Lord Pearson of Rannoch Portrait

Lord Pearson of Rannoch

Non-affiliated - Life peer

Became Member: 18th June 1990


Lord Pearson of Rannoch is not a member of any APPGs
Draft Mental Incapacity Bill (Joint Committee)
11th Jul 2003 - 17th Nov 2003
European Union Committee
12th Nov 1991 - 8th Nov 1995


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Lord Pearson of Rannoch has voted in 60 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Lord Pearson of Rannoch Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Conservative)
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
(5 debate interactions)
Baroness Barran (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
(5 debate interactions)
Lord Callanan (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
(3 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Home Office
(4 debate contributions)
Department for Education
(4 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Lord Pearson of Rannoch's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Pearson of Rannoch, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


4 Bills introduced by Lord Pearson of Rannoch


A Bill To repeal the European Communities Act 1972; and to make provision for the Secretary of State to repeal any enactment which has been a consequence of the European Communities Act 1972.

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Lords
Monday 16th June 2014

First reading took place on 12 June. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - is yet to be scheduled.The 2014-15 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to make provision for the election of the trustees of the BBC by licence fee payers and in relation to civil enforcement of non-payment of TV licence fees.

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Lords
Thursday 12th June 2014

First reading took place on 30 July. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - is yet to be scheduled.The 2013-14 session of parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress. To make provision for election of the trustees of the BBC by licence fee payers; and in relation to civil enforcement of non-payment of TV licence fees.

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Lords
Tuesday 30th July 2013

A Bill To Repeal the European Communities Act 1972; and to make provision for the Secretary of State to repeal any enactment that has been a consequence of the European Communities Act 1972.

Lords - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Lords
Wednesday 15th May 2013

Lord Pearson of Rannoch has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
8 Other Department Questions
8th Feb 2023
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether £7 million is to be spent on the security works project at Peers' Entrance; why such expenditure is necessary; and who authorised it.

For security reasons, the Houses do not publish capital expenditure on security mitigating projects as providing this level of detail could enable an individual to infer the extent and nature of the works, and thus the vulnerabilities which they were intended to mitigate.

The necessity and cost of the works at Peers’ Entrance have been the subject of rigorous internal assessment through the usual business case process. The plans have also been validated by external experts. Members are always welcome to contact the Director of Security to discuss any security-related concerns privately.  

The Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the House, as Accounting and Corporate Officers, have responsibility for approving final business cases for security projects across the Parliamentary Estate, subject to advice from the Finance Directors and other relevant officials. The Clerk of the Parliaments’ decisions on security projects are informed by consultation with the House of Lords Commission, which ensures that the impact on Members is taken into account, and by the Finance Committee which receives regular reports regarding security expenditure. The Clerk of the House is informed by the equivalent groups and individuals in the House of Commons. Ultimately it is not the House that makes the final decision because security is a bicameral issue, and legal responsibility for safety sits with the Clerk of the Parliaments and Clerk of the House.

7th Jul 2021
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answers by Lord McFall of Alcluith on 1 and 24 February 2017 (HL4961 and HL5612), why the Religion of Peace website is no longer accessible from computers attached to the parliamentary network, having previously been available.

The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. The Parliamentary Digital Service uses an industry standard service to categorise and block websites that are deemed offensive, the “Religion of Peace” website is blocked as part of this automated service as it is classified as a religion-based hate website by the service. There are no indications that the website has been available to access on the parliamentary network.

20th May 2021
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what plans there are for members to return to normal rules of debate for those who are physically present in the Chamber.

The House of Lords Commission, which has responsibility for setting the strategic direction in this area, met on 25 May and had a preliminary discussion of these matters. The Commission discussion was informed by the debate on hybrid proceedings held in the Chamber on 20 May and was followed by a meeting of the Procedure and Privileges Committee, on 26 May, at which an initial consideration of procedural implications was undertaken. Proposals and options will be developed ahead of further anticipated deliberation at June meetings of the House of Lords Commission and Procedure and Privileges Committee. Decisions will continue to be informed by the latest Government guidance and advice from Public Health England. Finally, and most importantly, the House will be invited to consider motions in due course to agree procedures, including those relating to the rules of debate, moving forwards.

13th May 2021
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether the Parliamentary Estate will remain closed to visiting members of the public until September; if so, (1) for what reasons, and (2) what consideration he has given to the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions in England on 17 May in respect of the accessibility of the Estate; and what plans there are to resume normal catering services in the House.

The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf.

Changes affecting the operation of Parliament as a whole, such as non-passholder access to the estate are decided jointly with the House of Commons Commission. Both Commissions agreed that business-related non-passholder access should resume from 17 May to reflect changes in government guidance. This is limited to one person, where the meeting cannot take place virtually. Access for the public will remain limited due to the need to control the overall number of people on the Parliamentary Estate to prevent crowding and control the risk and spread of the virus on the estate. Further changes to access may occur after step 4 following further consideration by the House of Lords Commission.

Changes to House of Lords catering services were made on 17 May, including the re-configuration of outlets in line with the ‘rule of six’. The following Lords catering venues are now open: River Restaurant and Terrace, Peers’ Dining and Guest Room, Long Room Bar, and the Millbank House ‘Coffee pod’. All outlets are operating within government guidance. Catering services in the House will be kept under review in the light of demand and the number of passholders on the estate.

26th Apr 2021
To ask the Leader of the House what steps she is taking to (1) encourage, and (2) require, ministers to answer written parliamentary questions as tabled.

As Leader of the House I take very seriously the responsibility incumbent on all Ministers to provide full, timely and comprehensive answers to Questions for Written Answers. Ministers are reminded regularly of the importance of their obligations to the House, and my office works closely with all departmental Parliamentary teams to help provide advice on what is expected of them in providing such answers.

17th Mar 2021
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what is the estimated cost of providing ‘Valuing Everyone’ training to all (1) Peers, and (2) staff of the House of Lords; and out of which budget it is paid.

To the end of February £40,446 has been spent on Valuing Everyone training for members of the House of Lords, and £29,169 has been spent on Valuing Everyone training for staff of the House of Lords Administration, based on an assumption of cost per head across all training sessions delivered. The House of Lords share (30%) of development costs, pilot sessions and administration fees is £43,080.  All costs relating to the Valuing Everyone training are paid for from the budget of the bicameral Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme.

10th Dec 2020
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what is the total estimated cost of the report by the Conduct Committee: The conduct of Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (HL Paper 185).

It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the cost of the report The conduct of Lord Maginnis of Drumglass as most costs cannot be disaggregated from time spent by members or staff on other work.

1. Member costs

The report into Lord Maginnis was considered at two separate meetings of the Conduct Committee, at the first there were other items on the agenda so claims for attendance were not solely related to consideration of this case. At the second meeting Lord Maginnis’ appeal was the only item on the agenda. All members of the Committee attended for that meeting. HL members can claim attendance allowance for participating in a virtual select committee but those claims may also cover other parliamentary work undertaken that day so it is not possible to say how much they claimed for their work on this case that day. Lay members have so far claimed £1,200 to prepare for and attend that meeting.

2. Payments to the Commissioner and her staff

The costs of the time of the Commissioner for Standards and her office in relation to her investigation in to the complaints against Lord Maginnis cannot be disaggregated from her work on other cases. £5,760 was spent in payment to the external investigator who supported the Commissioner in her investigations into the four complaints.

3. Publication

The report was printed in-house on the same paper used for other parliamentary publications by a permanent staff team therefore the small costs of printing this report cannot be disaggregated from other work.

15th Jul 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that prosecutions are brought against (1) the members of the child sexual exploitation gangs in Rotherham and Telford, and (2) the responsible authorities that failed to prevent the abuse from taking place.

Following the Alexis Jay report in 2014 and identification of the problems that existed in responding to investigations of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) gangs in Rotherham, the National Crime Agency (NCA) launched Operation Stovewood, a dedicated team investigating similar offending which had occurred within Rotherham. As outlined in the Telford Inquiry report, a number of other forces across the country have successfully investigated similar offending in their force areas.

The CPS has a national response to these types of investigations. Each area has formerly dealt with large CSE cases within their Rape and Serious Sexual Offence (RASSO) units. Since its inception, Operation Stovewood has been handled by a team of lawyers within the former Organised Crime Division. On 1 April 2022, the CPS created a new unit in direct response to the number and scale of these investigations being undertaken across England and Wales. The Organised Child Sexual Abuse Unit (OCSAU) is a dedicated team of lawyers, which in addition to the casework generated by NCA Op Stovewood and Child Exploitation and Online Protection teams, will undertake all similar casework generated by police forces nationwide.

The unit currently has casework involving approximately 255 suspects and defendants. The lawyers within the unit work closely with investigators from the earliest stage of the commencement of investigations to ensure that the strongest possible cases can be built, so that those committing these offences are prosecuted. Where the CPS’s legal test is met, they will always prosecute these offenders for the offences they have committed.

Lord Stewart of Dirleton
Advocate General for Scotland
16th Sep 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much compensation has been paid by the Crown Prosecution Service to victims of group-based child sexual exploitation due to a failure to prosecute their attackers in each of the last five years; and how many such cases there have been.

There have been no cases where compensation has been paid by the Crown Prosecution Service to victims of group-based child sexual exploitation due to a failure to prosecute their attackers in the last five years.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
7th Jan 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many council officials have been (1) charged with, (2) convicted for, and (3) are awaiting trial for, dereliction of duty for failure to support victims of grooming gangs since 1997.

Tackling the sexual exploitation of children remains a top priority for the CPS. Specialist CPS lawyers work closely with police investigators to build strong cases, resulting in many successful prosecutions of complex grooming cases for example in Rochdale, Rotherham, Oxford and Newcastle.

The CPS does not maintain a central record of defendants’ occupations, nor of the specific circumstances under which a person has been charged with an offence. This information could only be obtained by an examination of CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost. The CPS collects data to assist the management of its prosecution functions. The CPS does not collect data that constitutes official statistics as defined in the Statistics and Registration Act 2007.

27th Apr 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any effect on free speech of the training delivered by Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) in the workplace training of public sector bodies and charities.

Through the Government Campus Curriculum, including the learning framework contracts, the Cabinet Office enables all civil servants to develop the right skills, both to deliver the Government’s current priorities and to tackle future challenges.

Training provided by the Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) is not part of the curriculum. MEND is not a supplier on the learning framework contracts and we have no central records of MEND providing any training within the civil service. We do not monitor training provided to the wider public and charities sectors.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
4th Jul 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the effects of jet-lag on ministerial decision-making at all levels.

Ministers, on occasion, are required to travel abroad for government business to enable the delivery of the government’s objectives. In cases where a Minister is required to travel long distances across time zones, flexibility in internal departmental travel guidance exists to enable ministers to travel more comfortably.

This exists to mitigate the side effects of jet-lag and tiredness and ensure that efficiency, judgement and concentration are not negatively impacted. Departments publish details of overseas flights on a quarterly basis on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
21st Apr 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many deaths have been recorded in each of the last three months; and what assessment they have made of how many deaths would have occurred in each of the last three months if there had been no cases of COVID 19.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.

Dear Lord Pearson,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am replying to your Parliamentary Question asking for the number of deaths that have been registered in the last three months and predictions about how many deaths there would have been without COVID-19 (HL3274).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produces a weekly report on provisional deaths registered in England and Wales[1]. The most recent figures available are for the week ending 17 April 2020. ONS mortality statistics are compiled from information supplied when deaths are certified and registered as part of civil registration.

Table 1 shows the number of weekly deaths registered between week 1 (ending 3 January 2020) and week 16 (ending 17 April 2020), the five-year average per week and the number of deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. The average is based on the number of death registrations that were recorded for each corresponding week over the previous five years. We have included these figures as they are presented in our weekly report. A copy of the table has been placed in the House of Lords Library. The table shows that the increase in number of excess deaths in the last two months, in relation to the five-year average per week, is greater than the number of deaths due to Covid19, suggesting that there are potentially other factors contributing to the increased death rate.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/latest

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
21st Apr 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people in England and Wales aged (1) under 65, and (2) under 40 years old have died from COVID-19 since 23 March.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.

Dear Lord Pearson,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people in England and Wales aged under 65 years, and aged under 40 years have died from coronavirus (COVID-19) since 23 March (HL3276).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produces a weekly report on provisional deaths registered in England and Wales[1], including deaths involving COVID-19. The week runs from Saturday to Friday. I have therefore provided data from 21 March up to the most recent week available, ending 17 April. ONS mortality statistics are compiled from information supplied when deaths are certified and registered as part of civil registration.

Table 1 below shows the number of deaths that occurred where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate between week 13 (ending 27 March 2020) and week 16 (17 April 2020). We have included these figures as they are presented in our weekly report.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

Table 1: Weekly provisional figures on death occurrence where coronavirus (COVID-19) was mentioned on the death certificate in England and Wales[2][3][4][5][6]

Week number

13

14

15

16

Week ended

27-Mar-20

03-Apr-20

10-Apr-20

17-Apr-20

All ages

1,806

4,989

7,833

7,288

Under 40

26

39

50

40

Under 65

259

688

1001

799


Source: ONS

[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/latest

[2]Counts of deaths involving Covid-19 will include neonatals.

[3]For deaths registered from 1st January 2020, cause of death is coded to the ICD-10 classification using MUSE 5.5 software. Previous years were coded to IRIS 4.2.3, further information about the change in software is available.

[4]Does not include deaths where age is either missing or not yet fully coded

[5]An 'underlying cause of death' refers to the main cause of death, whereas a cause being 'mentioned on the death certificate' means that it might be the main reason or a contributory reason to the cause of death

5These figures include deaths of non-residents.

[6]These figures represent death occurrences, there can be a delay between the date a death occurred and the date a death was registered. More information can be found in our impact of registration delays release.

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
21st Apr 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many deaths attributed to COVID-19 have been recorded in (1) care homes, (2) hospitals, (3) individuals' homes, and (4) other locations.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.

Dear Lord Pearson,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am replying to your Parliamentary Question asking how many deaths attributed to COVID-19 have been recorded in (1) care homes, (2) hospitals, (3) individuals' homes, and (4) other locations (HL3277).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produces a weekly report on provisional deaths registered in England and Wales[1], including deaths involving COVID-19. The week runs from Saturday to Friday, and data has therefore been provided for all deaths attributed to COVID-19 up to the most recent week available, ending 17 April. ONS mortality statistics are compiled from information supplied when deaths are certified and registered as part of civil registration.

Table 1 below shows the number of deaths that occurred where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate up to and including 17 April 2020. We have included these figures as they are presented in our weekly report.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

Table 1: Provisional figures on total death registrations where coronavirus (COVID-19) was mentioned on the death certificate in England and Wales up to 17 April 2020 by place of occurrence[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Total deaths (COVID-19)

Care Home

3,096

Hospital (acute or community, not psychiatric)

14,796

Home

883

Other

337

Total

19,112

Source: ONS

[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/latest

[2]Coding of deaths by cause for the latest week is not yet complete and counts could be subject of change.

[3]For deaths registered from 1st January 2020, cause of death is coded to the ICD-10 classification using MUSE 5.5 software. Previous years were coded to IRIS 4.2.3, further information about the change in software is available.

[4]These figures represent death registrations, there can be a delay between the date a death occurred and the date a death was registered. More information can be found in our impact of registration delays release.

[5]An 'underlying cause of death' refers to the main cause of death, whereas a cause being 'mentioned on the death certificate' means that it might be the main reason or a contributory reason to the cause of death

[6]Deaths at home are those at the usual residence of the deceased (according to the informant)‚ where this is not a communal establishment.

[7]Care homes includes homes for the chronic sick; nursing homes; homes for people with mental health problems and non-NHS multi-function sites.

[8]Other includes:

Hospices: including Sue Ryder Homes; Marie Curie Centres; oncology centres; voluntary hospice units; and palliative care centres.

Other Communal Establishments: including schools for people with learning disabilities; holiday homes and hotels; common lodging houses; aged persons’ accommodation; assessment centres; schools; convents and monasteries; nurses’ homes;

Elsewhere: including all places not covered above such as deaths on a motorway; at the beach; climbing a mountain; walking down the street; at the cinema; at a football match; while out shopping; or in someone else's home.

This category also includes people who are pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

[9]These figures are calculated using the most up-to-date data we have available to get the most accurate estimates.

[10]Non-residents are included in the England and Wales total but not England and Wales separately. For this reason, counts for "England" and "Wales" may not sum to "England and Wales".

Lord True
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
4th Dec 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the cost of sending the UK delegation to the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, how many UK representatives this covers, and how many of them travelled by (1) private, and (2) public, jet aircraft.

Although the COP28 climate conference concluded on the 13th December, it is not yet possible to put an accurate figure on the cost of attendance by the UK delegation, as final costs will need to be gathered and reviewed. A total cost will be available for audit in January 2024 at the earliest.

The UK Delegation included 11 Ministers from multiple departments.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
4th Dec 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the World Climate Declaration.

The Government has not made a specific assessment of the World Climate Declaration but uses a range of scientific evidence to inform government policy, in particular the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which is the global authority on climate science.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
11th May 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, in pursuit of their Net Zero strategy, they will enquire into the relationship between the price obtainable for newly cut timber in the UK, and that paid for wood pellets under their Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme.

The Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme pays for heat generated by participants. It does not pay for the supply of wood.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
9th Mar 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Callanan (HL5765 and HL3971), whether the World Climate Declaration has been taken into account in Government policy, whether in the assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or otherwise.

The Government has not made a specific assessment of the World Climate Declaration but uses a range of scientific evidence to inform government policy, in particular the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which is the global authority on climate science. The World Climate Declaration will not have been assessed as part of the latest IPCC report, as it was published after the literature cut-off date of October 2021, the time by which literature must have been published to be included in the assessment. In addition, the IPCC primarily assesses peer reviewed literature from scientific journals.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
21st Feb 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Callanan on 8 February (HL Deb col 1218), what assessment they have made of the World Climate Declaration.

I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave to him on 16th December 2022 to Question HL3971.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
24th Apr 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans to revise the powers given to telecommunications companies to erect phone masts in order to give greater protection to land within or adjacent to Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty which already have sufficient mobile phone signal.

The Government is committed to providing the necessary digital infrastructure across the UK to ensure that people and businesses have the connectivity they need, and in the years ahead. The changes we made to planning law in England in 2022 will help to extend and improve mobile coverage, including supporting our £1 billion Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme.

However, it is important that the delivery of network infrastructure is balanced with environmental considerations. Planning legislation allows for planning authorities to assess the impact of certain infrastructure, such as new masts, and decide whether it is appropriate for the proposed location. There are also greater restrictions and limitations on network development in more sensitive locations, such as National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Operators are required to minimise the visual impact of network infrastructure in these areas.

In addition to this, the Code of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England sets out how operators and planning authorities can work collaboratively to ensure that network deployment is carried out in a way that provides positive benefits to communities, whilst respecting the sensitive nature of protected areas.

The Government also supports the view that operators should use existing structures and buildings for hosting infrastructure, and share sites where possible, to reduce the environmental impact of installation. The SRN in particular is a sustainable approach to the challenge of delivering rural mobile coverage and will transform 4G coverage without duplicating infrastructure, minimising the impact on our countryside.

Viscount Camrose
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
9th Jan 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 16 December 2022 (HL3971), what estimate they have made of the difference in cost to the UK between following the advice of the World Climate Declaration, and following the advice of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The UK Government has not assessed the cost to the UK of following the advice of the World Climate Declaration. The IPCC does not make specific policy recommendations or directly advise governments so it is not possible to make an assessment of the costs of their advice. The IPCC's assessments are used on an ongoing basis to inform government decision making, including the HMT Net Zero Review, published alongside the Net Zero Strategy in autumn 2021. This analysed the costs and benefits of the transition and showed that the costs of global inaction significantly outweigh the costs of climate action.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
20th Dec 2022
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 16 December (HL3971), what assessment they have made of the cost to the UK of following the advice of (1) the IPCC, and (2) the World Climate Declaration; and over what period of time they will take advice from both organisations.

The IPCC assesses the latest and most policy-relevant climate science, but does not make specific policy recommendations or directly advise governments. The IPCC's assessments are used on an ongoing basis to inform government decision making, including the UK Net Zero Strategy. The Government has not made an assessment of the World Climate Declaration.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
2nd Dec 2022
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the World Climate Declaration.

The Government is aware of the World Climate Declaration but relies on the assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the global authority on climate science, to inform Government policy.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
16th Dec 2022
To ask His Majesty's Government who is the chair of the Mid-Term Review of the BBC, announced by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 26 May; and what are the names of the departmental officials who comprise the review body.

As set out in the Terms of Reference published on 26 May, the BBC Mid-Term Review is being conducted by officials from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The officials are based in the Media and Creative Industries Directorate, led by Robert Specterman-Green as Director, which is part of the Digital & Media Group led by Susannah Storey as Director-General. Officials working on the Mid-Term Review report to the Secretary of State.

Further information on the officials working on the Mid-Term Review is not disclosable. Disclosing personal information such as employee names would, amongst other things, contravene one of the data protection principles in schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act and also the principles outlined in our Department’s privacy notice.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
1st Dec 2022
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a new body, with a majority of non-BBC members, to ensure that the BBC is compliant with its charter requirements on impartiality and accuracy.

The current Royal Charter for the BBC, introduced in January 2017, established Ofcom as the BBC’s regulator to ensure that the corporation is robustly, and independently, held to account as the nation's broadcaster.

His Majesty’s Government is clear that the BBC has to provide high-quality, distinctive content and services. It is ultimately a matter for Ofcom as the independent regulator on how to enforce these obligations through regulation.

Ofcom is responsible for editorial standards, and can consider complaints about BBC content, including accuracy and impartiality.

The Government is looking at the governance and regulation of the BBC as part of the Mid-Term Review of the Charter. The Terms of Reference for that review can be found here. The Mid-Term Review will consider whether the current regulatory arrangements for the BBC are working effectively and whether any reforms are necessary.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
1st Dec 2022
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of Ofcom's systems of investigating and reporting on complaints about BBC bias.

The current Royal Charter for the BBC, introduced in January 2017, established Ofcom as the BBC’s regulator to ensure that the corporation is robustly, and independently, held to account as the nation's broadcaster.

His Majesty’s Government is clear that the BBC has to provide high-quality, distinctive content and services. It is ultimately a matter for Ofcom as the independent regulator on how to enforce these obligations through regulation.

Ofcom is responsible for editorial standards, and can consider complaints about BBC content, including accuracy and impartiality.

The Government is looking at the governance and regulation of the BBC as part of the Mid-Term Review of the Charter. The Terms of Reference for that review can be found here. The Mid-Term Review will consider whether the current regulatory arrangements for the BBC are working effectively and whether any reforms are necessary.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
21st Jul 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 20 July (HL1533), whether the Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order 2003 requires the provision of landlines to all (1) homes, (2) businesses, and (3) public sector organisations, in the UK.

The Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order 2003 requires at least one designated universal service provider to meet all reasonable requests by end-users for connection at a fixed location to the public electronic communications network and for access to publicly available telephone services over that communications network. The connection must be capable of allowing end-users to make and receive local, national and international telephone calls and facsimile.

These connections are available to residential premises, businesses and public sector organisations where a reasonable request is made.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
21st Jul 2022
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 20 July (HL1533), whether existing landline connections will remain available to all those that wish to retain them.

The requirements set out in the Schedule to the Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order 2003 mean certain providers (currently BT and KCOM) must continue to meet reasonable requests to provide a connection capable of allowing end-users to make and receive local, national and international telephone calls and facsimile.

Accordingly, landline-only connections will remain available for customers who wish to retain them.

Increasingly, telecommunications providers are moving customers away from the traditional telephone network to a digital alternative, which means it is likely these customers will increasingly be provided with their landline services over a fixed voice-over-IP connection.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
31st Jan 2024
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the publication of their Draft non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England on Gender Questioning Children, published in December 2023, whether they will ask the Teaching Regulation Authority to reconsider their findings and sanction in the report of 2023 concerning Mr Joshua Sutcliffe.

It is important that processes relating to teacher misconduct are progressed without any political involvement. Decisions on whether to progress cases are taken independently by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).

An independent professional conduct panel is appointed to hear cases and determine whether the evidence proves unacceptable professional conduct, conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, or a conviction of a relevant offence. If so, the professional conduct panel will make a recommendation to the Secretary of State for Education about whether to prohibit the individual from teaching.

In the case of Mr Joshua Sutcliffe, after hearing all live evidence and mitigations, the independent appointed panel made a recommendation to the Secretary of State decision maker to prohibit him from the teaching profession, with a two-year review period.

Following recommendation, the decision to impose a prohibition order is taken by a senior TRA official.

Although that decision is taken on behalf of the Secretary of State, neither she nor any other Minister in the department can have any involvement in these independent investigations, related processes, and decisions.

Mr Sutcliffe has appealed this decision to the High Court, as is his right. It is now for the High Court to carefully consider Mr Sutcliffe’s grounds of appeal. It would not be appropriate to comment on or discuss ongoing litigation further.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
4th Dec 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Barran on 1 August and 26 October (HL9074 and HL10579), what is the latest date by which they will publish their draft guidance on whether teachers may refer to pupils by their legal and biological gender.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has been working closely with the Minister for Women and Equalities on guidance for schools and colleges when a child is questioning their gender. It is vital that the guidance the department publishes gives clarity for schools and colleges and reassurance for parents, so the department made the decision to allow more time to ensure this guidance meets the high expectations that these groups rightly have for it. The department will publish draft guidance for public consultation shortly.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
4th Dec 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 26 October (HL10580), who sits on the senior leadership team and executive board of the Teaching Regulation Agency.

The Teaching Regulation Agency’s (TRA) Senior Leadership Team (SLT) sit on the TRA Executive Board. The TRA SLT includes: Chief Executive, Marc Cavey; Head of Teacher Misconduct, Sarah Buxcey; and Head of Teacher Qualifications, David Oatley. As previously stated, an independent Professional Conduct Panel will make a recommendation to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, on whether to prohibit an individual from teaching. Following the recommendation, the decision to impose a prohibition order is taken by a member of the TRA SLT, on behalf of the Secretary of State. Individual cases and decisions are not discussed at the TRA Executive Board.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
16th Oct 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government who sits on the senior management board of the Teaching Regulation Agency; how are its members appointed; and on what basis do they make decisions regarding teacher misconduct.

The Teaching Regulation Agency’s (TRA) Senior Leadership Team (SLT) sit on the TRA Executive Board. The TRA SLT includes the Chief Executive and Senior Managers who lead the two operational units within TRA. Board members are not formally appointed as they are existing civil servants employed by the TRA. The purpose of the Board is to develop and monitor the strategic planning, risk management and leadership priorities of the Agency.

An independent Professional Conduct Panel, appointed under the Public Appointments process, hear cases of serious teacher misconduct. The independent Professional Conduct Panel determine whether the evidence proves unacceptable professional conduct, conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, or a conviction of a relevant offence. If so, the Professional Conduct Panel will make a recommendation to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education on whether to prohibit the individual from teaching. Following recommendation, the decision to impose a prohibition order is taken by a member of the TRA SLT, on behalf of the Secretary of State. Individual cases and decisions are not discussed at the TRA Executive Board.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
16th Oct 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 1 August (HL 9704), what is the latest date by which they will publish their draft guidance on whether teachers may refer to pupils by their legal and biological gender.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
25th Jul 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 11 July (HL 8841), following the decision by the Teaching Regulation Authority to impose a prohibition order on Joshua Sutcliffe, whether they will publish guidance to clarify whether teachers may refer to pupils by their legal and biological gender.

The department recognises that gender is a complex and sensitive issue, and that some schools and colleges feel that they need more support in this area in order to help pupils, students and parents deal with concerns raised. That is why the department is working with the Minister for Women and Equalities to develop guidance to support schools and colleges in relation to gender questioning children.

The department has committed to publishing a draft for consultation at the earliest opportunity.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
29th Jun 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 22 June (HL7956), whether they will now answer the question put; namely, what assessment they have made of any implications for national security arising from the funding received by schools from Qatar Foundation International for the teaching of religious education and Arabic in schools; and if they have made no such assessment, whether they intend to do so.

The government continuously assesses threats posed to the UK. As a matter of longstanding policy, the department is unable to release information regarding threat assessments on the grounds of national security.

The government is clear that any challenges to its core values, whatever their origin, will not be tolerated.

If there is a concern that a school is not fulfilling its legal duties, complaints procedure should be followed. Where the department is made aware that schools are not fulfilling their legal duties, it will investigate.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
29th Jun 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are aware of (1) any school in England receiving bomb threats, (2) any teacher receiving death threats, from Islamist extremists in the past five years; and if so, when, at which schools, and what they are doing to encourage the arrest of those responsible.

The department has been made aware of a small number of incidents of this nature initiated by individuals who have Islamist and other extremist views.

The department is clear that it is never acceptable to threaten or intimidate teachers and schools. Where the department has been aware of incidents of this nature, it has engaged with the school, local authority and the police to ensure an appropriate response.

The police, who are operationally independent, are responsible for investigating criminal activity associated with these incidents and will take action where they deem appropriate.

To support the sector, the department has published School and College security guidance, which includes dealing with incidents such as bomb threats.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
29th Jun 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether schools in England are free to decide where collective prayer should take place on their premises.

Maintained schools and academies are required to conduct a daily act of collective worship which is wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character. Most schools with a religious designation may conduct collective worship which aligns with their trust deeds or tenets of their religion.

Daily acts of collective worship, subject to the right of withdrawal, must include all pupils attending a school. As a rule, all acts of collective worship should take place on the school premises and schools are free to determine where in the school it takes place. Schools have discretion to organise collective worship elsewhere on special occasions.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
27th Jun 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision by the Teacher Regulation Agency, dated 23 May, recommending that a prohibition order should be imposed on Mr Joshua Sutcliffe.

It is important that processes relating to teacher misconduct are progressed without any political involvement. Decisions on whether to progress cases are taken independently by the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA).

An independent Professional Conduct Panel is appointed to hear cases and determine whether the evidence proves unacceptable professional conduct, conduct that may bring the profession into disrepute, or a conviction of a relevant offence. If so, the Professional Conduct Panel will make a recommendation on whether to prohibit the individual from teaching.

Following the recommendation, the decision to impose a prohibition order is taken by a senior TRA official. Although that decision is taken on behalf of the Secretary of State, neither she or any other Ministers in the department can have any involvement in these independent investigations, related processes, and decisions.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
15th Jun 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what legal rights parents have to access the teaching materials used at their children's schools.

All schools have a duty to share information about their curriculum with parents and, whilst this does not require them to share all of the teaching materials they use with parents routinely, the department has been very clear that schools should respond positively where parents request to see specific materials. On 31 March 2023, the Secretary of State wrote to all schools to set out that, under current arrangements, schools can and should share curriculum materials with parents, and the department would expect schools to avoid entering into any agreement with an external agency that seeks to prevent them from ensuring parents are properly aware of the materials that are being used to teach their children.

The department is aware that some parents have particular concerns about materials used to teach Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE). The department will consider, as part of the review of the RSHE statutory guidance, whether any further changes are needed to reinforce the need for transparency around RSHE materials.

In May 2023, the Secretary of State announced the details of the independent expert advisory panel who will advise on the review of the RSHE curriculum. They have been tasked with identifying the topics within the curriculum which would benefit from age limits.

It will remain important that schools take full responsibility for ensuring lessons and materials are age appropriate, suitable, and politically impartial, particularly when using materials produced by external organisations.

Oak National Academy, the independent provider of freely available online curriculum and lesson resources, will develop curriculum materials to make sure every school can access high quality, compliant RSHE resources.

Schools may choose to use curriculum materials developed by Oak, an Arm’s Length Body, working independently of Government and collaboratively with the education sector. Oak works with teachers across the country, giving them and their pupils access to free, optional, and adaptable high quality digital curriculum resources. Its current resources can be viewed online at: https://www.thenational.academy/. Oak is developing new resources which will begin to become available from this Autumn.

Schedule 4 Paragraph 7(a) of the School Information Regulations (England) 2008/3093 requires all maintained schools to publish their school curriculum on their website. The guidance for this is outlined online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-maintained-schools-must-publish-online.

All academies must follow a similar process for their school curriculum. The guidance for this is outlined online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-academies-free-schools-and-colleges-should-publish-online.

If a parent feels that a maintained school is failing to comply with its legal requirements relating to the provision of the curriculum, or that the school is acting unreasonably in the way it complies with them, they can make a formal complaint to the governing body by following the school’s statutory complaints procedures.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
25th May 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance they have issued to schools on disciplinary action associated with teachers who refer to transgender pupils by their legal and biological sex.

The Department is working with the Minister for Women and Equalities to develop guidance to support schools in relation to gender questioning pupils. The Department will be finalising the draft guidance shortly and will hold a full public consultation on it.

All schools are required to have a disciplinary process that deals with matters relating to staff misconduct. The Department does not provide specific guidance on this issue.

The School Staffing (England) Regulations 2009 set out the procedures that governing bodies in maintained schools must establish for the regulation of the conduct and discipline of staff at the school. They should ensure that they are fully aware of their responsibilities under employment law, in both establishing procedures and how those procedures are undertaken. Advice can be found on GOV.UK at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1026591/Staff_Advice_Handbook_Update_-_October_2021.pdf.

The Teachers’ Standards came into effect from 1 September 2012, and set a clear baseline of expectation for the professional practice and conduct of the vast majority of teachers from the point of qualification. The Teachers’ Standards must be used by maintained schools to assess teachers’ performance as part of the annual appraisal process. The Teaching Regulation Agency uses Part Two of the Teachers’ Standards, relating to professional and personal conduct, to assess cases of serious misconduct against teachers in any educational setting. The standards can be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1040274/Teachers__Standards_Dec_2021.pdf.

Part Two of the Teachers’ Standards notes that teachers are expected to demonstrate high standards of personal and professional conduct. This includes treating pupils with dignity, having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ well-being, and showing tolerance of and respect for the rights of others.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
24th May 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they encourage Christian teaching in schools.

The government’s policy is to allow religious education (RE) curricula to be designed at a local level, whether that is through a locally agreed syllabus or by individual schools and academy trusts developing their own curricula.

The government does not specify what the content of a school’s RE curriculum should be, nor does it actively promote the teaching of any particular religion.

Legislation does include the following requirement: a locally agreed syllabus must ‘reflect that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in the main Christian, while taking account of the teaching and practices of the other principal religions represented in Great Britain’. This requirement is replicated in the funding agreements that academies have with the Secretary of State for Education.

Exceptions to this include schools and academies with a religious designation, who are permitted by legislation and funding agreements to provide an RE curriculum in accordance with their trust deeds and tenets of their faith.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
19th May 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether their forthcoming guidance for schools on gender identity will take into account the expert evidence cited by Nigel and Sally Rowe in their legal case against the Department for Education which reported harmful effects from affirming children in gender transition.

The Department believes that all pupils should be supported whilst growing up. Our schools, colleges and teachers are committed to supporting all pupils and students to thrive and reach their potential in a safe and respectful environment.

All schools and colleges must have regard to the Department’s ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)’ statutory guidance, when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The KCSIE statutory guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2.

The Department is working with the Minister for Women and Equalities to develop guidance for schools in relation to supporting gender questioning pupils. The Department will consider all the evidence, including any relevant cases, such as Mr and Mrs Rowes’. However, we cannot comment further on what the guidance will or will not contain, as we will shortly be holding a full public consultation on our proposed approach.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
18th May 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether their forthcoming guidance for schools on gender identity will make provision for teachers who in conscience wish to refer to pupils by their legal and/or biological gender.

The Department believes that all pupils should be supported whilst growing up. Our schools, colleges and teachers are committed to supporting all pupils and students to thrive and reach their potential in a safe and respectful environment.

All schools and colleges must have regard to the Department’s ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)’ statutory guidance, when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The KCSIE statutory guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2.

The Department is working with the Minister for Women and Equalities to develop guidance for schools in relation to supporting gender questioning pupils. The Department will consider all the evidence, including any relevant cases, such as Mr and Mrs Rowes’. However, we cannot comment further on what the guidance will or will not contain, as we will shortly be holding a full public consultation on our proposed approach.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
18th May 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government whether their forthcoming guidance for schools on gender identity will protect teachers who raise safeguarding concerns about the gender transition of a pupil.

The Department believes that all pupils should be supported whilst growing up. Our schools, colleges and teachers are committed to supporting all pupils and students to thrive and reach their potential in a safe and respectful environment.

All schools and colleges must have regard to the Department’s ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)’ statutory guidance, when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The KCSIE statutory guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2.

The Department is working with the Minister for Women and Equalities to develop guidance for schools in relation to supporting gender questioning pupils. The Department will consider all the evidence, including any relevant cases, such as Mr and Mrs Rowes’. However, we cannot comment further on what the guidance will or will not contain, as we will shortly be holding a full public consultation on our proposed approach.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
18th May 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Barran on 15 May (HL7542), what assessment they have made of any implications for national security arising from the funding received by schools from Qatar Foundation International on the teaching of religious education and Arabic in schools.

The Department does not receive funding from Qatar Foundation International (QFI) for curriculum programmes that support the teaching of religious education (RE) or Arabic in schools in England. We are aware that QFI partner with primary and secondary schools in the UK, the British Council, and other philanthropic organisations. In their partnership with the British Council, they offer grants to schools to introduce, improve or expand provision for Arabic.

When accepting funds from third party individuals or organisations, we expect schools to follow the guidance of the local authority or the academy trust handbook.

Independent schools, like all private businesses, are required to abide by all relevant legislation.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
27th Apr 2023
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the paper published by the Commission for Countering Extremism in October 2019 entitled Mainstream Islamism in Britain: educating for the Islamic Revival.

The department acknowledges the report published by the Commission for Countering Extremism in 2019. This report raises several issues related to integration, extremism, and relationships, sex and health education (RSHE).

The department is clear that education plays a vital role in promoting integration and ensuring children and young people are prepared for life in modern Britain, including through learning about the values that underpin and unite our society. All schools have specific duties to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of their pupils and to prepare them for the opportunities and responsibilities of adult life. Schools are required to promote the fundamental British values (FBVs) of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.

The department is committed to keeping children safe from extremism and has taken strong action to prevent extremism from gaining a foothold in our schools across the country, including:

  • guidance on the promotion of FBVs so that schools have a clear understanding of what is required and how best to practically deliver these.
  • powers to take action against individual teachers or governors who act in a way which undermines FBVs.
  • working with Ofsted to strengthen their inspection frameworks, requiring inspectors to assess how well schools protect pupils from the risks of extremism and radicalisation, and how they promote FBVs.
  • providing additional resources to Ofsted to inspect suspected unregistered independent schools.
  • a counter-extremism helpline and online referral form to ensure those working in the sector and the public can report extremism concerns directly to the department to be investigated where appropriate.
  • our Educate Against Hate website providing advice, support, and resources for parents, teachers, and school leaders to help them protect young people from extremism and radicalisation.

Since 2020, relationships and health education has been compulsory in all primary schools, and relationships, sex and health education has been compulsory in all secondary schools. The department set out the topics that schools should teach about in RSHE statutory guidance, which is clear that schools are responsible for what they teach and should ensure that all content is factual, age appropriate and politically impartial, particularly when using materials produced by external organisations. When teaching, schools should take into account the age of pupils and their religious and cultural background. The department’s statutory guidance on RSHE is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education.

The department continues to keep this area under close review. On 8 March, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced that the department has started a review of the guidance. This will cover the full scope of the statutory guidance, and we will be working closely with our stakeholders and experts to draw on the best available evidence about high quality RSHE which meets the needs of young people.

Baroness Barran
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)