Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 17 October regarding the music and dance scheme (HL Deb col 303–04), whether they are having similar discussions with providers of the Dance and Drama Awards Scheme; and whether similar consideration will be given to support by the Department for Education for that scheme.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The government has engaged with providers involved in the Dance and Drama Awards scheme to discuss the issue of VAT on private education and will consider how best to support young people engaged in this programme following the spending review.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether providers offering higher-level diplomas funded through the Dance and Drama Awards Scheme will be subject to VAT on school fees.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Where parents or families are paying fees for their child to attend a private school, they will pay VAT on those fees following this change.

Whilst developing these policies, the government has carefully considered the impact that they will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget on 30 October in the usual way.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether reducing absenteeism in schools will be an explicit goal of the curriculum review.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

Tackling absence is at the heart of the government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity. Thanks to the efforts of the sector there are more learners in school but, with 1.6 million children still persistently absent, this remains a major challenge.

The Curriculum and Assessment Review is being independently conducted by a group of education leaders (the review group) and chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The terms of reference were published in July, which is attached and can also be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/curriculum-and-assessment-review.

The review will look closely at the key challenges to attainment for young people, and the barriers which hold children back from the opportunities and life chances they deserve, in particular those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, or with special educational needs or disabilities. However, the review will not be able to address every issue facing the curriculum and assessment system. It will therefore seek to identify and focus on addressing the most significant and pressing issues facing curriculum and assessment without destabilising the system.

Ministers will take decisions on what changes to make to curriculum, assessment and qualifications in the light of the final recommendations from the review group next autumn.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hanson of Flint on 24 October (HL Deb col 742) , whether they intend to introduce physical proof of immigration status for EU citizens living in the UK; and if so, when.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

eVisas are a key part of delivering a border and immigration system which will be more digital and streamlined by 2025, a change that will enhance the applicant’s experience, deliver excellent value, and increase the immigration system’s security and efficiency.

Successful EUSS applicants are given a UK Visas and Immigration account, which they can use to view and share their immigration status with others securely and in real-time. The Withdrawal Agreement explicitly allows for status to be provided in digital form. We will continue working towards a border and immigration system that is digital by default, and issuing immigration status in the form of an eVisa is part of this.

As with all such major change programmes, we are keeping our eVisa systems under review during the implementation period to identify and address any emerging issues.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Hanson of Flint on 24 October (HL Deb col 744), when they will carry out their review of the digitisation of immigration status; and when the results will be known.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

eVisas are a key part of delivering a border and immigration system which will be more digital and streamlined by 2025, a change that will enhance the applicant’s experience, deliver excellent value, and increase the immigration system’s security and efficiency.

Successful EUSS applicants are given a UK Visas and Immigration account, which they can use to view and share their immigration status with others securely and in real-time. The Withdrawal Agreement explicitly allows for status to be provided in digital form. We will continue working towards a border and immigration system that is digital by default, and issuing immigration status in the form of an eVisa is part of this.

As with all such major change programmes, we are keeping our eVisa systems under review during the implementation period to identify and address any emerging issues.

Found: Members who have experience of consulting with young people: • Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge • Earl

Found: Letter dated 30/10/2024 from Lord Hanson to the Earl of Clancarty regarding a supplementary question