocated since 2015. In addition, the Department will transform poor condition buildings at 500 schools and colleges through the School Rebuilding Programme.</p><p>The Department provides annual capital funding to Local Authorities to improve the condition of their schools and keep them safe and compliant with relevant regulations, including removing asbestos, when it cannot be managed safely in situ. Harrow local authority was allocated £2.7 million in School Condition Allocations for the 2023/24 financial year to provide funding to the schools for which it is responsible. This is part of £19 million allocated since 2015, when School Condition Allocations were introduced.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 17/11/2023 12:33:34 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1666567

registered interest
date	23/10/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Asbestos
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish data on (a) the number of schools that have discovered asbestos on their estate and (b) the number of schools with an asbestos management plan in place; and what funding her Department has provided to the London Borough of Harrow specifically for the (i) removal and (ii) management of asbestos in the last 13 years.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	203739
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 26/10/2023 11:15:35 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1657741

registered interest
date	04/09/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Harrow
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has plans to make further funding available to schools in Harrow to improve their safety, capacity and effectiveness; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	197333
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/09/2023 answer text <p>It is the responsibility of those who run schools - academy trusts, Local Authorities and voluntary aided school bodies - to manage the safety and maintenance of their schools and to alert the Department if there is a serious concern with a building. It has always been the case that where the Department is made aware a building may pose an immediate risk, immediate action is taken.</p><p>The 2021 Spending Review announced a budget of over £19 billion of capital funding to support the education sector between 2022/23 and 2024/25. This funding is in addition to targeted work on RAAC. The Department has continued to fund improving the condition of schools, with over £15 billion allocated since 2015, including £1.8 billion committed for 2023/24, informed by consistent data on the condition of the estate.</p><p>On top of this, 500 schools will be transformed through the School Rebuilding Programme, prioritising buildings in the poorest condition and those with evidence of potential safety issues. The Sacred Heart Language College in Harrow has been announced as one of the schools included in the School Rebuilding Programme.</p><p>Harrow Local Authority has received £2,695,355 in School Condition Allocations (SCA) for the 2023/24 financial year. Harrow Local Authority is responsible for allocating this funding across its schools based on local knowledge of condition need, prioritising keeping schools safe and operational. Academy trusts and voluntary aided school bodies also have access to capital funding each year, but allocations typically cut across constituency and Local Authority boundaries. Local Authority schools in Harrow have also been allocated a total of £334,502 in Devolved Formula Capital in 2023/24 to spend on their own priorities. Allocations can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-capital-funding#funding-allocations-for-the-2023-to-2024-financial-year" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-capital-funding#funding-allocations-for-the-2023-to-2024-financial-year</a>.</p><p>The Department’s immediate focus is supporting schools and colleges with remedial work to deal with RAAC. The Department will fund mitigation works that are capital funded, including installing alternative classroom space where necessary. Where schools and colleges need additional help with revenue costs, like transport to locations or temporarily renting a local hall or office, this should be discussed with the Department in the first instance to agree any further support needed. All reasonable requests are expected to be approved. Longer term refurbishment projects, or rebuilding projects will also be funded where these are needed, to rectify the RAAC issue in the long term.</p><p>With regard to school capacity, the Department is funding nearly £750 million in 2023/24 for new mainstream school places needed for September 2024, a further £195 million for 2024/25 for places needed for September 2025, and nearly £530 million for 2025/26 for places needed for September 2026. £2.6 billion is also being funded between 2022 and 2025 in high needs capital which represents a significant, transformational investment in new high needs provision.</p><p>The Department is also improving the capability and effectiveness of the sector through guidance such as Good Estate Management for Schools (GEMS), and Capital Advisers Programme to help schools and responsible bodies achieve value for money and make the most of their resources.</p><p>The Department will always put the safety and wellbeing of children and staff in education settings at the heart of its policy decisions.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 26/09/2023 15:39:57 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1639322

registered interest
date	22/05/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Romania
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had recent discussions with representatives of the Romanian community on the rights of access to (a) schools and (b) after-school clubs for the children of Romanian parents; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	186002
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/05/2023 answer text <p>The Department has had no discussions with representatives of the Romanian community on either of these matters. Every child resident in this country has a right to an education and a school place, irrespective of their national origins.</p><p>In addition, the Government is making £289 million available for a new childcare ‘pathfinder’ scheme. This will support Local Authorities to work with primary schools and private providers to set up and deliver wraparound childcare before and after school.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 31/05/2023 11:51:46 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas

1610008

registered interest
date	14/04/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Teachers: Languages
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many qualified teachers of Romanian there are in schools in Harrow; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Harrow West
tabling member printed	Gareth Thomas
uin	180141
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2023 answer text <p>Information on the school workforce in England, including subjects taught in state funded secondary schools, is collected as part of the annual School Workforce Census each November. Information is published in the ‘School Workforce in England’ statistical publication which is available at: <a href="https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england" target="_blank">https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england</a>.</p><p>Information on the number of qualified teachers of Romanian is not collected by the Department. Any teachers of Romanian will be reported by schools to the Department within the ‘Other modern foreign languages’ category.</p><p>It is up to individual schools to decide which languages are taught as part of their curriculum, both at primary and secondary school, and the Department does not specify which languages should be taught or how to teach them. When deciding which languages to teach their pupils, schools are likely to consider the needs of the community in which they serve. Schools would be able to teach pupils Romanian as a language option, if they thought there was sufficient demand to do so.</p><p>In March 2023, the Department launched its new Language Hubs programme, managed by the National Consortium for Languages Education (NCLE) based at University College London’s Institute of Education. As part of this programme, the NCLE is expected to increase access to home, heritage, and community languages, signposting to supporting materials and good practice, and working more closely with supplementary schools.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 24/04/2023 15:15:47 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	177 label Biography information for Gareth Thomas