Debates between Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Gillian Keegan during the 2019-2024 Parliament

Education

Debate between Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Gillian Keegan
Wednesday 25th January 2023

(1 year, 10 months ago)

Ministerial Corrections
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Gillian Keegan Portrait Gillian Keegan
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I thank the hon. Lady for her question. In 2019, we launched the Government’s first ever integrated strategy to recruit and retain more teachers in schools, which had a number of different strands in it, including supporting teachers on the way in, recruiting more, and various routes into teaching. Of course, we have an independent pay review body and this year, for academic year 2022-23, we accepted all its recommendations in full.

Inflation

The following is an extract from Education Questions on 16 January 2023.

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi Portrait Mr Dhesi
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In addition to having grave concerns about recruiting and retaining teachers, schools in Slough and across our country continue to struggle with their budgets, with a quarter of primary school senior leaders reporting that they have had to cut outings and trips due to budgetary constraints. How will the Government ensure that children do not miss out on these vital opportunities?

Gillian Keegan Portrait Gillian Keegan
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The autumn statement announced significant additional investment in core schools funding. The core schools budget will increase by £2 billion in 2023-24 and 2024-25. That will be paid into schools’ bank accounts in April, and I am sure they will welcome that additional funding.

[Official Report, 16 January 2023, Vol. 726, c. 16.]

Letter of correction from the Secretary of State for Education:

An error has been identified in my response to the hon. Member for Slough (Mr Dhesi).

The correct response should have been:

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Gillian Keegan
Monday 16th January 2023

(1 year, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi Portrait Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab)
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16. What recent assessment her Department has made of the impact of inflation on (a) school budgets and (b) the costs to parents associated with the school day.

Gillian Keegan Portrait The Secretary of State for Education (Gillian Keegan)
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Schools, like families and businesses across the world, are facing global inflationary pressures. The Prime Minister has pledged to halve inflation, and school funding will increase by £2 billion next year as well as the year after that. This will be the highest real-terms spending on schools in history, totalling £58.8 billion by 2024-25. In 2010, school funding stood at £35 billion, so we will be delivering a 68% increase in cash terms. The Government have also announced further support for parents worth £26 billion next year.

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi Portrait Mr Dhesi
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In addition to having grave concerns about recruiting and retaining teachers, schools in Slough and across our country continue to struggle with their budgets, with a quarter of primary school senior leaders reporting that they have had to cut outings and trips due to budgetary constraints. How will the Government ensure that children do not miss out on these vital opportunities?

Gillian Keegan Portrait Gillian Keegan
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The autumn statement announced significant additional investment in core schools funding. The core schools budget will increase by £2 billion in 2023-24 and 2024-25. That will be paid into schools’ bank accounts in April, and I am sure they will welcome that additional funding.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Gillian Keegan
Monday 28th November 2022

(1 year, 12 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Gillian Keegan Portrait Gillian Keegan
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We understand the pressures that many households are under, and that is why we are spending more than £1.6 billion per year so that children have access to nutritious meals during the school day and in holidays. The Government have indeed expanded free school meals more than any other Government in recent decades. We have put in place generous protection that means families on universal credit will also retain their free school meal eligibility. We now have a third of children in this country on free school meals, and I know that is very welcome for the families. We will have extended free school meals, and we will continue to support further education students with them as well.

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi Portrait Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab)
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3. What steps he is taking to help ensure childcare is (a) accessible and (b) affordable.