Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Morgan and Richard Holden

Monday 28th April 2025 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Morgan]

Protecting children from online harm is a cross-Government priority, and Ofcom’s draft code of practice for child safety sets out why it is so important that we continue with our efforts to protect children. From July, the child online safety regime will be fully in force, and Ofcom will be able to take robust enforcement action against those failing to comply with the child safety duties. I know the DSIT Secretary of State will want to look very closely at any future further proposals.

[Mr Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)]

5. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increased school costs on the adequacy of school funding for 2025-26.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Morgan and Richard Holden

Monday 10th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Morgan]

The feasibility and project costs for those projects are currently being reviewed, and the relevant approvals will then be sought. I will ensure that my hon. Friend is kept up to date on progress. Ensuring that schools and colleges have the resources and buildings they need is key to our delivery of the opportunity mission and to give every child the best start in life.

[Mr Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)]

Great teaching and great policies saw children in England soar up the international league tables under the last Government to become the best in the western world. I think that the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill risks that progress. If the Secretary of State disagrees, will she put her money where her mouth is and resign if England falls down the international league tables?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Morgan and Richard Holden

Monday 27th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)]

16. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill on the early years sector.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Stephen Morgan)]

As a Government, we have had to take tough decisions to get the public finances back on track. In 2025-26, the entitlements budget will be over £8 billion, with a further £75 million to support the sector in this pivotal expansion year. We have also announced the largest ever uplift to the early years pupil premium. Early years is central to our mission to give every child the best start in life.

[Mr Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)]

Early years providers are being hammered. In many cases, their national insurance costs per staff member are almost doubling. A large number are small businesses in the private sector, while others are schools that are taking children before they go into reception classes. All of them—both primary schools in the state sector and small private providers—are worried about the extra costs being imposed on them. Can the Minister assure my constituents and, indeed, people throughout the country that families will not face higher costs and that those childcare places will still be there? Can he assure the House that we will have more childcare places at the end of this Parliament than we had at the start of it?

[Stephen Morgan]

Unlike the Conservative party, we are on the side of working parents, and high-quality education will be available to every child. As for the hon. Gentleman’s substantive point, it would help if the Conservatives were honest. They would not reverse the rise.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Morgan and Richard Holden

Monday 4th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Morgan]

We are proud of the investment that we are making in school buildings. I would be delighted not only to meet my hon. Friend but to visit his constituency.

[Mr Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)]

Will the Secretary of State acknowledge, as the right hon. Baroness Smith of Basildon has in the other place, that concerns around freedom of speech and academic freedom in our universities are not a botched culture war but a serious matter that needs to be addressed properly?