Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Diana Johnson and Edward Timpson

Monday 20th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Edward Timpson]

I can confirm that the Trauma Recovery Centre has so far received adoption support funding to support 16 children in 11 families. I pay tribute to their important work. They are among 17,000 families who have benefited from the new adoption support fund created by the Government. I will look at the other issue raised by my hon. Friend and perhaps talk to him about it outside the House.

[Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)]

T2. Is the Minister concerned that when the apprenticeship levy is introduced it will disproportionately benefit London and the south-east, rather than areas in the north, in particular Hull, as the money it raises will not be redistributed? Will the Minister look at making sure the money goes to areas most in need?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Diana Johnson and Edward Timpson

Monday 4th July 2016 Commons Chamber

[Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)]

The children of Thoresby primary school have an abundance of common sense and kindness, and I was delighted that they were awarded the National Character Award last week by the Children’s Minister. Does he agree, however, that we also want to instil determination, grit and tenacity in our young people?

[The Minister for Children and Families (Edward Timpson)]

Absolutely.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Diana Johnson and Edward Timpson

Monday 26th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Edward Timpson]

I know how assiduous the hon. Lady has been in pursuing these matters, and it is good to hear of that initiative in her constituency from Stockport academy. I would like to learn more—as, I am sure, would the Department—about how it has achieved that, so that that best practice might be spread more widely. I am happy to discuss that with her further.

[Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North) (Lab)]

Many parents will be surprised to know that under the previous Government a requirement for volunteers in schools to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check was removed. Is the Minister planning to review that change in the law?

[Edward Timpson]

There are no current decisions to be made about whether to review that particular measure. As the hon. Lady knows, there were some widespread changes made during the last Parliament—they were predominantly led by the Home Office, but the Department for Education was kept closely involved. We feel that we have a robust system in place, but more important is making sure that the people who are delivering the services have the best practice, skills and knowledge at their disposal, because where things go wrong, it tends to be through basic practice failures, rather than systems.