All 2 Debates between Simon Burns and Nick Gibb

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Burns and Nick Gibb
Monday 25th January 2016

(8 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Nick Gibb Portrait Mr Gibb
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

That is a matter for the local authority. We are allocating sufficient funding to the authority to ensure that there are sufficient school places. Where there is development, we expect there to be a contribution from the developers.

Simon Burns Portrait Sir Simon Burns (Chelmsford) (Con)
- Hansard - -

20. What plans the Government have to meet demand for school places in Chelmsford.

Nick Gibb Portrait The Minister for Schools (Mr Nick Gibb)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

As I have said, the Government are investing £23 billion in school buildings to create 600,000 new school places. Essex received £71 million between 2011 and 2015 to create new school places. It has been allocated a further £127 million for the places that will be required by 2018.

Simon Burns Portrait Sir Simon Burns
- Hansard - -

Although I am grateful for that answer, my question referred to Chelmsford, rather than Essex. Does the Minister have the figures for Chelmsford?

Nick Gibb Portrait Mr Gibb
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I am very happy to meet my right hon. Friend to go through the figures for Chelmsford. In Essex, we created more than 2,000 new places between 2010 and 2014. Many more have been delivered since then or are in the pipeline. I am very happy to discuss his constituency in more detail.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Simon Burns and Nick Gibb
Monday 30th November 2015

(9 years ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Simon Burns Portrait Sir Simon Burns (Chelmsford) (Con)
- Hansard - -

13. What steps she is taking to ensure adequate recruitment of teachers by primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb Portrait The Minister for Schools (Mr Nick Gibb)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

There are now more better qualified teachers in England’s classrooms than ever before. We are attracting top graduates and career changers with generous incentives, including tax-free bursaries worth up to £30,000 and the opportunity to earn a salary while training. This year over 2,000 more post-graduate trainee teachers were recruited than in 2014-15. We exceeded our target for new primary teachers and finished ahead of last year in key secondary subjects such as maths and physics.

Simon Burns Portrait Sir Simon Burns
- Hansard - -

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his response, but can he explain how schools that have historically struggled to attract great teachers can find the best and brightest teachers for their areas?

Nick Gibb Portrait Mr Gibb
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My right hon. Friend raises an important point. That is why we have established the new national teaching service, which by 2020 will place 1,500 outstanding teachers and middle leaders in underperforming schools in areas that, as he suggests, find it hardest to attract, recruit and retain good teachers.