Question

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what evidence was used to inform decisions to potentially reduce roles based in the regions and nations in the Education and Engagement service under the Savings and Improvement Programme.

The Commission has considered the proposed changes to the educational outreach model.

The proposed changes involve the development of a smaller, Westminster-based team, which would operate a UK-wide digital outreach service. Under the current model, in 2025/26 only 9% of Members were involved in a school outreach visit and 32% of constituencies received no outreach visits at all. The new service aims to significantly improve on these figures, with much greater opportunities for Members to join in with digital sessions with their local schools. The total, combined reach of the new service is expected to be the same as or greater than the current service by the third year of its operation.

Evidence of demand for current digital services has been considered, including the “Learn with the Lords” programme, where three quarters of schools request online over in-person experiences to meet a Member of the House of Lords and learn more about their work. This programme reaches every nation and region of the UK every year. The team has also conducted research into organisations who are delivering ambitious and successful digital outreach models including the Royal Ballet and Opera, North East Museums, the National Gallery, BBC Bitesize and The Shakespeare Curriculum. This research has demonstrated the large-scale need from schools for this type of educational offer from UK Parliament.