Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the proportion of state schools which teach the national curriculum.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

Maintained schools in England are legally required to follow the National Curriculum up to age 16, but academies, including free schools, are not. The department does not hold data on the proportion of academies currently following the National Curriculum, but knows that many choose to teach it.

As part of the legislative programme announced in the King’s Speech, the department intends to legislate to require academies to teach the National Curriculum, once changes are made following the Curriculum and Assessment Review. This will give parents certainty over their children’s education, and it will give academies time to prepare. The department will discuss with the sector the practicalities of implementing this change.

The review will recommend a core curriculum that is designed to empower, not restrict, academies and other schools. It will support the innovation and professionalism of teachers, whether in academies or maintained schools, and will enable them to adapt how they teach the curriculum to their students’ lives and life experiences.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department has allocated to the NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board for the commissioning of NHS dental services in the 2024-25 financial year.

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

The Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board’s dental ringfence for 2024/25 is £64,780,000.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on the future of the Behaviour Hubs programme.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Delivery of the Behaviour Hubs will run until the end of March 2025.

Funding beyond the end of March 2025 is subject to the forthcoming Spending Review.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the annual cost of providing free breakfast clubs in all primary schools.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government is committed to making quick progress on delivering breakfast clubs in every primary school. Breakfast clubs will remove barriers to opportunity, by providing a supportive start to the day, ensuring every child, no matter their circumstances, is well prepared for school and ready to achieve.

The department has already taken decisive action by announcing in the King’s Speech that, under the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, every primary school in England will offer a free breakfast club. Legislating for breakfast club provision will give schools the certainty they need to plan for the future. Before the legislation comes into force, the department will work with the sector to make sure the right support, including funding, is in place.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her planned timetable is to roll out free breakfast clubs to all primary schools.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government is committed to making quick progress on delivering breakfast clubs in every primary school. Breakfast clubs will remove barriers to opportunity, by providing a supportive start to the day, ensuring every child, no matter their circumstances, is well prepared for school and ready to achieve.

The department has already taken decisive action by announcing in the King’s Speech that, under the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, every primary school in England will offer a free breakfast club. Legislating for breakfast club provision will give schools the certainty they need to plan for the future. Before the legislation comes into force, the department will work with the sector to make sure the right support, including funding, is in place.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to approve the business case for the A10 West Winch Housing Access Road.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

I thank the Honorable Member for his continued support for the scheme. Officials are working closely with Norfolk County Council on the outline business case submitted to the Department. When they have completed their assessment, they will put advice to Ministers.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the reference design for Hospital 2.0.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Secretary of State has asked for an urgent review on the New Hospital Programme, including on the degree to which the New Hospital Programme is funded and a realistic timetable for delivery.

The New Hospital Programme is continuing to develop its standardised design approach for future hospitals, known as Hospital 2.0. Design products for Hospital 2.0 are being developed and refined and are being shared with trusts as soon as possible and on an ongoing basis.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the statement issued by the Prime Minister's office of 27 July 2024, if she will publish the evidential basis behind the assessment of the state of the UK's economy and public services.

Answered by Tulip Siddiq - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

On 29 July 2024, the Chancellor published the results of the spending audit carried out by the Treasury in a document titled ‘Fixing the Foundations – Public spending audit 2024-25’.

The Chancellor has commissioned the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to prepare a full economic and fiscal forecast to be presented alongside a Budget on 30 October.

Social Security