Oral Answers to Questions

Henry Smith Excerpts

Wednesday 10th February 2021 Commons Chamber

[Laura Trott (Sevenoaks) (Con)]

What steps she is taking to ensure that children throughout the UK have equality of opportunity.

[Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)]

What steps she is taking to ensure that children throughout the UK have equality of opportunity.

[The Minister for Equalities (Kemi Badenoch)]

Spreading opportunity is a top priority across Government. That is why we are levelling up school standards and investing over £7.1 billion more in schools by 2022-23 than in 2019-20. We are committed to providing extra support for the education of disadvantaged children during the pandemic, including through our £350 million national tutoring programme.

--- Later in debate ---

[Kemi Badenoch]

We are committed to getting all pupils and students back into schools and colleges as soon as the public health picture allows. In doing so, the Government will be guided by the scientific and medical experts. When Parliament returns from recess in the week commencing 22 February, we intend to publish our plan for taking the country out of lockdown, including plans for reopening education. We hope we will be able to commence the full reopening of schools from Monday 8 March. We have committed to providing schools, parents and young people with a minimum of two weeks’ notice for that return to on-site provision.

[Henry Smith [V]]

What support for children with learning disabilities are the Government pursuing to ensure equality of opportunity?

[Kemi Badenoch]

The pandemic has been extremely challenging for many families with children and young people with special educational needs. Supporting them is a priority for this Government, and their wellbeing remains central to our response. My hon. Friend will be glad to know that we are providing £40.8 million this year for the Family Fund to help more than 80,000 low-income families who have children with disabilities or serious illnesses. That includes £13.5 million specifically in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which may include assistive technology to aid remote learning.