Oral Answers to Questions

Louie French Excerpts

Monday 28th April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst (Solihull West and Shirley) (Con)]

10. What estimate she has made of the potential impact of increases in employer’s national insurance contributions on the number of teachers employed in schools.

[Mr Louie French (Old Bexley and Sidcup) (Con)]

14. What estimate she has made of the potential impact of increases in employer’s national insurance contributions on the number of teachers employed in schools.

[The Minister for School Standards (Catherine McKinnell)]

The Tories left a trail of devastation across our schools, with buildings crumbling and teachers leaving in their droves. Through taking tough decisions at the Budget to fix the foundations, Labour has been able to increase school funding by over £3.2 billion. As a result, there is a forecast of £400 million of headroom in schools’ budgets nationally. The Tories’ only plan is to cut school budgets to restore private schools’ tax breaks. We are getting on with the job of delivering for children.

--- Later in debate ---

[Catherine McKinnell]

This is just scaremongering from the Conservative party, because the Tories have no plan for the future of our education system. They have no plan to deliver high and rising standards. Their only education priority is to hand tax breaks back to private schools, which means cutting free breakfast clubs, cutting school-based nurseries and cutting school building.

[Mr French]

I have been contacted by schools in my Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency that are outraged that Labour’s tax rises are forcing them to cut resources and staff while the Government demand that teachers do more. One teacher told me that, as a proud trade unionist, she had always voted Labour, but feels completely betrayed. She says:

“Labour have made the situation in schools 10x worse letting students and teachers down”.

She is right, is she not? Labour has betrayed teachers, students and schools.

[Catherine McKinnell]

Schools funding is increasing by over £3.2 billion compared with 2024-25, meaning that core school budgets will total over £64.8 billion this year. The last Government sat on the pay review recommendations, leaving it for this Government to clean up. The Conservative party’s record on education was dismal; school buildings were crumbling and teachers were leaving the profession. This Government are focused on returning education to the centre of public life.