Found: Numeracy for Life: Oral evidence At 10.00 am the Committee heard evidence from: • Baroness Smith of Malvern

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 30 July (HL2186), whether they will now answer the question put, namely whether Media, Journalism and Publishing courses identified by Skills England as the key route to filling priority growth occupations in the creative industries in the 2026 Annual Sector Skills Assessment of the Creative Industries, published on 1 June, are now eligible to apply for the 2026–27 Strategic Priorities Grant for HE funding, after having been made ineligible in 2005–06.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Funding for high-cost subjects through the Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) is allocated on a formulaic basis, not through a competitive application process. Media, journalism and publishing courses do not attract high-cost subject funding through the SPG in the 2026/27 academic year.

Previous funding for media, journalism and publishing courses until 2024/25 inclusive, and other creative and performing arts subjects until 2025/26 inclusive, represented just over 1% of total funding once tuition fees are taken into account. Funding rates for these subjects were lower than for subjects in price groups A and B, which had previously been evaluated to have higher costs. These courses, like others, continue to benefit from increases to tuition fee limits.

The department is working with the Office for Students to review and reform the SPG. The reform will ensure that high-cost subject funding is more effectively targeted towards priority provision that supports future skills needs and the Industrial Strategy, as well as ensuring funding is targeted towards the most disadvantaged students in accessing and participating in higher education.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 30 July (HL2188), whether they will now answer the question put, namely what was the evidential basis for their decision to support high-cost STEM courses and cut high-cost creative courses, as set out in the letter from the Secretary of State for Education to the Office for Students on 6 July.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Funding for high-cost subjects through the Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) is allocated on a formulaic basis, not through a competitive application process. Media, journalism and publishing courses do not attract high-cost subject funding through the SPG in the 2026/27 academic year.

Previous funding for media, journalism and publishing courses until 2024/25 inclusive, and other creative and performing arts subjects until 2025/26 inclusive, represented just over 1% of total funding once tuition fees are taken into account. Funding rates for these subjects were lower than for subjects in price groups A and B, which had previously been evaluated to have higher costs. These courses, like others, continue to benefit from increases to tuition fee limits.

The department is working with the Office for Students to review and reform the SPG. The reform will ensure that high-cost subject funding is more effectively targeted towards priority provision that supports future skills needs and the Industrial Strategy, as well as ensuring funding is targeted towards the most disadvantaged students in accessing and participating in higher education.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 16 July (HL1590), whether criticism is Islamist practices is deemed to fall within the definition of racism.

Answered by Baroness Blake of Leeds - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Matters relating to discrimination, harassment and hate crime are governed by legislation, and the Government recognises the fundamental right to freedom of expression within the law. The Government has adopted a non-statutory definition of anti-Muslim hostility. The definition does not restrict lawful criticism, debate or even ridicule of religious ideas, including Islam, and is concerned with unacceptable behaviour towards people rather than the protection of belief systems.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 23 September 2025 (HL10215), what further progress they have made in developing new registration fee arrangements for early years providers.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government has consulted on new Early Years Register fee arrangements through the early years funding consultation, published on 6 July 2026 and which closed on 14 September 2026. The consultation sets out proposed reforms to the early years entitlements funding system, including proposals intended to simplify funding arrangements, improve access for families on low incomes, improve support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and make funding more efficient and transparent.

As part of the consultation, we are proposing to reduce or remove individual annual Ofsted fees, which could simplify the system and reduce direct cost pressures on providers, supporting provider sustainability.

All interested parties, including local authorities, early years providers, parents and carers, were encouraged to take part and share their views before the 14 September closing date.

Found: Advocate General for Scotland, Office of the Advocate General for Scotland The Rt Hon Baroness SMITH of Malvern

Found: Nil Return Georgia Gould Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Baroness Smith of Malvern

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Found: Nil Return Nil Return Georgia Gould Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Baroness Smith of Malvern

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Found: Hamlyn Trust. 41 List of Ministers’ Interests - October 2026 The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern

Found: Letter dated 09/10/2026 from Baroness Smith of Malvern to Baroness Caine of Kentish Town regarding Strategic

Found: Letter dated 01/10/2026 from Baroness Smith of Malvern to Baroness Caine of Kentish Town regarding a

Found: Letter dated 28/09/2026 from Baroness Smith of Malvern to Baroness Cash regarding regulation of academic