Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1718813

registered interest
date	16/05/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Nurseries: Leeds
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on making funding available to Leeds City Council to ensure the continuation of Little Owls nursery provision.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North East
tabling member printed	Fabian Hamilton
uin	26664
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>The department funds local authorities to deliver the early years entitlements. Local authorities are then responsible for funding early years providers at a local level, setting individual provider funding rates in consultation with their providers and schools forum, and fund providers using their local funding formula.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities receive their government funding via the early years block of the Dedicated Schools Grant. For 2024/25, Leeds local authority’s indicative allocation for delivering the early years entitlements is £96,966,731, which has increased from £63,075,651.</p><p> </p><p>The department maintain a regular dialogue with local authorities, who are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. Leeds City Council has not informed the department of any current sufficiency issues in its area.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 21/05/2024 16:44:58 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
tabling member	415 label Biography information for Fabian Hamilton

1716870

registered interest
date	09/05/2024
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, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of ending the cap on faith school admissions.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North East
tabling member printed	Fabian Hamilton
uin	25436
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2024 answer text <p>My Rt. Hon. friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced on 1 May 2024 that the department are consulting on faith designation reforms for new and existing free schools and special academies. This is available on Hansard at: <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-05-01/hcws437" target="_blank">https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-05-01/hcws437</a>.</p><p>​​The consultation will run for seven weeks, closing on 20 June 2024. The department will then carefully consider all responses to the consultation and use them to inform the department’s recommendations for better meeting the policy objectives of faith schools.</p><p>​The government’s response will be published on the GOV.UK website within twelve weeks following closure of the consultation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 14/05/2024 14:24:59 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	415 label Biography information for Fabian Hamilton

1702171

registered interest
date	18/04/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Childcare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether there will be any new funding for local authorities to deliver 15 hours of free childcare.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North East
tabling member printed	Fabian Hamilton
uin	22479
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The department is delivering the largest expansion of childcare in England’s history. By the 2027/28 financial year, this government expects to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year, double what it currently does on childcare, on free hours and early education to help working families with their childcare costs.</p><p> </p><p>The department has provided local authorities with £12 million of delivery support funding in the 2023/24 financial year to help them plan and prepare for the entitlement’s expansion, as well as £100 million of capital funding to help expand or refurbish facilities.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 24/04/2024 16:16:38 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
tabling member	415 label Biography information for Fabian Hamilton

1695079

registered interest
date	11/03/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Childcare
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of the press release on childcare costs published by Pregnant Then Screwed on 18 February 2024.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North East
tabling member printed	Fabian Hamilton
uin	17824
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p>By the 2027/2028 financial year, this government will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education. This is the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever.</p><p> </p><p>From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2 year olds will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare per week (38 weeks of the year) from the term after the child’s 2nd birthday. Over 100,000 parents have already applied for the expansion starting in April, and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has confirmed that our latest projections show that more than 150,000 new funded places will be secured by early April.</p><p> </p><p>From September 2024, the department will provide working parents with 15 hours of free childcare a week from when their child is 9 months until they start school. This will increase to 30 hours from September 2025.</p><p> </p><p>Delivering that ambition includes increasing childcare funding rates, with an additional £204 million in this financial year, an additional £400 million in the coming financial year and guaranteed uplifts in line with cost pressures for two years after that. The department is providing grants to help new childminders enter the sector and, to make it easier for the sector, making changes to the early years foundation stage to provide more flexibility.</p><p> </p><p>The department hears every day from families how significant this policy will be for their finances. Once the roll-out is completed, eligible families will save up to £6,500 per year. The roll out will help parents to return to work or increase their hours, and tens of thousands of parents have already successfully applied for their codes, ready to take up their places in April. To see the full range of support they are entitled to, parents should visit: <a href="https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Hundreds of thousands of children aged 3 and 4 are already registered for a 30-hour place, which can save eligible working parents up to £6,500 per child per year. Expanding this entitlement to younger children across the country will help even more working parents with the cost of childcare and make a real difference to the lives of those families.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to the expanded entitlements, the government has also taken action to support parents on Universal Credit with childcare costs upfront when they need it, rather than in arrears. The department has increased support for these parents by increasing the childcare cost maximum amounts to £950 for one child and £1,629 for two children.</p><p> </p><p>Tax-Free Childcare remains available for working parents of children aged 0-11, or up to 17 for eligible disabled children. This can save parents up to £2,000 per year, or up to £4,000 for eligible children with disabilities and has the same income criteria as 30 hours free childcare.</p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed David Johnston question first answered 20/03/2024 16:29:16 answering member 4761 label Biography information for David Johnston
tabling member	415 label Biography information for Fabian Hamilton

1687651

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	Universities: Admissions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to require universities to admit foreign students on the same terms as UK students.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North East
tabling member printed	Fabian Hamilton
uin	13198
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2024 answer text <p>Higher education opportunities should be available to all who have the ability and attainment to pursue them and who wish to do so. The government takes a close interest in ensuring that the higher education admissions system is fair, which includes working closely with higher education providers (HEP) and sector bodies to make sure the system works well for students.</p><p>HEPs are autonomous institutions, as per the Higher Education and Research Act of 2017. This means they control their own admissions criteria and the government does not intervene in the requirements providers set for students to access a course.</p><p>While HEPs are used to assessing a wide range of qualifications from domestic and international applicants to make admissions decisions, it is essential that that recruitment and admissions practices command public confidence and deliver the best outcomes for students.</p><p>The department has launched an investigation into university admissions practices, and will take action to ensure fairness between domestic and international students.</p> answering member constituency Harlow answering member printed Robert Halfon question first answered 08/02/2024 14:02:42 answering member 3985 label Biography information for Robert Halfon
tabling member	415 label Biography information for Fabian Hamilton

1649612

registered interest
date	03/07/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Relationships and Sex Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the relationships and sex education curriculum; and whether she plans to review that curriculum.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North East
tabling member printed	Fabian Hamilton
uin	192004
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2023 answer text <p>The Department has plans in place to monitor the national implementation of Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) over time, including measuring teacher confidence in teaching the statutory requirements. The Department has contracted with the International Institute of Field Research to undertake quantitative and qualitative research, which will seek to understand the quality of implementation, including teacher confidence in teaching the statutory requirements.</p><p>The research will aim to test whether schools are implementing the requirements with sufficient quality. It will also inform any further support offers, and test and revise the theory of change for how setting this requirement will improve pupil’s outcomes. Interim findings will support the review of the RSHE statutory guidance, and the Department expects to publish the final report in 2024.</p><p>The Department has brought forward the review of the RSHE statutory guidance, including an independent expert advisory panel, which will advise the Secretary of State on the introduction of age limits for certain subjects. Further details are available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terms-of-reference-for-review-panel-on-rshe" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terms-of-reference-for-review-panel-on-rshe</a>.</p><p>The work of the expert panel will inform the public consultation which will be published in the autumn, prior to publishing revised guidance in 2024.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 07/07/2023 15:44:19 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	415 label Biography information for Fabian Hamilton

1629106

registered interest
date	19/05/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Special Educational Needs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps she has taken to simplify the Education, Health and Care Plan assessment process to reduce the time take to provide families with a timeline for a plan's completion.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North East
tabling member printed	Fabian Hamilton
uin	185887
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2023 answer text <p>In the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan, published in March 2023, the department set out plans to reform the education, health and care (EHC) plan system. The Improvement Plan does not alter the statutory eligibility for EHC plan. The current test for eligibility for an EHC needs assessment is set out in Section 36(8) of the Children and Families Act 2014.</p><p>The SEND and AP reforms seek to make best practice common practice in how EHC plans are delivered. They include establishing a single EHC plan form and supporting processes across England, including a national requirement for the use of digital technology to improve consistency and access to information. We will also test the use of multi-agency panels to enable local authorities to make judgements based on a holistic view of the needs of the child or young person across education, health and care when deciding whether to issue an EHC plan. We are already engaging with children, young people, families, and practitioners to develop this work.</p><p>The department wants to ensure that EHC plans, where required, are issued as quickly as possible, so that the child or young person can access the support they need. In 2021 (the latest figures available), there were 93,300 requests for an EHC plan. 63,200 new EHC plans were issued, the highest number since they were introduced. 59.9% were issued within 20 weeks.</p><p>The department recognises the vital role local authority staff play in supporting families in the SEND and EHC plan system. We will consider the skills and training these staff require and, when consulting on amending the SEND Code of Practice, will propose new guidance on delivering a responsive and supportive casework service.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho grouped question UIN 185888 185890 question first answered 24/05/2023 16:19:38 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
tabling member	415 label Biography information for Fabian Hamilton

1629108

registered interest
date	19/05/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Special Educational Needs: Eligibility
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the eligibility criteria for Education, Health and Care Plans; and what steps her Department is taking to ensue those criteria are interpreted and applied consistently across local authorities.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North East
tabling member printed	Fabian Hamilton
uin	185888
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2023 answer text <p>In the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan, published in March 2023, the department set out plans to reform the education, health and care (EHC) plan system. The Improvement Plan does not alter the statutory eligibility for EHC plan. The current test for eligibility for an EHC needs assessment is set out in Section 36(8) of the Children and Families Act 2014.</p><p>The SEND and AP reforms seek to make best practice common practice in how EHC plans are delivered. They include establishing a single EHC plan form and supporting processes across England, including a national requirement for the use of digital technology to improve consistency and access to information. We will also test the use of multi-agency panels to enable local authorities to make judgements based on a holistic view of the needs of the child or young person across education, health and care when deciding whether to issue an EHC plan. We are already engaging with children, young people, families, and practitioners to develop this work.</p><p>The department wants to ensure that EHC plans, where required, are issued as quickly as possible, so that the child or young person can access the support they need. In 2021 (the latest figures available), there were 93,300 requests for an EHC plan. 63,200 new EHC plans were issued, the highest number since they were introduced. 59.9% were issued within 20 weeks.</p><p>The department recognises the vital role local authority staff play in supporting families in the SEND and EHC plan system. We will consider the skills and training these staff require and, when consulting on amending the SEND Code of Practice, will propose new guidance on delivering a responsive and supportive casework service.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho grouped question UIN 185887 185890 question first answered 24/05/2023 16:19:38 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
tabling member	415 label Biography information for Fabian Hamilton

1629109

registered interest
date	19/05/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Special Educational Needs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to provide (a) further funding for Special Educational Needs provision and (b) increased resources for (i) specialist support services, (ii) therapies and (iii) interventions.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North East
tabling member printed	Fabian Hamilton
uin	185889
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2023 answer text <p>High needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will be rising to £10.1 billion in the 2023/24 financial year. This is an increase of over 50% from the 2019/20 allocations. The funding will help local authorities and schools with the costs of supporting children and young people, including providing specialist support services, therapies and interventions.</p><p>We know that children and young people with SEND frequently require access to additional support from a broad specialist workforce across education, health and care. We are committed to improving the supply, training and deployment of key workforces to make the best use of professional expertise, in order to provide these specialist services, therapies and interventions.</p><p>In November 2022, the department announced funding worth £21 million to go towards training 400 more educational psychologists. This new funding, in place from 2024, builds on the £10 million announced earlier in 2022 to train over 200 educational psychologists from September 2023.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho question first answered 24/05/2023 16:22:45 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
tabling member	415 label Biography information for Fabian Hamilton

1629110

registered interest
date	19/05/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Special Educational Needs: Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve training and support for local authority staff involved in the Education, Health and Care Plan process.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North East
tabling member printed	Fabian Hamilton
uin	185890
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2023 answer text <p>In the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan, published in March 2023, the department set out plans to reform the education, health and care (EHC) plan system. The Improvement Plan does not alter the statutory eligibility for EHC plan. The current test for eligibility for an EHC needs assessment is set out in Section 36(8) of the Children and Families Act 2014.</p><p>The SEND and AP reforms seek to make best practice common practice in how EHC plans are delivered. They include establishing a single EHC plan form and supporting processes across England, including a national requirement for the use of digital technology to improve consistency and access to information. We will also test the use of multi-agency panels to enable local authorities to make judgements based on a holistic view of the needs of the child or young person across education, health and care when deciding whether to issue an EHC plan. We are already engaging with children, young people, families, and practitioners to develop this work.</p><p>The department wants to ensure that EHC plans, where required, are issued as quickly as possible, so that the child or young person can access the support they need. In 2021 (the latest figures available), there were 93,300 requests for an EHC plan. 63,200 new EHC plans were issued, the highest number since they were introduced. 59.9% were issued within 20 weeks.</p><p>The department recognises the vital role local authority staff play in supporting families in the SEND and EHC plan system. We will consider the skills and training these staff require and, when consulting on amending the SEND Code of Practice, will propose new guidance on delivering a responsive and supportive casework service.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho grouped question UIN 185887 185888 question first answered 24/05/2023 16:19:38 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
tabling member	415 label Biography information for Fabian Hamilton