Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Shabana Mahmood and Nick Gibb

Monday 1st March 2021 Commons Chamber

[Nick Gibb]

The hon. Member will not find anyone in this House more committed to closing the attainment gap caused by the pandemic than this team of Education Ministers and this Secretary of State. Last year, we committed £1 billion to help all students catch up on their lost education, including a £350 million national tutoring programme for the most disadvantaged and most in need. Last month, the Prime Minister announced a further £300 million of catch-up funding, and last week we increased it by a further £400 million. That is £1.7 billion in total committed to ensuring that no pupil will suffer long-term damage to their prospects as a result of the pandemic.

[Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Ladywood) (Lab)]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on education outcomes.