First elected: 12th December 2019
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
These initiatives were driven by Munira Wilson, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
A Bill to require the Secretary of State to lay before Parliament annual reports on progress in reducing miscarriage and stillbirth rates among Black and Asian women.
A Bill to require the Government to report annually to Parliament on mental health provision for children and young people.
A Bill to require the Chief Inspector of Drinking Water to issue guidance to water companies on poly and perfluorinated alkyl substances in drinking water; and for connected purposes
A Bill to make provision to require every school to have access to a qualified mental health professional; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to provide for a statutory definition of kinship care; to make provision about allowances and parental leave for kinship carers who take on responsibility for children whose parents are unable to care for them; to make provision about education in relation to children who are looked after by a kinship carer; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to establish a right to specialist sexual violence and abuse support services for victims of sexual, violent and domestic abuse; and for connected purposes.
Clean Air (Human Rights) Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Caroline Lucas (Green)
Children (Parental Imprisonment) Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Kerry McCarthy (Lab)
Primary care services (report) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Daisy Cooper (LD)
National Minimum Wage Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Paula Barker (Lab)
Free School Meals (Primary Schools) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Zarah Sultana (Ind)
Carers and Care Workers Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Helen Morgan (LD)
Fire and Building Safety (Public Inquiry) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Daisy Cooper (LD)
Schools and Educational Settings (Essential Infrastructure and Opening During Emergencies) Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Robert Halfon (Con)
Sewage Discharges Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Tim Farron (LD)
Disposable Barbecues Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Robert Largan (Con)
Breast Screening Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Steve Brine (Con)
School Toilets (Access During Lessons) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Layla Moran (LD)
Remote Participation in House of Commons Proceedings (Motion) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Dawn Butler (Lab)
Supported Housing (Regulation) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Kerry McCarthy (Lab)
Environment (Regulation) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Tim Farron (LD)
International Development (Women’s Sanitary Products) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Wendy Chamberlain (LD)
Immigration (Health and Social Care Staff) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Christine Jardine (LD)
Remote Participation in House of Commons Proceedings Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Dawn Butler (Lab)
We have already begun working to reset the UK-EU relationship. The Prime Minister has had positive early calls and meetings, including with Ursula von der Leyen, and key leaders in Member States. The Minister for the Cabinet Office has visited Brussels twice in the first two weeks of the new Government and met with his counterpart, Executive Vice President Maroš Šefčovič.
We want to improve the trading relationship with the EU, including on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and we look forward to exploring this further with our European partners.
We have already begun working to reset the UK-EU relationship. The Prime Minister has had positive early calls and meetings, including with Ursula von der Leyen, and key leaders in Member States. The Minister for the Cabinet Office has visited Brussels twice in the first two weeks of the new Government and met with his counterpart, Executive Vice President Maroš Šefčovič.
We want to improve the trading relationship with the EU, including on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and we look forward to exploring this further with our European partners.
The Government greatly values kinship carers who come forward to care for children who cannot live with their parents.
The Government has committed in the Plan to Make Work Pay to review the system of parental leave to ensure that it better supports working families.
It is a long established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place at Cabinet and its committees is not normally made public.
The Government is actively coordinating its efforts to ensure a just transition, enabling workers to benefit from the economic opportunities arising from our shift to net zero. To support this, it has established the Office for Clean Energy Jobs, which aims to assist workers and communities at risk of economic displacement by focusing on skill development and training in the clean energy and net zero sectors. The Government’s primary goal is to create quality jobs in Britain’s industrial heartlands, ensuring a fair transition for industries based in the North Sea.
This Government is committed to restoring the UK’s global leadership on climate and nature. We are honouring the existing commitment on our pledge to spend £11.6bn in International Climate Finance between April 2021 and March 2026 including at least £3bn on nature, from which £1.5bn will be dedicated to protecting and restoring forests. In doing so, we can encourage member states at COP29 to follow our example. Public finance will continue to be key, but we cannot act alone. A concerted and sustained global effort to boost finance from all sources is necessary.
We know that to achieve net zero, we must look at how we can accelerate the potential of all low carbon technologies including geothermal. The Government understands that geothermal can play a role in our decarbonisation ambitions particularly as a low carbon source for heat via heat networks. We have commissioned research into the potential costs of geothermal heat in the UK and will use this to understand how the government can support the sector to achieve its potential.
DSIT published an impact assessment for the Online Safety Act which contains estimates on the number of firms in scope. DSIT has not made a specific estimate in these areas nor has set specific targets.
The Act will require in-scope services to prevent all users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content including illegal eating disorder content, as well as protecting children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instruction for suicide, self-injury or eating disorders online.
Ofcom, responsible for the Act’s implementation, will provide guidance or codes of practice relating to the safety duties.
DSIT is developing a framework to evaluate the Act’s implementation and core outcomes.
DSIT published an impact assessment for the Online Safety Act which contains estimates on the number of firms in scope. DSIT has not made a specific estimate in these areas nor has set specific targets.
The Act will require in-scope services to prevent all users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content including illegal eating disorder content, as well as protecting children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instruction for suicide, self-injury or eating disorders online.
Ofcom, responsible for the Act’s implementation, will provide guidance or codes of practice relating to the safety duties.
DSIT is developing a framework to evaluate the Act’s implementation and core outcomes.
DSIT published an impact assessment for the Online Safety Act which contains estimates on the number of firms in scope. DSIT has not made a specific estimate in these areas nor has set specific targets.
The Act will require in-scope services to prevent all users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content including illegal eating disorder content, as well as protecting children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instruction for suicide, self-injury or eating disorders online.
Ofcom, responsible for the Act’s implementation, will provide guidance or codes of practice relating to the safety duties.
DSIT is developing a framework to evaluate the Act’s implementation and core outcomes.
DSIT published an impact assessment for the Online Safety Act which contains estimates on the number of firms in scope. DSIT has not made a specific estimate in these areas nor has set specific targets.
The Act will require in-scope services to prevent all users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content including illegal eating disorder content, as well as protecting children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instruction for suicide, self-injury or eating disorders online.
Ofcom, responsible for the Act’s implementation, will provide guidance or codes of practice relating to the safety duties.
DSIT is developing a framework to evaluate the Act’s implementation and core outcomes.
DSIT published an impact assessment for the Online Safety Act which contains estimates on the number of firms in scope. DSIT has not made a specific estimate in these areas nor has set specific targets.
The Act will require in-scope services to prevent all users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content including illegal eating disorder content, as well as protecting children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instruction for suicide, self-injury or eating disorders online.
Ofcom, responsible for the Act’s implementation, will provide guidance or codes of practice relating to the safety duties.
DSIT is developing a framework to evaluate the Act’s implementation and core outcomes.
The government wants to see remuneration arrangements that create the right conditions for sparking and driving innovation and investment, whilst rewarding creators for their work.
The governments response to the CMS Committee’s report on Creator Remuneration acknowledges the challenges facing creatives. In responding, the government has committed to exploring the case for a Freelance Commissioner and highlights the new provisions in the Employment Rights Bill. The government is also committed to finding the right balance between fostering innovation in artificial intelligence and ensuring protection for creators and investment in the creative industries. We intend to proceed carefully but with a degree of urgency in this area and hope to announce next steps soon.
On music streaming specifically, the government believes all artists and creators should be appropriately remunerated for the use of their works, as this is what allows them to invest their time, effort, and money into creating music. That is why this government is engaging with music stakeholders, including through a working group to pursue industry-led actions on remuneration from music streaming. We will continue to bring industry and creator representatives together to address issues and find solutions.
The department provides capital funding, guidance and support to help responsible bodies and their schools effectively manage their school buildings. It is the responsibility of those who run schools – academy trusts, local authorities and voluntary-aided school bodies – to ensure their schools are safe, well-maintained and compliant with relevant regulations, and alert the department if there is a significant concern with a building. Local authorities and academy trusts do not need to report building closures to the department. Therefore, the department does not hold this data. The department does provide support on a case-by-case basis, working with the sector if it is alerted to a serious safety issue. The department always puts the safety and wellbeing of children and staff in schools and colleges at the heart of our policy decisions.
There are over 22,000 schools and colleges in England. The number of schools and colleges with confirmed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was 237, or around 1%. The department has committed to resolving this problem of RAAC as quickly as possible.
Where the presence of RAAC has been confirmed, the government is funding its removal from schools and colleges in England. The department has committed to resolving this problem as quickly as possible, permanently removing RAAC either through grant funding or the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP). Permanently removing RAAC may involve refurbishment of existing buildings or rebuilding affected buildings.
For schools and colleges receiving grants, it is for individual responsible bodies to develop project plans that suit their individual circumstances, drawing on the department’s support as needed. The scope and cost of each project will vary depending on the extent of the issue and nature and design of the buildings. Grants are agreed with responsible bodies and we support them as they take this forward.
As of 27 November 2024, 30 schools, where works are being delivered by responsible bodies via grant funding, have informed us they have permanently removed RAAC.
A total of 122 schools with confirmed RAAC have been included in SRP. Once a school enters delivery, a project team will carry out a feasibility study which will determine the scope of the works. SRP projects take on average 3 to 5 years to complete.
The department provides capital funding, guidance and support to help responsible bodies and their schools effectively manage their school buildings. It is the responsibility of those who run schools – academy trusts, local authorities and voluntary-aided school bodies – to ensure their schools are safe, well-maintained and compliant with relevant regulations, and alert the department if there is a significant concern with a building. Local authorities and academy trusts do not need to report building closures to the department. Therefore, the department does not hold this data. The department does provide support on a case-by-case basis, working with the sector if it is alerted to a serious safety issue. The department always puts the safety and wellbeing of children and staff in schools and colleges at the heart of our policy decisions.
There are over 22,000 schools and colleges in England. The number of schools and colleges with confirmed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was 237, or around 1%. The department has committed to resolving this problem of RAAC as quickly as possible.
Where the presence of RAAC has been confirmed, the government is funding its removal from schools and colleges in England. The department has committed to resolving this problem as quickly as possible, permanently removing RAAC either through grant funding or the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP). Permanently removing RAAC may involve refurbishment of existing buildings or rebuilding affected buildings.
For schools and colleges receiving grants, it is for individual responsible bodies to develop project plans that suit their individual circumstances, drawing on the department’s support as needed. The scope and cost of each project will vary depending on the extent of the issue and nature and design of the buildings. Grants are agreed with responsible bodies and we support them as they take this forward.
As of 27 November 2024, 30 schools, where works are being delivered by responsible bodies via grant funding, have informed us they have permanently removed RAAC.
A total of 122 schools with confirmed RAAC have been included in SRP. Once a school enters delivery, a project team will carry out a feasibility study which will determine the scope of the works. SRP projects take on average 3 to 5 years to complete.
The department provides capital funding, guidance and support to help responsible bodies and their schools effectively manage their school buildings. It is the responsibility of those who run schools – academy trusts, local authorities and voluntary-aided school bodies – to ensure their schools are safe, well-maintained and compliant with relevant regulations, and alert the department if there is a significant concern with a building. Local authorities and academy trusts do not need to report building closures to the department. Therefore, the department does not hold this data. The department does provide support on a case-by-case basis, working with the sector if it is alerted to a serious safety issue. The department always puts the safety and wellbeing of children and staff in schools and colleges at the heart of our policy decisions.
There are over 22,000 schools and colleges in England. The number of schools and colleges with confirmed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was 237, or around 1%. The department has committed to resolving this problem of RAAC as quickly as possible.
Where the presence of RAAC has been confirmed, the government is funding its removal from schools and colleges in England. The department has committed to resolving this problem as quickly as possible, permanently removing RAAC either through grant funding or the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP). Permanently removing RAAC may involve refurbishment of existing buildings or rebuilding affected buildings.
For schools and colleges receiving grants, it is for individual responsible bodies to develop project plans that suit their individual circumstances, drawing on the department’s support as needed. The scope and cost of each project will vary depending on the extent of the issue and nature and design of the buildings. Grants are agreed with responsible bodies and we support them as they take this forward.
As of 27 November 2024, 30 schools, where works are being delivered by responsible bodies via grant funding, have informed us they have permanently removed RAAC.
A total of 122 schools with confirmed RAAC have been included in SRP. Once a school enters delivery, a project team will carry out a feasibility study which will determine the scope of the works. SRP projects take on average 3 to 5 years to complete.
The Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) programme is collecting condition, contextual and building management data for every government-funded school in England. CDC2 is collecting data on over 22,000 educational establishments between 2021 and 2026.
To date, the programme has visited 18,248 schools and released 15,912 CDC2 reports to schools, which represents 83% of the total number of schools to be visited and 72% of the total number of reports to be released to schools.
The department provides capital funding, guidance and support to help responsible bodies and their schools effectively manage their school buildings. It is the responsibility of those who run schools – academy trusts, local authorities and voluntary-aided school bodies – to ensure their schools are safe, well-maintained and compliant with relevant regulations, and alert the department if there is a significant concern with a building. Local authorities and academy trusts do not need to report building closures to the department. Therefore, the department does not hold this data. The department does provide support on a case-by-case basis, working with the sector if it is alerted to a serious safety issue. The department always puts the safety and wellbeing of children and staff in schools and colleges at the heart of our policy decisions.
There are over 22,000 schools and colleges in England. The number of schools and colleges with confirmed reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was 237, or around 1%. The department has committed to resolving this problem of RAAC as quickly as possible.
Where the presence of RAAC has been confirmed, the government is funding its removal from schools and colleges in England. The department has committed to resolving this problem as quickly as possible, permanently removing RAAC either through grant funding or the School Rebuilding Programme (SRP). Permanently removing RAAC may involve refurbishment of existing buildings or rebuilding affected buildings.
For schools and colleges receiving grants, it is for individual responsible bodies to develop project plans that suit their individual circumstances, drawing on the department’s support as needed. The scope and cost of each project will vary depending on the extent of the issue and nature and design of the buildings. Grants are agreed with responsible bodies and we support them as they take this forward.
As of 27 November 2024, 30 schools, where works are being delivered by responsible bodies via grant funding, have informed us they have permanently removed RAAC.
A total of 122 schools with confirmed RAAC have been included in SRP. Once a school enters delivery, a project team will carry out a feasibility study which will determine the scope of the works. SRP projects take on average 3 to 5 years to complete.
This government is committed to providing support for care leavers to ensure they have the practical and emotional support they need as they move towards independence. The department is currently providing £23 million this financial year for 47 local authorities and three charities to deliver Staying Close. My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has announced the overall settlement for the department for the 2025/26 financial year. The department is working internally to confirm the detail of 2025/26 budgets and future funding plans as soon as possible.
As announced in the Oral Statement in the House of Commons on 18 November, it is this government’s intention to make the Staying Close programme a national offer to all former relevant children up to the age of 25, when parliamentary time allows.
This will set the clear expectation that the local authority must assess whether provision of Staying Close support to the former relevant child is required, in the interests of that person’s welfare.
This government is committed to providing support for care leavers to ensure they have the practical and emotional support they need as they move towards independence. The department is currently providing £23 million this financial year for 47 local authorities and three charities to deliver Staying Close. My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has announced the overall settlement for the department for the 2025/26 financial year. The department is working internally to confirm the detail of 2025/26 budgets and future funding plans as soon as possible.
As announced in the Oral Statement in the House of Commons on 18 November, it is this government’s intention to make the Staying Close programme a national offer to all former relevant children up to the age of 25, when parliamentary time allows.
This will set the clear expectation that the local authority must assess whether provision of Staying Close support to the former relevant child is required, in the interests of that person’s welfare.
Within the 2022/23 to 2024/25 financial years, the department is providing £53 million to 47 local authorities and three private providers to deliver the Staying Close programme. The programme supports care leavers to find and maintain move-on accommodation, and provides practical and emotional support from someone they know and trust, to young people leaving residential and other care placements.
The independent evaluations of the initial pilots showed Staying Close found promising evidence that this programme can support better outcomes for care leavers including a 20% improvement in mental health outcomes, a 13% reduction in the number of young people who were not in education, employment or training and a 21% reduction in anti-social behaviour.
The evaluations reported that Staying Close supported young people to develop and build the skills needed to prepare for independent living. Feedback showed that young people’s life skills had improved after six months of participating in the project and that they felt happier in themselves. They also showed increased participation in activities, whether education, employment or getting involved with other activities in the project.
The department continues to look at the impact of Staying Close and have commissioned the Centre for Homelessness Impact (CHI) to undertake further evaluation. This is due to report in early 2025.
The review of Qualifications Reform has already begun and will focus on Level 3 qualifications currently scheduled to have funding removed on 31 July 2025. It will aim to ensure that there are a range of high quality qualifications at Level 3 alongside T Levels and A levels to meet the needs of learners and employers.
The department will also clarify the position on the wider qualifications landscape, given that the previous government had made statements about funding expectations going forward. We will aim to do that as soon as we can, after the review. However, clarifying the position on the 2025 defunding list is our top priority.
My noble Friend, the Minister for Skills is overseeing the internal review, which is being undertaken by civil servants. We have already held a Ministerial chaired round table with key leaders in the college sector and are undertaking a series of focus groups with colleges, schools and other organisations to ensure that the views of stakeholders are fully considered.
The outcomes of the review will be published before the end of the year.
The review of Qualifications Reform has already begun and will focus on Level 3 qualifications currently scheduled to have funding removed on 31 July 2025. It will aim to ensure that there are a range of high quality qualifications at Level 3 alongside T Levels and A levels to meet the needs of learners and employers.
The department will also clarify the position on the wider qualifications landscape, given that the previous government had made statements about funding expectations going forward. We will aim to do that as soon as we can, after the review. However, clarifying the position on the 2025 defunding list is our top priority.
My noble Friend, the Minister for Skills is overseeing the internal review, which is being undertaken by civil servants. We have already held a Ministerial chaired round table with key leaders in the college sector and are undertaking a series of focus groups with colleges, schools and other organisations to ensure that the views of stakeholders are fully considered.
The outcomes of the review will be published before the end of the year.
The review of Qualifications Reform has already begun and will focus on Level 3 qualifications currently scheduled to have funding removed on 31 July 2025. It will aim to ensure that there are a range of high quality qualifications at Level 3 alongside T Levels and A levels to meet the needs of learners and employers.
The department will also clarify the position on the wider qualifications landscape, given that the previous government had made statements about funding expectations going forward. We will aim to do that as soon as we can, after the review. However, clarifying the position on the 2025 defunding list is our top priority.
My noble Friend, the Minister for Skills is overseeing the internal review, which is being undertaken by civil servants. We have already held a Ministerial chaired round table with key leaders in the college sector and are undertaking a series of focus groups with colleges, schools and other organisations to ensure that the views of stakeholders are fully considered.
The outcomes of the review will be published before the end of the year.
The within-school and -college factor that makes the biggest difference to a child’s outcome is high quality teaching, but there are shortages of qualified teachers across the country. This is why this government will work with the sector to deliver its pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers across schools and colleges over the course of this parliament, to raise standards for children and young people, and deliver its mission to break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage. The department’s measures will include getting more teachers into shortage subjects, supporting areas that face recruitment challenges and tackling retention issues. Further details will be shared in due course.
The department has already made good, early progress towards this pledge by ensuring teaching is once again an attractive and respected profession. The department has accepted in full the School Teachers’ Review Body’s recommendation of a 5.5% pay award for teachers and leaders in maintained schools, which is effective from September. The department is also removing the requirement for performance related pay.
Alongside this the department is also supporting teachers to improve their workload and wellbeing, including opportunities for greater flexible working. Teachers are now allowed to undertake planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time remotely and the department is also delivering a programme focused on embedding flexible working in schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs). This includes the delivery of supportive webinars and peer support provided by flexible working ambassador schools and MATs. Additionally, the department has made available a range of resources to help address teacher workload and wellbeing, including its improve workload and wellbeing for school staff service and the education staff wellbeing charter.
The department has also expanded the school teacher recruitment campaign 'Every Lesson Shapes a Life' and the further education teacher recruitment campaign 'Share your Skills'.
My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a Budget on 30 October to be followed by a multi-year spending review in the spring of next year. Decisions about future funding will be subject to the outcomes of these fiscal events.
The department is dedicated to working in partnership with the sector to re-establish teaching as an attractive profession, and one that existing teachers want to remain in, former teachers want to return to, and new graduates and industry professionals wish to join.
The within-school and -college factor that makes the biggest difference to a child’s outcome is high quality teaching, but there are shortages of qualified teachers across the country. This is why this government will work with the sector to deliver its pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers across schools and colleges over the course of this parliament, to raise standards for children and young people, and deliver its mission to break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage. The department’s measures will include getting more teachers into shortage subjects, supporting areas that face recruitment challenges and tackling retention issues. Further details will be shared in due course.
The department has already made good, early progress towards this pledge by ensuring teaching is once again an attractive and respected profession. The department has accepted in full the School Teachers’ Review Body’s recommendation of a 5.5% pay award for teachers and leaders in maintained schools, which is effective from September. The department is also removing the requirement for performance related pay.
Alongside this the department is also supporting teachers to improve their workload and wellbeing, including opportunities for greater flexible working. Teachers are now allowed to undertake planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time remotely and the department is also delivering a programme focused on embedding flexible working in schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs). This includes the delivery of supportive webinars and peer support provided by flexible working ambassador schools and MATs. Additionally, the department has made available a range of resources to help address teacher workload and wellbeing, including its improve workload and wellbeing for school staff service and the education staff wellbeing charter.
The department has also expanded the school teacher recruitment campaign 'Every Lesson Shapes a Life' and the further education teacher recruitment campaign 'Share your Skills'.
My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a Budget on 30 October to be followed by a multi-year spending review in the spring of next year. Decisions about future funding will be subject to the outcomes of these fiscal events.
The department is dedicated to working in partnership with the sector to re-establish teaching as an attractive profession, and one that existing teachers want to remain in, former teachers want to return to, and new graduates and industry professionals wish to join.
Lord Wharton resigned as chair of the Office for Students (OfS) on 9 July 2024.
Lord Wharton’s resignation was accepted by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, who swiftly appointed Sir David Behan as temporary chair of the OfS while the process to appoint a permanent chair is undertaken.
The department thanked Lord Wharton for his service as chair of the OfS through a period of change and challenge.
The within-school and -college factor that makes the biggest difference to a child’s outcome is high quality teaching, but there are shortages of qualified teachers across the country. This is why this government will work with the sector to deliver its pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers across schools and colleges over the course of this parliament, to raise standards for children and young people, and deliver its mission to break down the barriers to opportunity at every stage. The department’s measures will include getting more teachers into shortage subjects, supporting areas that face recruitment challenges and tackling retention issues. Further details will be shared in due course.
The department has already made good, early progress towards this pledge by ensuring teaching is once again an attractive and respected profession. The department has accepted in full the School Teachers’ Review Body’s recommendation of a 5.5% pay award for teachers and leaders in maintained schools, which is effective from September. The department is also removing the requirement for performance related pay.
Alongside this the department is also supporting teachers to improve their workload and wellbeing, including opportunities for greater flexible working. Teachers are now allowed to undertake planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time remotely and the department is also delivering a programme focused on embedding flexible working in schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs). This includes the delivery of supportive webinars and peer support provided by flexible working ambassador schools and MATs. Additionally, the department has made available a range of resources to help address teacher workload and wellbeing, including its improve workload and wellbeing for school staff service and the education staff wellbeing charter.
The department has also expanded the school teacher recruitment campaign 'Every Lesson Shapes a Life' and the further education teacher recruitment campaign 'Share your Skills'.
My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a Budget on 30 October to be followed by a multi-year spending review in the spring of next year. Decisions about future funding will be subject to the outcomes of these fiscal events.
The department is dedicated to working in partnership with the sector to re-establish teaching as an attractive profession, and one that existing teachers want to remain in, former teachers want to return to, and new graduates and industry professionals wish to join.
An assessment of sky-lanterns was carried out in 2023.
The research examined the risks that sky lanterns, and other items including helium balloons, pose to the environment. The research suggests the risks posed by sky lanterns and helium balloons remain low. It also explored a ban on the sale of sky lanterns and indicated this would result in lost economic activity. The research report is available at: https://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=21420. Based on this assessment, we therefore consider existing controls to be sufficient.
Local authorities already have powers to apply local controls to restrict or ban the use of sky lanterns or balloons on council or public land and, according to stakeholders, around 150 councils have already introduced a ban.
We also support voluntary initiatives aimed at minimising the risks associated with sky lanterns. Initiatives include a voluntary Code of Practice for sky lanterns developed by industry with Government support to ensure that they are manufactured to be safe and are sold responsibly.
The Government has been clear that the UK’s trading relationship with the EU can be improved in several areas. The Department continues to engage with the European Union (EU) Commission on areas where future cooperation or recognition could support UK interests. Any further details will be provided in due course, as engagement progresses.
This Government is committed to securing the long-term future of the aviation sector in the UK and recognises the benefits of the connectivity it creates between the UK and the rest of the world.
We have been clear that any expansion proposals at Heathrow Airport would need to demonstrate that they contribute to country-wide economic growth, are compatible with the UK’s legally binding climate change commitments and meet strict environmental standards on air quality and noise pollution.
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is delivered through HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), rather than the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). We do not hold information on SMP cases per constituency, however a breakdown by region, supplied by HMRC, is below.
| 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
East Midlands | 41,900 | 40,900 | 20,300 |
East of England | 58,600 | 57,100 | 28,900 |
London | 90,300 | 89,500 | 45,700 |
North East | 21,100 | 20,700 | 10,500 |
North West | 66,400 | 64,500 | 32,300 |
Northern Ireland | 20,100 | 19,900 | 10,100 |
Scotland | 45,400 | 43,600 | 21,900 |
South East | 84,500 | 82,900 | 41,500 |
South West | 47,600 | 46,300 | 23,000 |
Wales | 26,000 | 26,000 | 12,900 |
West Midlands | 51,000 | 49,800 | 25,100 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 46,800 | 45,700 | 23,000 |
Notes:
The final myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), delivery plan is a priority for the Department, and we aim to publish it in March 2025. We cannot comment on the exact content of the final delivery plan at this time, but it will be shaped by the consultation responses, along with continued close engagement with ME/CFS stakeholders, with three broad themes of attitudes and education, research, and living with ME/CFS.
The Department does not hold this information centrally.
The Department does not hold this information centrally.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for York Central on 14 October 2024 to Question 7797.
The information requested is not held centrally. We have commissioned NHS England for this information and will provide an update once we receive the reply.
There are currently no plans to make an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of extending the age of the National Health Service’s cervical screening programme beyond 65 years old. The UK National Screening Committee reviewed the evidence to screen women over 65 years old for cervical cancer in 2019, and due to the lack of evidence, no recommendation was made on changing the age at which women exit the programme.
People over the age of 65 years old who have not had a positive human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical screening result recently are not invited back for screening. Evidence suggests that it is very unlikely that they will develop cervical cancer over the age of 65 years old if they are HPV negative.
Anyone aged 65 years old or older continues to be screened within the NHS cervical screening programme if one of the last three screening tests was abnormal. In addition, people aged over 65 years old who have never had cervical screening, or who have not had a screening since they turned 50 years old, are able to request a cervical screening test through their general practice.
There are currently no plans to make an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of extending the age of the National Health Service’s cervical screening programme beyond 65 years old. The UK National Screening Committee reviewed the evidence to screen women over 65 years old for cervical cancer in 2019, and due to the lack of evidence, no recommendation was made on changing the age at which women exit the programme.
People over the age of 65 years old who have not had a positive human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical screening result recently are not invited back for screening. Evidence suggests that it is very unlikely that they will develop cervical cancer over the age of 65 years old if they are HPV negative.
Anyone aged 65 years old or older continues to be screened within the NHS cervical screening programme if one of the last three screening tests was abnormal. In addition, people aged over 65 years old who have never had cervical screening, or who have not had a screening since they turned 50 years old, are able to request a cervical screening test through their general practice.
No recent discussions have been held with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on the national provision of safe access zones around abortion clinics and hospitals providing abortion services.
The UK is deeply concerned at reports of a ban on women accessing medical training in Afghanistan, including midwifery education. We strongly condemn the decision and officials from the Doha-based UK Mission to Afghanistan have met with Taliban leaders to urge them to reverse this decision. We have made clear that this is yet another affront to girls' right to education and will threaten the lives of countless women and girls who will be denied critical medical care, as well as their children. Officials continue to press the Taliban on human rights abuses in Afghanistan.
As set out in our manifesto and confirmed in the Chancellor’s July statement, we are ending the VAT break for private schools. The government will introduce 20% VAT on education and boarding services provided for a charge from 1 January 2025.
As per the draft VAT legislation that was published in July, the new VAT charge will apply to education and vocational training provided either at sixth forms attached to private schools or standalone private sixth form colleges. However, education and vocational training provided by further education colleges, which are classified as public sector institutions, will not be subject to VAT. The Government will confirm the final policy design at the Budget.
Support is available to all educational institutions to help them understand any new tax liabilities that result from these changes; alongside existing support for businesses, bespoke HMRC guidance is available online and this will be complemented with webinars intended to talk schools through the steps they will need to take to comply with any new tax liabilities.
The change will not impact pupils with the most acute additional needs, where these can only be met in private schools. Where pupils’ places in private schools are being funded by local authorities (LAs) because their needs can only be met in private school (e.g. in England, where attendance at that private school is required by a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)), LAs will be able to reclaim the VAT so it does not apply to those fees.
As set out in our manifesto and confirmed in the Chancellor’s July statement, we are ending the VAT break for private schools. The government will introduce 20% VAT on education and boarding services provided for a charge from 1 January 2025.
As per the draft VAT legislation that was published in July, the new VAT charge will apply to education and vocational training provided either at sixth forms attached to private schools or standalone private sixth form colleges. However, education and vocational training provided by further education colleges, which are classified as public sector institutions, will not be subject to VAT. The Government will confirm the final policy design at the Budget.
Support is available to all educational institutions to help them understand any new tax liabilities that result from these changes; alongside existing support for businesses, bespoke HMRC guidance is available online and this will be complemented with webinars intended to talk schools through the steps they will need to take to comply with any new tax liabilities.
The change will not impact pupils with the most acute additional needs, where these can only be met in private schools. Where pupils’ places in private schools are being funded by local authorities (LAs) because their needs can only be met in private school (e.g. in England, where attendance at that private school is required by a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)), LAs will be able to reclaim the VAT so it does not apply to those fees.
Chad agreed a debt treatment with its official bilateral creditors and its main private creditor, Glencore, in November 2022.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the treatment is consistent with the commitments made by Chad and parameters under its IMF-supported program. This is enabling Chad to restore its debt sustainability, while ensuring protection against the volatility of oil prices through contingent treatment mechanisms.
The UK is not a creditor to Chad.
Fire and rescue authorities are responsible for the health and wellbeing of the firefighters they employ, and so it is for those authorities to take the appropriate action to protect their workforce.
As such the decision on whether to carry out blood testing is for individual fire and rescue services to take, and the government does not hold any central data on the results of those tests.
It is unacceptable that anyone should be subjected to harassment or intimidation for exercising their legal right to have access to abortion services. We will quickly review where these arrangements have got to and commence safe access zones around abortion clinics imminently.
It is unacceptable that anyone should be subjected to harassment or intimidation for exercising their legal right to have access to abortion services. We will quickly review where these arrangements have got to and commence safe access zones around abortion clinics imminently.
Community spaces have a significant role to play in developing social networks, encouraging community participation, and promoting civic pride. The Assets of Community Value scheme in England provides communities with a route to protect cherished community assets, furthering social wellbeing and the interests of the community.
As part of the Government's commitment to introduce a new Community Right to Buy in the English Devolution Bill, we will consider what associated changes need to be made to the existing Assets of Community Value legislation.