Baroness Tonge

The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and the Prosperity Fund are both cross-Government funds. Neither has programmes specifically supporting sexual and reproductive health and rights. The CSSF’s portfolio includes programmes which seek to prevent sexual violence in conflict situations and which empower women to seek justice. The Prosperity Fund portfolio will include programmes in the health sector.

More broadly, all ODA funded CSSF and Prosperity Fund programmes must comply with the 2014 International Development (Gender Equality) Act. This means integrating activities which are likely to contribute to reducing gender inequality.

More information on the CSSF, including details on spend broken down by theme, can be found in the CSSF annual report. Information on the Prosperity Fund can be found in its 2016/17 annual report, with updated information available in the next annual report, due later this year.

​

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply and I will place a copy of their letter in the Library
of the House.

Letter from John Pullinger CB, National Statistician, to Baroness Tonge, dated 07 March 2018

Dear Baroness Tonge,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions asking (a) whether the incidence of neonatal mortality and morbidity has decreased over the past five years (HL5969); (b) what was the incidence of neonatal mortality and morbidity in (1) 2000–05, (2) 2005–10, and (3) 2010–15 (HL5970); and (c) what was the incidence of neonatal mortality and morbidity in (1) 2014–15, (2) 2015–16, and (3) 2016–17 (HL5971).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for publishing statistics on deaths registered in England and Wales. Statistics on deaths are normally published using calendar years. Neonatal mortality figures are available for both the year the death was registered and the year the death occurred. Comparisons over time are more meaningful using death occurrences, to allow for delays in registering deaths. The latest year for which death occurrence figures are available is 2015 [see note 1 below]. The neonatal mortality figures for 2016 will be published on 14 March 2018 and the data for 2017 will be published in early 2019.

Table 1 below provides the number of neonatal deaths and the neonatal mortality rates per 1,000 live births for England and Wales, for each calendar year from 2000 to 2015.

Because the number of neonatal deaths each year is relatively small, there is likely to be some random fluctuation, and no single year since 2000 shows a statistically significant change from the preceding year. However, there has been a generally downward trend throughout the period. In the five years 2011-15, the lowest neonatal mortality rate was in 2014, and this was significantly lower than in 2011 and all previous years. The rate in 2015 was higher than in 2014, but is still significantly lower than in 2011 (taking into account rounding of the figures to one decimal place).

NHS Digital is responsible for publishing statistics on NHS patient care in England. There is no widely accepted measure of neonatal morbidity, however trends in the admission of neonates to hospital may be useful information. Therefore, figures based on Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) have been given here.

Table 2 below provides the number of neonatal finished consultant episodes (FCEs) and corresponding neonatal hospitalisation rate per 1,000 live births for England, for each financial year from 2000-01 to 2016-17, and the five-year periods 2001-02 to 2004-05, 2005-06 to 2009-10, and 2010-11 to 2014-15. Note that HES data include activity ending in the year in question and run from April to March, e.g. 2012-13 includes activity ending between 1st April 2012 and 31st March 2013.

Changes to the HES figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Conversely, apparent increases in activity may be due to improved recording of diagnosis or procedure information.

There has been year on year fluctuation in the number and rate of hospital episodes for neonates over the period of interest, but with a clear overall upward trend. The hospitalisation rate in 2015-16 was significantly higher than five years before. However, as noted above, it is likely that the trend is influenced to some extent by factors such as changing clinical practice and recording.

Yours sincerely,

John Pullinger

Note 1:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/childmortalitystatisticschildhoodinfantandperinatalchildhoodinfantandperinatalmortalityinenglandandwales

Table 1: Neonatal deaths occurring in England and Wales, numbers and rates, 2000 to 2015

1. Neonatal deaths are defined as deaths of live-born infants at less than 28 days

2. Rates are per 1,000 live births

3. The 95% lower and upper confidence limits have been provided. These form a confidence interval, which is a measure of the statistical precision of a rate and shows the range of uncertainty around the calculated rate. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures.

Source: Office for National Statistics

Table 2: Neonatal hospital episodes occurring in England, numbers and rates, 2000-02 to 2016-17

1. Neonatal episodes are defined as counts of patients where there is a finished consultant episode (FCE) for neonates with an extended hospital stay immediately following birth, or an admission within the first 28 days of life. An FCE is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year.

2. Rates are per 1,000 live births. The number of births per financial year has been estimated based on births in the relevant calendar years.

3. The 95% lower and upper confidence limits have been provided. These form a confidence interval, which is a measure of the statistical precision of a rate and shows the range of uncertainty around the calculated rate. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures.

* A rate for 2016-17 cannot be calculated as the number of births in 2017 is not yet available.

† As a patient may have been in hospital in two consecutive years, the total per five-year grouping will not be equal to a sum of the corresponding five individual years.

Source: NHS Digital and Office for National Statistics

​

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

Letter from John Pullinger CB, National Statistician, to Baroness Tonge, dated 07 March 2018

Dear Baroness Tonge,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions asking (a) whether the incidence of neonatal mortality and morbidity has decreased over the past five years (HL5969); (b) what was the incidence of neonatal mortality and morbidity in (1) 2000–05, (2) 2005–10, and (3) 2010–15 (HL5970); and (c) what was the incidence of neonatal mortality and morbidity in (1) 2014–15, (2) 2015–16, and (3) 2016–17 (HL5971).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for publishing statistics on deaths registered in England and Wales. Statistics on deaths are normally published using calendar years. Neonatal mortality figures are available for both the year the death was registered and the year the death occurred. Comparisons over time are more meaningful using death occurrences, to allow for delays in registering deaths. The latest year for which death occurrence figures are available is 2015 [see note 1 below]. The neonatal mortality figures for 2016 will be published on 14 March 2018 and the data for 2017 will be published in early 2019.

Table 1 below provides the number of neonatal deaths and the neonatal mortality rates per 1,000 live births for England and Wales, for each calendar year from 2000 to 2015.

Because the number of neonatal deaths each year is relatively small, there is likely to be some random fluctuation, and no single year since 2000 shows a statistically significant change from the preceding year. However, there has been a generally downward trend throughout the period. In the five years 2011-15, the lowest neonatal mortality rate was in 2014, and this was significantly lower than in 2011 and all previous years. The rate in 2015 was higher than in 2014, but is still significantly lower than in 2011 (taking into account rounding of the figures to one decimal place).

NHS Digital is responsible for publishing statistics on NHS patient care in England. There is no widely accepted measure of neonatal morbidity, however trends in the admission of neonates to hospital may be useful information. Therefore, figures based on Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) have been given here.

Table 2 below provides the number of neonatal finished consultant episodes (FCEs) and corresponding neonatal hospitalisation rate per 1,000 live births for England, for each financial year from 2000-01 to 2016-17, and the five-year periods 2001-02 to 2004-05, 2005-06 to 2009-10, and 2010-11 to 2014-15. Note that HES data include activity ending in the year in question and run from April to March, e.g. 2012-13 includes activity ending between 1st April 2012 and 31st March 2013.

Changes to the HES figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Conversely, apparent increases in activity may be due to improved recording of diagnosis or procedure information.

There has been year on year fluctuation in the number and rate of hospital episodes for neonates over the period of interest, but with a clear overall upward trend. The hospitalisation rate in 2015-16 was significantly higher than five years before. However, as noted above, it is likely that the trend is influenced to some extent by factors such as changing clinical practice and recording.

Yours sincerely,

John Pullinger

Note 1:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/childmortalitystatisticschildhoodinfantandperinatalchildhoodinfantandperinatalmortalityinenglandandwales

Table 1: Neonatal deaths occurring in England and Wales, numbers and rates, 2000 to 2015

1. Neonatal deaths are defined as deaths of live-born infants at less than 28 days

2. Rates are per 1,000 live births

3. The 95% lower and upper confidence limits have been provided. These form a confidence interval, which is a measure of the statistical precision of a rate and shows the range of uncertainty around the calculated rate. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures.

Source: Office for National Statistics

Table 2: Neonatal hospital episodes occurring in England, numbers and rates, 2000-02 to 2016-17

1. Neonatal episodes are defined as counts of patients where there is a finished consultant episode (FCE) for neonates with an extended hospital stay immediately following birth, or an admission within the first 28 days of life. An FCE is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year.

2. Rates are per 1,000 live births. The number of births per financial year has been estimated based on births in the relevant calendar years.

3. The 95% lower and upper confidence limits have been provided. These form a confidence interval, which is a measure of the statistical precision of a rate and shows the range of uncertainty around the calculated rate. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures.

* A rate for 2016-17 cannot be calculated as the number of births in 2017 is not yet available.

† As a patient may have been in hospital in two consecutive years, the total per five-year grouping will not be equal to a sum of the corresponding five individual years.

Source: NHS Digital and Office for National Statistics

​

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

Letter from John Pullinger CB, National Statistician, to Baroness Tonge, dated 07 March 2018

Dear Baroness Tonge,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions asking (a) whether the incidence of neonatal mortality and morbidity has decreased over the past five years (HL5969); (b) what was the incidence of neonatal mortality and morbidity in (1) 2000–05, (2) 2005–10, and (3) 2010–15 (HL5970); and (c) what was the incidence of neonatal mortality and morbidity in (1) 2014–15, (2) 2015–16, and (3) 2016–17 (HL5971).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for publishing statistics on deaths registered in England and Wales. Statistics on deaths are normally published using calendar years. Neonatal mortality figures are available for both the year the death was registered and the year the death occurred. Comparisons over time are more meaningful using death occurrences, to allow for delays in registering deaths. The latest year for which death occurrence figures are available is 2015 [see note 1 below]. The neonatal mortality figures for 2016 will be published on 14 March 2018 and the data for 2017 will be published in early 2019.

Table 1 below provides the number of neonatal deaths and the neonatal mortality rates per 1,000 live births for England and Wales, for each calendar year from 2000 to 2015.

Because the number of neonatal deaths each year is relatively small, there is likely to be some random fluctuation, and no single year since 2000 shows a statistically significant change from the preceding year. However, there has been a generally downward trend throughout the period. In the five years 2011-15, the lowest neonatal mortality rate was in 2014, and this was significantly lower than in 2011 and all previous years. The rate in 2015 was higher than in 2014, but is still significantly lower than in 2011 (taking into account rounding of the figures to one decimal place).

NHS Digital is responsible for publishing statistics on NHS patient care in England. There is no widely accepted measure of neonatal morbidity, however trends in the admission of neonates to hospital may be useful information. Therefore, figures based on Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) have been given here.

Table 2 below provides the number of neonatal finished consultant episodes (FCEs) and corresponding neonatal hospitalisation rate per 1,000 live births for England, for each financial year from 2000-01 to 2016-17, and the five-year periods 2001-02 to 2004-05, 2005-06 to 2009-10, and 2010-11 to 2014-15. Note that HES data include activity ending in the year in question and run from April to March, e.g. 2012-13 includes activity ending between 1st April 2012 and 31st March 2013.

Changes to the HES figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Conversely, apparent increases in activity may be due to improved recording of diagnosis or procedure information.

There has been year on year fluctuation in the number and rate of hospital episodes for neonates over the period of interest, but with a clear overall upward trend. The hospitalisation rate in 2015-16 was significantly higher than five years before. However, as noted above, it is likely that the trend is influenced to some extent by factors such as changing clinical practice and recording.

Yours sincerely,

John Pullinger

Note 1:

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/childmortalitystatisticschildhoodinfantandperinatalchildhoodinfantandperinatalmortalityinenglandandwales

Table 1: Neonatal deaths occurring in England and Wales, numbers and rates, 2000 to 2015

1. Neonatal deaths are defined as deaths of live-born infants at less than 28 days

2. Rates are per 1,000 live births

3. The 95% lower and upper confidence limits have been provided. These form a confidence interval, which is a measure of the statistical precision of a rate and shows the range of uncertainty around the calculated rate. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures.

Source: Office for National Statistics

Table 2: Neonatal hospital episodes occurring in England, numbers and rates, 2000-02 to 2016-17

1. Neonatal episodes are defined as counts of patients where there is a finished consultant episode (FCE) for neonates with an extended hospital stay immediately following birth, or an admission within the first 28 days of life. An FCE is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year.

2. Rates are per 1,000 live births. The number of births per financial year has been estimated based on births in the relevant calendar years.

3. The 95% lower and upper confidence limits have been provided. These form a confidence interval, which is a measure of the statistical precision of a rate and shows the range of uncertainty around the calculated rate. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures.

* A rate for 2016-17 cannot be calculated as the number of births in 2017 is not yet available.

† As a patient may have been in hospital in two consecutive years, the total per five-year grouping will not be equal to a sum of the corresponding five individual years.

Source: NHS Digital and Office for National Statistics

The Prosperity Fund is worth a total of £1.2bn over six years and is likely to represent around 3% of UK aid spending per annum by 2021.

Further information is available at;

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cross-government-prosperity-fund-programme

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/670103/FCO-Prosperity-Report-2016-2017.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-development-assistance-oda-fco-prosperity-fund-spend

The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) does not fund programmes specifically supporting family planning, sexual and reproductive health and rights, or population issues. The CSSF’s portfolio includes programmes which seek to prevent sexual violence in conflict situations and which empower women to seek justice.

More broadly, all CSSF programmes must apply the 2014 International Development (Gender Equality) Act. This means integrating activities into all conflict and stabilisation work which are likely to contribute to reducing gender equality.

Further information on CSSF programmes can be found at

www.gov.uk/government/publications/conflict-stability-and-security-fund-cssf

Further information on how the CSSF is contributing to the government’s National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security can be found at

www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-national-action-plan-on-women-peace-and-security-2018-to-2022

During the first year of the Fund, three projects addressed population issues, totalling around £200,000. No work was undertaken on family planning or sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The Prosperity Fund aims to reduce poverty through inclusive economic growth in countries which are eligible for Official Development Assistance. Its recent Annual Report contains more information.

The CSSF provides Official Development Assistance funding to the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burundi, Burma, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guyana, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Mali, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Niger, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Overseas Territories (including Montserrat, St Helena, Pitcairn and Tristan da Cunha), Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Yemen.

More information can be found in the Fund’s Annual Report.

In the first year of the Prosperity Fund, small projects were funded in Angola, Argentina, Brazil, Burma, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

Larger, multi-year programmes are now being developed, building on the foundations laid by smaller projects in 2016/17. The countries where these programmes will operate are set out in the Prosperity Fund Annual Report.

Ahead of the 2017 General Election, a series of protective measures were put in place to mitigate or reduce risks to the UK’s democratic process. The Cabinet Office, with the National Cyber Security Centre, continues to monitor the threat to all UK democratic processes whether at a national, regional or local level.

All Government Departments, organisations and institutions have a role to play in protecting their data and preventing adversaries obtaining information they could misuse.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales is the independent registrar and regulator of charities and is not subject to Ministerial direction or control.

The Charity Commission publishes safer giving advice for members of the public to ensure their generous donations support legitimate charitable activities. The advice includes checking that the organisation is a registered charity and verifying further information on the Register of Charities. Any evidence of a registered charity funding illegal activities should be reported to the independent regulator as a matter of priority.

The Jewish National Fund is not a charity. The Jewish National Fund Charitable Trust is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales having exclusively charitable purposes. Under s34 of the Charities Act 2011, the Commission must remove a charity from the register if it no longer considers the organisation to be a charity or if it has ceased to exist or does not operate. None of these criteria apply to this charity. Any concern regarding the charitable status of an organisation is a matter for the Commission.

Taxation is a matter for HM Revenue and Customs who do not comment on individual cases.

In England and Wales the law requires charities to be independent in the way they operate and they must be set up with exclusively charitable purposes for the public benefit. This precludes from charitable status any organisations that are established to further the purposes of any non-charity, which would include a national government.

Charity law is devolved in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but the requirements there are similar.

On 17 February, the Government published procurement guidance for public authorities that makes clear that boycotts in public procurement are inappropriate and may be illegal outside where formal legal sanctions, embargoes and restrictions have been put in place by the UK Government. It is general guidance for public authorities on contracting with suppliers from WTO countries.

On 17 February, the Government published procurement guidance for public authorities that makes clear that boycotts in public procurement are inappropriate and may be illegal outside where formal legal sanctions, embargoes and restrictions have been put in place by the UK Government. It is general guidance for public authorities on contracting with suppliers from WTO countries.

The new Public Contracts Regulations 2015 impose a legal obligation on public authorities when awarding contracts above certain thresholds to treat EU and GPA suppliers equally. Decisions on sanctions for breaking international law and the Geneva Convention are for the Government's foreign policy, and it is inappropriate and illegal for local authorities in some cases to prejudice suppliers on the basis of their "beliefs". This policy has been in place for many years under successive governments.

Cabinet office will shortly issue guidance that reminds public authorities of their international obligations when letting public contracts. Foreign policy is not a matter for local authorities. The guidance will make clear that boycotts in public procurement are inappropriate and may be illegal, outside where formal legal sanctions, embargoes and restrictions that have been put in place by the Government.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales is independent and is not subject to Ministerial direction or control. I understand that following concerns that were raised with the Charity Commission, it has written to the trustees of the charity and will be meeting them to review the governance, policies, procedures and operational activity of the charity.

The Government continues work to finalise the Counter Extremism Strategy, and intends to publish both it and the main findings of the Muslim Brotherhood Review this year.

The history curriculum gives teachers and schools the freedom and flexibility to use specific examples from history to teach pupils about the history of Britain and the wider world. Schools and teachers can determine which examples, topics and resources to use to stimulate and challenge pupils and reflect key points in history.

There are opportunities within the themes and eras of the history curriculum for teachers and schools to teach the Irish Famine at key stages 1-3. Schools can teach it at key stage 1, about events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally and at key stage 2, within a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066. There are also opportunities at key stage 3, within the ‘ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901’ theme – ‘Ireland and Home Rule’ is one of the example topics in this theme - or within a local history study. The Irish Famine also falls within the scope of the subject content set out for GCSE History.

One of the aims of the history curriculum is to ensure all pupils know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day: how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world. This could also include teaching about Britain’s role in the abolition of slavery.

All state funded schools, whatever their type, have a legal obligation to promote community cohesion and to teach a broad and balanced curriculum. The Integrated Communities Strategy made clear the important role schools play in knitting communities together. They are also required to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. Their effectiveness in doing so is inspected by Ofsted.

All state funded schools, whatever their type, have a legal obligation to promote community cohesion and to teach a broad and balanced curriculum. The Integrated Communities Strategy made clear the important role schools play in knitting communities together. They are also required to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. Their effectiveness in doing so is inspected by Ofsted.

The government is committed to protecting young people from harm, including the horrific crime of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), perpetrated against some of the most vulnerable children in society. Through the introduction of compulsory relationships and sex education (RSE) in all secondary schools, we will ensure that pupils are fully aware of the illegality of FGM and that it will not be tolerated. This has been included, alongside topics such as honour-based abuse, grooming, forced marriage and domestic abuse, as core content for secondary pupils in the updated draft statutory guidance for relationships education, RSE and health education. Through these subjects we want to support all children to be healthy, happy and safe; arming them with the knowledge to recognise unhealthy behaviour in relationships, and how to seek help when necessary.

At primary level, we are introducing compulsory relationships education for all pupils, to put in place the building blocks for developing healthy relationships. There is no statutory requirement for schools to deliver teaching on FGM at primary, but schools are free to build on the core content to reflect the needs of their cohort of pupils. If a school considers the teaching of FGM to be age-appropriate for their pupils at primary, they are free to deliver this.

There will be a legal requirement for schools to consult with parents in the development of their policies for both relationships education and RSE. During this consultation, schools should share example resources with parents and ensure they understand the age-appropriate content that their child will receive. Schools will continue to be free to choose materials that are age-appropriate and sensitive to the needs of their pupils. Many organisations already provide high quality resources to support this teaching – schools can consider, for example, drawing on the expertise of the main subject associations, who also quality assure third party resources from expert organisations on specific topics.

We have committed to supporting schools and teachers to deliver these subjects to a high standard. We have an initial budget of £6 million for the 2019-20 financial year to develop a programme of support for schools, which will include supporting them to make appropriate choices regarding resources.

The department published the attached guidance for local authorities in January 2013: ‘Ensuring a good education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs’.

In this guidance, we made clear that local authorities are responsible for arranging suitable full-time education for permanently excluded pupils, and for other children who – because of illness or other reasons – would not receive suitable education without such provision. This means that where a child cannot attend school because of a health condition or any other condition, for example pregnancy, and would not otherwise receive a suitable full-time education, the local authority is responsible for arranging provision and must have regard to this guidance.

The department has not consulted on this issue in the last five years.

The department is committed to improving education to ensure young people are supported to make informed decisions around sexual health. The department is making Relationships and Sex Education compulsory at secondary, in all schools in England and has completed an engagement process including a call for evidence with over 23,000 responses, including from young people. From these findings, the department will develop draft regulations and guidance for public consultation shortly.

Universities and certain other higher education providers are required by the Education (No.2) Act 1986, to take reasonable steps to secure freedom of speech within the law for staff, students and visiting speakers. The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, specifically requires providers that are subject to the statutory freedom of speech duty, to have particular regard to that duty when carrying out their responsibilities under Prevent. The Higher Education Funding Council for England monitors the implementation of the Prevent duty in relevant higher education bodies and issues relevant guidance.

The Higher Education and Research Act extends the freedom of speech duty to all higher education providers registered with the Office for Students (OfS). The current OfS consultation is seeking views on proposals around institutions’ freedom of speech responsibilities.

The Children and Social Work Act (2017) places a duty on the Secretary of State for Education to make Relationships Education mandatory in all primary schools, and Relationships and Sex Education mandatory in all secondary schools, in England.

As part of our next steps, the Department intends to conduct thorough and wide ranging engagement on Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education. This will determine the content of the regulations and statutory guidance, covering subject content, school practice and quality of delivery. We will ensure the subjects are carefully designed to safeguard and support pupils whilst being deliverable for schools.

The Department is committed to this programme of work and will set out shortly more details about the engagement process, the timetable and the work to consider age appropriate subject content.

This will result in draft regulations and guidance on which we will consult. Following consultation, the regulations will be laid in the House allowing for a full and considered debate.

Sex education is already compulsory in secondary maintained schools, and the Government is clear that all schools should make provision for high quality, age-appropriate sex and relationship education, which is a vital part of preparing young people for life in modern Britain.

The Secretary of State agreed that we need to look again at how schools deliver high quality personal, social, health and economic education including sex and relationship education. The Government is considering all the options and will give a view in due course.