Schools White Paper: Every Child Achieving and Thriving

Debate between Bridget Phillipson and Samantha Niblett

Monday 23rd February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Bridget Phillipson]

We will expand and improve support for more children in our system. There will be greater legal rights for a greater number of children, and we will ensure that if parents need support when children are struggling, we do not wait for arbitrary, lengthy bureaucratic processes; we get on and deliver it.

[Samantha Niblett (South Derbyshire) (Lab)]

I was grateful to the Secretary of State for coming to my constituency and meeting some SEND parents in Swadlincote. They felt heard. I thank her for the way she is delivering this White Paper; it is not a case of, “Here you go—this is what we will do to you,” which is what these people have been used to for so long. It is, “We want to hear from you.” I will have a consultation meeting with my constituents, and I will be very interested to hear what they have to say.

[Bridget Phillipson]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend, and to every Member on both sides of the House, for their contributions about their families and constituents’ experiences. Their voices have been heard loud and clear in this process. We have taken time to ensure that the reforms that we are setting out are the right ones, and reflect parents’ views, but we are of course continuing that consultation. I look forward to my hon. Friend sharing further thoughts from her constituents.

Women and Equalities

Debate between Bridget Phillipson and Samantha Niblett

Monday 13th October 2025 Written Corrections

[Samantha Niblett (South Derbyshire) (Lab)]

If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.

[The Minister for Women and Equalities (Bridget Phillipson)]

This Government are focused on breaking down barriers to opportunity for everyone. We are backing working families, saving them £7,500 through rolling out 30 hours of Government-funded childcare and rolling out free breakfast clubs in our schools. Building on the proud legacy of Sure Start, we will deliver 100 Best Start family hubs to give every child the best start in life. We are opening 10 new construction technical excellence colleges, backing our young people to learn a trade and to get on. Our plan for change will deliver for everyone.

[Official Report, 3 September 2025; Vol. 772, c. 278.]

Written correction submitted by the Minister for Women and Equalities, the right hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South (Bridget Phillipson):

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Bridget Phillipson and Samantha Niblett

Wednesday 3rd September 2025 Commons Chamber

[Samantha Niblett (South Derbyshire) (Lab)]

T1. If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.

[The Minister for Women and Equalities (Bridget Phillipson)]

This Government are focused on breaking down barriers to opportunity for everyone. We are backing working families, saving them £7,500 through rolling out 30 hours of Government-funded childcare and rolling out free breakfast clubs in our schools. Building on the proud legacy of Sure Start, we will deliver 100 Best Start family hubs to give every child the best start in life. We are opening 10 new construction technical excellence colleges, backing our young people to learn a trade and to get on. Our plan for change will deliver for everyone.

[Samantha Niblett]

I am sure that the Minister will have seen research last week, which parents in my constituency will be really disappointed in, saying that mums earn £302 less per week than dads. For too long, the Tories were happy for those costs to fall on women. What steps is she taking to ensure that this Labour Government tackle the motherhood penalty?

[Bridget Phillipson]

I agree with my hon. Friend that that is totally unacceptable. This Labour Government will deliver for women, unlike the Conservative party—whose leader said that maternity pay was “excessive”—or the Reform leader, the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage), who claimed it was a “fact of life” that women coming back from maternity leave would earn less. We know the difference that high-quality early years education makes, which is why I am delighted that, from this week, working families will be able to access 30 hours of Government-funded childcare.