Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Charlie Elphicke Excerpts
Monday 9th September 2013

(11 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Matt Hancock Portrait Matthew Hancock
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I am highly aware of the pressures on sixth-form college budgets, and of the work they do to ensure standards are very high. I am in constant dialogue with sixth-form college leaders to explore all options to ensure that they can continue to deliver the very high standards they achieve today.

Charlie Elphicke Portrait Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con)
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T9. A recent National Audit Office report showed an encouraging 10% rise in adoptions. What is being done to help even more potential adopters to have the confidence to come forward and to support them through what can be a trying process?

Edward Timpson Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Mr Edward Timpson)
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My hon. Friend is right to highlight the encouraging rise in the number of people who want to adopt coming forward and the number of adoptions taking place. However, we still need to do more to ensure there are no barriers in the way of anyone who wants to come forward and give a child who needs the best possible start in life that permanent future, and we are determined to see it through.