Oral Answers to Questions

Sarah Coombes Excerpts

Monday 22nd June 2026 Commons Chamber

[Josh MacAlister]

My hon. Friend is a fierce champion for apprenticeships and technical education. I am happy to meet him to discuss those matters further. The Minister for Skills, my noble friend Baroness Smith in the other place, has taken a whole series of actions with the Secretary of State to reform our apprenticeship system, opening it up to create tens of thousands of additional opportunities for young people.

[Sarah Coombes (West Bromwich) (Lab)]

4. What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to increase levels of funding for schools.

[The Secretary of State for Education (Bridget Phillipson)]

I am pleased to say that this Government are driving record investment in our schools, with the core schools budget increasing by £1.7 billion this year. That includes funding that allows us to reform the special educational needs and disabilities system, training our teachers, making our schools more inclusive, and ensuring that every child can achieve and thrive.

[Sarah Coombes]

Eaton Valley primary school in West Bromwich has enthusiastically embraced net zero, and the Government have supported it by putting solar panels on the roof, providing a battery to store the power, and installing electric vehicle charge points in the car park. Those measures are already saving the school hundreds of pounds in energy bills every week. Will the Government look to roll out similar schemes, which reduce carbon emissions and allow more money to be invested directly into teachers and pupils, across further schools in the Black Country?

[Bridget Phillipson]

Yes, we will. We a rolling out the GB Energy solar programme to around 350 schools and colleges. We are also unlocking private finance investment in solar and energy efficiency for schools and colleges, with pilots planned for later this year. I am pleased to hear about the impact of the scheme in my hon. Friend’s constituency. A school local to me in Sunderland recently shared that they had saved £4,000 this year through being part of the scheme, which they are using to put on more school trips and activities. We are saving schools money on their energy bills, which will allow them to invest more in driving up standards and teacher quality.

--- Later in debate ---

[Sarah Coombes (West Bromwich) (Lab)]

T5. Forced adoptions are a shameful stain on the history of our country, so I was very pleased to see the Secretary of State announce that the Government will apologise for the scandal. Does she agree that the campaigners who have worked so hard for so long to secure that decision deserve our thanks for bringing to light something that, for too long, was shrouded in misplaced shame?

[Bridget Phillipson]

I agree with my hon. Friend. Campaigners have shown remarkable courage, bravery and persistence in bringing this shameful period in our country’s history out of the shadows. Their voices have been central in ensuring that that history is recognised. It is for that reason, and because of their tireless work, that this Government will soon make a full apology on behalf of the state to all those affected. I pay tribute to the campaigners; it is impossible to listen to them and hear their testimonies and not recognise that a wrong was done to them and that we have a responsibility to address that.