Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the press notice entitled Prime Minister unveils game changing investment to tackle national security threat from people smuggling gangs, published on 4 November 2024, whether the £75m funding announced for Border Security Command is in addition to the funding allocations set out in the Autumn Budget 2024.
Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Border Security Command is funded from within the Home Office’s Spending Review settlement, as announced at the Budget.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the number of pupils in Bedfordshire who will leave the independent school system as a result of VAT on school fees.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department has made no estimate of the number of pupils in Bedfordshire who will leave the independent school system as a result of VAT on school fees.
The government predicts that, in the long-run steady state, there will be 37,000 fewer pupils in the private sector in the UK as a result of the removal of the VAT exemption applied to school fees. This represents around 6% of the current private school population. This movement is expected to take place over several years.
Of the 37,000 pupil reduction in the private sector, the government estimates an increase of 35,000 pupils in the state sector in the steady state following the VAT policy taking effect, with the other 2,000 consisting of international pupils who do not move into the UK state system, and domestic pupils moving into homeschooling. This state sector increase represents less than 0.5% of total UK state school pupils, of which there are over 9 million. This movement is expected to take place over several years.
The impact on individual local authorities will interact with other pressures and vary. Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide full-time education for all children of statutory school age in their area, suitable for their age, aptitude, ability and any special educational needs and/or disabilities.
The department works with local authorities to help them fulfil their duty to secure school places. Requirements for state-funded places for children that would have attended a private school will be addressed in each local authority through normal processes.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of imposing VAT on private school fees on the UK’s relations with European and international allies.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
On 30th October, at Budget, the Government confirmed that, as of 1 January 2025, all education, boarding, and vocational training provided for a charge by a private school in the UK will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent.
International schools make an important contribution to the connections between the UK and its international partners, which the Government remains committed to strengthening and deepening further. While they can be subsidised by foreign governments, depending on their funding structure, many international schools still charge fees comparable to that of a lot of British private schools, many of which do not necessarily follow the UK curriculum, nor teach exclusively in English. It would therefore be unfair to carve international schools out of policy changes whilst comparable independent schools remain within scope.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of imposing VAT on private school fees on the UK’s global reputation.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
On 30th October, at Budget, the Government confirmed that, as of 1 January 2025, all education, boarding, and vocational training provided for a charge by a private school in the UK will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent.
International schools make an important contribution to the connections between the UK and its international partners, which the Government remains committed to strengthening and deepening further. While they can be subsidised by foreign governments, depending on their funding structure, many international schools still charge fees comparable to that of a lot of British private schools, many of which do not necessarily follow the UK curriculum, nor teach exclusively in English. It would therefore be unfair to carve international schools out of policy changes whilst comparable independent schools remain within scope.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to replace capital funding originally allocated to (a) Arnold Academy, (b) Parkfields Middle School, (c) Toddington St. George Church of England School, and (d) The Firs Lower School in Mid Bedfordshire constituency through the Condition Improvement Fund.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department has written to the responsible bodies to encourage them to reapply to the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF), which opened for applications for the 2025/26 round on 22 October 2024. The bodies should closely review the guidance and all the documents provided in support of their application to ensure their appropriateness as evidence of project need.
In cases of an urgent building condition issue that cannot wait for funding in the current CIF round, schools can apply for Urgent Capital Support funding. More details on both funding routes are available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/condition-improvement-fund.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the planned free school in Bedford Borough is under review by her Department.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government wants to ensure children achieve and thrive in education, whatever type of school they are in, including free schools. School capacity varies from place to place, and demand for places varies from area to area and year to year, so the department will continue to ensure the opening of new schools only where they are needed.
Departmental officials are working with local authorities, academy trusts and other partners to take forward work on the review of mainstream free school projects over the autumn and have written to them, setting out the next steps in relation to individual projects.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies on National Insurance Contributions for employees of paragraph 4 of the report by the Office for Budget Responsibility entitled The economic effects of policy measures, published in October 2021.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
In the October 2021 Economic and Fiscal Outlook the OBR set out “a central forecast to 2026-27 taking account of recent data and Government policies announced up to and including the October 2021 Budget and Spending Review”. The Government does not speculate on tax changes outside of fiscal events.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reforming the planning system to introduce new measures to help reduce flood risk.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government recognises the devastating impact which flooding can have on communities, and the role the planning system plays in directing development to areas of lowest possible flood risk. National planning policy is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided. In the recent consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, we sought views on how the planning system can be more effective in managing flood risk. The consultation closed on the 24 September and officials in my department are currently analysing responses with a view to publishing a government response before the end of the year.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he plans to take to support the development of tech clusters for specialist universities.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK tech ecosystem achieved a record combined market valuation of $1.08 trillion in 2023. Supporting its continued development across the UK is a priority for my department, and vital to this government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.
As set out in the industrial strategy consultation, the UK has world-leading innovation and tech clusters across the country. This includes aviation technology around Cranfield, with Cranfield University acting as a magnet for talent and investment and anchor institution for its local innovation ecosystem.
Through the industrial strategy, we will explore how best to continue supporting high-potential clusters across the UK through R&D investment.
Asked by: Blake Stephenson (Conservative - Mid Bedfordshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the role of Bedfordshire in the UK’s military supply chain.
Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The East of England plays an important role in defending the UK from growing threats and Defence's contribution to the economy, with approximately £1.4 billion of Ministry of Defence (MOD) spend in the region in 2022-23. Bedfordshire in particular is home to a number of our strategic suppliers and a variety of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises working in defence, underlining the importance of the county in the Defence supply chain.
Mid Bedfordshire also hosts the prestigious DVD (Defence Vehicle Demonstration) Event, providing opportunities for industry and key MOD stakeholders to develop next-generation capabilities to meet the requirements of a modern, lethal army.