Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 20 January (HLWS369), what official role will the Welsh Government have within His Majesty's Government’s review of the higher education sector.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
While higher education is a devolved matter, the Welsh government is engaging with the UK government regarding plans for higher education (HE) reform in England. The department will publish the plans for HE reform in England in the summer.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 20 January (HLWS369), what input have the Welsh Government made so far to His Majesty's Government’s review of the higher education sector.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
While higher education is a devolved matter, the Welsh government is engaging with the UK government regarding plans for higher education (HE) reform in England. The department will publish the plans for HE reform in England in the summer.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 20 January (HLWS369), when their review of the higher education sector will be completed and published.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)
While higher education is a devolved matter, the Welsh government is engaging with the UK government regarding plans for higher education (HE) reform in England. The department will publish the plans for HE reform in England in the summer.
Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to make provision in England which is similar to the Childcare Offer for Wales, and whether they have had discussions with the Welsh Government in that regard.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
Through the English government’s transformative childcare reforms, the department will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education, helping working families with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever. The childcare expansion is being rolled out in phases, with over 210,000 children now benefitting since the launch of the first phase in April. The next stage in September 2024 will extend this to children aged from 9 months. By September 2025, eligible working parents will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare from the term after their child turns 9-months-old to when they start school.
As such, there are currently no plans to introduce the Welsh style childcare provision in England. Education and the entitlement to free childcare for pre-school children in Wales is devolved to the Welsh Assembly. We engage routinely with the Welsh government and other devolved administrations at ministerial and official levels to learn from each other to improve early years outcomes across the UK.