Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Damian Hinds and Desmond Swayne

Monday 29th April 2024 Commons Chamber

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

T5. Are powers available to the Secretary of State where schools refuse to implement her guidance on social transitioning?

[The Minister for Schools (Damian Hinds)]

We expect that schools will follow the guidance, because it is guidance to help them carry out their existing statutory duties, including safeguarding. If they did not take those guidelines into account when delivering those duties, they would be at risk of breach.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Damian Hinds and Desmond Swayne

Tuesday 28th March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Damian Hinds]

I echo the hon. Gentleman’s good wishes for the victim. He is absolutely right about the importance of the safety and security for our prison officers. Things such as the rolling out of body-worn video cameras are an important part of that, along with the sensible use of PAVA spray, which I know the POA wants.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Will the Minister end the nonsense of community punishments discharged by working from home?

[Damian Hinds]

I am not sure that I can respond in quite the same style as my right hon. Friend. During the pandemic, being able to do certain tasks remotely or from home was a way of carrying on with unpaid work. But in general, we expect people to turn up and do that work, usually, in a group setting.