Tom Morrison Portrait

Tom Morrison

Liberal Democrat - Cheadle

12,235 (24.1%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 4th July 2024

Liberal Democrat Deputy Chief Whip

(since September 2024)

2 APPG memberships (as of 28 Mar 2025)
Child of the North, Northern Culture
Committee of Selection
14th Oct 2024 - 21st Jan 2025


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Tom Morrison has voted in 107 divisions, and 1 time against the majority of their Party.

29 Nov 2024 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Tom Morrison voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 11 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 61 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 330 Noes - 275
View All Tom Morrison Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op))
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(4 debate interactions)
Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat)
Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (London)
(2 debate interactions)
Yvette Cooper (Labour)
Home Secretary
(2 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
HM Treasury
(3 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(2 debate contributions)
Department for Business and Trade
(1 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Great British Energy Bill 2024-26
(1,409 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Tom Morrison's debates

Cheadle Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Tom Morrison has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Tom Morrison

13th March 2025
Tom Morrison signed this EDM on Thursday 3rd April 2025

Wellbeing benefits of outdoor education to young people

Tabled by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
That this House recognises the significant benefits of outdoor learning for children and young people; urges the Secretary of State to undertake a review of the value of those benefits; notes that more time learning outdoors provides an opportunity for children to learn skills and characteristics to cope with many …
35 signatures
(Most recent: 3 Apr 2025)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 25
Independent: 4
Labour: 3
Green Party: 2
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
24th March 2025
Tom Morrison signed this EDM on Thursday 3rd April 2025

Access to football pitches for women and girls

Tabled by: Helen Maguire (Liberal Democrat - Epsom and Ewell)
That this House expresses concern over ongoing inequalities in access to quality training facilities for women’s and girls’ football; notes that women's and girls’ teams are often allocated pitches in worse locations and poorer conditions than their male counterparts; further notes reports from local clubs that training slots for women's …
34 signatures
(Most recent: 3 Apr 2025)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 21
Labour: 5
Plaid Cymru: 4
Green Party: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
View All Tom Morrison's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Tom Morrison, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Tom Morrison has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Tom Morrison has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Tom Morrison has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Tom Morrison has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
11th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of a free trade agreement between the UK and Israel on the use of (a) surveillance and (b) cybersecurity technologies manufactured by UK businesses in Gaza.

Any export of controlled items requires approval under the UK's Export Controls regime - this is not affected by whether there is an FTA in place or not.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
10th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to prohibit the import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements under the terms of proposed UK-Israel free trade agreement.

Goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements are not entitled to tariff and trade preferences under either the agreement between the UK and Israel, or in our agreement with the Palestinian Authority.

The UK will not compromise on any of our longstanding positions on the Middle East Peace Process through the FTA negotiation, including with respect to settlements.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
27th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has made an assessment of the competitiveness of the UK creative industry.

As set out in the Industrial Strategy Green Paper published in 2024, the UK's creative industries are world-leading, with the UK, according to UN Trade and Development statistics, being the third largest creative services exporter globally (behind Ireland and the United States).

While the Department for Business and Trade has not made a formal assessment of the competitiveness of the UK creative industry, in 2023, the UK, according to UN Trade and Development statistics, was the tenth largest exporter of creative goods and according to Department for Culture, Media and Sport statistics contributed an estimated £124 billion to the UK economy, accounting for 5.2 per cent of UK gross value added.

The forthcoming Industrial Strategy aims to leverage the sector's global comparative advantages to unlock private investment, boost exports and develop its highly skilled workforce.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing extended paternity leave when the mother has been through a traumatic birth and is medically unable to properly care for the child alone after the two weeks of paternity leave.

This Government is committed to ensuring that employed parents receive the best possible support in balancing their work and home lives. Eligible fathers or partners can plan to take a longer period of leave by using Shared Parental Leave or Unpaid Parental Leave. We recognise that parental leave can be improved. Work on this has already begun. The Employment Rights Bill will make Paternity and Unpaid Parental Leave 'day one' rights, accessible to all employees.

Government has also committed to a review of the parental leave system to ensure that it best supports working families. Planning work is already underway.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
11th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the sale of fossil fuels in international energy markets on his Department’s support for North Sea oil operations.

Oil and gas is traded on international markets, therefore domestically produced oil and gas does not mean cheaper prices and leaves British consumers exposed to unstable fossil fuel markets. On 5 March the Government launched a consultation that progresses the commitment to not issue new licences to explore new oil and gas fields while managing existing fields for their lifespan. It also sets out the next steps to make the North Sea a world leading example of an offshore clean energy industry, which is vital for delivering the best outcomes for workers and communities, energy security, and sustainable economic growth.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
10th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support a just transition for workers in the oil and gas sector; and what steps he has taken to support (a) retraining and (b) reskilling them for jobs in the renewable energy industry.

The Office of Clean Energy Jobs (OCEJ) is engaging widely with industry, experts, and trade unions for a clear assessment of the skills opportunities and challenges. It is working closely with Skills England to ensure that skills systems reforms support the clean energy transition.

The OCEJ will also set out targeted interventions to support specific skills needs in the clean energy workforce. It has recently launched the initial version of the Energy Skills Passport to support oil and gas workers into new roles in the clean energy sector like offshore wind. In phase two, we are exploring opportunities to expand it into other clean energy sectors such as CCUS and Hydrogen.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
27th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of replicating the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act.

The UK is committed to establishing a proportionate AI regulatory approach which is grounded in science and supports growth and innovation. As set out in the manifesto, the Government is developing legislative proposals which will establish targeted measures. This will complement work outlined in the government’s response to the AI Action Plan to support the UK's existing regulators who are responsible for governing the vast majority of AI systems at the point of use.

As we develop our approach to regulating AI, we recognise the need to engage with a range of international partners. This includes engaging with the EU, who are a key science and technology partner, to discuss our respective approaches, as well as working alongside them and other partners in the G7, OECD, UN, and other international fora. We take a close interest in how our trading partners are regulating in similar areas and have regular exchanges with the EU on regulatory developments.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
27th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that consumers can differentiate between AI-generated and human-created content in creative industries.

Increasing transparency about the use of copyrighted works to train AI models and AI-generated content was one of the key issues explored in the Government’s recently closed Copyright and AI consultation.

The consultation also sought views on the protection for the outputs of generative AI, the labelling of AI outputs and digital replicas.

The consultation closed on 25 February and our priority now is to review the evidence from the consultation which will inform the Government response.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
27th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to introduce a mandatory labelling or watermarking system to identify AI-generated creative content.

The Government’s consultation on Copyright and AI has just closed. This included questions about the protection and labelling of generative AI outputs. Various industry initiatives exist to label AI outputs, but it may need to happen more consistently.

Our priority now is to review the evidence from the consultation which will inform the Government response.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
27th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require generative AI developers to (a) document and (b) disclose their use of copyrighted materials.

The Government’s consultation on Copyright and AI has just closed. This included a proposal to require AI model developers to be more transparent about how they obtain and use copyright works in their training, whether from web crawlers or other forms of training for AI models.

Our priority now is to review the evidence from the consultation which will inform the Government response, including any legislative proposals.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
27th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has had discussions with AI developers on remuneration models for creatives' whose work is used to train AI models.

All these matters were addressed in the Government 10-week consultation on AI and Copyright, which was published on Tuesday 17 December and closed on 25 February. We engaged extensively with AI and creative industries stakeholders before, during and since the consultation and will respond to the consultation once we have considered the submissions in detail.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
27th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to take steps to support workers in the creative industries whose work opportunities may be potentially impacted by generative AI technologies.

All these matters were addressed in the Government 10-week consultation on AI and Copyright, which was published on Tuesday 17 December and closed on 25 February. We engaged extensively with AI and creative industries stakeholders before, during and since the consultation and will respond to the consultation once we have considered the submissions in detail.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
27th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential economic impact of Generative AI on employment in the creative industries.

All these matters were addressed in the Government 10-week consultation on AI and Copyright, which was published on Tuesday 17 December and closed on 25 February. We engaged extensively with AI and creative industries stakeholders before, during and since the consultation and will respond to the consultation once we have considered the submissions in detail.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
27th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a licensing framework to ensure creators are compensated when their works are used in the development of generative AI.

All these matters were addressed in the Government 10-week consultation on AI and Copyright, which was published on Tuesday 17 December and closed on 25 February. We engaged extensively with AI and creative industries stakeholders before, during and since the consultation and will respond to the consultation once we have considered the submissions in detail.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
27th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to ensure that generative AI developers obtain authorisation from copyright holders before using their creative works for training AI models.

All these matters were addressed in the Government 10-week consultation on AI and Copyright, which was published on Tuesday 17 December and closed on 25 February. We engaged extensively with AI and creative industries stakeholders before, during and since the consultation and will respond to the consultation once we have considered the submissions in detail.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a (a) regulatory and (b) governing body to (i) oversee home-educated students and (ii) ensure access to appropriate (A) resources, (B) support and (C) examination facilities.

Parents who choose to home educate their children assume full responsibility for that education, as a state-funded place is available for every child.

The decision to home educate must be an informed one, with full awareness of potential challenges and the associated costs. Parents should consider and plan in advance how and where their child can access exams and any written or practical assessments for their chosen subject(s).

Exam centres, such as schools and colleges, deliver exams on behalf of exam boards, and rightly take their own decisions on whether they can accept private candidates based on their own individual circumstances, such as how big their exam halls are. Private candidates includes home educated students, but also adults and others.

The department has worked with the Joint Council for Qualifications (JQC), who have created a centre search function on JCQ’s website, which enables any private candidate, including home educated students, to locate the nearest centre available to sit their A level science exams. Parents or private candidates should contact these centres, and any other private or local centres, to discuss whether they are able to accommodate private candidates taking both their exams and practical assessments.

Local authorities have existing oversight responsibilities for home educating children and must make arrangements to identify children in their areas who are of compulsory school age, but who are not in school and not receiving a suitable education. To support local authorities, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced by the government in December 2024, includes measures to introduce a compulsory Children Not in School registration system in each local authority area in England. It also includes accompanying duties on parents and out-of-school education providers to provide information for local authority registers.

As part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the department is also, for the first time, introducing a duty on local authorities to support home educating families on their Children Not in School registers. This new duty means that, when requested to do so by the parent, local authorities must provide advice and information relating to the child’s education. This could include, for example, advice and information about how to access and navigate the exams system or signposting to educational resources. This new support duty will, for the first time, ensure an established baseline level of support across all English local authorities to ensure that wherever home educating families live they have access to a reliable level of support from their local authority.

Some local authorities may choose to offer support that goes beyond this baseline. However, this remains a decision for each local authority in respect of their individual circumstances.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to establish a system of designated (a) schools and (b) colleges offering practical science support for external candidates.

Parents who choose to home educate their children assume full responsibility for that education, as a state-funded place is available for every child.

The decision to home educate must be an informed one, with full awareness of potential challenges and the associated costs. Parents should consider and plan in advance how and where their child can access exams and any written or practical assessments for their chosen subject(s).

Exam centres, such as schools and colleges, deliver exams on behalf of exam boards, and rightly take their own decisions on whether they can accept private candidates based on their own individual circumstances, such as how big their exam halls are. Private candidates includes home educated students, but also adults and others.

The department has worked with the Joint Council for Qualifications (JQC), who have created a centre search function on JCQ’s website, which enables any private candidate, including home educated students, to locate the nearest centre available to sit their A level science exams. Parents or private candidates should contact these centres, and any other private or local centres, to discuss whether they are able to accommodate private candidates taking both their exams and practical assessments.

Local authorities have existing oversight responsibilities for home educating children and must make arrangements to identify children in their areas who are of compulsory school age, but who are not in school and not receiving a suitable education. To support local authorities, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced by the government in December 2024, includes measures to introduce a compulsory Children Not in School registration system in each local authority area in England. It also includes accompanying duties on parents and out-of-school education providers to provide information for local authority registers.

As part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the department is also, for the first time, introducing a duty on local authorities to support home educating families on their Children Not in School registers. This new duty means that, when requested to do so by the parent, local authorities must provide advice and information relating to the child’s education. This could include, for example, advice and information about how to access and navigate the exams system or signposting to educational resources. This new support duty will, for the first time, ensure an established baseline level of support across all English local authorities to ensure that wherever home educating families live they have access to a reliable level of support from their local authority.

Some local authorities may choose to offer support that goes beyond this baseline. However, this remains a decision for each local authority in respect of their individual circumstances.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to financially support independent candidates (a) sitting A-Level exams and (b) requiring multiple resits.

Parents who choose to home educate their children assume full responsibility for that education, as a state-funded place is available for every child.

The decision to home educate must be an informed one, with full awareness of potential challenges and the associated costs. Parents should consider and plan in advance how and where their child can access exams and any written or practical assessments for their chosen subject(s).

Exam centres, such as schools and colleges, deliver exams on behalf of exam boards, and rightly take their own decisions on whether they can accept private candidates based on their own individual circumstances, such as how big their exam halls are. Private candidates includes home educated students, but also adults and others.

The department has worked with the Joint Council for Qualifications (JQC), who have created a centre search function on JCQ’s website, which enables any private candidate, including home educated students, to locate the nearest centre available to sit their A level science exams. Parents or private candidates should contact these centres, and any other private or local centres, to discuss whether they are able to accommodate private candidates taking both their exams and practical assessments.

Local authorities have existing oversight responsibilities for home educating children and must make arrangements to identify children in their areas who are of compulsory school age, but who are not in school and not receiving a suitable education. To support local authorities, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced by the government in December 2024, includes measures to introduce a compulsory Children Not in School registration system in each local authority area in England. It also includes accompanying duties on parents and out-of-school education providers to provide information for local authority registers.

As part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the department is also, for the first time, introducing a duty on local authorities to support home educating families on their Children Not in School registers. This new duty means that, when requested to do so by the parent, local authorities must provide advice and information relating to the child’s education. This could include, for example, advice and information about how to access and navigate the exams system or signposting to educational resources. This new support duty will, for the first time, ensure an established baseline level of support across all English local authorities to ensure that wherever home educating families live they have access to a reliable level of support from their local authority.

Some local authorities may choose to offer support that goes beyond this baseline. However, this remains a decision for each local authority in respect of their individual circumstances.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with exam boards on ensuring adequate provision of practical science assessments for private candidates.

Parents who choose to home educate their children assume full responsibility for that education, as a state-funded place is available for every child.

The decision to home educate must be an informed one, with full awareness of potential challenges and the associated costs. Parents should consider and plan in advance how and where their child can access exams and any written or practical assessments for their chosen subject(s).

Exam centres, such as schools and colleges, deliver exams on behalf of exam boards, and rightly take their own decisions on whether they can accept private candidates based on their own individual circumstances, such as how big their exam halls are. Private candidates includes home educated students, but also adults and others.

The department has worked with the Joint Council for Qualifications (JQC), who have created a centre search function on JCQ’s website, which enables any private candidate, including home educated students, to locate the nearest centre available to sit their A level science exams. Parents or private candidates should contact these centres, and any other private or local centres, to discuss whether they are able to accommodate private candidates taking both their exams and practical assessments.

Local authorities have existing oversight responsibilities for home educating children and must make arrangements to identify children in their areas who are of compulsory school age, but who are not in school and not receiving a suitable education. To support local authorities, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced by the government in December 2024, includes measures to introduce a compulsory Children Not in School registration system in each local authority area in England. It also includes accompanying duties on parents and out-of-school education providers to provide information for local authority registers.

As part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the department is also, for the first time, introducing a duty on local authorities to support home educating families on their Children Not in School registers. This new duty means that, when requested to do so by the parent, local authorities must provide advice and information relating to the child’s education. This could include, for example, advice and information about how to access and navigate the exams system or signposting to educational resources. This new support duty will, for the first time, ensure an established baseline level of support across all English local authorities to ensure that wherever home educating families live they have access to a reliable level of support from their local authority.

Some local authorities may choose to offer support that goes beyond this baseline. However, this remains a decision for each local authority in respect of their individual circumstances.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of private examination centres offering full practical assessments for A-Level science students.

Parents who choose to home educate their children assume full responsibility for that education, as a state-funded place is available for every child.

The decision to home educate must be an informed one, with full awareness of potential challenges and the associated costs. Parents should consider and plan in advance how and where their child can access exams and any written or practical assessments for their chosen subject(s).

Exam centres, such as schools and colleges, deliver exams on behalf of exam boards, and rightly take their own decisions on whether they can accept private candidates based on their own individual circumstances, such as how big their exam halls are. Private candidates includes home educated students, but also adults and others.

The department has worked with the Joint Council for Qualifications (JQC), who have created a centre search function on JCQ’s website, which enables any private candidate, including home educated students, to locate the nearest centre available to sit their A level science exams. Parents or private candidates should contact these centres, and any other private or local centres, to discuss whether they are able to accommodate private candidates taking both their exams and practical assessments.

Local authorities have existing oversight responsibilities for home educating children and must make arrangements to identify children in their areas who are of compulsory school age, but who are not in school and not receiving a suitable education. To support local authorities, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced by the government in December 2024, includes measures to introduce a compulsory Children Not in School registration system in each local authority area in England. It also includes accompanying duties on parents and out-of-school education providers to provide information for local authority registers.

As part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, the department is also, for the first time, introducing a duty on local authorities to support home educating families on their Children Not in School registers. This new duty means that, when requested to do so by the parent, local authorities must provide advice and information relating to the child’s education. This could include, for example, advice and information about how to access and navigate the exams system or signposting to educational resources. This new support duty will, for the first time, ensure an established baseline level of support across all English local authorities to ensure that wherever home educating families live they have access to a reliable level of support from their local authority.

Some local authorities may choose to offer support that goes beyond this baseline. However, this remains a decision for each local authority in respect of their individual circumstances.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase funding for (a) Stockport Borough Council and (b) other local authorities to provide adequate SEND support in schools.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

Following the Autumn Budget 2024, the department is providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Stockport Borough Council is being allocated over £52 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), which is an increase of £4.3 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs national funding formula (NFF). This NFF allocation is an 8.3% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year-old population, on the equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.

In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in respect of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. This CSBG continues the separate grants payable this year, which are to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases and other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations of this funding for 2025/26 will be published in due course.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve SEND training within initial teacher training programmes and ongoing professional development.

​​The initial teacher training (ITT) core content framework and early career framework (ECF), for trainee and early career teachers (ECTs) respectively, cover the first three years or more at the start of a teacher’s career. They set out the core body of knowledge, skills and behaviours that define great teaching and, from September 2025, will be superseded by the combined initial teacher training and early career framework (ITTECF), which sets out a minimum entitlement to training and must be used by providers of ITT and those delivering provider-led early career training to create their curricula. From September 2025, all ECTs will be entitled to a two-year induction that is underpinned by the ITTECF, known as the early career teacher entitlement (ECTE).

​High quality teaching is the most important in-school factor for improving outcomes for all children, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the department is committed to ensuring that all pupils receive excellent support from their teachers. The Teachers’ Standards set clear expectations that teachers must understand the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND.

The department’s review of content for the ITTECF paid particular attention to the needs of trainees and ECTs when supporting pupils with SEND. There is now significantly more content related to adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND, some of which has been adapted from the new national professional qualification for special educational needs co-ordinators to be relevant for trainees and ECTs.

The department has updated the framework to improve inclusivity for SEND throughout the framework including, for example, developing an understanding of different pupil needs, and learning how to provide opportunities for success for all pupils. From September 2025, the department has also enhanced the requirement on providers of ECT training to develop SEND training materials. The department tested this approach with SEND educational experts, with consensus being that the approach of ‘quality-first teaching’ would be the best way to improve outcomes for all children, particularly those with SEND.

The department recognises that continuous improvement is essential and has recently committed to a full review of the ECTE in 2027 to ensure it continues to provide the best possible support for ECTs. This review will focus on the support we provide new teachers in teaching pupils with SEND.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of support staff shortages on the provision of SEND support in schools; and what steps she is taking to improve the recruitment and retention of (a) teaching assistants and (b) other support staff essential for SEND students.

School support staff play a vital role in children’s education. They are crucial to ensuring that we give children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the best possible life chances.

A departmental survey in 2023 into the use of teaching assistance in schools found that teaching assistants across all school settings most commonly support pupils with SEND, which includes those with education, health and care (EHC) plans. The survey also found that 75% of school leaders found it either 'fairly’ or ‘extremely’ difficult to recruit teaching assistants, and retention was difficult for 29% of leaders. Of those who found recruitment difficult (75% of leaders), four-in-five leaders (81%) found it difficult to recruit teaching assistants with SEND specialism.

The department values and recognises the professionalism of the entire school workforce and will help to address recruitment and retention challenges by reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body.

The body will be tasked with establishing a national terms and conditions handbook and fair pay rates for support staff and advising on training and career progression routes. This reform will help ensure that state-funded schools can recruit and retain the staff needed to deliver high quality, inclusive education, and drive high and rising standards.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to reduce waiting times for (a) speech and language therapy, (b) occupational therapy and (c) other therapy services for SEND students in schools.

The department recognises the impact that long waits to access speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and other therapy services can have on children, their families and carers. The department is committed to reducing these long waits and improving timely access to therapy services, working closely with DHSC and NHS England.

The department is continuing to improve access to speech and language therapy by funding the Early Language and Support for Every Child pathfinder project in partnership with NHS England. We are also continuing to build the pipeline of future therapists by introducing the speech and language level 6-degree apprenticeship. This is now in its third year of delivery and offers an alternative pathway to the traditional degree route into a successful career as a speech and language therapist.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
26th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with specialist schools that deal with children with the most complex disabilities on the increase in employer National Insurance contributions announced in the budget.

The government has agreed that the department will be compensated for the increase in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) paid by state-funded schools, and work is in progress to determine how much the department will receive for those employers within its remit and how that funding will be distributed. The department will engage with key stakeholders on our approach to the NICs funding and will provide more information as soon as is practicable.

Compensation for the NICs will be additional to the £1 billion increase to high needs funding announced at the 30 October Budget. Due to timing constraints, NICs funding will need to be provided as a separate grant, alongside the dedicated schools grant, in 2025/26.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
26th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making first aid a mandatory part of the national curriculum.

I refer the hon. Member for Cheadle to the answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 11341.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
14th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his timetable is for providing Bramhall High School with details of (a) funding and (b) a start date for as under the School Rebuilding Programme.

Bramhall High School is currently in the ‘feasibility’ stage of the School Rebuilding Programme. The feasibility will determine the scope of the project, programme and the budget. Once the feasibility is concluded, the department will procure a contractor to undertake the detailed design of the scheme and secure planning permission.

The department currently anticipates appointing a contractor in spring 2025 with construction beginning from summer 2026.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
12th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason his Department is trialling the use of Bovaer feed additive; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using (a) kelp-based additives and (b) other natural solutions.

Bovaer is a relatively new product, therefore building on the existing evidence base, particularly on-farm in 'real life' conditions is critical to give farmers and consumers confidence in these products. Defra is not undertaking any trials of Bovaer so trials led by the dairy industry and retailers can help build this evidence base.

The Food Standards Agency has advised milk from cows given Bovaer is safe to drink. Bovaer has undergone a rigorous safety assessment and is approved for use in Great Britain.

Regulation of feed additives and materials, such as Kelp, is the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency. Both synthetic and natural feed products must be demonstrated as safe for use to be added to the GB Register of Feed Materials.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
12th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of mandating the use of Bovaer in cattle feed on farmers.

Bovaer is a methane suppressing feed product which can reduce the methane emissions of cows by an average of 27%. Every sector of the UK economy, including agriculture, must reduce emissions for us to achieve net zero by 2050. Ruminant livestock, particularly cattle and sheep, are a key contributor of emissions in the agricultural sector and Defra considers methane suppressing feed products to be an essential tool to decarbonise the agricultural sector and achieve our Net Zero commitments.

Defra's ambition is to develop a mature market of safe and effective products for widespread use in suitable cattle systems in England as soon as is feasibly possible. However, at present there are no policies in place regarding the use of methane suppressing feed products. Defra will continue to utilise best available evidence, industry and stakeholder knowledge to inform future policy direction.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
3rd Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Environment Agency spent on flood defences in Cheadle constituency in the last Parliament.

The Environment Agency (EA) undertook the following activities in Cheadle constituency over the course of the last parliament:

  • Maintenance of 7 debris screens in Cheadle and Gatley. The screens prevent debris from blocking culverts or damaging infrastructure.
  • Weekly maintenance of the debris screens in winter.
  • Refurbishments of Chorlton Drive and Daylesford Road debris screens.

o Major refurbishments of Abney Hall and debris screens on Heald Green Brook are planned.

  • Debris walk throughs on Micker Brook, Gatley Brook, Bruntwood Hall Brook twice yearly and on Chorlton Brook and Heald Green yearly.
  • Yearly grass and weed cuts on Gately Brook, Chorlton Brook and Bruntwood Hall Brook.
  • Modelling to update flood risk mapping and flood warnings, covering Micker Brook and Chorlton Brook.
  • Installation of gauge and flood warning area work for Micker Brook
  • Initial appraisal work including of Micker Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme
  • There are flood defences on sections of engineered high ground on Micker Brook near Councillor Lane, and the River Mersey near Manchester Road.

Many of these activities were undertaken across multiple constituencies, meaning that the cost of each cannot be solely attributed to Cheadle constituency. Consequently, the EA cannot provide an exact number spent on flood defences in Cheadle Constituency.

Emma Hardy
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the 48 local nature recovery strategies; and what steps he is taking with local authorities to help deliver those strategies.

Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) are currently being prepared across England. Responsible Authorities are developing them in collaboration with other public bodies, planning authorities, local partnerships, landowners and managers, as well as Defra group bodies who are providing specialist local support and helping plan for delivery on the ground. LNRSs will be published by responsible authorities. The first LNRS is expected to be published this year with the remainder following in the first half of 2025. Delivery of LNRSs will be encouraged through a combination of legal duties and incentives.

Mary Creagh
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
11th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of ride-hailing firms setting fares below local taxi tariff rates; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact this has on road safety due to excessive working hours.

All private hire vehicle journeys must be booked in advance, which enables passengers to compare prices. The setting of fares by private hire vehicle operators is a commercial matter for the company in question. As passengers may engage taxi services immediately in the street or at a rank, the 263 licensing authorities in England can set maximum fares to protect passengers.

All road users are required to comply with road traffic law, in the interests of their own safety and that of other road users. Rule 91 of the Highway Code states “Driving when you are tired greatly increases your risk of collision…Do not begin a journey if you are tired”. If road users do not adopt a responsible attitude or if their use of the highway creates an unsafe environment, or causes nuisance, they may be committing a number of offences that can make them liable for prosecution.

The Department issues Best Practice guidance to taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities in England. The increased risk that factors such as fatigue can play in road traffic collisions is highlighted in the Best Practice Guidance. As professional drivers, an appreciation of the effect of distractions and pressures which can negatively influence their driver behaviours is recognised and the guidance recommends that licensing authorities should require drivers to undertake training and/or assessment focussed on attitudes and behaviours.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
7th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions her Department has had with local authorities on the public safety risks associated with ride-hailing firms operating outside their licensed areas.

Legislation has always allowed taxis and private hire vehicles to carry pre-booked fares outside the area in which they are licensed. This allows the sector to work more flexibly to meet the needs of their passengers.

All licensing authorities in England have a duty to ensure that any person to whom they grant a PHV driver's licence or a PHV operator’s licence is fit and proper to hold such a licence. Licensing authorities have the flexibility to set the standards they consider appropriate for applicants to demonstrate this. To promote consistency in licensing requirements and policies for both taxis and private hire vehicles the Department for Transport has issued statutory and best practice guidance to assist authorities in setting high safety standards, and to promote proportionate regulation in relation to other requirements.

Licensing authorities in England are required by law to share safeguarding or road safety concerns about taxi and private hire vehicle drivers licensed in other areas with the authority that issued the licence. The authority that issued the licence must then consider whether to suspend or revoke the driver’s licence.

Licensing authorities do not have the power to regulate private hire vehicle fares, as such services must be pre-booked passengers are able to compare prices and other factors prior to booking the service.

The Government recognises concerns around out-of-area working and is considering options to strengthen the regulation of the sector.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
7th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance her Department is providing to local authorities on ensuring ride hailing companies comply with local authority fare regulations for private hire vehicles.

Legislation has always allowed taxis and private hire vehicles to carry pre-booked fares outside the area in which they are licensed. This allows the sector to work more flexibly to meet the needs of their passengers.

All licensing authorities in England have a duty to ensure that any person to whom they grant a PHV driver's licence or a PHV operator’s licence is fit and proper to hold such a licence. Licensing authorities have the flexibility to set the standards they consider appropriate for applicants to demonstrate this. To promote consistency in licensing requirements and policies for both taxis and private hire vehicles the Department for Transport has issued statutory and best practice guidance to assist authorities in setting high safety standards, and to promote proportionate regulation in relation to other requirements.

Licensing authorities in England are required by law to share safeguarding or road safety concerns about taxi and private hire vehicle drivers licensed in other areas with the authority that issued the licence. The authority that issued the licence must then consider whether to suspend or revoke the driver’s licence.

Licensing authorities do not have the power to regulate private hire vehicle fares, as such services must be pre-booked passengers are able to compare prices and other factors prior to booking the service.

The Government recognises concerns around out-of-area working and is considering options to strengthen the regulation of the sector.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
7th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department has taken to protect small taxi businesses from the potential impact of ride-hailing companies operating in local authority-licensed areas.

Legislation has always allowed taxis and private hire vehicles to carry pre-booked fares outside the area in which they are licensed. This allows the sector to work more flexibly to meet the needs of their passengers.

All licensing authorities in England have a duty to ensure that any person to whom they grant a PHV driver's licence or a PHV operator’s licence is fit and proper to hold such a licence. Licensing authorities have the flexibility to set the standards they consider appropriate for applicants to demonstrate this. To promote consistency in licensing requirements and policies for both taxis and private hire vehicles the Department for Transport has issued statutory and best practice guidance to assist authorities in setting high safety standards, and to promote proportionate regulation in relation to other requirements.

Licensing authorities in England are required by law to share safeguarding or road safety concerns about taxi and private hire vehicle drivers licensed in other areas with the authority that issued the licence. The authority that issued the licence must then consider whether to suspend or revoke the driver’s licence.

Licensing authorities do not have the power to regulate private hire vehicle fares, as such services must be pre-booked passengers are able to compare prices and other factors prior to booking the service.

The Government recognises concerns around out-of-area working and is considering options to strengthen the regulation of the sector.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of charging foreign-registered vehicles to use UK roads.

Foreign-registered heavy goods vehicles (HGV) are already charged to use UK roads through the HGV Levy. This is in recognition of the fact that HGVs can cause greater damage to road surfaces than other vehicle types. There are no plans to implement a general road charge for foreign-registered cars, which make up only 0.14% of car traffic on British roads.

Lilian Greenwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
26th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to fund a Metrolink extension to Stockport before the end of this Parliament.

The Government is investing in transport improvements across our city regions, including Greater Manchester which is receiving over £1 billion through its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. In line with the Government’s commitment to devolution, decisions on where to invest this funding, including whether to extend the Metrolink network, rest with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in partnership with its constituent local authorities.

Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
25th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of individuals that will have their benefit funding reduced under the Government's proposed welfare reforms.

The Department published an Impact Analysis alongside the Spring Statement on 26 March 2025.

This document contains forecast estimates of the numbers of individuals who will be affected by the proposed welfare reforms.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
25th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Government's welfare reforms on (a) trends in the levels of child poverty and (b) the child poverty reduction strategy.

The government's impact assessment regarding Health and Disability Reform is available at Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts.

This Government have inherited unacceptably high levels of child poverty which is why delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty is a priority. The Child Poverty Taskforce are progressing urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy and are exploring all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information published here alongside the Spring Statement.

A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
20th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to extend the child poverty strategy beyond the planned 10-year timeframe to set longer term goals to help tackle child poverty.

The Child Poverty Taskforce is progressing urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy, and we are exploring all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty.

Our focus is on bringing about an enduring reduction in child poverty in this parliament, thereby reversing the trend that is seeing forecasts of child poverty continuing to increase. More details, including on the time horizon, will be set out in the strategy publication.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
20th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the planned changes to welfare benefits on (a) families, (b) children and (c) families in poverty.

The government's impact assessment regarding Health and Disability Reform is available at Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
20th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the child poverty strategy will consider the potential merits of removing the (a) two-child limit and (b) benefit cap.

The Child Poverty Taskforce is continuing its urgent work and is exploring all available levers, including considering social security reforms, to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
11th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with (a) neurological conditions and (b) multiple sclerosis are using the Access to Work scheme.

The Department does collect information on the primary medical condition of Access to Work recipients, however we do not hold information to the level required to identify people with neurological conditions. Therefore, we are not able to make an estimate of the number of people living with neurological conditions that are receiving support through the Access to Work scheme.

Information on the number of Access to Work recipients with multiple sclerosis is not readily available. Details of an individual’s specific disability/medical condition is stored as descriptive, free-text information and would require manual examination of individual applications to analyse and therefore falls outside of the costs limit.

Information on Access to Work volumes and expenditure by primary medical condition are published annually in the Access to Work official statistics: Access to Work statistics: April 2007 to March 2024 - GOV.UK

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
11th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis who are on income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

In August 2024 there were around 6,500 people on income-related ESA with multiple sclerosis as their main condition.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
11th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time is for support to be granted to a claimant applying to the Access to Work scheme.

The average waiting time for a decision to be made on support for a claimant applying for Access to Work was 56.9 days from April 2024 to February 2025. We are consulting on this in the Green Paper and aim to reduce times.

Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with caution.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
10th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of applying conditionality to disabled people in receipt of Universal Credit who are exempt from conditionality.

Currently, customers with disabilities receiving UC may have to meet certain requirements in return for the benefit they receive. Those with the most severe health conditions and disabilities however are not subject to conditionality requirements.

Today the Government has published a green paper which sets out a new guaranteed offer of high-quality tailored support and a new baseline expectation of engagement for those with health conditions and disabilities and seeks views on which individuals or groups of individuals should be exempt from requirements to engage with this.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
7th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of lowering the Housing Benefit taper rate and increasing the applicable amount for young people in supported housing to reduce barriers to employment.

The Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those residing in Supported and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit. The department is considering the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.

Maintaining Housing Benefit for customers in this type of housing has meant that they are not subject to the same restrictions that apply in general needs housing. We have taken this approach in recognition of the higher costs that can be associated with these types of housing.

Currently, a broad spectrum of customers receive their rent support through Housing Benefit. This includes pensioners, those resident in Supported or Temporary Accommodation as well as those customers who have not yet migrated to Universal Credit. Any amendment to the Housing Benefit taper rate would apply to all these groups.

Therefore, there are no plans to align the Housing Benefit taper with that of Universal Credit. The two benefits have different earnings rules, however, both include tapers that ensure that all customers are better off working than wholly reliant on benefits.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)