Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 5.20 of the Spring Budget 2024, published on 6 March 2024, HC 560, what her policy is on building 15 new special free schools.

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

This government is clear it wants to make sure all children with special educational needs and disabilities receive the support they need to achieve and thrive. That is why we have set out a clear ambition to improve inclusivity in mainstream schools, while ensuring that special schools cater for those with the most complex needs.

The window for trusts to apply to run these schools closed on 19 July. The department will provide an update in due course.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of BBFC age ratings as best practice for age labelling on streaming services.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Secretary of State has made no assessment of the adequacy of British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) age ratings on streaming services. Following implementation of the Media Act 2024, the independent regulator Ofcom is currently undertaking a review of the audience protection measures in use on on-demand programme services. This includes age ratings.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to part 4 of Ofcom's publication entitled, Media Bill: Ofcom's roadmap to regulation, published in February 2024, whether Ofcom plans to publish its review of audience protection measures implemented by video-on-demand service providers.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

A timeline of the steps Ofcom is taking to implement the Media Act 2024 can be found on their website at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/Media-Act-Implementation/.

Ofcom’s timeline currently advises that their report concerning the audience protection measures implemented by video-on-demand service providers will be published between July and September 2025.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the potential impact of the planned increase in employer National Insurance on the cost of home-to-school transport.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

At the Autumn Budget 2024, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer took difficult decisions in order to restore economic and fiscal stability, which included increasing Employer National Insurance Contributions from April 2025. Working people’s living standards were protected by raising the National Living Wage, keeping bus fares down, and not increasing income tax, employee national insurance or VAT.

Local authorities are responsible for arranging home-to-school transport and deliver this through both in-house services and a range of external providers, as such the department holds no central assessment of Employer National Insurance Contributions. Departmental officials engage regularly with local authorities to understand the challenges they face across the services they deliver.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the number of early years providers eligible for Employment Allowance when proposed changes to employer National Insurance contributions come into force.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Estimates of the number of early years providers eligible for Employment Allowance when proposed changes to employer National Insurance contributions come into force are not available.

The eligibility of a specific employer will depend on the nature of their work, which can be determined by the employer according to HMRC guidance.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many applications for VAT numbers for private school fees her Department has (a) received and (b) granted since 5th July 2024.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMRC publishes data on the VAT population by sector on an annual basis. The latest statistics can be found here: Value Added Tax (VAT) annual statistics - GOV.UK.

VAT will apply to private school and boarding fees for terms starting on or after 1 January 2025. However, this does not mean that every school needs to have registered for VAT by this date. The exact date a school needs to register for VAT depends on the value of school fee payments for terms starting on or after 1 January 2025, and the date the school receives those payments. A significant number of schools were already registered for VAT prior to the confirmation of this policy at Budget.

HMRC has taken action to support private schools through the change: providing detailed guidance; running webinars; and allocating additional resource to process VAT registration applications. HMRC continues to engage with private schools and the organisations that represent them.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on the future of the Latin Excellence Programme.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The government is delivering on its commitment to put education back at the forefront of national life and break down barriers to opportunity for all children and young people.

This government inherited a £22 billion blackhole in our country’s finances and is taking the difficult decisions necessary to fix the foundations and get our economy back on track. This means prioritisation on how money is spent right across the public sector to ensure we deliver on our priorities, including protecting core funding for schools.

Given this, the department has made the difficult decision not to extend the Latin Excellence Programme beyond the end of the three year contract, which will end on 28 February 2025. The department is grateful for the excellent work of the Centre for Latin Excellence and that of the schools who have participated in the programme.

Found: Keeping Children Safe, Helping Families Thrive policy paper, the Shadow Education Secretary, Laura Trott

Found: Keeping Children Safe, Helping Families Thrive policy paper, the Shadow Education Secretary, Laura Trott