Debates between Jade Botterill and Bridget Phillipson during the 2024 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jade Botterill and Bridget Phillipson
Monday 4th November 2024

(2 weeks, 3 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jade Botterill Portrait Jade Botterill (Ossett and Denby Dale) (Lab)
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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 Portrait Bridget Phillipson
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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.