Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking ensure that people convicted of charges related to grooming gangs receive adequate sentences.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
The Government is determined to ensure that grooming gang members face the toughest possible sentences for their crimes.
This is why we are introducing a new statutory aggravating factor requiring courts to consider grooming when sentencing for specified sexual offences committed against those under 18.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of taxation levels in each of the next five years.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Office for Budget Responsibility produce forecasts of future tax receipts as part of its Economic and Fiscal Outlook. The latest Economic and Fiscal outlook was published at the Spring Forecast and it included forecast tax receipts for the next five years.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of replacing the proposed cap on the number of branded items with a monetary cap set by regulations.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Assessments made in relation to the limit on branded school uniform and physical education kit contained in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill (CWSB) have been published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-impact-assessments.
The department has also assessed the impact of a cost cap versus a numeric limit on branded uniform items and found a cost cap would be complex, difficult to enforce and burdensome for schools. In contrast a numeric limit is clear, simpler, and will deliver savings for parents more quickly. It remains the best approach for driving down the costs of uniform.
The department published statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms last autumn to allow schools to prepare for September 2026 and have committed to updating it following Royal Assent for the CWSB. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms.
This measure does not remove the ability for schools to set their own uniform requirements. We strongly encourage schools to have a uniform, as it can play a key role in promoting the ethos of a school, providing a sense of belonging and identity and setting an appropriate tone for education.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed cap on branded school uniform items on specialist academies, including those with a particular sporting or technical focus.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Assessments made in relation to the limit on branded school uniform and physical education kit contained in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill (CWSB) have been published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-impact-assessments.
The department has also assessed the impact of a cost cap versus a numeric limit on branded uniform items and found a cost cap would be complex, difficult to enforce and burdensome for schools. In contrast a numeric limit is clear, simpler, and will deliver savings for parents more quickly. It remains the best approach for driving down the costs of uniform.
The department published statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms last autumn to allow schools to prepare for September 2026 and have committed to updating it following Royal Assent for the CWSB. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms.
This measure does not remove the ability for schools to set their own uniform requirements. We strongly encourage schools to have a uniform, as it can play a key role in promoting the ethos of a school, providing a sense of belonging and identity and setting an appropriate tone for education.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed cap on branded school uniform items on pupil behaviour and attendance in schools.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Assessments made in relation to the limit on branded school uniform and physical education kit contained in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill (CWSB) have been published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-impact-assessments.
The department has also assessed the impact of a cost cap versus a numeric limit on branded uniform items and found a cost cap would be complex, difficult to enforce and burdensome for schools. In contrast a numeric limit is clear, simpler, and will deliver savings for parents more quickly. It remains the best approach for driving down the costs of uniform.
The department published statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms last autumn to allow schools to prepare for September 2026 and have committed to updating it following Royal Assent for the CWSB. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms.
This measure does not remove the ability for schools to set their own uniform requirements. We strongly encourage schools to have a uniform, as it can play a key role in promoting the ethos of a school, providing a sense of belonging and identity and setting an appropriate tone for education.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to school uniform policy on academic outcomes.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Assessments made in relation to the limit on branded school uniform and physical education kit contained in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill (CWSB) have been published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-impact-assessments.
The department has also assessed the impact of a cost cap versus a numeric limit on branded uniform items and found a cost cap would be complex, difficult to enforce and burdensome for schools. In contrast a numeric limit is clear, simpler, and will deliver savings for parents more quickly. It remains the best approach for driving down the costs of uniform.
The department published statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms last autumn to allow schools to prepare for September 2026 and have committed to updating it following Royal Assent for the CWSB. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms.
This measure does not remove the ability for schools to set their own uniform requirements. We strongly encourage schools to have a uniform, as it can play a key role in promoting the ethos of a school, providing a sense of belonging and identity and setting an appropriate tone for education.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to review or clarify aspects of the school uniform guidance prior to the provisions of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill coming into force.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Assessments made in relation to the limit on branded school uniform and physical education kit contained in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill (CWSB) have been published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-impact-assessments.
The department has also assessed the impact of a cost cap versus a numeric limit on branded uniform items and found a cost cap would be complex, difficult to enforce and burdensome for schools. In contrast a numeric limit is clear, simpler, and will deliver savings for parents more quickly. It remains the best approach for driving down the costs of uniform.
The department published statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms last autumn to allow schools to prepare for September 2026 and have committed to updating it following Royal Assent for the CWSB. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms.
This measure does not remove the ability for schools to set their own uniform requirements. We strongly encourage schools to have a uniform, as it can play a key role in promoting the ethos of a school, providing a sense of belonging and identity and setting an appropriate tone for education.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed cap on branded uniform items on curricular and extracurricular PE participation.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Assessments made in relation to the limit on branded school uniform and physical education kit contained in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill (CWSB) have been published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-impact-assessments.
The department has also assessed the impact of a cost cap versus a numeric limit on branded uniform items and found a cost cap would be complex, difficult to enforce and burdensome for schools. In contrast a numeric limit is clear, simpler, and will deliver savings for parents more quickly. It remains the best approach for driving down the costs of uniform.
The department published statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms last autumn to allow schools to prepare for September 2026 and have committed to updating it following Royal Assent for the CWSB. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms.
This measure does not remove the ability for schools to set their own uniform requirements. We strongly encourage schools to have a uniform, as it can play a key role in promoting the ethos of a school, providing a sense of belonging and identity and setting an appropriate tone for education.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what feedback her Department has received from schools on the practical application of the three-item cap on branded uniform.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Assessments made in relation to the limit on branded school uniform and physical education kit contained in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill (CWSB) have been published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-impact-assessments.
The department has also assessed the impact of a cost cap versus a numeric limit on branded uniform items and found a cost cap would be complex, difficult to enforce and burdensome for schools. In contrast a numeric limit is clear, simpler, and will deliver savings for parents more quickly. It remains the best approach for driving down the costs of uniform.
The department published statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms last autumn to allow schools to prepare for September 2026 and have committed to updating it following Royal Assent for the CWSB. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms.
This measure does not remove the ability for schools to set their own uniform requirements. We strongly encourage schools to have a uniform, as it can play a key role in promoting the ethos of a school, providing a sense of belonging and identity and setting an appropriate tone for education.
Asked by: John Lamont (Conservative - Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed uniform cap on the overall cost of school uniform for parents.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
Assessments made in relation to the limit on branded school uniform and physical education kit contained in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill (CWSB) have been published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-wellbeing-and-schools-bill-impact-assessments.
The department has also assessed the impact of a cost cap versus a numeric limit on branded uniform items and found a cost cap would be complex, difficult to enforce and burdensome for schools. In contrast a numeric limit is clear, simpler, and will deliver savings for parents more quickly. It remains the best approach for driving down the costs of uniform.
The department published statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms last autumn to allow schools to prepare for September 2026 and have committed to updating it following Royal Assent for the CWSB. The guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-school-uniforms.
This measure does not remove the ability for schools to set their own uniform requirements. We strongly encourage schools to have a uniform, as it can play a key role in promoting the ethos of a school, providing a sense of belonging and identity and setting an appropriate tone for education.