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

Found: Yours sincerely, Baroness Smith of Malvern Minister for Skills Yours sincerely, The Rt Hon

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

Found: class="govuk-table__row js-govuk-table__row">

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

Found: class="govuk-table__row js-govuk-table__row">

Found: Return Andrew Western Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Baroness Smith of Malvern

Found: class="govuk-table__row js-govuk-table__row">

Found: Return Nil Return Andrew Western Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Baroness Smith of Malvern

Found: class="govuk-table__row js-govuk-table__row">