Oral Answers to Questions

Jade Botterill Excerpts

Monday 4th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for School Standards (Catherine McKinnell)]

I welcome the right hon. Gentleman back to his place and would be more than happy to meet him to discuss the challenges in his constituency.

[Jade Botterill (Ossett and Denby Dale) (Lab)]

The UK’s social mobility commissioner has highlighted the “geography of disadvantage” being experienced by young people in northern post-industrial communities like those in Ossett and Denby Dale. Does the Secretary of State agree with the commissioner that decisive and bold Government action to improve educational attainment and opportunity is required for these children?

[Bridget Phillipson]

I do agree, and I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising the point. I am leading the work across Government on breaking down the barriers to opportunity in order to break the unfair link between background and success. We know that tackling child poverty is a crucial part of that process, and it is essential that we get the recommendations of the child poverty taskforce to ensure that poverty does not hold back our children’s life chances.