Oral Answers to Questions

Bob Seely Excerpts

Monday 14th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Michelle Donelan]

Fairness is at the heart of our announcement that no student will pay back more in real terms than they borrowed. It is also about rebalancing for the taxpayer, as every pound that is not paid back by a student is paid back by a taxpayer.

[Bob Seely (Isle of Wight) (Con)]

14. What assessment he has made of the potential impact on education outcomes of an education investment area on the Isle of Wight.

[The Secretary of State for Education (Nadhim Zahawi)]

I was delighted to announced that the Isle of Wight will be an education investment area, which will receive a range of support to improve schools. We will boost the rate of children meeting reading, writing and maths standards by 2030, ensuring that opportunity is as equally spread as talent is in our country.

[Bob Seely (Isle of Wight) (Con)]

The Island has made good progress in improving its education in recent years, which I am delighted about. I am very keen to get as much out of the education investment area as we possibly can, in order to drive up standards further. That ambition was evident in my recent visit, only a few days ago, to Christ the King College, where I talked to students and pupils. The Education Minister has had many invitations today, so will the Secretary of State please come to the Isle of Wight so that he can see the excellent work being done at the Isle of Wight College and at our schools?

[Nadhim Zahawi]

That invitation is far too tempting to turn down, so I shall make time to visit the Isle of Wight with my hon. Friend. Of course, I will be saying more about the work we are doing in the schools White Paper.