Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of amending the assessment only route to Qualified Teacher Status to allow applications from unqualified teachers who have worked in one school throughout their careers on teacher recruitment and retention.
Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)
The assessment only (AO) route to qualified teacher status (QTS) has been designed to allow experienced unqualified teachers to be assessed against the Teachers’ Standards and awarded QTS if they meet them all at the appropriate level.
The AO criteria sets out the entry requirements for the AO route. Applicants must have taught in at least two schools and must be able to demonstrate that they meet all of the Teachers’ Standards without the need for any further training. Typically, applicants with fewer than two years of teaching experience would be unsuitable for the AO route. The AO criteria can be accessed here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64edf4006bc96d00104ed206/Assessment_only_route_to_QTS_-_criteria_and_supporting_advice.pdf.
The department continuously considers whether the criteria we have in place meets the needs of schools and teachers, as well as ensuring the high quality teaching that pupils and parents would expect.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of extending eligibility for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to include property developers seeking to install air source heat pumps into new builds.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is primarily designed to support property owners to replace fossil fuel heating systems in existing properties (retrofits). New builds (with the exception of self-builds) are therefore excluded from the scheme.
However, new standards will be brought in that ensure new homes and buildings are fit for a net zero future. Gas boilers will not meet the proposed standard for new homes, meaning low-carbon heating like heat pumps will become the new default. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will publish specifications in due course.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with NATO allies on the (a) size, (b) composition and (c) remit of a potential peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Defence Secretary and the Chief of the Defence Staff met with counterparts in Paris last week to discuss the next steps for a coalition of the willing to defend Ukraine’s security – with 37 nations attending the military meeting, alongside NATO and EU representatives. This was followed by the Prime Minister hosting a call on 15 March with European counterparts, the NATO Secretary General and other world leaders to discuss support for Ukraine.
Our military planners convened again on 20 March to progress practical plans for how our militaries can support security guarantees for Ukraine’s future.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of European NATO's ability to fill capability gaps that would be created by a potential US troop withdrawal from Europe in (a) air defence, (b) intelligence-sharing and (c) rapid deployment forces.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
European security is this Government’s foreign and defence priority and NATO is the cornerstone of our defence. The Prime Minister has been clear that European Allies must take greater responsibility for our own security, spending more and producing more. The Ministry of Defence continues its work to ensure the UK and European Allies step up their contribution to NATO as part of our ‘NATO first’ defence strategy.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with NATO allies on the potential redistribution of military capabilities in Europe in the event of a significant reduction in US troop presence.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
European security is this Government’s foreign and defence priority and NATO is the cornerstone of our defence. The Prime Minister has been clear that European Allies must take greater responsibility for our own security, spending more and producing more. The Ministry of Defence continues its work to ensure the UK and European Allies step up their contribution to NATO as part of our ‘NATO first’ defence strategy.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions his Department has had with international partners on increasing the protection of undersea cables and pipelines, in the context of Russian maritime activity.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Subsea cables are critical to UK telecommunications digital infrastructure, and we are committed to maintaining and enhancing the security and resilience of that infra- structure. We continue to co-ordinate with HMG partners, particularly the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology who own subsea cables policy, as well as security partners, the subsea cables industry and international bodies, including NATO, to assess and respond to risks to subsea cables.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the number of UK troops that could be safely deployed in a peacekeeping capacity to Ukraine without abridging other defence and security commitments.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
Discussions regarding how our military can support security guarantees for Ukraine’s future are ongoing.
I hope the hon. Member will understand that I can’t comment on operational details at this stage as revealing our force structure only helps Putin.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22501 on Roads: Lighting if she will provide the evidential basis for her Answer.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department does not readily hold this information in the formats requested and it cannot be produced to the deadlines associated with a Parliamentary Question.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22502 on Roads: Lighting if she will provide the evidential basis for her Answer.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department does not readily hold this information in the formats requested and it cannot be produced to the deadlines associated with a Parliamentary Question.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29868 on Euthanasia: Scotland, whether any staff employed in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel provided (a) advice and (b) other assistance on the drafting of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill is a Scottish Member's Bill. Therefore, there has been no involvement from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel who is responsible for drafting UK government Bills.