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1232469

registered interest
date	08/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Internet
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 number of households with school-age children that do not have access to the internet.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	86651
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2020 answer text <p>In the last academic year, the Department invested over £100 million to support remote education and delivered over 220,000 laptops and tablets and over 50,000 4G wireless routers to local authorities and academy trusts for children who would not otherwise have access.</p><p>The Department allocated devices to local authorities and academy trusts based on its estimates of the number of eligible children that did not have access to a device or connectivity through other means, such as a privately or through school. Local authorities and academy trusts were responsible for distributing the devices, being best placed to know which children and young people need access to a device delivered through the programme.</p><p>Where local authorities and academy trusts identified a need greater than their initial allocation, they could provide evidence and request more laptops, tablets and routers. No valid request for additional devices for eligible children was denied.</p><p>The Department has published data that shows the number of devices and routers received by each local authority and academy trust that participated in the scheme. This information is available at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/912888/Devices_and_4G_wireless_routers_progress_data_as_of_27_August_2020.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/912888/Devices_and_4G_wireless_routers_progress_data_as_of_27_August_2020.pdf</a>.</p><p>The Department is now supplementing this support by making an initial 150,000 additional devices available in the event that face-to-face schooling is disrupted as a result of local COVID-19 restrictions.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 11/09/2020 11:01:29 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1232470

registered interest
date	08/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Overseas Students
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 the British Council on the number of international students expected to enrol in UK universities during academic years (a) 2020-21, (b) 2021-22, (c) 2022-23; and what support his Department has offered to the British Council to help attract international students for the academic year 2020-21.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	86652
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>The government has been clear that our world-leading universities, which thrive on being global institutions, will always be open to international students. I have met with the British Council to discuss how we can best attract international students, including through effective communications.</p><p>Engaging closely with other government departments and the higher education (HE) sector, including the British Council, the department is working to reassure current and prospective international students that UK HE is ‘open for business’, remains world-class and is a safe and tolerant place to study. This includes continued work with Study UK (the government’s international student recruitment campaign led by the British Council), support for the sector-led #WeAreTogether campaign and a package of bespoke communications directly targeting international students, making clear our world-leading UK offer.</p><p>As part of this communications activity, the government has also recently approved £1 million for the British Council-led Study UK campaign, to help drive the international student intake in 2020 from 16 global markets and to further promote the new graduate route, which is a significant improvement in our offer to international students that will help ensure the UK HE sector remains competitive internationally.</p><p>I have also written open letters to international students (hosted on the British Council led Study UK website) and placed contributions in overseas newspapers. Additionally, we have enlisted the support of our embassies, British Council offices and staff abroad to make clear that international students are welcome in the UK.</p><p>In addition, the government has been working with the HE sector to ensure existing rules and processes are as flexible as possible under the current circumstances to ensure that international students planning to study in the UK from autumn 2020 can do so. Speaking at the British Council’s Going Global event on 5 June, I outlined measures we are taking to support international students and the HE sector against the global challenges posed by COVID-19. This includes reassuring international students who are considering study in the UK that distance/blended learning will be permitted for the 20/21 academic year, provided that students intend to transition to face-to-face learning as soon as circumstances allow.</p><p>Finally, we recognise that embarking on a course of study at a UK HE institution is a significant commitment and we are encouraged to see HE providers doing their upmost to support students during this time.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 14/09/2020 15:00:31 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1232471

registered interest
date	08/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Teaching Excellence Framework Independent Review
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress has been made by the Independent review into the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework; when Dame Shirley Pearce will make a report to him; and if that report will be made publicly available.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	86653
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>The Higher Education and Research Act (2017) requires that the report of the independent review of the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework should be laid before Parliament.</p><p>The reviewer, Dame Shirley Pearce, has submitted her report to ministers and we are considering the report’s evidence and recommendations. We intend to lay the report in due course and to publish it alongside the government’s response.</p> answering member constituency Chippenham answering member printed Michelle Donelan question first answered 14/09/2020 14:58:40 answering member 4530 label Biography information for Michelle Donelan
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1232472

registered interest
date	08/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Teachers: Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what training has been provided to teachers to help them adapt to remote teaching.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	86654
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2020 answer text <p>We expect schools to have a strong contingency plan for remote education in place in case of any localised disruption to face-to-face education. We have asked schools to look to align the quality of their existing provision against the expectations set out in the published guidance on curriculum and remote education provision. This guidance is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools#section-3-curriculum-behaviour-and-pastoral-support" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools#section-3-curriculum-behaviour-and-pastoral-support</a>.</p><p>The Department has provided a range of resources to support schools in delivering remote education. This includes examples of teaching practice during COVID-19, which provides an opportunity for schools to learn from each other’s approaches to remote education, as well as our work with sector-led initiatives such as Oak National Academy.</p><p>Examples of teaching practise during COVID-19 are available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-practice-for-schools-during-coronavirus-covid-19" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-practice-for-schools-during-coronavirus-covid-19</a>.</p><p>The Department has made £4.84 million available for Oak National Academy, both for the summer term of the academic year 2019-20 and for the 2020-21 academic year, to provide video lessons for Reception up to Year 11. This will include specialist content for pupils with SEND. Oak will remain a free optional resource for 2020-21.</p><p>The Government is also funding expert technical support to help schools set up secure user accounts for Google and Microsoft’s education platforms. Schools can apply for <br> government-funded support through The Key for School Leaders to get set up on one of two free-to-use digital education platforms: G Suite for Education or Office 365 Education. The Key provides feature comparisons on the two platforms to enable schools to make an informed choice, as well as case studies on how schools are making the most of these platforms. Information is available here: <a href="https://schoolleaders.thekeysupport.com/" target="_blank">https://schoolleaders.thekeysupport.com/</a></p><p>The Department’s EdTech Demonstrator programme has also been helping schools and colleges access training and advice on remote teaching during the COVID-19 outbreak. Further information about the programme is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/edtech-demonstrator-schools-and-colleges-successful-applicants/about-the-programme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/edtech-demonstrator-schools-and-colleges-successful-applicants/about-the-programme</a>.</p><p>While schools and colleges were closed to most pupils, the support package provided by the Demonstrators included direct one-to-one advice and training, along with an offer of online tutorials, webinars and recorded content.</p><p>The Demonstrator programme will continue to offer Continuing Professional Development to all state-funded schools and colleges in England until March 2021, and the Demonstrators will continue to bridge the gap between technology available to schools and colleges and successfully using that technology to deliver education. Support can be tailored to meet individual needs, while considering start point, confidence in technology practices and the time available to senior leaders. Transitioning back to the classroom, blended teaching approaches, creating a remote education contingency plan and implementing a digital strategy are just a few examples of how the Demonstrators can support schools and colleges.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 11/09/2020 11:38:23 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1231844

registered interest
date	07/09/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Digital Technology: Training
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 2 September 2020 to Question 77609 on Digital Technology: Training, where the (a) details of the new entitlement which will ensure adults, aged 19 and over, with no or low digital skills can study for specified qualifications in essential digital skills up to Level 1 free of charge, and (b) new August 2020 national standards can be found.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	86035
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2020 answer text <p>This government recognises the importance of digital skills for employability and participation in society. That is why we have introduced a legal entitlement to essential digital skills qualifications, which mirrors the existing legal entitlements for English and maths, so adults with no or low digital skills will have the opportunity to undertake new digital qualifications free of charge. Further details can be found in the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s (ESFA) Qualification Funding Approval Manual 2020 to 2021, available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualification-funding-approval" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualification-funding-approval</a>. The Adult Education Budget Funding and Performance Management Rules 2020 to 2021 also provide further detail and are available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/adult-education-budget-aeb-funding-rules-2020-to-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/adult-education-budget-aeb-funding-rules-2020-to-2021</a>.</p><p>The new digital entitlement for adults was introduced in August 2020 supported by new Essential Digital Skills qualifications (EDSQs) at entry level and level 1. EDSQs are a new qualification type designed to meet the diverse needs of adults with no or low digital skills. These are based on new national standards for essential digital skills published in April 2019, which set out the digital skills people need to get on in life and work. These standards are available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-standards-for-essential-digital-skills" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-standards-for-essential-digital-skills</a>.</p><p>A list of the EDSQs which are included in the digital entitlement for post 19 learners can be found by searching the ESFA’s list of qualifications approved for funding at: <a href="https://www.qualifications.education.gov.uk/Search" target="_blank">https://www.qualifications.education.gov.uk/Search</a>.</p> answering member constituency Chichester answering member printed Gillian Keegan question first answered 10/09/2020 13:04:58 answering member 4680 label Biography information for Gillian Keegan
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1231883

registered interest
date	07/09/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Exhibitions: North of England
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the ongoing legacy of the Great Exhibition of the North.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	86038
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/09/2020 answer text <p>In February 2019, the evaluation of the Great Exhibition of the North was completed and a detailed final report was published by Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, the lead delivery partner, following sign off from local partners and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The final report identified that the exhibition received 3.8 million visits across 80 days of events, installations and activities, and that 90% of visitors felt that the exhibition had changed their perceptions of Newcastle Gateshead, 84% saying that they would recommend Newcastle Gateshead to friends and relatives.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 10/09/2020 12:46:36 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1231193

registered interest
date	03/09/2020
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Termination of Employment: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will introduce an appeals process for people released from employment without their company first applying for the furlough scheme.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	84692
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>Whilst we have encouraged companies to make use of the coronavirus job retention scheme (CJRS) and avoid making redundancies, there was no requirement that employers participate in the scheme as employers are best equipped to decide whether or not they furlough their employees. An appeals process would not be appropriate given the voluntary nature of the scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The legislation makes clear that any redundancy and dismissal process should be fair and reasonable. Employees with the necessary qualifying service who believe that they have been unfairly dismissed, or that the dismissal was unfair in some other way, may be able to complain to an employment tribunal.</p> answering member constituency Sutton and Cheam answering member printed Paul Scully question first answered 08/09/2020 16:21:38 answering member 4414 label Biography information for Paul Scully
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1231195

registered interest
date	03/09/2020
answering body	Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office
answering dept id	209
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disinformation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress the covid-19 fake news unit has made; and what criteria he is using to evaluate the performance of that unit.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	84694
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>The Counter Disinformation Unit was established on 5 March 2020, bringing together cross-Government monitoring and analysis capabilities. Its primary function is to provide a comprehensive picture of the extent, scope and the reach of disinformation and misinformation on Covid-19, and to work with partners to ensure appropriate action is taken.</p><p>Government has been identifying and resolving up to 70 incidents a week, often false narratives containing multiple misleading claims coordinating with departments across Whitehall to deploy an appropriate response. This can include a direct rebuttal on social media, working with platforms to remove harmful content, and ensuring public health campaigns are promoted through reliable sources. A range of criteria from engagement rates to speed of response is used to evaluate the effectiveness of the actions taken.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 14/09/2020 15:29:15 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1231196

registered interest
date	03/09/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Coronavirus: Disinformation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what staffing and resource is provided to the unit in his Department tackling covid-19 misinformation.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	84695
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>In support of the Government’s central Covid-19 response, the Counter Disinformation Unit stood up on 5 March 2020. The Unit brings together cross-government capabilities, including monitoring, analysis and strategic communications. It includes teams in DCMS, the Home Office, the Foreign &amp; Commonwealth Office and the Cabinet Office. The Unit is resourced full time through existing cross-government teams.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 08/09/2020 12:34:37 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1231197

registered interest
date	03/09/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Disclosure of Information: USA
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2020 to Question 75283 on Disclosure of Information: USA, when he plans to publish updated guidance on international data transfers following the Schrems II ruling.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	84696
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2020 answer text <p>The UK Government continues to work with the Information Commissioner’s Office to address the impacts of the Schrems II judgment. The Government’s public statement on the Schrems II judgement is available on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-response-to-the-european-court-of-justice-decision-in-the-schrems-ii-case" target="_blank">Gov.UK</a>.</p><p>During the Transition Period, EU data protection law and the guidance of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) apply to the UK directly. The EDPB published initial guidance on international data transfers following the Schrems II judgment on 24 July (available <a href="https://edpb.europa.eu/our-work-tools/our-documents/ovrigt/frequently-asked-questions-judgment-court-justice-european-union_en" target="_blank">here</a>). We expect the EDPB to provide further guidance in due course.</p><p>The ICO has published updated material on its website including a statement and updates to their Privacy Shield FAQ (available <a href="https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/news-and-events/news-and-blogs/2020/07/updated-ico-statement-on-the-judgment-of-the-european-court-of-justice-in-the-schrems-ii-case/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/eu-us-privacy-shield/" target="_blank">here</a>). DCMS is working with the Information Commissioner’s Office to ensure updated guidance is published, as and when appropriate.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 08/09/2020 16:49:32 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah