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1552075

registered interest
date	15/12/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pre-school Education: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of funding provision for early years settings.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	111666
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2022 answer text <p>In the 2021 Spending Review the department announced additional funding for early years of £160 million in 2022/23, £180 million in 2023/24 and £170 million in 2024/25, compared to the 2021/22 financial year.</p><p>The department has recently announced that we will invest an additional £20 million into early years funding in 2023/24, on top of the additional funding announced in the 2021 Spending Review. Taken together, this will help support providers at a national level with the additional National Living Wage costs associated with delivering the free childcare entitlements next year. The department will also be investing an additional £10 million into Maintained Nursery School supplementary funding from 2023/24.</p><p>In 2023/24, local authorities are set to receive average funding increases of 3.4% for the 3- and 4-year-old free childcare entitlements and 4% for the 2- year-old entitlement, compared to their 2022/23 rates.</p><p>The department has again increased the early years pupil premium, which for 2023/24 will provide up to £353 per eligible child per year to support better outcomes for disadvantaged 3- and 4-year- olds. The department has also increased the Disability Access Fund, which will be worth at least £828 per eligible child per year.</p><p>The department continues to engage with sector stakeholders and local authorities to monitor the sufficiency of childcare places and sustainability of the early years sector.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho question first answered 21/12/2022 14:41:36 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1536473

registered interest
date	26/10/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Students: Energy Bills Rebate
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps students who have their bills included in rent can take to access from the Energy Bills Support Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	72405
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2022 answer text <p>The government recognises the additional cost of living pressures that have arisen this year and impacted students. Many higher education providers have hardship funds that students can apply to for assistance.</p><p>There is £261 million of student premium funding available this academic year to support disadvantaged students who need additional help. The department has worked with the Office for Students to ensure universities support students in hardship by using hardship funds and drawing on the student premium.</p><p>In addition, all households will save on their energy bills through the Energy Price Guarantee and the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme discount. Students who buy their energy from a domestic supplier are eligible for the energy bills discount. The Energy Prices Bill introduced on 12 October includes the provision to require landlords to pass benefits they receive from energy price support, as appropriate, onto end users. Further details of the requirements under this legislation will be set out in regulations.</p><p>Students whose bills are included in their rent, including energy charges, will typically have agreed their accommodation costs upfront when signing their contract for the current academic year. Businesses, including those that provide student accommodation, are covered by the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which provides energy bill relief for non-domestic customers in Great Britain.</p><p>A HM Treasury-led review will be launched to consider how to support households and businesses with energy bills after April 2023.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon grouped question UIN 72407 question first answered 03/11/2022 16:59:37 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1536476

registered interest
date	26/10/2022
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, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential effect on students of the 2.3% rise in maintenance loans in the context of rising levels of inflation.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	72406
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2022 answer text <p>Decisions on student support are taken on an annual basis.</p><p>The government recognises the additional cost of living pressures that have arisen and impacted students this year. Many higher education providers have hardship funds that students can apply to for assistance.</p><p>There is £261 million of student premium funding available this academic year to support disadvantaged students who need additional help.</p><p>The department has continued to increase living costs support with a 2.3% increase for maximum loans, grants for living, and other costs for the 2022/23 academic year. Students who have been awarded a loan for living costs for the 2022/23 academic year that is lower than the maximum, and whose household income for the 2022/23 financial year has dropped by at least 15% compared to the income provided for their original assessment, can apply for their entitlement to be reassessed.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 09/11/2022 18:12:01 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1536478

registered interest
date	26/10/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Students: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions her Department has had on tailored support for students during the cost of living crisis.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	72407
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2022 answer text <p>The government recognises the additional cost of living pressures that have arisen this year and impacted students. Many higher education providers have hardship funds that students can apply to for assistance.</p><p>There is £261 million of student premium funding available this academic year to support disadvantaged students who need additional help. The department has worked with the Office for Students to ensure universities support students in hardship by using hardship funds and drawing on the student premium.</p><p>In addition, all households will save on their energy bills through the Energy Price Guarantee and the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme discount. Students who buy their energy from a domestic supplier are eligible for the energy bills discount. The Energy Prices Bill introduced on 12 October includes the provision to require landlords to pass benefits they receive from energy price support, as appropriate, onto end users. Further details of the requirements under this legislation will be set out in regulations.</p><p>Students whose bills are included in their rent, including energy charges, will typically have agreed their accommodation costs upfront when signing their contract for the current academic year. Businesses, including those that provide student accommodation, are covered by the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which provides energy bill relief for non-domestic customers in Great Britain.</p><p>A HM Treasury-led review will be launched to consider how to support households and businesses with energy bills after April 2023.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon grouped question UIN 72405 question first answered 03/11/2022 16:59:37 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1536048

registered interest
date	25/10/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Energy
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools have been retro-fitted to improve energy efficiency since 2019.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	71207
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2022 answer text <p>Local authorities and other responsible bodies carry out regular improvement works at schools across the country. The Department does not hold central records of all these individual projects. Since 2019 the Condition Improvement Fund has provided funding for 5,036 projects at eligible schools and sixth form colleges.</p><p>In addition to this, between 1 January 2019 and 1 October 2022, 230 schools were rebuilt or significantly refurbished under the Priority School Building Programme, a Department funded and delivered school building condition improvement programme. All projects adhered to the Department’s design specification for schools and improved their energy efficiency.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 02/11/2022 13:59:47 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1536063

registered interest
date	25/10/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Heating
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of electric heaters bought for use in schools since 2019.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	71210
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2022 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally. The Department does not buy centrally on behalf of schools, so does not hold the information about the number of electric heaters that have been bought since 2019. Schools are autonomous and have the freedom to make their own buying decisions based on individual needs and circumstances.</p><p>More information on buying guidance and procedures for schools is available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buying-procedures-and-procurement-law-for-schools" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buying-procedures-and-procurement-law-for-schools</a>.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 02/11/2022 14:04:38 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1519626

registered interest
date	10/10/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme
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 potential merits of extending the School Fruit and Vegetable scheme to more children in state funded primary schools.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	59977
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>In the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ food strategy, published in June 2022, the Government set out its commitment to conduct a review of the policy and delivery of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme. The Department is working together with officials from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on the review. The scope of the programme and sustainability of produce will be factors for consideration.</p><p>The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme is operated by a private contractor on behalf of DHSC. Seasonal produce is used as part of the scheme and organic produce may be used. Officials in DHSC and the Department have been working together in recent months on how the scheme might be improved in the future.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 59978 question first answered 14/11/2022 14:59:39 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1519627

registered interest
date	10/10/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has assessed the potential merits of sourcing more British produce for the School Fruit and Vegetable scheme.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	59978
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2022 answer text <p>In the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ food strategy, published in June 2022, the Government set out its commitment to conduct a review of the policy and delivery of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme. The Department is working together with officials from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on the review. The scope of the programme and sustainability of produce will be factors for consideration.</p><p>The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme is operated by a private contractor on behalf of DHSC. Seasonal produce is used as part of the scheme and organic produce may be used. Officials in DHSC and the Department have been working together in recent months on how the scheme might be improved in the future.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb grouped question UIN 59977 question first answered 14/11/2022 14:59:39 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1507238

registered interest
date	21/09/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the cost of living crisis on the number of children living in poverty who are not eligible for free school meals.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	53478
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2022 answer text <p>The department does not currently have any plans to assess the potential impact of the cost of living crisis on the number of children living in poverty who are not eligible for free school meals (FSM). However, the department continues to monitor the rising cost of living whilst working with other government departments on support surrounding this issue and the department will continue to keep FSM eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. In setting a threshold, the government believes that the current level, which enables children to benefit from FSM, while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one.</p><p>The latest published statistics show that around 1.9 million pupils are claiming FSM. This equates to 22.5% of all pupils, up from 20.8% in 2021. Together with a further 1.25 million infants supported through the Universal Infant Free School Meal policy, the greatest ever proportion of school children, 37.5%, are now provided with FSM.</p> answering member constituency Rochester and Strood answering member printed Kelly Tolhurst question first answered 28/09/2022 16:34:10 answering member 4487 label Biography information for Kelly Tolhurst
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1470806

registered interest
date	15/06/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Faith Schools: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he had made an assessment of the potential impact of religious selection on socioeconomic inclusion in schools.
tabling member constituency	Bath
tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
uin	18969
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2022 answer text <p>Church and faith schools represent a third of all state-funded schools. The department values the contribution that they make to a diverse school system.</p><p>Faith schools have played a longstanding and important role in our education system. Faith schools are popular with parents, with many being high-performing and are more likely to be rated good or outstanding by Ofsted than non-faith schools. New academies and free schools that have a faith designation must allow for a minimum of 50% of places to be allocated to children without reference to faith where the school is oversubscribed.</p><p>In 2018, the department published ‘Secondary school choice and selection: insights from new national preferences data’. The report found evidence that the smaller proportion of disadvantaged and minority ethnic pupils attending church schools compared to other schools was a result of a range of factors, including admissions oversubscription criteria, as well as parental preference.</p><p>The department expects all schools, including faith schools, to be open and inclusive. All schools, including faith schools, must ensure that their admission arrangements are fair and objective, and that the arrangements will not disadvantage unfairly a child from a particular social or racial group.</p><p>Many faith schools are oversubscribed, showing that parents value and want these schools. The department also understands that the ability to prioritise children of faith when oversubscribed is important to faith schools and we do not intend to change that.</p> answering member constituency Worcester answering member printed Mr Robin Walker grouped question UIN 18970 question first answered 24/06/2022 13:18:26 answering member 4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker
tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse