Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sarah Bool and Catherine McKinnell

Tuesday 15th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Bool (South Northamptonshire) (Con)]

Rapid deployment cells are one option, but the question remains of why the Government are not making use of fully certified cells. HMP Millsike has an operational capacity of up to 1,500, but it has only 1,100 prisoners, due to staffing issues. Can the Minister guarantee that she will replace the 1,600 prison officers lost under Labour by next year?

[Catherine McKinnell]

About 80% of Millsike’s capacity is in use. Occupancy will continue to increase as and when that is appropriate and safe, and as and when we have the correct culture and processes established on the site. Clearly, this issue is pressing. We are working as hard as we can. We brought forward £110 million in investment to bring onsite any available space that is not currently in use. We will continue to do so, while making up for the staffing shortages that were left by the previous Government.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sarah Bool and Catherine McKinnell

Monday 16th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Catherine McKinnell]

I think the hon. Gentleman’s maths need a bit of work. He will know as well as anybody that pupil numbers in primary are down and keep on falling, yet recruiting and retaining expert teachers is crucial to this Government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity. That is why we have committed to recruiting 6,500 additional expert teachers, and we are targeting them at the sectors in which they are most needed. It is not the Government’s fault that those on the Opposition Front Bench do not seem to be able to add up or pay proper attention.

[Sarah Bool (South Northamptonshire) (Con)]

3. If she will take steps to stop the use of smartphones in schools.

--- Later in debate ---

[Catherine McKinnell]

We know that there are lots of great examples of mainstream schools delivering specialist provision, such as the one my hon. Friend recently opened, enabling children to achieve and thrive in mainstream school and providing excellent support to children with speech and language needs. We have allocated £740 million to support mainstream schools to increase their SEND provision, and we want to reassure his constituent that we will continue to prioritise that in our work.

[Sarah Bool (South Northamptonshire) (Con)]

T8. Another private school, Queen Margaret’s school for girls in York, has announced its closure, months after the Carrdus school in my constituency announced its closure. Over 11,000 children have left the private sector in this first year, which is more than three times what the Government expected. Does the Minister believe that the impact assessment of the introduction of VAT on private schools is correct? Will she look again at the flawed case for it?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Sarah Bool and Catherine McKinnell

Monday 10th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Catherine McKinnell]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, which is why we are focusing our investment on breakfast clubs, which will ensure that children get not only a good start to the day with a full belly, but the support of a club that will help them to achieve and thrive.

[Sarah Bool (South Northamptonshire) (Con)]

2. How many schools left the breakfast club early adopters scheme prior to 24 February 2025.