Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Hanson of Flint Excerpts

Monday 24th June 2019 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)]

1. What steps he is taking to ensure his Department’s policies are compliant with the UN convention on the rights of the child.

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

I am sure colleagues have enjoyed the bevy of sport over the weekend, especially the tennis, but I think we would all want to congratulate the Lionesses on winning 3-0 against the Cameroon and, of course, on reaching the quarter-finals, where I hope they will quickly dispose of the Norway option to get to the semi-finals.

The use of children’s rights impact assessments is widely promoted across the Department and wider Government, and our assessment template is designed to help staff to give due consideration to the UNCRC when making new policy and legislation.

[David Hanson]

May I first take a moment to congratulate you, Mr Speaker, on serving 10 years in the Chair? That is worthy of recognition.

Will the Minister give some indication of when the results of the consultation on the restraint of children will be published? The consultation closed in January 2018, having commenced in 2017. When is it going to happen?

[Mr Speaker]

I thank the right hon. Gentleman very warmly for what he has said.

--- Later in debate ---

[David Hanson (Delyn) (Lab)]

T8.     When representatives of the National Education Union met Welsh MPs last week, they told us that £59 million of education spending had been lost to the Welsh Assembly Government since 2015 owing to central Government cuts. The Prime Minister recognises that there is a shortfall. What hope can the Secretary of State give of funds to alleviate its consequences?

[Damian Hinds]

Education is, of course, a devolved matter, but it is also true that funding per pupil is slightly higher in England than it is in Wales.