Mathematical Sciences

Duke of Wellington Excerpts

Wednesday 2nd April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for the question. There is nothing to cancel. The national academy was devised by the previous Government, who allocated £6 million towards it when they were not properly funded. The money was not there in the first place and £6 million was a meagre figure, whereas we are spending more and more money on other learned societies. It is as if I want to buy a £5 million penthouse around the corner, and I go to the estate agent and say, “I would like to buy it but I don’t have money allocated for it”. There is nothing to cancel.

[The Duke of Wellington (CB)]

My Lords, I declare an interest as patron of the King’s Maths School. I thank the Minister, the noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Malvern, who is in her place, for seeing the noble Baroness, Lady Wolf, and me recently, and for visiting the school. We are most grateful to the Department for Education for agreeing to expand the school.

Does the Minister from DSIT agree that one of the best ways to enhance the study of mathematical sciences is to have further university-sponsored maths schools? There are now eight; I believe there are three more opening soon, but we could do more if the Government gave them some more money.

[Lord Leong (Lab)]

I thank the noble Duke for the question. Maths is now the second most popular subject at A-level; something close to 32% of those taking A-levels are doing maths. We have to encourage young people to take up maths. I was lucky to have a good maths teacher, so I really enjoyed algebra, calculus and so on. It is important that maths graduates go to teach in universities and become good teachers. The Government are investing money to recruit and retain these good teachers, so that maths can be liked by most children across the country.