Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help schools deliver (a) physical education and (b) school sports initiatives.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

I refer the hon. Member for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire to the answer of 28 March 2025 to Question 36741.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve the infrastructure available to provide (a) physical education and (b) outdoor activities in schools.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

Physical education (PE) is a foundation subject that is compulsory at all four key stages in the national curriculum. As part of the national curriculum, pupils should be taught in key stages two, three and four to take part in outdoor and adventurous activities. This government is committed to securing the infrastructure needed to protect time for PE in schools and to support the role grassroots clubs play in expanding access to sport.

To support schools to provide opportunities for pupils to access high quality PE and sport, the government has committed £320 million for the primary PE and sport premium this academic year, 2024/25, benefiting over 18,000 schools and around 3.9 million pupils in England. The department also launched an open procurement for a new grant programme from spring 2025, of up to £300,000 a year. This will focus on improving and increasing PE, school sport and physical activity opportunities for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

In July 2024, the government commissioned Professor Becky Francis CBE to convene and chair a panel of experts to conduct the Curriculum and Assessment Review. The interim report has been published and the final report is due in autumn 2025. The interim report can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/curriculum-and-assessment-review-interim-report.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to Skills England’s report entitled Skills England: driving growth and widening opportunities, published on 24 September 2024, what steps she has taken to support cross-departmental working by Skills England (a) in general and (b) to provide training on green skills to employees in sectors that plan to decarbonise.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

In September 2024, Skills England published their first report, titled, ‘Skills England: Driving Growth and Widening Opportunities’. This report sets out Skills England’s role, the key skills challenges that limit economic growth and opportunity, and an initial assessment of skills needs in the economy.

Part of Skills England’s role is to ensure that skills sit at the heart of joined-up decision making across government. This includes working closely with:

i) The Industrial Strategy Council, so that we have the skilled workforce needed to deliver a clear, long-term plan for the future economy.

ii) The Department for Work on Pensions, on the government’s plan to Get Britain Working.

iii) The Migration Advisory Committee, so that growing the domestic skills pipeline reduces our reliance on overseas workers.

iv) Mayoral Strategic Authorities, to ensure that regional skills needs are met and there is alignment with national priorities.

v) The devolved administrations, to ensure join-up across the UK.

vi) The full range of central government departments including the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which has set up the Office for Clean Energy Jobs to meet our clean energy superpower mission.

Skills England will ensure that skills development aligns with the UK’s carbon emission and environmental targets, working in partnership with businesses, educational institutions, and regional and local organisations. Following the publication of its first report, Skills England consulted over 700 employers and other key stakeholders, including from the green economy, on their skills needs and priorities for training funded through the new growth and skills offer.

To meet carbon emission and environmental targets, skills training programmes must respond to the demands of a low-carbon economy, with qualifications and training pathways designed to directly address the ways in which jobs will change. Skills England will work with businesses and other government departments to help develop understanding of the importance of this shift including for employers and training providers.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to reply to correspondence of 5 February 2025 from the hon. Member for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire on healthcare in Northstowe.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I replied to the Hon. Member on 28 March 2025.

Small and medium-sized enterprises in defence procurement

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International Day for Mine Awareness

Israeli Defence Force attacks on humanitarian workers

Humanitarian response to the Myanmar earthquake

Leasehold reform

Sale of caged hens’ eggs

Snares

Bank closures

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Found: _NC1 Wera Hobhouse Steve Darling Ian Sollom Caroline Voaden Daisy Cooper Helen Morgan Helen Maguire

Found: would have ended the bill’s progress through Parliament, was moved by the Liberal Democrat MP Ian Sollom

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