The Department for Education believes that improving the quality of teaching in literacy and numeracy is crucial to building the foundation for future study and work. The Government has revised the national curriculum and set more rigorous and challenging content in English and mathematics to match the highest performing countries around the world. The new programmes of study for English and maths will challenge pupils to realise their potential in an increasingly competitive global market.<\/p>
<\/p>
The new maths GCSE will have more content, be more challenging and \u2013 alongside English - will be double weighted in school performance tables. The Department has recently allocated £11 million to fund <\/p> The new national curriculum for English places a greater emphasis on reading and requires pupils to study a range of books, poems and plays.<\/p> The national curriculum for English will give teachers greater flexibility and freedom which will help to raise standards and expectations for all pupils. It has been significantly slimmed down and will free up teachers to use their professional judgement to design curricula that meet the needs of their pupils.<\/p> <\/p> The new English language GCSE will place greater demands on pupils and has more emphasis on those skills demanded by employers. The new English literature GCSE will build on this foundation, and encourage students to read, write and think critically.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4270", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Nash"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Nash"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/64615/answer/previousversion/8669", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4270", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Nash"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Nash"}
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, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-08T15:42:37.307Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-09T15:07:12.1098723Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Schools: Standards"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Elizabeth Truss MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare, that \"our 15 year-olds are up to three years behind their peers in the top-performing countries in reading and mathematics\", what action they propose to address this.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3254", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Quirk"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Quirk"}
], "uin" : "HL698"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62968", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "House of Commons Commission"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62968/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " So far during the financial year 2014/15 PICT has employed HM Prison Bronzefield is a private (contracted out) prison and therefore any activities in the establishment are the decision of the Director of that prison. The production of the performance of Sister Act was arranged between Sodexo Justice Services and the respective parties. Therefore this is not part of the contractual agreement between Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and Sodexo Justice Services.<\/ins><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/194", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Hughes"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bermondsey and Old Southwark"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Simon Hughes"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62369/answer/previousversion/4697", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/194", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Hughes"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bermondsey and Old Southwark"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Simon Hughes"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-23T16:46:18.203", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-25T12:03:56.2717409Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bronzefield Prison"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether (a) the prison governor or (b) another official gave permission for the performance of Sister Act in HMP Bronzefield in February and March 2014.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1577", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sadiq Khan"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tooting"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sadiq Khan"}
], "uin" : "201121"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61553", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61553/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government's Mandate to NHS England, sets out our ambitions for the health service, which include an objective that NHS England ensures clinical commissioning groups work with local authorities to ensure that vulnerable people, particularly those with learning disabilities and autism, receive safe, appropriate, high quality care. NHS England sets out how it will achieve the objectives in the Mandate in its 2014-15 \u2013 2016-17 business plan. The Government will hold NHS England to account for its achievement.<\/p> <\/p> Everyone Counts: Planning for Patients 2014/15 to 2018/19<\/em>sets out a framework within which commissioners will need to work with providers and partners in local government to develop five year plans to secure the continuity of sustainable high quality care for all. Building on Everyone Counts<\/em>, NHS England is beginning a programme of work to consider how to improve quality of and access to health care for people with learning disabilities. Within the framework there is specific reference to Transforming Care: A national response to Winterbourne View Hospital. <\/em>This is a non-negotiable item that NHS England expects to be part of every relationship between commissioners and providers. As part of this, clinical commissioning groups, local authorities and specialised commissioners should work together to implement the core specification which describes the core principles that must be present in all education, health and social care services for children, young people, adults and older people with learning disabilities and/or autism who either display, or are at risk of displaying, behaviour that challenges.<\/p> <\/p> NHS England is committed to work to reduce premature mortality amongst people with learning disability, including actions in response to the Confidential Inquiry into Premature Deaths of People with Learning Disabilities.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Earl Howe"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Howe"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61553/answer/previousversion/6304", "answeringMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3446", "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Baldwin of Bewdley"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-26T14:01:36.177Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-26T15:34:49.2071264Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Learning Disability: Health Services"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that people with learning disabilities are not excluded from NHS England's five-year strategic plan for National Health Service commissioners to improve quality of and access to health care, outlined in Everyone Counts: Planning for Patients 2014/15\u20132018/19.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4190", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Hollins"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Hollins"}
], "uin" : "HL322"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/60645", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/60645/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> All loan recipients in all regions receiving a start-up loan are offered mentoring, although take up of support services is not a mandatory condition of making the facility available. The number of loans made in each region will be placed in the Libraries of the House.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4070", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Hancock"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Suffolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Hancock"}
, "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/60645/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "aTTACHMENT TO 199740.docx"}
, "title" : "Start up Loan applications"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/60645/answer/previousversion/1697", "answeringMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/88", "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Sevenoaks"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Michael Fallon"}
, "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/60645/answer/previousversion/1697/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "aTTACHMENT TO 199740.docx"}
, "title" : "Start up Loan applications"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-16T16:49:08.733", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-17T14:06:28.4358216Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "New Businesses: Loans"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many Start Up Loans applications have been supported by each approved provider of Start Up Loans mentoring services in each region in which the new company was based or planned to be based.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3952", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Chesterfield"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Toby Perkins"}
], "uin" : "199740"}
], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 5, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]}
}
over<\/del> 32 new maths hubs to support a more challenging maths GCSE to improve the quality of maths education. This initiative, which includes a teacher exchange programme with Shanghai, will enable every school and college in England, from early years to the post-16 sector, to access locally-tailored support in all areas of maths teaching and learning.<\/p>57<\/del>61<\/ins> contractors, of whom 14<\/del>15<\/ins> have been supporting services for Members. Further details cannot be provided without identifying individuals. Many are on short term contracts. None has had a contract terminated early.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Thurso"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Thurso"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62968/answer/previousversion/4754", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1399", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Thurso"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "John Thurso"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-24T10:19:35.157", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-26T12:08:43.3091507Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "18"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "House of Commons Commission"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "House of Commons Commission"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Parliamentary Information and Communications Technology Service"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, which contractors have been hired by PICT during the current financial year; and which such contractors have had their contracts terminated due to poor performance.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3962", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Thomas Docherty"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dunfermline and West Fife"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Thomas Docherty"}
], "uin" : "201451"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62369", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Justice"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/62369/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "Former employees of the Trusts have transferred to the new organisations, namely the National Probation Service (NPS) and the 21 Community Rehabilitation Companies. A small number of Chief Executives have taken early retirement or are due to do so over the next few weeks. There have also been a number of departures at Assistant Chief Officer (ACO) level. These were part of the normal turnover of staff; details of these are not held centrally.<\/del><\/p>