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774352

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2017
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Training
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve the guidance provided by her Department on education and training opportunities for reskilling or upskilling for working people of all ages.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	108886
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2017 answer text <p>In the Industrial Strategy Green Paper published in January 2017, the Government set out an ambitious plan to encourage ongoing learning throughout peoples’ working lives. The Spring Budget allocated up to £40m to fund pilots over the next two years which will help understand how best to engage adults about the opportunities and benefits of training.</p><p> </p><p>We are publishing a careers strategy shortly that will have a clear focus on social mobility. It will also include proposals to improve the quality and coverage of careers advice in schools and colleges. This advice will provide an additional stream of information for young people wishing to access training during their working lives.</p> answering member constituency Guildford answering member printed Anne Milton question first answered 25/10/2017 14:42:56 answering member 1523 label Biography information for Anne Milton
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1490251

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Adoption
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the independent review of children’s social care: Final report, published in May 2022, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing that report's recommendations regarding (a) contact in general and (b) letterbox contact.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	38827
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2022 answer text <p>The government is determined to respond to the challenges set by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care and will consider the recommendations carefully. As set out in our adoption strategy paper, improving contact for children, birth families, and adoptive parents is a key priority.</p><p> </p><p>The adoption strategy commits us to working with regional adoption agencies to develop and trial what good practice around contact looks like, with a view to setting national standards in this area. This includes investigating what support is needed for children, birth parents, and adoptive parents. Regional adoption agencies are currently trialling a programme called ‘Letterswap’, which is a new digital platform to improve the current ‘Letterbox’ system.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board has established a ‘Maintaining relationships for children’ sub-group. It has a remit to improve children’s understanding of their identity to improve their ability to reach their potential as adults. This group’s work will complement that of regional adoption agency leaders to help develop good practice around contact which can be shared with adoption agencies across the country.</p> answering member constituency Bassetlaw answering member printed Brendan Clarke-Smith grouped question UIN 38828 question first answered 21/07/2022 15:42:13 answering member 4756 label Biography information for Brendan Clarke-Smith
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1490252

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Adoption
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Adoption strategy, published in July 2021, what recent progress his Department has made on working with the regional adoption agencies Leaders Group to (a) trial and develop good practice and (b) set national standards in (i) supporting birth families and (ii) contact arrangements.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	38828
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2022 answer text <p>The government is determined to respond to the challenges set by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care and will consider the recommendations carefully. As set out in our adoption strategy paper, improving contact for children, birth families, and adoptive parents is a key priority.</p><p> </p><p>The adoption strategy commits us to working with regional adoption agencies to develop and trial what good practice around contact looks like, with a view to setting national standards in this area. This includes investigating what support is needed for children, birth parents, and adoptive parents. Regional adoption agencies are currently trialling a programme called ‘Letterswap’, which is a new digital platform to improve the current ‘Letterbox’ system.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board has established a ‘Maintaining relationships for children’ sub-group. It has a remit to improve children’s understanding of their identity to improve their ability to reach their potential as adults. This group’s work will complement that of regional adoption agency leaders to help develop good practice around contact which can be shared with adoption agencies across the country.</p> answering member constituency Bassetlaw answering member printed Brendan Clarke-Smith grouped question UIN 38827 question first answered 21/07/2022 15:42:13 answering member 4756 label Biography information for Brendan Clarke-Smith
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1490253

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2022
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children's Social Care National Implementation Board
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to The independent review of children’s social care, published in May 2022, and the Government's commitment in response that it will set up a National Implementation Board of sector experts, published on 23 May 2022, whether his Department has plans to (a) engage with birth parents through and (b) include representation of birth parents in that Board.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	38829
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2022 answer text <p>The National Implementation Board will support and challenge the department’s delivery of the children’s social care reform programme. It will be attended by those with expertise in leading transformational change, but also individuals with direct experience of the care system, which can include birth parents. The department will be working with charities over the summer on an application process for appointing these members to the Board. We are committed to ensuring those with lived experience are at the heart of our agenda.</p> answering member constituency Bassetlaw answering member printed Brendan Clarke-Smith question first answered 21/07/2022 15:29:43 answering member 4756 label Biography information for Brendan Clarke-Smith
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1652856

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2023
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Care Leavers: Departmental Coordination
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which Ministers sit on the cross-government ministerial board for care leavers; how many times the board has met in the last 12 months; and if she will publish the board's minutes for the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	193999
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2023 answer text <p>The Care Leavers Inter-Ministerial Board is co-chaired by the Secretary of State for Education, and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Ministers that sit on the Board include:</p><ul><li>Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing</li><li>Minister for Veterans’ Affairs (and Cross-Government lead for Care Leavers)</li><li>Chief Secretary to the Treasury</li><li>Minister of State for Justice</li><li>Minister for Safeguarding</li><li>Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression</li><li>Minister for Enterprise, Markets and Small Business</li><li>Minister for Primary Care and Public Health</li><li>Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society</li><li>Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Roads and Local Transport</li><li>Minister for Energy Consumers and Affordability</li><li>Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families</li></ul><p>The Ministerial Board has met twice in the last year. Minutes of meetings are not published.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho question first answered 20/07/2023 11:39:40 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1663649

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Children in Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of children in residential care.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	201503
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>The government published its plans to reform children’s social care on 2 February 2023 through an implementation strategy and consultation, entitled ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’. This can be found at: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1147317/Children_s_social_care_stable_homes_consultation_February_2023.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1147317/Children_s_social_care_stable_homes_consultation_February_2023.pdf</a>. A central aim of the strategy is to keep children safely with their families, or extended family, where this is in the best interests of the child.</p><p>The department is investing more than £45 million over the next two years through ‘Families First for Children Pathfinders’ to design and test complex reforms in a number of local areas, across family help, child protection and family network policies. Additionally, we will also be publishing the first ever national Kinship Care Strategy by the end of 2023, which will explore how to better support kinship carers financially and practically.</p><p>Whilst the government recognises the importance of reducing the number of residential care placements for children and young people, residential care can be the right option for some children. Therefore, the department is also supporting local authorities to expand their own provision, which will reduce reliance on the private sector, without reducing the number of placements. We have announced £259 million of capital funding up to 2025 to address concerns in the children’s homes market, and create a market that is more attuned to the needs of local children.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 23/10/2023 17:16:53 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1663651

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Mental Health Services: Children and Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that local authorities have adequate funding to invest in early intervention services.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	201505
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>In 2021/22, local authority gross expenditure on children's and young people's services was £11.9 billion<strong>. </strong>For 2023/24, the Local Government Finance Settlement has made available up to £59.7 billion for all local government services in England, including spending on early intervention. This is an increase in Core Spending Power of 9.4% in cash terms on 2022/23. How local authorities choose to target that funding across services is down to the discretion of local leaders.</p><p> </p><p>In terms of ongoing funding, the department needs to ensure children’s services are sustainable in the long term. That is key to proposals in the ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ strategy, where we are focusing on early, preventative help which can reduce the need for crisis intervention later.</p><p> </p><p>In the lead up to the next Spending Review, the Government will work to ensure the right level of funding for all Children’s Services, including early intervention.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston grouped question UIN 201506 question first answered 23/10/2023 17:18:37 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1663652

	registered interest
	date	13/10/2023
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Mental Health Services: Children and Young People
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what financial support the Government provides to local authorities for the purposes of investing in early intervention services.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	201506
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2023 answer text <p>In 2021/22, local authority gross expenditure on children's and young people's services was £11.9 billion<strong>. </strong>For 2023/24, the Local Government Finance Settlement has made available up to £59.7 billion for all local government services in England, including spending on early intervention. This is an increase in Core Spending Power of 9.4% in cash terms on 2022/23. How local authorities choose to target that funding across services is down to the discretion of local leaders.</p><p> </p><p>In terms of ongoing funding, the department needs to ensure children’s services are sustainable in the long term. That is key to proposals in the ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ strategy, where we are focusing on early, preventative help which can reduce the need for crisis intervention later.</p><p> </p><p>In the lead up to the next Spending Review, the Government will work to ensure the right level of funding for all Children’s Services, including early intervention.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston grouped question UIN 201505 question first answered 23/10/2023 17:18:37 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1247365

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	English Language: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of English language schools at risk of closure as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	109646
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2020 answer text <p>We support English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses as part of our wider effort to improve adult literacy in England. Funding is available through the Adult Education Budget for courses and qualifications at pre-entry, entry level 1 to 3, level 1 and level 2. In 2018/19, the department supported 120,500 adult learners to improve their levels of English through ESOL classes.</p><p>However, English Language Teaching Centres are private language schools, and as such are not in receipt of any funding from the department. We have therefore made no assessment of the adequacy of support for them during the COVID-19 outbreak. My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has announced an extensive and unprecedented package of support measures for businesses across the country and as such we have delivered one of the most generous and comprehensive packages of support globally, with a total fiscal response of close to £200 billion.</p><p>The measures introduced, including loan schemes, grant funding, tax deferrals and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), have been designed to be accessible to businesses in most sectors and across the UK.</p><p>The Chancellor of the Exchequer has also announced an extension to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme, the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and other loan schemes until 31 January, ensuring there is further support in place for firms who need it during this ongoing period of difficulty.</p><p>On 31 October, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, announced that the CJRS will remain open until December, with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500. Under the extended scheme, the cost for employers of retaining workers will be reduced compared to the previous version of the scheme, which was due to end on 31 October. This means the extended furlough scheme is more generous for employers than it was in October.</p><p>In addition, business premises forced to close in England are to receive grants worth up to £3,000 per month under the Local Restrictions Support Grant. A further £1.1 billion is being given to local authorities, distributed on the basis of £20 per head, for one-off payments to enable them to support businesses more broadly.</p> answering member constituency Chichester answering member printed Gillian Keegan grouped question UIN 109647 109648 question first answered 10/11/2020 17:45:18 answering member 4680 label Biography information for Gillian Keegan
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1247366

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	English Language: Education
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what advice he is giving to English language schools at risk of closure which are not eligible for covid-19 financial support.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	109647
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2020 answer text <p>We support English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses as part of our wider effort to improve adult literacy in England. Funding is available through the Adult Education Budget for courses and qualifications at pre-entry, entry level 1 to 3, level 1 and level 2. In 2018/19, the department supported 120,500 adult learners to improve their levels of English through ESOL classes.</p><p>However, English Language Teaching Centres are private language schools, and as such are not in receipt of any funding from the department. We have therefore made no assessment of the adequacy of support for them during the COVID-19 outbreak. My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has announced an extensive and unprecedented package of support measures for businesses across the country and as such we have delivered one of the most generous and comprehensive packages of support globally, with a total fiscal response of close to £200 billion.</p><p>The measures introduced, including loan schemes, grant funding, tax deferrals and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), have been designed to be accessible to businesses in most sectors and across the UK.</p><p>The Chancellor of the Exchequer has also announced an extension to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme, the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and other loan schemes until 31 January, ensuring there is further support in place for firms who need it during this ongoing period of difficulty.</p><p>On 31 October, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, announced that the CJRS will remain open until December, with employees receiving 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500. Under the extended scheme, the cost for employers of retaining workers will be reduced compared to the previous version of the scheme, which was due to end on 31 October. This means the extended furlough scheme is more generous for employers than it was in October.</p><p>In addition, business premises forced to close in England are to receive grants worth up to £3,000 per month under the Local Restrictions Support Grant. A further £1.1 billion is being given to local authorities, distributed on the basis of £20 per head, for one-off payments to enable them to support businesses more broadly.</p> answering member constituency Chichester answering member printed Gillian Keegan grouped question UIN 109646 109648 question first answered 10/11/2020 17:45:18 answering member 4680 label Biography information for Gillian Keegan
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard