All 4 Debates between Damian Hinds and Gareth Johnson

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Damian Hinds and Gareth Johnson
Monday 11th March 2024

(7 months, 3 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Gareth Johnson Portrait Gareth Johnson (Dartford)  (Con)
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T5. I have four grammar schools in my constituency, which provide an important and very popular element of a diverse education system. Therefore, will the Minister please commit today to continue her support of grammar schools, both now and in the future?

Damian Hinds Portrait The Minister for Schools (Damian Hinds)
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I support all great schools in our diverse school system, including strong grammar schools. I continue to encourage grammar schools to increase access for disadvantaged pupils, which can help so much with social mobility.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Damian Hinds and Gareth Johnson
Tuesday 12th September 2023

(1 year, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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The sale is progressing. Of course, any proposed development would be subject to approval from Reading Borough Council’s planning department, and the usual due diligence requirements and so on will apply.

We quite often throw around the term “doughty campaigner” in this Chamber, but I can certainly say that the hon. Gentleman and my right hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Sir Alok Sharma), his neighbour, have been incredibly assiduous in their attention to this matter on behalf of their constituents. In turn, I commit to him that we will absolutely stay in touch.

Gareth Johnson Portrait Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con)
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11. What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that offenders attend their sentencing.

Schools That Work For Everyone

Debate between Damian Hinds and Gareth Johnson
Monday 14th May 2018

(6 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.

This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record

Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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There is capital money available not only for expanding places but for school condition, and there may be occasions when other moves are required for the school estate. I cannot comment in detail right now on the case that my hon. Friend has raised, but I will be happy to discuss it with him.

Gareth Johnson Portrait Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con)
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Speaking as a former Kentish grammar school boy, I too welcome this funding. This is one of the few occasions on which I can recall extra money being made available specifically for grammar schools. Does the Secretary of State agree that we should never aspire to a one-size-fits-all education system? Grammar schools have a crucial role to play in achieving the diversity that he speaks about, and they tend to be good or outstanding schools, so it makes absolute sense that we should allow them to flourish and expand.

Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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My hon. Friend puts it extremely well. One size does not fit all. The grammar schools in this country are a relatively small part of the overall diverse schools system.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Damian Hinds and Gareth Johnson
Tuesday 21st July 2015

(9 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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I can confirm that Scotland has the second lowest rate of female unemployment in the European Union, and the second highest rate of female employment. Women will disproportionately benefit throughout the UK from rises in their personal allowance and the introduction of the national living wage.

Gareth Johnson Portrait Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con)
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When tax credits were first introduced by Gordon Brown, he said that it would cost £2 billion a year. It is now costing £30 billion, which is twice the Home Office budget. Surely the prudent thing to do is to address that ballooning expenditure, which too often simply subsidises low-paying employers.

Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right to say that the cost of tax credits has ballooned. They had trebled in the 11 years to 2010. To get the country back into the black, it was absolutely necessary to take control of it, but doing so at the same time as taking these other key measures.