Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

James Wild Excerpts
Monday 16th January 2023

(1 year, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Claire Coutinho Portrait Claire Coutinho
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We have increased the funding set out for early years by about half a billion pounds since 2020-21. I agree that workforce is an issue; we are looking at recruitment and retention very carefully and will be setting out proposals as and when we can.

James Wild Portrait James Wild (North West Norfolk) (Con)
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9. What steps her Department is taking to improve school buildings.

Sara Britcliffe Portrait Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn) (Con)
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15. What steps her Department is taking to improve school buildings.

Gillian Keegan Portrait The Secretary of State for Education (Gillian Keegan)
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In December, I announced a further 239 schools that will benefit from large-scale rebuilding and refurbishment projects as part of our school rebuilding programme, which will transform 500 schools across the country. I saw the huge impact that our investments are having at Coundon Court, where I met the headteacher Mr Heal and his students, who were very excited at the prospect of their new classrooms and design and tech and science labs. As Conservatives, we are investing in the future not only of the next generation, but of generations to come. On top of that, we have allocated more than £13 billion to improving school buildings since 2015, including £1.8 billion this year.

James Wild Portrait James Wild
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I welcome the recent addition of the King Edward VII Academy to the school rebuilding programme, following the inclusion of Smithdon High School in an earlier round, and the new investment that is coming to North West Norfolk. However, given Smithdon’s grade II* listed status and the complexity that it brings, can my right hon. Friend assure me that funding for the school is protected? Will Ministers meet me to ensure that we get the heritage and other permissions we need as rapidly as possible?