Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gillian Keegan and Jake Berry

Monday 11th December 2023 Commons Chamber

[Gillian Keegan]

I am very happy to confirm that the Minister for children and families will be happy to meet the hon. Lady.

[Sir Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen) (Con)]

Will the Secretary of State join me in thanking Julie Nixon, head of the Spectrum of Light charity in Rossendale and Darwen, for the work she did on Saturday by bringing together parents from across Lancashire and Rossendale and Darwen on a Zoom call? Those parents were exactly the same as me, in that they all had an autistic child, and I was appalled to hear from them about the time they are having to wait to see an educational psychologist. Will the Secretary of State agree to write to Lancashire County Council to find out what the heck is going on with those parents whose children are missing school and are unable to access an education, health and care plan?

[Gillian Keegan]

I am very happy to work with my right hon. Friend to improve things in Lancashire. Spectrum of Light sounds like it is doing an amazing job—there are many people who are looking to better support our children with special educational needs. Of course, we recognise that we need to improve aspects, which is why we published an improvement plan in March this year.

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete in Education Settings

Debate between Gillian Keegan and Jake Berry

Monday 4th September 2023 Commons Chamber

[Gillian Keegan]

I think the hon. Gentleman knows that education is devolved in Wales.

[Sir Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen) (Con)]

The Secretary of State has said on several occasions that she and her Department are prioritising pupils still accessing face-to-face learning. As that is the case, when she publishes her definitive list on Thursday, will she also publish an estimate of the number of pupils who are not able to access face-to-face learning, and will she commit to the House that she will update that estimate on an ongoing basis?

[Gillian Keegan]

I cannot promise my right hon. Friend that that information will be contained in what is published this week—which is more likely to be about the schools and the mitigations that are in place—but we will then put together the information on pupils who are learning face to face and those who are learning remotely, and we will update that regularly.