Social Mobility: Regional Attainment Gap

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Tuesday 26th February 2019 Lords Chamber

[Lord Agnew of Oulton]

My Lords, we are investing more in child care support than any other Government—around £6 billion for the year 2019-20. This includes funding for our free early education entitlements, on which we plan to spend £3.5 billion this year alone. The noble Baroness will also be aware of the great efforts we are making around phonics, which are leading to a dramatic improvement for young people. Some 163,000 young children are now able to read at a higher level; that is more than the population of Norwich.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab Co-op)]

Can the Minister investigate how this country is being held to ransom by a number of dangerous former pupils of a school called Eton College?

[Lord Agnew of Oulton]

I get the sense that the noble Lord does not approve of that great institution—but even his party has had many leaders from it.