Early Years Provision: Bell Review
Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate Excerpts(2 months ago)
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Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con)
My Lords, what is so encouraging is the way fathers are now involved in looking after children, and it is very important—
Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)
My Lords, we will turn to the Cross Benches next, and then we will hear from the noble Lord.
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
I am sure that my colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care will look closely at that, given their concern to ensure that babies and children have the healthiest start in life.
Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con)
My Lords, I was saying that it is quite inspirational how fathers, particularly young fathers, are now much more involved in bringing up young children. We should recognise that sharing of responsibilities in many families. What do the Government say about that? What more can be done to encourage fathers to get more involved in bringing up their young children?
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)
The noble Lord makes a very important point. I know from personal experience that, where fathers can give that care, it has an enormously important impact on children and their development. Obviously, over recent years we are more able, through parental leave provisions, to share that leave at the early stages of children’s lives. I assure the noble Lord that, across government, we will continue to think about ways we can support parents, including fathers, in doing that very important role.
Independent Schools: VAT Exemption
Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate Excerpts(3 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con)
My Lords, I declare my interests in this subject, first as a former pupil, then a parent and then a governor of the independent Royal Grammar School in Newcastle upon Tyne. I will concentrate some of my remarks on giving a few facts about my old school. Established in 1525, it is coming up to its 500 years. The school has always promoted a rich social diversity. When I attended, a little later than that, we had the benefit of the assisted places scheme, with many students attending based on their potential, not their financial circumstances. The school has had one of the most distinguished academic records of any school in the United Kingdom, particularly in its region, the north of England.
When the assisted places scheme was withdrawn, the school found ways of keeping its diversity by offering support and finding some or all of the fees for many deserving students and later, to this day, seeking bursary advances from institutions, former pupils and others to maintain that broad offer. Nearly 100 students at the school are currently supported by bursaries. Since going co-ed the pupil roll has gone to more than 1,300, and the mix has added to the comprehensive nature of the education provided. But the school has never considered itself as a privileged island, remote from the community. I am sorry that the noble Lord, Lord Griffiths, is no longer in this place because his reference to this is important. The Minister can get confirmation of that from north-east representatives at all levels.
There is a genuine pride of that establishment in the region. The Labour-controlled Newcastle City Council is constantly in touch with the school and using its assistance in various ways. The governing body has local authority representatives from the neighbouring areas, and its contribution to the community includes the sharing of its assets. More than 100 state schools in the north-east of England benefit from Royal Grammar School specialist staff, who assist with subjects including maths, physics, robotics and computer science. In its charitable status declaration, it includes reference particularly to providing facilities of social welfare to the public at large, with a view to improving the conditions of life in Newcastle upon Tyne and the north-east of England. This is really important.
Alumni have included many who have gone on to be leaders in their fields, in academia, medicine, the arts, the law, sport, religion and public service. I was interested to hear the reference by the noble Lord, Lord Alton, to the ECHR; I think I will have to advise my honourable friends standing for the leadership of my party of that point, in case they develop that theme too much, but it is very important. Can the Government please examine carefully whether legality exists in this case? If they persist in their plan, may they please at the very least look at ways in which they can give concessions to reflect the community output of a school based on its belief in encouraging good education everywhere?
Although bursaries are a means of benefiting those from poorer situations—from an RGS education, for instance—they do not benefit those parents who narrowly fail to meet the criteria for such awards or where the limit of grants has been reached. Many struggle to give their children the opportunity to receive this form of education best suited to their needs. Levying VAT on fees will have a big impact on those families and force compromises, including on services offered by the school both internally and externally. Regardless of the commitment of the Government to this policy, I therefore hope that they will find ways to recognise schools such as the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle, with its strong involvement for good education and community concern.