Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to ensure that academic qualifications are an option for all pupils in East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
As part of schools’ duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, all pupils will continue to study core subjects such as English, mathematics and science, while allowing choices around these core subjects, so that young people can follow broader interests.
We want every young person to benefit from high-quality academic and technical routes that support progression into further study, training and skilled employment. Our reforms to the curriculum and to technical education will help young people develop the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to succeed in work, life and lifelong learning.
We are in the early stages of developing technical education routes from age 14, with rollout intended to begin in some areas from September 2028.
The new routes will include the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs, which will sit alongside existing GCSEs, combining academic excellence in the core subjects of English, maths, and science, with rigorous, vocationally focused qualifications of equal parity and esteem. The intention is to widen young people’s choices, supporting more coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to ensure that academic qualifications are an option for all pupils in West Sussex.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
As part of schools’ duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, all pupils will continue to study core subjects such as English, mathematics and science, while allowing choices around these core subjects, so that young people can follow broader interests.
We want every young person to benefit from high-quality academic and technical routes that support progression into further study, training and skilled employment. Our reforms to the curriculum and to technical education will help young people develop the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to succeed in work, life and lifelong learning.
We are in the early stages of developing technical education routes from age 14, with rollout intended to begin in some areas from September 2028.
The new routes will include the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs, which will sit alongside existing GCSEs, combining academic excellence in the core subjects of English, maths, and science, with rigorous, vocationally focused qualifications of equal parity and esteem. The intention is to widen young people’s choices, supporting more coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to ensure that academic qualifications are an option for all pupils in East Sussex.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
As part of schools’ duty to teach a broad and balanced curriculum, all pupils will continue to study core subjects such as English, mathematics and science, while allowing choices around these core subjects, so that young people can follow broader interests.
We want every young person to benefit from high-quality academic and technical routes that support progression into further study, training and skilled employment. Our reforms to the curriculum and to technical education will help young people develop the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to succeed in work, life and lifelong learning.
We are in the early stages of developing technical education routes from age 14, with rollout intended to begin in some areas from September 2028.
The new routes will include the introduction of new Vocational GCSEs, which will sit alongside existing GCSEs, combining academic excellence in the core subjects of English, maths, and science, with rigorous, vocationally focused qualifications of equal parity and esteem. The intention is to widen young people’s choices, supporting more coherent progression to a range of academic and technical post-16 options.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of Statutory Guidelines On Disposable BBQ and on open flames restrictions, issued by the national alert on 14 August 2026, on (i) Sussex Bonfire and processions season (ii) and their charitable fundraising.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The decision to issue the Emergency Alert on Friday 14 August was taken following direct requests from front-line emergency responders because national capabilities were at risk of being overwhelmed. The Cabinet Office issued the alert following these requests. The Alert was advisory in response to adverse environmental conditions. Transmission of the emergency alert ended at 23:00 on Friday 14 August. Statutory restrictions apply specifically to the sale of disposable BBQs and do not apply to bonfires.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what communication methods her Department has in place to confirm the lifting the Statutory Guidelines On Disposable BBQ restrictions on open flames, issued by the national alert on 14 August 2026.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The decision to issue the Emergency Alert on Friday 14 August was taken following direct requests from front-line emergency responders because national capabilities were at risk of being overwhelmed. The Cabinet Office issued the alert following these requests. The Alert was advisory in response to adverse environmental conditions. Transmission of the emergency alert ended at 23:00 on Friday 14 August. Statutory restrictions apply specifically to the sale of disposable BBQs and do not apply to bonfires.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Statutory Guidelines On Disposable BBQ and on open flames restrictions, issued by the national alert on 14 August 2026, is still in affect.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The decision to issue the Emergency Alert on Friday 14 August was taken following direct requests from front-line emergency responders because national capabilities were at risk of being overwhelmed. The Cabinet Office issued the alert following these requests. The Alert was advisory in response to adverse environmental conditions. Transmission of the emergency alert ended at 23:00 on Friday 14 August. There is no formal decision point to 'end' the advice, instead, we refer to ongoing guidance from the emergency services and government's statutory guidelines on the ban for disposable BBQs available on www.GOV.UK. Please note that statutory restrictions apply specifically to the sale of disposable BBQs and do not apply to bonfires.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help preserve historic buildings in East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Support for historic preservation across England is primarily delivered through Historic England, funded by DCMS, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
In East Grinstead and Uckfield, Historic England has focused preservation efforts on advisory casework, local listing recommendations, and monitoring five sites currently on the Heritage at Risk Register. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded over £8 million to 45 projects in the constituency since 1994, including more than £5.6 million across eight awards for the Bluebell Railway.
East Sussex has received direct investment through the High Street Heritage Action Zone in Hastings (now completed), supported by £1,625,000 from Historic England alongside £7,514,000 in match funding to facilitate projects like the repair and reuse of the Observer Building. Furthermore, grant funding has recently been awarded to support major conservation and regeneration efforts at Brighton Pavilion Gardens and Madeira Terrace in Brighton and Hove, as well as repair work at the Grade II* listed Mint House in Pevensey. Since 1994, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded more than £138 million to 749 projects in East Sussex, including a 2023 grant of over £5.3 million supporting the restoration of the gardens of Brighton's Royal Pavilion.
Support in West Sussex from Historic England is primarily delivered through targeted specialist advice, council partnerships, and risk monitoring. Historic England tracks 43 heritage assets currently listed on the region's Heritage at Risk Register, while dedicating strategic support to key preservation initiatives, such as advising the Blake Cottage Trust on thatch conservation and partnering with local authorities on heritage-led regeneration in Worthing. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded over £76 million to 524 projects across West Sussex since 1994, including a 2022 grant of more than £2 million supporting the Woodland Trust's Lost Woods of the Low Weald and Downs project.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help preserve historic buildings in East Sussex.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Support for historic preservation across England is primarily delivered through Historic England, funded by DCMS, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
In East Grinstead and Uckfield, Historic England has focused preservation efforts on advisory casework, local listing recommendations, and monitoring five sites currently on the Heritage at Risk Register. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded over £8 million to 45 projects in the constituency since 1994, including more than £5.6 million across eight awards for the Bluebell Railway.
East Sussex has received direct investment through the High Street Heritage Action Zone in Hastings (now completed), supported by £1,625,000 from Historic England alongside £7,514,000 in match funding to facilitate projects like the repair and reuse of the Observer Building. Furthermore, grant funding has recently been awarded to support major conservation and regeneration efforts at Brighton Pavilion Gardens and Madeira Terrace in Brighton and Hove, as well as repair work at the Grade II* listed Mint House in Pevensey. Since 1994, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded more than £138 million to 749 projects in East Sussex, including a 2023 grant of over £5.3 million supporting the restoration of the gardens of Brighton's Royal Pavilion.
Support in West Sussex from Historic England is primarily delivered through targeted specialist advice, council partnerships, and risk monitoring. Historic England tracks 43 heritage assets currently listed on the region's Heritage at Risk Register, while dedicating strategic support to key preservation initiatives, such as advising the Blake Cottage Trust on thatch conservation and partnering with local authorities on heritage-led regeneration in Worthing. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded over £76 million to 524 projects across West Sussex since 1994, including a 2022 grant of more than £2 million supporting the Woodland Trust's Lost Woods of the Low Weald and Downs project.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help preserve historic buildings in West Sussex.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Support for historic preservation across England is primarily delivered through Historic England, funded by DCMS, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
In East Grinstead and Uckfield, Historic England has focused preservation efforts on advisory casework, local listing recommendations, and monitoring five sites currently on the Heritage at Risk Register. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded over £8 million to 45 projects in the constituency since 1994, including more than £5.6 million across eight awards for the Bluebell Railway.
East Sussex has received direct investment through the High Street Heritage Action Zone in Hastings (now completed), supported by £1,625,000 from Historic England alongside £7,514,000 in match funding to facilitate projects like the repair and reuse of the Observer Building. Furthermore, grant funding has recently been awarded to support major conservation and regeneration efforts at Brighton Pavilion Gardens and Madeira Terrace in Brighton and Hove, as well as repair work at the Grade II* listed Mint House in Pevensey. Since 1994, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded more than £138 million to 749 projects in East Sussex, including a 2023 grant of over £5.3 million supporting the restoration of the gardens of Brighton's Royal Pavilion.
Support in West Sussex from Historic England is primarily delivered through targeted specialist advice, council partnerships, and risk monitoring. Historic England tracks 43 heritage assets currently listed on the region's Heritage at Risk Register, while dedicating strategic support to key preservation initiatives, such as advising the Blake Cottage Trust on thatch conservation and partnering with local authorities on heritage-led regeneration in Worthing. The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded over £76 million to 524 projects across West Sussex since 1994, including a 2022 grant of more than £2 million supporting the Woodland Trust's Lost Woods of the Low Weald and Downs project.
Asked by: Mims Davies (Conservative - East Grinstead and Uckfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to promote whole school approaches to developmental language disorder support for children.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is raising staff awareness of a variety of speech and language needs through the development of National Inclusion Standards and the delivery of a new £200 million special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) continual professional development (CPD) programme and Experts at Hand. We are ensuring all children with speech and language needs are supported, including those with developmental language disorder, by ensuring staff are equipped with the right knowledge and tools.
The National Inclusion Standards will include whole-school, universal approaches to support inclusion, as well as tools and approaches to identify and respond to needs through the targeted/targeted plus layers of support. The first tranche of our CPD offer, published on 25 September 2026, includes a focus on speech, language and communication development, and we are continuing to work with stakeholders to develop further materials.
To provide further support, this development offer will come together with an investment in better access to speech and language therapists (SaLTs). As part of our £1.8 billion investment over three years, schools will be able to access support from professionals, including SaLTs through the Experts at Hand offer. We are also investing £15 million to establish new SaLT advanced practitioners in every integrated care board area to support more SaLTs to work with educational settings to help break down communication barriers and deliver more speech and language support for children and young people.