Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the European Convention on Human Rights on levels of illegal immigration.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

We assess that current ECHR interpretation has undermined our Immigration Rules and effective immigration control.

The Immigration, Asylum and Appeals Bill, introduced on the 30 June, will therefore, deliver a fundamental reset of the balance between individual Article 8 rights and the public interest.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with the Minister of State for Security on independent primary and secondary schools owned by Chinese (a) businesses and (b) nationals.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

​​My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, regularly meets colleagues across government to discuss issues in education, including issues relating to school governance and ownership.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of legislative changes to the statutory framework governing religious education.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government has not made assessments about the legislative framework applying to religious education (RE) or the Agreed Syllabus Conference model. We are clear that teaching on RE helps pupils understand the wide range of religions and beliefs, including non-religious beliefs, that exist in our country and the wider world.

The government firmly believes in the importance of religious education (RE). Good quality RE can develop children’s knowledge of the values and traditions of Britain and other countries, and foster understanding among different faiths and cultures.

The Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) recommended that government should explore including RE in the national curriculum, contingent on sector consensus. The sector group has reached a consensus, as such DfE will consult on a draft RE curriculum in line with the national curriculum consultation in September.

Any definitions used in the CAR were a matter for the independent review itself.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has her Department made of the effectiveness of the Agreed Syllabus Conference model established under the Education Act 1944.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government has not made assessments about the legislative framework applying to religious education (RE) or the Agreed Syllabus Conference model. We are clear that teaching on RE helps pupils understand the wide range of religions and beliefs, including non-religious beliefs, that exist in our country and the wider world.

The government firmly believes in the importance of religious education (RE). Good quality RE can develop children’s knowledge of the values and traditions of Britain and other countries, and foster understanding among different faiths and cultures.

The Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) recommended that government should explore including RE in the national curriculum, contingent on sector consensus. The sector group has reached a consensus, as such DfE will consult on a draft RE curriculum in line with the national curriculum consultation in September.

Any definitions used in the CAR were a matter for the independent review itself.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has her Department made of the contribution of religious education to a child’s learning.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government has not made assessments about the legislative framework applying to religious education (RE) or the Agreed Syllabus Conference model. We are clear that teaching on RE helps pupils understand the wide range of religions and beliefs, including non-religious beliefs, that exist in our country and the wider world.

The government firmly believes in the importance of religious education (RE). Good quality RE can develop children’s knowledge of the values and traditions of Britain and other countries, and foster understanding among different faiths and cultures.

The Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) recommended that government should explore including RE in the national curriculum, contingent on sector consensus. The sector group has reached a consensus, as such DfE will consult on a draft RE curriculum in line with the national curriculum consultation in September.

Any definitions used in the CAR were a matter for the independent review itself.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what definition her Department used of the Religious Education sector during the curriculum review.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government has not made assessments about the legislative framework applying to religious education (RE) or the Agreed Syllabus Conference model. We are clear that teaching on RE helps pupils understand the wide range of religions and beliefs, including non-religious beliefs, that exist in our country and the wider world.

The government firmly believes in the importance of religious education (RE). Good quality RE can develop children’s knowledge of the values and traditions of Britain and other countries, and foster understanding among different faiths and cultures.

The Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) recommended that government should explore including RE in the national curriculum, contingent on sector consensus. The sector group has reached a consensus, as such DfE will consult on a draft RE curriculum in line with the national curriculum consultation in September.

Any definitions used in the CAR were a matter for the independent review itself.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to support schools and colleges with (a) implementing the Enrichment Framework and (b) delivering against the Enrichment Entitlement.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department has published a new enrichment framework with clear benchmarks against which schools and colleges can evaluate their own offer and improve provision. Ambassadors have been appointed as experts within their areas, using their expertise to help develop and expand opportunities for young people.

The £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme will work with approximately 400 schools in the most deprived areas of England to support them to meet the benchmarks set out in the enrichment framework. This is alongside a variety of governmental programmes, including upcoming PE and School Sport Partnerships and a new National Centre for Arts and Music Education, as well as National Education Nature Parks, TechYouth, the Cadet Expansion Programme, Erasmus+ and Building Equal Access to Chess in Schools.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s ‘Every Child Can’ programme will deliver £132.5 million for new activities programmes structured around the framework categories, delivered through schools, community programmes, weekend activities and holiday provision.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to support schools and colleges in delivering the Enrichment Benchmarks.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department has published a new enrichment framework with clear benchmarks against which schools and colleges can evaluate their own offer and improve provision. Ambassadors have been appointed as experts within their areas, using their expertise to help develop and expand opportunities for young people.

The £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme will work with approximately 400 schools in the most deprived areas of England to support them to meet the benchmarks set out in the enrichment framework. This is alongside a variety of governmental programmes, including upcoming PE and School Sport Partnerships and a new National Centre for Arts and Music Education, as well as National Education Nature Parks, TechYouth, the Cadet Expansion Programme, Erasmus+ and Building Equal Access to Chess in Schools.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s ‘Every Child Can’ programme will deliver £132.5 million for new activities programmes structured around the framework categories, delivered through schools, community programmes, weekend activities and holiday provision.

Found: accountability would improve as the Secretary of State was directly responsible to Parliament. 7 Saqib Bhatti