Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gillian Keegan and Andrew Bridgen

Monday 23rd October 2023 Commons Chamber

[Gillian Keegan]

It is our intention to legislate, but I cannot give a date for that at the Dispatch Box. I will keep my hon. Friend informed.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Reclaim)]

Despite North West Leicestershire delivering consistently the highest economic growth in the country, with the resulting tax revenue benefits to the Treasury, my constituents have been blighted by very low per-pupil funding for a long time, as Leicestershire has bumped along the bottom of the funding table for decades. Does the Secretary of State have any words of comfort for my constituents?

[Gillian Keegan]

The introduction of the NFF will direct resources according to need. That has meant that funding has been redistributed to catch up with these changes. Those with the highest number of pupils with additional needs will also be targeted via the NFF.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gillian Keegan and Andrew Bridgen

Monday 17th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Gillian Keegan]

As I have pointed out, we do intend to legislate for the children not in school measures and put attendance on a statutory footing when the legislative timetable allows, looking at the sitting Fridays that are left within this period. The Department is currently running a call for evidence on improving the support for children missing from education, and that evidence will be used to inform future policy.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Reclaim)]

Does the Secretary of State think that something might be going seriously wrong when children in our junior schools are being indoctrinated by gender ideology at the same time as senior Members of this House appear unable to define what a woman is?

[Gillian Keegan]

I can assure my hon. Friend that I am more than capable of defining what a woman is. It is true that some schools are asking for guidance in this area, so we intend to bring forward guidance. I am working with my right hon. Friend the Equalities Minister to bring that forward in the near term.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gillian Keegan and Andrew Bridgen

Monday 28th November 2022 Commons Chamber

[Gillian Keegan]

I can give the hon. Gentleman good news, because we heard in the autumn statement that education will be funded by an extra £2 billion next year and the year after. We will be working through how that will affect schools; each school will get its individual allocation. School funding is £4 billion higher this year compared with last year, and the autumn statement has confirmed that increase, which takes the core schools budget to an historic high of £58.8 billion. That will deliver significant additional support to pupils and teachers and will, I am sure, be welcomed by the sector.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

What steps is my right hon. Friend taking to promote the Government’s Healthy Start scheme, and to ensure that eligible families receive the vouchers to which they are entitled?

[Gillian Keegan]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. The Healthy Start scheme, on which we are working with the Department of Health and Social Care, delivers healthy foods and milk for women over 10 weeks’ pregnant or anyone with a child under four. Beyond this, our investment in families is very important, and we are also investing £300 million in the Start for Life family hubs, which will complement all of the others. We will of course make sure that people are aware of all the schemes in those family hubs.

Mahsa Amini

Debate between Gillian Keegan and Andrew Bridgen

Tuesday 11th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Gillian Keegan]

In his statement announcing the sanctions on 10 October, the Foreign Secretary said:

“The UK stands with the people of Iran”

and underlined to the Government of Iran that

“we will hold you to account for your repression of women and girls and for the shocking violence you have inflicted on your own people.”

And of course we have called for that full and open and transparent investigation.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

Can my hon. Friend confirm that the UK Government will hold Iran’s Government fully responsible for all their human rights abuses—be they past, present or in the future?

[Gillian Keegan]

Yes; my hon. Friend makes a good point. Iran’s human rights record has long been of serious concern to the UK, and the FCDO has designated it as one of its human rights priority countries. The continued use of the death penalty, the weak rule of law and the restrictions on freedom of expression, religion and belief are deeply worrying.