It is the responsibility of those who run schools - academy trusts, Local Authorities and voluntary aided school bodies - to manage the safety and maintenance of their schools and to alert the Department if there is a serious concern with a building.\u202fIt has always been the case that where the Department is made aware of a building that may pose an immediate risk, immediate action is taken.<\/p>
The Department has committed £1.8 billion of capital funding for the 2023/24 financial year to improve the condition of school buildings, as part of over £15 billion allocated since 2015. In addition, the Department will transform poor condition buildings at 500 schools and sixth form colleges over the coming decade through the School Rebuilding Programme. A list of all schools selected for the programme is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-rebuilding-programme-schools-in-the-programme<\/a>.<\/p> It is important to note that it was only since 2010, and the subsequent introduction of the Priority School Rebuilding Programme, and its successors, that building condition was made the driver for schools to be chosen for rebuilding. Previous programmes, such as the Building Schools for the Future (BSF), prioritised rebuilding for non-condition related reasons. Furthermore, the inclusion of a school within BSF did not mean it necessarily addressed the presence of RAAC. Several schools now confirmed as containing RAAC through the Department\u2019s questionnaire and surveying programme were refurbished under BSF.<\/p> Local Authorities, larger multi academy trusts and larger voluntary aided bodies are eligible to receive an annual School Condition Allocation (SCA). It is for these responsible bodies to prioritise SCA across their schools based on local knowledge of the condition of their buildings. Smaller and stand alone academy trusts, small voluntary aided school bodies and sixth-form colleges are instead able to bid into the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF), an annual bidding round, to apply for funding for specific capital projects. Information on CIF and SCA eligible schools for the 2023/24 financial year is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-capital-funding#funding-allocations-for-the-2023-to-2024-financial-year<\/a>.<\/p> Applications to the CIF are robustly assessed against the published criteria, prioritising need, and feedback is provided on unsuccessful applications. All successful CIF bids are published here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/condition-improvement-fund<\/a>.<\/p> The Condition Data Collection (CDC) programme was the first ever comprehensive survey of the school estate. Previous administrations did not have consistent national data to understand the condition of the school estate. The survey, which ran from 2017-19, under which approximately 22,000 government funded schools and 250 further education establishments in England were visited, allowed the Department to understand the condition of the school and further education college estate and informed capital funding and programmes. Allocations to improve the condition of schools take into account consistent data from the Condition Data Collection (CDC1) to ensure funding is weighted to reflect the relative condition of school buildings. The Condition Data Collection 2 is in progress to collect updated data on the condition of schools in England. Reports from the programmes are shared with schools and responsible bodies to help inform their plans, alongside their own condition surveys and checks.<\/p> Schools also receive funding to spend on their capital priorities or to contribute to larger projects through an annual Devolved Formula Capital allocation (DFC). Details of SCA and DFC allocations for the current financial year are available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-capital-funding#funding-allocations-for-the-2022-to-2023-financial-year<\/a>. Allocations for previous years are available at: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/*/https:/www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-allocations<\/a>.<\/p> Where the Department is alerted to significant safety issues with a building that cannot be managed with local resources, the Department provides additional support on a case by case basis. CIF eligible schools can apply for urgent capital support at any time in the year, if they have urgent building issues that need to be addressed. The Department also provides extensive guidance for responsible bodies to help them manage their estates effectively through resources such as the Good Estate Management for Schools guidance.<\/p> The Department will always put the safety and wellbeing of children and staff in education settings at the heart of its policy decisions.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "200612"}
, {"_value" : "200613"}
, {"_value" : "200614"}
, {"_value" : "200615"}
, {"_value" : "200616"}
, {"_value" : "200617"}
, {"_value" : "200618"}
, {"_value" : "200619"}
, {"_value" : "200620"}
, {"_value" : "200621"}
, {"_value" : "200622"}
, {"_value" : "200623"}
, {"_value" : "200624"}
, {"_value" : "200625"}
, {"_value" : "200626"}
, {"_value" : "200627"}
, {"_value" : "200628"}
, {"_value" : "200629"}
, {"_value" : "200630"}
, {"_value" : "200631"}
, {"_value" : "200632"}
, {"_value" : "200633"}
, {"_value" : "200634"}
, {"_value" : "200635"}
, {"_value" : "200636"}
, {"_value" : "200637"}
, {"_value" : "200638"}
, {"_value" : "200639"}
, {"_value" : "200640"}
, {"_value" : "200641"}
, {"_value" : "200642"}
, {"_value" : "200643"}
, {"_value" : "200644"}
, {"_value" : "200645"}
, {"_value" : "200646"}
, {"_value" : "200647"}
, {"_value" : "200648"}
, {"_value" : "200649"}
, {"_value" : "200650"}
, {"_value" : "200651"}
, {"_value" : "200652"}
, {"_value" : "200654"}
, {"_value" : "200655"}
, {"_value" : "200656"}
, {"_value" : "200657"}
, {"_value" : "200658"}
, {"_value" : "200659"}
, {"_value" : "200660"}
, {"_value" : "200661"}
, {"_value" : "200662"}
, {"_value" : "200663"}
, {"_value" : "200664"}
, {"_value" : "200665"}
, {"_value" : "200666"}
, {"_value" : "200667"}
, {"_value" : "200668"}
, {"_value" : "200669"}
, {"_value" : "200670"}
, {"_value" : "200671"}
, {"_value" : "200672"}
, {"_value" : "200673"}
, {"_value" : "200674"}
, {"_value" : "200675"}
, {"_value" : "200676"}
, {"_value" : "200677"}
, {"_value" : "200678"}
, {"_value" : "200679"}
, {"_value" : "200680"}
, {"_value" : "200681"}
, {"_value" : "200682"}
, {"_value" : "200683"}
, {"_value" : "200684"}
, {"_value" : "200685"}
, {"_value" : "200686"}
, {"_value" : "200687"}
, {"_value" : "200688"}
, {"_value" : "200689"}
, {"_value" : "200690"}
, {"_value" : "200691"}
, {"_value" : "200692"}
, {"_value" : "200693"}
, {"_value" : "200694"}
, {"_value" : "200695"}
, {"_value" : "200696"}
, {"_value" : "200697"}
, {"_value" : "200698"}
, {"_value" : "200699"}
, {"_value" : "200700"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-10-23T16:23:16.423Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-10-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "The Shade Primary School"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much additional capital funding The Shade Primary School, in the Cambridgeshire local authority area of South East Cambridgeshire constituency has received from the Government for the purposes of improving the condition of elements of that school rated 100% poor by the Condition Data Collection survey.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4046", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bridget Phillipson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Houghton and Sunderland South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bridget Phillipson"}
], "uin" : "200653"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1662820", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1662820/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " It is the responsibility of those who run schools - academy trusts, Local Authorities and voluntary aided school bodies - to manage the safety and maintenance of their schools and to alert the Department if there is a serious concern with a building.\u202fIt has always been the case that where the Department is made aware of a building that may pose an immediate risk, immediate action is taken.<\/p> The Department has committed £1.8 billion of capital funding for the 2023/24 financial year to improve the condition of school buildings, as part of over £15 billion allocated since 2015. In addition, the Department will transform poor condition buildings at 500 schools and sixth form colleges over the coming decade through the School Rebuilding Programme. A list of all schools selected for the programme is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-rebuilding-programme-schools-in-the-programme<\/a>.<\/p> It is important to note that it was only since 2010, and the subsequent introduction of the Priority School Rebuilding Programme, and its successors, that building condition was made the driver for schools to be chosen for rebuilding. Previous programmes, such as the Building Schools for the Future (BSF), prioritised rebuilding for non-condition related reasons. Furthermore, the inclusion of a school within BSF did not mean it necessarily addressed the presence of RAAC. Several schools now confirmed as containing RAAC through the Department\u2019s questionnaire and surveying programme were refurbished under BSF.<\/p> Local Authorities, larger multi academy trusts and larger voluntary aided bodies are eligible to receive an annual School Condition Allocation (SCA). It is for these responsible bodies to prioritise SCA across their schools based on local knowledge of the condition of their buildings. Smaller and stand alone academy trusts, small voluntary aided school bodies and sixth-form colleges are instead able to bid into the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF), an annual bidding round, to apply for funding for specific capital projects. Information on CIF and SCA eligible schools for the 2023/24 financial year is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-capital-funding#funding-allocations-for-the-2023-to-2024-financial-year<\/a>.<\/p> Applications to the CIF are robustly assessed against the published criteria, prioritising need, and feedback is provided on unsuccessful applications. All successful CIF bids are published here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/condition-improvement-fund<\/a>.<\/p> The Condition Data Collection (CDC) programme was the first ever comprehensive survey of the school estate. Previous administrations did not have consistent national data to understand the condition of the school estate. The survey, which ran from 2017-19, under which approximately 22,000 government funded schools and 250 further education establishments in England were visited, allowed the Department to understand the condition of the school and further education college estate and informed capital funding and programmes. Allocations to improve the condition of schools take into account consistent data from the Condition Data Collection (CDC1) to ensure funding is weighted to reflect the relative condition of school buildings. The Condition Data Collection 2 is in progress to collect updated data on the condition of schools in England. Reports from the programmes are shared with schools and responsible bodies to help inform their plans, alongside their own condition surveys and checks.<\/p> Schools also receive funding to spend on their capital priorities or to contribute to larger projects through an annual Devolved Formula Capital allocation (DFC). Details of SCA and DFC allocations for the current financial year are available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-capital-funding#funding-allocations-for-the-2022-to-2023-financial-year<\/a>. Allocations for previous years are available at: https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/*/https:/www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-allocations<\/a>.<\/p> Where the Department is alerted to significant safety issues with a building that cannot be managed with local resources, the Department provides additional support on a case by case basis. CIF eligible schools can apply for urgent capital support at any time in the year, if they have urgent building issues that need to be addressed. The Department also provides extensive guidance for responsible bodies to help them manage their estates effectively through resources such as the Good Estate Management for Schools guidance.<\/p> The Department will always put the safety and wellbeing of children and staff in education settings at the heart of its policy decisions.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "200612"}
, {"_value" : "200613"}
, {"_value" : "200614"}
, {"_value" : "200615"}
, {"_value" : "200616"}
, {"_value" : "200617"}
, {"_value" : "200618"}
, {"_value" : "200619"}
, {"_value" : "200620"}
, {"_value" : "200621"}
, {"_value" : "200622"}
, {"_value" : "200623"}
, {"_value" : "200624"}
, {"_value" : "200625"}
, {"_value" : "200626"}
, {"_value" : "200627"}
, {"_value" : "200628"}
, {"_value" : "200629"}
, {"_value" : "200630"}
, {"_value" : "200631"}
, {"_value" : "200632"}
, {"_value" : "200633"}
, {"_value" : "200634"}
, {"_value" : "200635"}
, {"_value" : "200636"}
, {"_value" : "200637"}
, {"_value" : "200638"}
, {"_value" : "200639"}
, {"_value" : "200640"}
, {"_value" : "200641"}
, {"_value" : "200642"}
, {"_value" : "200643"}
, {"_value" : "200644"}
, {"_value" : "200645"}
, {"_value" : "200646"}
, {"_value" : "200647"}
, {"_value" : "200648"}
, {"_value" : "200649"}
, {"_value" : "200650"}
, {"_value" : "200651"}
, {"_value" : "200652"}
, {"_value" : "200653"}
, {"_value" : "200654"}
, {"_value" : "200655"}
, {"_value" : "200656"}
, {"_value" : "200657"}
, {"_value" : "200658"}
, {"_value" : "200659"}
, {"_value" : "200660"}
, {"_value" : "200661"}
, {"_value" : "200662"}
, {"_value" : "200663"}
, {"_value" : "200664"}
, {"_value" : "200665"}
, {"_value" : "200666"}
, {"_value" : "200667"}
, {"_value" : "200668"}
, {"_value" : "200669"}
, {"_value" : "200670"}
, {"_value" : "200671"}
, {"_value" : "200672"}
, {"_value" : "200673"}
, {"_value" : "200675"}
, {"_value" : "200676"}
, {"_value" : "200677"}
, {"_value" : "200678"}
, {"_value" : "200679"}
, {"_value" : "200680"}
, {"_value" : "200681"}
, {"_value" : "200682"}
, {"_value" : "200683"}
, {"_value" : "200684"}
, {"_value" : "200685"}
, {"_value" : "200686"}
, {"_value" : "200687"}
, {"_value" : "200688"}
, {"_value" : "200689"}
, {"_value" : "200690"}
, {"_value" : "200691"}
, {"_value" : "200692"}
, {"_value" : "200693"}
, {"_value" : "200694"}
, {"_value" : "200695"}
, {"_value" : "200696"}
, {"_value" : "200697"}
, {"_value" : "200698"}
, {"_value" : "200699"}
, {"_value" : "200700"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-10-23T16:23:20.83Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-10-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Amery Hill School"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much additional capital funding Amery Hill School, in the Hampshire local authority area of East Hampshire constituency, received from the Government for the purposes of improving the condition of elements of that school rated 100% poor by the Condition Data Collection survey.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4046", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bridget Phillipson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Houghton and Sunderland South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bridget Phillipson"}
], "uin" : "200674"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1662944", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1662944/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department recognises that issues relating to sex and gender can be complex and sensitive for schools to navigate, which is why the Department is working with the Minister for Women and Equalities to develop guidance to support schools and colleges in relation to children who are questioning their gender.<\/p> It is vital that the guidance published gives clarity for schools and colleges, and reassurance for parents. The Department is taking the necessary time to ensure that it reflects the best possible advice before publishing the draft.<\/p> It is important that the Department is able to consider a wide range of views in order to get the guidance right. The Department has, therefore, committed to holding a public consultation on the draft guidance prior to publication.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "201245"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-10-23T14:50:37.967Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-10-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pupils: Transgender People"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to publish guidance for schools on supporting trans pupils.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/280", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Michael Fabricant"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lichfield"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Michael Fabricant"}
], "uin" : "200798"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1662990", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1662990/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.<\/p> <\/p> The Secretary of State and Ministers regularly travel across the country visiting educational institutions, including nurseries, schools, colleges and universities. The Department receives many requests for visits and visits settings across a broad geography, within the constraints of Departmental business and the Parliamentary timetable.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "200845"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-10-23T16:21:06.387Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-10-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Educational Institutions: Domestic Visits"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which (a) maintained nurseries, (b) other early years education settings, (c) childminders, (d) other childcare providers, (e) primary schools, (f) secondary schools, (g) sixth-form colleges, (h) further education colleges and (j) universities outside the Chichester constituency she has visited since 25 October 2022; and if she will publish the (i) name, (ii) location, (iii) postcode and (iv) parliamentary constituency of each such establishment.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4046", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bridget Phillipson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Houghton and Sunderland South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bridget Phillipson"}
], "uin" : "200844"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1662991", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1662991/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.<\/p> <\/p> The Secretary of State and Ministers regularly travel across the country visiting educational institutions, including nurseries, schools, colleges and universities. The Department receives many requests for visits and visits settings across a broad geography, within the constraints of Departmental business and the Parliamentary timetable.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "200844"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-10-23T16:21:06.437Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-10-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Educational Institutions: Domestic Visits"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which (a) maintained nurseries, (b) other early years education settings, (c) childminders, (d) other childcare providers, (e) primary schools, (f) secondary schools and (g) sixth-form colleges outside the Bognor Regis and Littlehampton constituency the Minister of State for Schools has visited since 25 October 2022; and if she will publish the (i) name, (ii) location, (iii) postcode and (iv) parliamentary constituency of each such establishment.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4046", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bridget Phillipson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Houghton and Sunderland South"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bridget Phillipson"}
], "uin" : "200845"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1663355", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1663355/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department\u2019s school travel policy aims to make sure that no pupil is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport. Local Authorities must arrange free home to school travel for pupils of compulsory school age who attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, or because the nature of the route means it would be unsafe for them to do so. There are extended rights to free travel for pupils from low income families. In the 2021/22 financial year (the most recent year for which data is currently available), Local Authorities spent £1.4 billion on home to school travel for pupils of compulsory school age.<\/p> The majority of central Government funding for home to school travel is made available to Local Authorities through the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) administered by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). DLUHC will bring forward proposals for the Local Government Finance Settlement 2024/25 in the usual way later in the year. When finalising budgets, local Government spending will be carefully considered to ensure councils can continue to deliver vital services. This will include considering the effect of inflation and other wider economic circumstances. The local Government finance policy statement, published last December, sets out the measures expected to be maintained into 2024/25.<\/p> The Department additionally provides grant funding to Local Authorities as a contribution towards the cost of \u2018extended rights\u2019 travel, this is just under £45.8 million in the 2023/24 financial year.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-10-23T10:55:29.237Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-10-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Bus Services: Schools"}
, "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 Education, whether her Department plans to increase funding to local authorities for the provision of free bus travel to schools.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/473", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick"}
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, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Preston"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Mark Hendrick"}
], "uin" : "201209"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1663943", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1663943/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government remains committed to introducing statutory Local Authority registers for children not in school, as well as a duty for Local Authorities to provide support to home educating families. The Department will legislate for these at a future suitable opportunity, to support Local Authorities to undertake their existing duties to ensure that all children receive a suitable education and are safe, regardless of where they are educated.<\/p> Since 2016, the Department and Ofsted have worked successfully with the Crown Prosecution Services to secure criminal convictions against those responsible for five settings that were operating illegally as schools. The Government has recognised the need to improve powers to investigate and act against such settings. The Department remains committed to legislating for these powers at a future suitable opportunity.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-10-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-10-23T15:08:21.327Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2023-10-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Home Education: Registration and Regulation"}
, "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 Education, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to (a) introduce a national register of children education at home and (b) provide (i) Ofsted with additional powers to investigate suspected illegal settings and (ii) prosecutors the power to shut settings down where appropriate; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4776", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Munira Wilson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Twickenham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Munira Wilson"}
], "uin" : "201796"}
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