:00:08. > :00:15.Orders. Order. As a guest of the lawn tennis Association it hs my
:00:16. > :00:20.pleasure and privilege to bd resident in Kent to observe the
:00:21. > :00:23.Davis cup final over the wedkend. I thought sure the whole Housd will
:00:24. > :00:29.wish to join me in expressing congratulations to the victorious
:00:30. > :00:39.British steam. Captained by Leon Smith, it featured legendarhly Andy
:00:40. > :00:46.Murray, Jamie Murray, James Ward, Carl Edmund, Dan Evans and Dominic
:00:47. > :00:50.Inglot. It was a superb teal at third to secure the cup and be the
:00:51. > :00:57.world champions of tennis for the first time for Britain sent 193 .
:00:58. > :01:03.How fitting it was that the victory was sealed by a performance of both
:01:04. > :01:09.outstanding and majestic. Bx Andy Murray. We congratulate each and
:01:10. > :01:18.every one of them. Questions to be Secretary of State for Educ`tion.
:01:19. > :01:22.Question one Mr Speaker. Th`nk you very much Mr Speaker. Can I first
:01:23. > :01:26.echoed the sentiments just lade on behalf of of this side of the House
:01:27. > :01:30.and I am sure for the whole house on the Davis cup victory of thd great
:01:31. > :01:33.writ of steam. Abel Grey Tudsday the Scots leading the way in ensuring
:01:34. > :01:41.that we had our first great victory and I think around about 70 years.
:01:42. > :01:45.Mr Speaker the children famhlies act 2014 introduced significant reforms
:01:46. > :01:50.to better support children xoung people with autism in education and
:01:51. > :01:53.that is rightly focused on needs and aspirations enabling all peoples
:01:54. > :01:57.including those with authors and to achieve better outcomes in dducation
:01:58. > :02:00.and adult life. The Departmdnt for education as also funding the autism
:02:01. > :02:05.education trust to deliver training to staff, reduce exclusions and
:02:06. > :02:14.ambitious about autism to stpport transition to college. The
:02:15. > :02:18.parameters cool in my consthtuency includes a fantastic resource based
:02:19. > :02:21.at 25 children without the six pack. Many of them are making
:02:22. > :02:26.excellent rug rats but one of the concerns raised is that Austin's
:02:27. > :02:29.published data for the school which includes children from the resource
:02:30. > :02:33.base along with other peopld does not adequately or flag this. Does
:02:34. > :02:37.the Minister agree that all state data should clearly take into
:02:38. > :02:39.account the specific needs `nd challenges of children with special
:02:40. > :02:43.educational needs such as attism and will be agreed to meet with me to
:02:44. > :02:50.discuss the width of a case of this primary school was? I am very happy
:02:51. > :02:54.to meet with them to look at what they're doing and be challenges they
:02:55. > :02:57.face in the honourable gentleman's constituency. Barely we want to make
:02:58. > :03:01.sure that every child irrespective of their needs is getting the best
:03:02. > :03:04.possible education and that is why we are bringing and progression
:03:05. > :03:09.mentors throughout the school system so that every child's progrdss does
:03:10. > :03:12.count towards that goal's overall performance and we're moving towards
:03:13. > :03:17.introducing the first ever educational needs inspection Primark
:03:18. > :03:24.to help deal with many of the issues but I'm happy to discuss with him
:03:25. > :03:28.further. One of the key challenges for those with autism and Asperger's
:03:29. > :03:32.is making the transition between leaving school and attending
:03:33. > :03:37.university, a big step for xoung adults. Will the Minister join me in
:03:38. > :03:40.welcoming and initiative whhch post and annual autism Summit school
:03:41. > :03:44.giving young people of autism spectrum disorder at the ch`nce to
:03:45. > :03:46.experience all aspects of university and student life and does hd agree
:03:47. > :03:52.this is something that should be rolled out around rest of the UK? I
:03:53. > :03:55.am delighted to hear about the great work going on in my honourable
:03:56. > :03:59.friend's constituency. I know Bath University at a good and proud
:04:00. > :04:06.record get in supporting all children and it is important that
:04:07. > :04:09.those who have autism get the same opportunity to move onto higher
:04:10. > :04:16.education There are an independent institution that would we h`ve done
:04:17. > :04:20.try to bring forward the tile that an assessment takes place to ensure
:04:21. > :04:24.that any child with the potdntial to go onto higher education with the
:04:25. > :04:27.special education needs background gets support in place at thd minute
:04:28. > :04:33.they arrive at university so they can thrive and move on to bdtter
:04:34. > :04:37.things. Can I tell them and us or I recently spent some time had to rant
:04:38. > :04:42.school in my constituency, ` secondary school for pupils with
:04:43. > :04:46.autism and they do a fantastic job. But one of the big problem hs for
:04:47. > :04:51.those children who could le`ve and go into employment or trainhng
:04:52. > :04:56.beyond a secondary school, there is still very little available to them
:04:57. > :04:59.and I wonder what the Minister undertake to meet with me and Abby
:05:00. > :05:05.had a teacher of this cool to discuss this problem? I think my
:05:06. > :05:10.diary is filling up already on the first question. But there is more
:05:11. > :05:15.that we can do and the whold thrust of the special education nedds or is
:05:16. > :05:19.to move towards an ambitious birth to 25 system so that those who do
:05:20. > :05:21.have the potential to move on from secondary school into college and
:05:22. > :05:26.apprenticeships and univershty and the world of work to get evdry
:05:27. > :05:29.chance of doing so. The newly supported internships have seen in
:05:30. > :05:34.some parts of the country the number of young people moving into
:05:35. > :05:38.employment from around 15% hn some areas up to 70%. We know thdre is
:05:39. > :05:41.more that we can do through different routes but we need to make
:05:42. > :05:45.them available to the boy on people and I'm happy to do that with or how
:05:46. > :05:48.we do that. It is good to hdar about the government support for children
:05:49. > :05:53.with autism. I wonder whethdr the Minister will join me in welcoming
:05:54. > :05:57.proposals for additional resource in rugby from McIntyre Academy of
:05:58. > :06:03.setting up a new vessel preschool Pacific labour children with
:06:04. > :06:07.learning difficulties. I am very pleased to hear about the initiative
:06:08. > :06:12.in rugby and it is one of m`ny across the country who are tsing the
:06:13. > :06:18.new free schools programme to bring about a whole range of basilisk
:06:19. > :06:21.schools for those with spechal educational needs including five in
:06:22. > :06:24.the next charge of risk will but sadly for children and young people
:06:25. > :06:32.will bother them. It is a great step forward and to the way by ghetto he
:06:33. > :06:34.mentioned the importance of staff training and have been the sole
:06:35. > :06:37.answer. I wonder if he menthoned the importance of staff training and
:06:38. > :06:39.have them so answer. I wonddr if you would comment further in thd
:06:40. > :06:42.important sub building awardness and understanding amidst teaching Bath
:06:43. > :06:46.for children with autism and many others who have poor mental health
:06:47. > :06:53.and other additional means who really do get the opportunity to
:06:54. > :06:58.develop and thrive in mainstream. I have just come from a conference
:06:59. > :07:01.where a new report on the educational attainment of children
:07:02. > :07:05.in care which the vast majority have come from a special I education need
:07:06. > :07:11.with advocating exactly that. More training for the all care workforce
:07:12. > :07:17.and education staff. That is why the education trust has trained through
:07:18. > :07:20.funding for the department over 80,000 staff in schools but there is
:07:21. > :07:26.more that we need to do to lake sure that there is consistency rhght
:07:27. > :07:32.across the country so that `ll those children irrespective of background
:07:33. > :07:37.get the chance to thrive. Thank you Mr Speaker. To improve the
:07:38. > :07:39.permission of STN deep supporting young people in getting those
:07:40. > :07:45.without the them it is vital that the best quality data is collected
:07:46. > :07:49.and the results are shared to establish as active copy as the
:07:50. > :07:53.Minister knows our successftl in bringing forward a private lembers
:07:54. > :07:56.bill into 2008 so that they don special education need with
:07:57. > :08:01.collected and published. However this legislation has since been
:08:02. > :08:05.revealed by the children and family act and many charities have told me
:08:06. > :08:07.they found it increasingly difficult to now obtain this informathon so
:08:08. > :08:12.can I therefore seek an asstrance from the Minister that he whll
:08:13. > :08:16.ensure that this data continues to be published annually and is readily
:08:17. > :08:20.available by all bodies in the sector including myself so that
:08:21. > :08:25.issues can be highlighted and improvements made? I will look
:08:26. > :08:28.carefully at what the honourable ladies that and I know we are due to
:08:29. > :08:34.be meeting tomorrow, another gap Leigh diarrhoea appointment I had
:08:35. > :08:37.weren't we will do at this `nd a range of issues that be but I am
:08:38. > :08:41.conscious of the fact that we make sure both through the publication
:08:42. > :08:44.which every local a party h`t and the increasingly rich data we have
:08:45. > :08:48.available and children with special education needs that we use that our
:08:49. > :08:52.decision making and how we support children in the future and so I will
:08:53. > :08:56.use tomorrow to extrapolate that are there with the honourable l`dies to
:08:57. > :09:05.see what progress we can make. Lesson number two Mr Speaker. I will
:09:06. > :09:08.answer this question with qtestions three, 78 ten and 17. The government
:09:09. > :09:13.has firmly committed to implementing our manifesto pledge to makd school
:09:14. > :09:16.funding there are. My right honourable friend B Chancellor of
:09:17. > :09:21.the extra girth announced otr intention to introduce a national
:09:22. > :09:23.for school, I need and earlx years in 2017. This'll mean that for the
:09:24. > :09:28.first time ever funding is transparently and barely match to
:09:29. > :09:35.people and cooled needs and we will set out our detailed plans hn the
:09:36. > :09:41.new year is up. I am grateftl to the Secretary of State for that response
:09:42. > :09:45.and it is a welcome with response can I urge the Secretary of State to
:09:46. > :09:48.introduce people national ftnding formula for all schools as soon as
:09:49. > :09:51.possible because the longer we leave it the worse the problem is going to
:09:52. > :09:56.get and therefore the more difficult it will get to put right so that
:09:57. > :09:59.children in Gloucestershire do not continue to lose out in the way that
:10:00. > :10:04.they have been doing for far too long. Can I think right honourable
:10:05. > :10:08.friend and he is right we nded to move as quickly as possible to
:10:09. > :10:13.answer that low funded areas are funded fairly and has barelx. We
:10:14. > :10:15.have taken the first that b`nk including Gloucestershire whll
:10:16. > :10:18.budget bites will be announced and as I say we will now go further
:10:19. > :10:22.introducing a national fundhng formula while ensuring the pace of
:10:23. > :10:31.change providing the purity to schools and local authoritids. Have
:10:32. > :10:34.suffered for delete it from under underfunding for many years. Time is
:10:35. > :10:38.of the essence and in testing this iniquity and while the Secrdtary of
:10:39. > :10:43.State has says he will start work after Richmond Avenue grateful if
:10:44. > :10:48.she did go into a bit more detail of those first steps he will bd taking.
:10:49. > :10:51.And I thank my honourable friend. He made a valuable contribution to the
:10:52. > :10:56.recent petition of the crimd minister Aligarh action on their
:10:57. > :10:59.funding. I intend to consult in the new year but I can assure hhm that
:11:00. > :11:04.there'll be much work going on already led by the parliamentary
:11:05. > :11:08.undersecretary of state to really unpack the funding formula so that
:11:09. > :11:14.all goals are funded fairly and all people Bath access to a good
:11:15. > :11:20.education. Under the present formula is cooled in my constituencx have
:11:21. > :11:29.covered greatly. People find it .. For the sake of... Will see as sure
:11:30. > :11:33.that the new funding formul` she was going to work on and as you says she
:11:34. > :11:39.started so quickly will at last remedy this anomaly that has been
:11:40. > :11:42.going on for far too long. PBG books into words just one of the
:11:43. > :11:47.differentials between areas and that is exactly why we need to t`ckle
:11:48. > :11:51.this issue of the unfairness in the funding for yellow. Is a matter of
:11:52. > :11:54.social justice that drives our determination to solve this current
:11:55. > :11:57.on their funding system. By the government is committed to
:11:58. > :12:02.introducing a funding formula to ensure funding is temporarily
:12:03. > :12:09.matched in need. My right honourable friend join me in congratul`ting the
:12:10. > :12:13.Academy who have all recently deceived good ratings from off that
:12:14. > :12:19.and authentic to benefit from this new funding formula. I take great
:12:20. > :12:24.president and congratulating all the pupils at the schools on thdir hard
:12:25. > :12:28.work and other excellent of separating. I know, it's hard work
:12:29. > :12:32.goes into getting that. As H said we will consult in the new year and set
:12:33. > :12:38.out the schools benefiting `nd detailed plans for national funding
:12:39. > :12:43.formula up. I am buried by the Chancellor did announce we will
:12:44. > :12:46.fulfil our manifesto commitlent of creating a fairer funding sxstem of
:12:47. > :12:50.the spending of the last wedk. Can my right honourable friend say when
:12:51. > :12:53.we will have a funding formtla which is ever all schools across the
:12:54. > :12:57.country because there are whnners and losers now, there have `lways
:12:58. > :13:03.been, and it will be no different in the future. My honourable friend is
:13:04. > :13:08.absolutely right about the fact that there is patent unfairness hn the
:13:09. > :13:14.system now. ?16 million extra is allocated to schools in Derbyshire
:13:15. > :13:18.in 2015-16 and we will work with her and other stakeholders to m`ke sure
:13:19. > :13:21.that the funding is based upon the characteristics of pupils r`ther
:13:22. > :13:27.than unfair historic calcul`tions up . As my right honourable frhend will
:13:28. > :13:29.be well aware less assure is the second from the bottom of the
:13:30. > :13:35.funding for the current funding formula despite having some of the
:13:36. > :13:40.most deprived areas in the county in my constituency, children and my
:13:41. > :13:45.constituency are funded by `lmost ?500 a year per pupil less than the
:13:46. > :13:49.city of Leicester and a staggering ?1000 or year per pupil less than
:13:50. > :13:52.Birmingham which is only 22 miles away. Can my right honourable friend
:13:53. > :13:59.yesterday out that the new funding formula will correct this for our
:14:00. > :14:04.county of Leicestershire? I am very well aware of the position of
:14:05. > :14:09.Leicestershire from both parents, school governors and of course from
:14:10. > :14:12.local counsellors and. In 2015- 6 we made an additional ?20 millhon
:14:13. > :14:17.available to Leicestershire and they will continue to receive th`t an ink
:14:18. > :14:20.in 1670 but he is right to say that we will be introducing a national
:14:21. > :14:26.funding formula to and a grossly unfair variations which he
:14:27. > :14:32.highlighted in the question up the devil will be in the detail. Can see
:14:33. > :14:35.Richard Gasquet in areas of high poverty like my constituencx in
:14:36. > :14:42.Liverpool this will not restlt in significant cuts and running on
:14:43. > :14:50.schools. He is absolutely rhght to say that the principal is rhght we
:14:51. > :14:53.will be looking in detail at the needs of the disadvantaged pupils. I
:14:54. > :14:56.should point out that we have also introduced since the forming daily
:14:57. > :15:01.Mac funding formula the puphl premium at a cost of over 2.5
:15:02. > :15:03.billion a year but we will dnsure full consultation that all lembers
:15:04. > :15:10.and others will have an opportunity to have their say. Working-class
:15:11. > :15:15.boys are three times less lhkely to go on to university than thdir
:15:16. > :15:19.counterparts from wealthier families. Shouldn't this review be
:15:20. > :15:24.about closing that gap and addressing the social mobilhty
:15:25. > :15:29.crisis that exist and that of some cooled 1-size-fits-all national
:15:30. > :15:34.centre at which is what the people behind their urging her to
:15:35. > :15:38.introduce? As I said there'll be a full consultation but I think he got
:15:39. > :15:42.the wrong end of the stickidr because the funding of the Leigh
:15:43. > :15:47.formula to be consulted on will take into account the needs that he has
:15:48. > :15:50.outlined of disadvantaged ptpils that be cannot be right if xou want
:15:51. > :15:56.to talk about the working boys it at there are schools with no which are
:15:57. > :16:00.receiving hundreds of pounds last man schooled in 1's that is one
:16:01. > :16:07.example. We have to end this equity the government is taking difficult
:16:08. > :16:11.decisions that we will do that. I agree with his concerns.
:16:12. > :16:19.Cambridgeshire cooled like the thick gold 2017 is a way away. Wh`t
:16:20. > :16:23.happens between now and then? You will not be surprised to he`r that I
:16:24. > :16:26.have also been lobbied by ilmature and get along with many othdrs
:16:27. > :16:34.across the country. I'm mentioned the ?399 and not for the 20th 1 16
:16:35. > :16:38.years. That is continuing to 16 17 and will continue into the big thing
:16:39. > :16:42.going for it for the rest of this prominent. I think we have to have a
:16:43. > :16:45.balance between making sure their excellent progress on something
:16:46. > :16:48.demanded by MPs across the House but also getting it right so th`t they
:16:49. > :16:55.do not end up with a situathon that we have somehow got to untangle
:16:56. > :16:59.things again in a decades thme up copy what assurances can thd
:17:00. > :17:04.Minister give parents of a grammar school recently received a letter
:17:05. > :17:09.from the cool consulting on potential financial contribttions
:17:10. > :17:16.from parents. This date I w`nt and as the bride a view of the parents
:17:17. > :17:19.there -- this date alarms. Old are not asked for voluntary
:17:20. > :17:23.contributions but they must make sure to parent that they ard
:17:24. > :17:26.voluntary and an obligation for them to pay. I understand it consultation
:17:27. > :17:31.hasn't published on the website and it does say that children appeared
:17:32. > :17:33.to. The Leigh do not conjurd bugle might be jaded differently `nd there
:17:34. > :17:40.is no obligation for parents to conjugate and I'm happy to clarify
:17:41. > :17:45.that methods. We support moves towards fairer funding. Can the
:17:46. > :17:48.Secretary of State reassure her teachers worried about how the
:17:49. > :17:53.change funding formula will impact on their schools, a transithon from
:17:54. > :17:56.the old to the new formula will be achieved in a way that no school
:17:57. > :18:04.will lose out in cash terms if there pupil numbers remain the sale? Can I
:18:05. > :18:09.thank the honourable gentlelan. I know he has been an member of the ad
:18:10. > :18:13.40 group of local authoritids in the past. Will have a full constltation.
:18:14. > :18:19.We realise will not solve the problem by making schooled wives
:18:20. > :18:23.more difficult and of coursd we have last week my right honourable friend
:18:24. > :18:26.the Chancellor confirmed th`t schools funding is protected in real
:18:27. > :18:35.terms per pupil until the end of this Parliament. Question ntmber
:18:36. > :18:41.four Mr Speaker. Can I wish the honourable lady and all members a
:18:42. > :18:43.happy Saint Andrews Bay. Edtcations you will know it's fully devolved in
:18:44. > :18:49.Scotland the Scottish government will benefit for the up on `
:18:50. > :18:52.consequent old to the... Th`t was announced last week. That includes
:18:53. > :18:58.real terms but action for course cooled funding, investing ?0 billion
:18:59. > :19:07.for per year by 1920 and frde child care and... All young peopld getting
:19:08. > :19:12.the skills they need. Many things and happy Saint Andrews Bay to all
:19:13. > :19:16.the honourable members. Medhum education is available to children
:19:17. > :19:20.and 14 out of 32 Scottish local authorities copy the benefits of
:19:21. > :19:24.this filing for education are well documented copy does the Minister
:19:25. > :19:27.agree that cutting BBC all this spending as the Guild and the
:19:28. > :19:31.spending review could impact a children learning and will the
:19:32. > :19:37.Minister join me and pulling for the decision to be reversed? I'l happy
:19:38. > :19:40.to look forward into the decision would have not been raised with me
:19:41. > :19:43.before but I think we all agree though that last December today
:19:44. > :19:47.because we care about education and the standards in our school. But the
:19:48. > :19:49.most important thing in our school. But the most important thing until
:19:50. > :19:51.the learning is the quality of the is the quality of the teachhng
:19:52. > :19:54.aspect they. Education as it evolved matter for the hottest government
:19:55. > :20:00.and avail make decisions about how they are spending online whhch is
:20:01. > :20:03.copy my right honourable frhend is that an additional ?1 billion will
:20:04. > :20:09.be spent in Scotland. Notwithstanding devolution which is
:20:10. > :20:12.all very good, can the Secrdtary of State be a little bit inventive and
:20:13. > :20:21.finding some way of ring fencing the money so that children can be taught
:20:22. > :20:27.where better off to? -- taught we are better off together. I `dmire my
:20:28. > :20:31.honourable friend's to have held the Scottish government write the
:20:32. > :20:36.curriculum. I can see that there are ministers ready to take thel up on
:20:37. > :20:40.that offer. I was talking about an extra ?1 billion a year and free
:20:41. > :20:46.child care but he is right to say we are spending more and education in
:20:47. > :20:56.this Parliament. Can I join with my colleague in wishing the Hotse staff
:20:57. > :21:10.and all members here a happx Saint Andrews Bay copy -- happy S`int
:21:11. > :21:13.Andrews day. I am glad the Linister recognise the abortions of this but
:21:14. > :21:18.it is more than just a TV channel in Scotland. It played a usual rule in
:21:19. > :21:25.supporting parents of children in dialect education and I just want
:21:26. > :21:29.the secretary of state to ottline what she can do to support these
:21:30. > :21:37.parents as a result of this savage UK government cut. I'm not going to
:21:38. > :21:44.compete with the honourable lady who, still be very pleased to hear.
:21:45. > :21:50.But education funding is involved to Scotland and while the revidw might
:21:51. > :21:53.provide a valuable service H am sure there is much more the Scottish
:21:54. > :21:58.Government is able to do to support parents and teachers and schools
:21:59. > :22:02.with the funding they do receive. I notice that an education in Scotland
:22:03. > :22:11.the attainment gap between advantaged and disadvantaged have
:22:12. > :22:14.not narrowed at all. Followhng a sustained and effective campaign by
:22:15. > :22:18.my honourable friend and others in last week's Autumn Statement the
:22:19. > :22:22.government announced it will give colleges the opportunity to
:22:23. > :22:26.establish themselves as 16-09 academies as part of the arda
:22:27. > :22:30.reviews of post-16 education and training. 861 College which becomes
:22:31. > :22:36.an academy will be eligible to recover their non-business VAT
:22:37. > :22:39.cost. I think right honourable friend for all of its efforts in
:22:40. > :22:44.lobbying the Chancellor to `nswer that best sensible decision has been
:22:45. > :22:50.taken place. However in my honourable friend update thd House
:22:51. > :22:54.on the timescale for 16-19 to transfer to this new regime and both
:22:55. > :22:58.inwardly those involved in lidterm reviews or area reviews at the
:22:59. > :23:06.moment or have not chosen to go this route am a will they be eligible to
:23:07. > :23:09.get this new opportunity? Proposals for individual six form colleges to
:23:10. > :23:13.become academies will be considered alongside other recommendathons from
:23:14. > :23:16.the relevant area reviews which are taking place between now and March
:23:17. > :23:22.2017. When the College of application is a approved it will be
:23:23. > :23:25.eligible for a the 18th reimbursement as benefit has been
:23:26. > :23:29.established with 16-19 Acaddmy stated. Want all reviews have been
:23:30. > :23:32.completed we will then revidw which six form colleges have not xet taken
:23:33. > :23:39.as obstinate and what coursd they want to take. What justific`tion is
:23:40. > :23:45.there for six form colleges being treated differently for tax purposes
:23:46. > :23:48.than other schools? I assumd the honourable judgement will bd able to
:23:49. > :23:53.tell me not least because it was a Labour government that put tp with
:23:54. > :23:57.it for years. Does the Minister agree with me that one of the great
:23:58. > :24:01.advantages this change will make will be enabling fixed form colleges
:24:02. > :24:04.to become academies and therefore parts of usual multi-Academx just
:24:05. > :24:11.which will really stimulate them to even greater things? I entirely
:24:12. > :24:14.agree with the chairman of the education select committee. This is
:24:15. > :24:19.one of the great opportunithes that this proposal offers, colleges to
:24:20. > :24:25.become part of economy groups to become the six form or the @cademy
:24:26. > :24:30.groups and to thrive in that plays. Mr Speaker, the ministers rdcognised
:24:31. > :24:35.that though they finally allowed six form colleges to welcome th`t relate
:24:36. > :24:39.it will not alter the cuts so far with me not three quarters of six
:24:40. > :24:44.form colleges had to slash language and FTM provision and of cotrse they
:24:45. > :24:47.still face a real-time fundhng cut for 2020. Isn't it critical that
:24:48. > :24:52.their excellence and innovation should not now be curbed by DFD
:24:53. > :24:58.micromanagement of them as `cademies that night that the Minister agree?
:24:59. > :25:03.Last week Mr Speaker, or thd week before the honourable gentldman was
:25:04. > :25:08.waving his route to were gohng to be somewhere between 25 and 40$ cut in
:25:09. > :25:12.the per-pupil funding to 16,19 education. I did not hear the
:25:13. > :25:16.welcome from him for the Chancellor's confirmation that it
:25:17. > :25:20.will remain flat cash drought this Parliament. It is of course
:25:21. > :25:21.important that six form colleges are able to prosper which is whx we
:25:22. > :25:35.brought forward this propos`l. Mr Speaker, the purpose of the
:25:36. > :25:40.education allowance was to raise educational participation at. Art
:25:41. > :25:45.reforms cause it -- 16 to 19-year-olds, and creating three
:25:46. > :25:52.billing apprentice ships, h`ve delivered higher participathon and
:25:53. > :25:57.attainment than you may ever did. In the Scotland, the education`l
:25:58. > :26:00.maintenance allowance provides a lifeline of support for taldnted
:26:01. > :26:05.young people from low-incomd backgrounds. To give them the access
:26:06. > :26:11.they need for decent opporttnities. In England, the educational
:26:12. > :26:16.allowance has been another casualty of this government's obsesshon. Why
:26:17. > :26:22.is the Minister not follow the lead of the Scottish Government, that has
:26:23. > :26:26.not only pertain to the support but will expand this support to
:26:27. > :26:33.additional 12,000 students hn Scotland? I thank her, and
:26:34. > :26:38.congratulate her on her recdnt engagement to a conservativd
:26:39. > :26:42.counsellor. I did not think that these things were possible, but yet
:26:43. > :26:50.another reminder that there are ways in which we are better together Mr
:26:51. > :26:54.Speaker, I would draw her attention to the point made by the Scottish
:26:55. > :26:59.education Minister on narrowing the gap. Children from the 20% there
:27:00. > :27:05.deprived areas in the Scotl`nd are seven times less likely to `ttain
:27:06. > :27:08.higher grades than the most affluent peers. There are no lessons that we
:27:09. > :27:18.can talk -- take from Scotl`nd on narrowing the gap. In the Scotland,
:27:19. > :27:21.when we put together our figures for higher education, and compare these
:27:22. > :27:32.two figures put together for higher education in England, Scotl`nd is a
:27:33. > :27:37.leading. As a teacher, I am only too aware of how important educ`tion --
:27:38. > :27:41.educational maintenance allowance is for keeping talented young people,
:27:42. > :27:48.not in apprenticeships, but in education. He what steps has the
:27:49. > :27:51.Minister taken it to ensure that youngsters from disadvantagdd
:27:52. > :27:59.backgrounds can continue to access further and higher education?
:28:00. > :28:01.Education is a devolved matter in the Scotland. Talking about huge
:28:02. > :28:13.cuts, there were a devolved matter in the Scotland. Talking about huge
:28:14. > :28:24.cuts, there As I said, we whll take no lessons from the SNP. Th`nk you
:28:25. > :28:30.Mr Speaker, and regular attdndance is of vital for academic success.
:28:31. > :28:38.Absence rates are down from 6% to 4.4% and two 2013 through 2014,
:28:39. > :28:44.amounting to four fewer school days lost. We have addressed the previous
:28:45. > :28:51.misconception that pupils who are entitled to time off for holidays
:28:52. > :28:57.during certain times... Fewdr pupils not regularly miss school and in
:28:58. > :29:00.2010. I congratulate, in public as they congratulated in private, the
:29:01. > :29:09.Minister of State for his rdcent marriage. Does my honourabld friend
:29:10. > :29:14.agree that improving attend`nce can sometimes come about from innovative
:29:15. > :29:18.and interesting measures, and that the all-girls breakfast club in
:29:19. > :29:22.Southampton is a brilliant dxample of how building a strong and
:29:23. > :29:30.cohesive school community c`n also improve attendance? I am gr`teful
:29:31. > :29:34.for their congratulations. H echo the words from my friend, wd are
:29:35. > :29:38.better together. I am delighted to pay tribute to the work of the
:29:39. > :29:42.breakfast club in the South`mpton. Is an excellent example of the
:29:43. > :29:46.innovative approaches that lany schools are taking to improve
:29:47. > :29:51.attendance. The prominent ftnd the charity records to provide free
:29:52. > :29:55.sustainable breakfast clubs in 84 schools in disadvantaged ardas.
:29:56. > :30:00.We're also giving parents the right to request clubs, and other
:30:01. > :30:04.wraparound care that will expand their availability in the ftture.
:30:05. > :30:10.Has the Minister considered the impact of the government's welfare
:30:11. > :30:15.policy on school attendance on a disabled people over 16. I've been
:30:16. > :30:19.dealing with a constituent who has been summoned under threat of
:30:20. > :30:25.sanction during the middle of the exams. Will the government take
:30:26. > :30:32.action to ensure that those in full-time education will work around
:30:33. > :30:47.this will calendar? I will look at the case in the detail, and I will
:30:48. > :30:51.write to her. Question numbdr 1 . Question number 11. Childcare is the
:30:52. > :30:56.key issue for many parents, not only under five, but for all children.
:30:57. > :30:59.That is why my friend the Sdcretary of State announced that pardnts will
:31:00. > :31:04.be granted a new right to rdquest wraparound and holiday child care at
:31:05. > :31:14.the school. Providers will `lso be given the right to request support
:31:15. > :31:18.in this aspect. Flexibility is a key part in the provision of chhldcare,
:31:19. > :31:26.jawed ball for school-age and for preschool children. Kennedy minister
:31:27. > :31:29.assure my ministers -- will they allow for greater flex abilhty over
:31:30. > :31:37.things like drop-off and pick-up times? The Ottoman statements set
:31:38. > :31:42.out record levels of the funding available to deliver our plddge for
:31:43. > :31:46.30 hours of free childcare. As working fathers, we know th`t it is
:31:47. > :31:49.not just about the money, it is about flexible childcare av`ilable
:31:50. > :31:55.when need it, and we will bd consulting and use the new xear
:31:56. > :32:00.about new ways to deliver this. Has anyone told the Westminster city
:32:01. > :32:05.Council on the government intention to... They have announced an end to
:32:06. > :32:11.all funding to provide their afterschool care for primarx school
:32:12. > :32:17.children. They offered this to schools, and the last, I asked the
:32:18. > :32:22.only one school to kind of this service because of budgets. Is not
:32:23. > :32:27.the case that it is absolutdly essential that working parents have
:32:28. > :32:33.the opportunity of these afterschool childcare? That is actually in
:32:34. > :32:36.retreat, not in advance? I thank her for that question, and that is
:32:37. > :32:42.precisely the purpose behind the announcement that my friend made,
:32:43. > :32:47.where schools can deliver c`re themselves, they can work whth
:32:48. > :32:51.private providers to use thd site to deliver that wraparound card. What
:32:52. > :32:59.this chamber will do will sdt a new expectation of four schools to
:33:00. > :33:04.follow through on that. Questions about childcare, wraparound
:33:05. > :33:09.flexible, it's opportune at the moment. Before the election in May,
:33:10. > :33:14.the Minister told us that play five hours of free child care wotld cost
:33:15. > :33:20.billions. The government 30 hours will cost 1.6 billion. Last week,
:33:21. > :33:25.the Chancellor told us that he was setting aside just over 600,000 for
:33:26. > :33:29.this, which leaves a shortf`ll of almost ?1 billion a year annually.
:33:30. > :33:36.With this come from quality, or will come from reassurance, or whll it
:33:37. > :33:41.come? It is impossible for the IDB are to go publish the policx would
:33:42. > :33:44.cost before they knew what the eligibility criteria for thd new
:33:45. > :33:48.entitlement was. The Chancellor announced the criteria in the Autumn
:33:49. > :33:54.Statement, and made it clear that there is a record amount of
:33:55. > :33:59.investment going into childcare One 19 and 2020. That is somethhng that
:34:00. > :34:08.we should all be proud of. With your consent, Mr 12 -- question 02. The
:34:09. > :34:13.honourable gentleman will bd pleased, I am sure, to know that the
:34:14. > :34:17.Secretary of State meets regularly with colleagues to discuss ` range
:34:18. > :34:22.of issues. City regions can certainly play a role, as wd see
:34:23. > :34:27.integrated -- greater Manchdster. We have combined authorities in a
:34:28. > :34:39.Sheffield and Manchester, ldaving the education provision. Is a bit of
:34:40. > :34:46.a wall. It isn't -- is it not a good idea with second-rate acadelies to
:34:47. > :34:50.formally link them in with city regions so that the economic
:34:51. > :34:55.development education potential can be ruled together, and would he take
:34:56. > :35:02.that forward to other ministers and get that proverb or that's properly
:35:03. > :35:09.on the agenda? He has a rectrring habit of calling everything anything
:35:10. > :35:16.-- anyone else says a wall. He then be
:35:17. > :35:21.we have the regional school commissioners doing excellent work,
:35:22. > :35:26.pulling each area to account and making sure that the regions offer
:35:27. > :35:29.increasing the performance of schools and education Red Cross
:35:30. > :35:40.their area. I am sure that that is something that he would welcome
:35:41. > :35:45.With the Minister agree that bringing together public services,
:35:46. > :35:56.including those for skills `nd education for younger peopld to
:35:57. > :36:01.reflect... It brings togethdr plus 16 education and employers, which is
:36:02. > :36:04.one of the parts of the system that we need to connect more closely to
:36:05. > :36:07.one another so that the opportunities that we know `re out
:36:08. > :36:11.there for the people who have ambition about what their world of
:36:12. > :36:14.work will be will have a grdater understanding of what they can
:36:15. > :36:19.achieve, and they will have a much closer relationship with businesses
:36:20. > :36:25.that want to employ them a. Was he as delighted as I was when the
:36:26. > :36:29.Minister supported policy bx advocating a Commissioner for London
:36:30. > :36:31.on Friday? When is the government going to accept political rdality,
:36:32. > :36:42.start devolving power, introducing the medic -- the critically... Race
:36:43. > :36:45.standards at a local level? I am always delighted to hear from the
:36:46. > :36:52.member from Oxbridge, who speaks all of wisdom on a whole range of
:36:53. > :36:56.subjects. On this particular issue, the most important aspect is that we
:36:57. > :37:00.devolve power to where it is most needed, which is most needed, which
:37:01. > :37:05.isn't to teachers teachers, so that they can run their schools hn the
:37:06. > :37:15.freeway that he, I know, dedp down really want them to do. Number 3.
:37:16. > :37:20.There are now more, better pualified teachers in England than evdr
:37:21. > :37:29.before. We are attracting top graduates and career changes with a
:37:30. > :37:34.generous incentive, including taxes, earning salary while training, over
:37:35. > :37:38.2000 this year were recruitdd than in 2014 to 2015. We exceeded our
:37:39. > :37:41.target for new primary teachers and finished ahead of last year in the
:37:42. > :37:49.key secondary subjects such as math and science. Could he explahn how
:37:50. > :37:56.can schools who have historhcally struggled to attract great teachers
:37:57. > :38:01.be able to find the best and the brightest teachers for the `reas in
:38:02. > :38:06.their schools? Here is a good point, which is why we have establhshed the
:38:07. > :38:11.new national teaching and sdrvice, which will place 1500 outst`nding
:38:12. > :38:17.teachers and middle leaders in underperforming schools by 2020 In
:38:18. > :38:23.areas as he alluded to, are`s who find it hardest to attract `nd
:38:24. > :38:27.recruit and retain varies tdachers. Newcastle reported a shortf`ll in a
:38:28. > :38:31.train teachers for chemistrx and physics. Wobbled steps will the
:38:32. > :38:36.Minister take to make sure that young people are taught by pualified
:38:37. > :38:51.teachers in such subjects? We have introduced generous of recolpense.
:38:52. > :38:58.?3000 a. In physics, we havd agreed to 700 plus graduates of. In
:38:59. > :39:02.mathematics, 204 -- 2704, compared to load in that last year. There is
:39:03. > :39:10.more the to-do, but we are going in the right direction. Top te`chers in
:39:11. > :39:13.my constituency tell me that the biggest obstacle in recruitlent and
:39:14. > :39:17.retention is the cost of hotse prices. Good my friend confhrmed
:39:18. > :39:21.that in the review of the ftnding formula, the price of property in
:39:22. > :39:26.the local areas that teachers have to rent and buy in will be factored
:39:27. > :39:29.into the funding formula? Mx friend has said, we are determined to
:39:30. > :39:36.tackle the historic unfairndss of the funding formula. The Secretary
:39:37. > :39:42.of State and the Secretary of State will be consulting on this hn the
:39:43. > :39:48.new year. Figures show a 50$ recruitment shortfall in design and
:39:49. > :39:54.technology. Is this the casd for special retention? We continue to
:39:55. > :40:00.offer recompense for recruits to come into technology. We have also
:40:01. > :40:07.revised the curriculum. There have been involved in numbers of students
:40:08. > :40:10.taking the a level over a ntmber of years, and to tackle that wd have
:40:11. > :40:15.improved the qualifications in this subject, which is sure to follow
:40:16. > :40:16.through, I believe, into more people becoming graduates in the these
:40:17. > :40:29.subjects and become teachers stop we are hedging teachers, and that is
:40:30. > :40:33.caused by the adverse workload that teachers are under. What spdcific
:40:34. > :40:40.steps will his government t`ke to lessen teacher in England? The doom
:40:41. > :40:45.mongering notions that he is siding is wrong, 87% of those qualhfied in
:40:46. > :40:51.2013 are still teaching a ydar later, 72% who qualified in 200 are
:40:52. > :40:53.still taking five years latdr. The honourable gentleman should stop
:40:54. > :41:00.talking down what is a very popular profession in this country. Indeed,
:41:01. > :41:03.we are tackling the excess of workload that teachers inherited
:41:04. > :41:08.from the previous Labour government. My friend the Sdcretary
:41:09. > :41:10.of State had a workload challenge, we have three working groups
:41:11. > :41:26.specifically tasked with tackling those issues that aren't iddntified
:41:27. > :41:30.in that workload challenge. The funding sources for the European
:41:31. > :41:34.social fund, and the plus programme that is not many schools take
:41:35. > :41:38.advantage of this programme which supports partnership between schools
:41:39. > :41:41.across the EU, including through the funding of foreign language
:41:42. > :41:48.assistance. The department `lso works to ensure that there hs a
:41:49. > :41:57.effective use of the funds that assures that apprenticeships. I
:41:58. > :42:00.thanked him for his answer. Has he considered the consequences that a
:42:01. > :42:05.vote to leave the EU would have on the funding channels for programmes
:42:06. > :42:08.such as these, and the outcome that would have destroyed the rich
:42:09. > :42:15.cultural and linguistic programmes that the EU offers, including the
:42:16. > :42:21.school trips to visit the Etropean Parliament. The Minister is focused
:42:22. > :42:27.on a successful negotiation, and he is sure that the future of the state
:42:28. > :42:32.will lie in the reform of the European union that the Minhster has
:42:33. > :42:40.set out in his recent letter to his present of the European union. Thank
:42:41. > :42:45.you Mr Speaker, what are thd Minister not agree, that as the
:42:46. > :42:51.United Kingdom sends ?350 mhllion each and every week to Brussels
:42:52. > :42:55.just a small amount of that is spent on teachers and schools will be a
:42:56. > :43:00.great advantage. Isn't that the case that one of the reasons for coming
:43:01. > :43:03.out of the AU? These are thd issues that the Prime Minister is
:43:04. > :43:12.debating, and you'll debate them in due course. Further to that point,
:43:13. > :43:19.does my friends not agree that if schools use proper -- propaganda
:43:20. > :43:24.provided by the European unhon, teachers must make certain that both
:43:25. > :43:33.sides of the argument over our membership in the European tnion are
:43:34. > :43:39.fairly and properly put forward In the name of improving education
:43:40. > :43:43.outcomes, the education ask going to 1944 make it clear that any lessons
:43:44. > :43:55.in political issues have to be balanced. Mr Speaker, last week my
:43:56. > :43:58.department published a call for evidence to help broaden our
:43:59. > :44:03.understanding of education settings, and the scope of oversight `nnounced
:44:04. > :44:06.by the prime minister last lonth. We are committed to safeguarding
:44:07. > :44:13.children and protecting thel from harm and extremism, including out of
:44:14. > :44:16.school settings which provides opportunities. I would ask going to
:44:17. > :44:30.make accommodation for the 01th of January. But plans are therd to
:44:31. > :44:36.inspect Academy chains... It is nice to hear the honourable gentleman. He
:44:37. > :44:39.we have not heard much from him on education since he took up his
:44:40. > :44:43.position at. He will be aware that these matters were explored fully in
:44:44. > :44:48.the previous education select committee. Want to also expdct -
:44:49. > :44:57.inspect individual schools `nd their support. Those chains are p`rt of
:44:58. > :45:00.those inspections. We have heard from him twice today, and it is
:45:01. > :45:07.worth pointing out that he hs a philosopher, that we know, ht is on
:45:08. > :45:14.his record. Way the governmdnt doing to encourage more young to study
:45:15. > :45:18.math and other subjects in school? Our ambition is that by 2020 the
:45:19. > :45:22.vast majority of young people will study math until the age of 18. We
:45:23. > :45:26.have strengthened math to provide a more secure basis for studyhng the
:45:27. > :45:32.subject on a daily level. Wd have increased content in sciencd,
:45:33. > :45:35.introduced the new core math qualifications. Now all students
:45:36. > :45:40.have the opportunity to study the subject after the age of 16, and we
:45:41. > :45:47.have lost to the your life campaign to promote -- promote mathelatics
:45:48. > :45:52.and science to young people. Thank you for allowing me to arrive a few
:45:53. > :45:56.moments late today, as therd was a high-profile meeting taking place
:45:57. > :46:02.elsewhere on the estate. I was attending, and you can read all
:46:03. > :46:04.about on the papers later. Does the Secretary of State accept that there
:46:05. > :46:13.is a growing teacher shortage in our schools? I will hope -- was to be
:46:14. > :46:17.able to tell us whether she will be a member of the shadow Council after
:46:18. > :46:21.this debate? We have been clear that there is a challenge in terls of
:46:22. > :46:24.teacher recruitment. While vacancy rates are low, we are aware that
:46:25. > :46:28.there are issues in the subjects and in certain parts of the country
:46:29. > :46:34.That is why we announced thd creation of the national te`ching
:46:35. > :46:38.service earlier on this month. Thank you for that reply, it is good to
:46:39. > :46:42.see that the Secretary of State is now accepting that there is a
:46:43. > :46:46.growing problem of teacher shortage. It stands in contrast to
:46:47. > :46:49.some of the announcement given earlier by her minister of state.
:46:50. > :46:54.There was an important report out last week that showed half of all
:46:55. > :47:00.schools had unfilled vacanches at the start of this academic xear To
:47:01. > :47:03.plug the gaps, one in four schools are increasingly using supply
:47:04. > :47:07.teachers. One and six are using nonspecialist teachers to fhll the
:47:08. > :47:11.vacancies, and more than ond in ten are resorting to used unqualified
:47:12. > :47:16.staff to teach lessons. Doesn't be secretary of the state think that
:47:17. > :47:19.these steps are good for rahsing the standards, or does she think that
:47:20. > :47:23.this is not happening? Why H think is needed is that for all of us to
:47:24. > :47:28.recognise the enormous contribution that teachers make, and to those who
:47:29. > :47:32.try to talk down to teaching at every opportunity, talking `bout the
:47:33. > :47:39.problems, do our schools and education problem -- institttion no
:47:40. > :47:43.good whatsoever. One of the issues where Krugman is hardest is in
:47:44. > :47:50.modern foreign languages. In the 13 years of her party being in power,
:47:51. > :47:57.this subject plummeted. It hs harder now to find the students to teach
:47:58. > :48:02.those languages. Ten my fridnd outline what steps have been taken
:48:03. > :48:09.to encourage more schools ottside of London to work with charitids such
:48:10. > :48:16.as free the children? Mr Spdaker I recall meeting my friend a few years
:48:17. > :48:19.ago to speak about free the children. It is good to see that she
:48:20. > :48:25.remains a strong advocate of extracurricular activities that
:48:26. > :48:31.support children becoming active citizens. That is why we have
:48:32. > :48:35.invested over ?5 million to build children character and resilience.
:48:36. > :48:40.We are working across the country, not just in London, to compdtitive
:48:41. > :48:43.sport, and, and volunteer and social aspect projects stop
:48:44. > :48:54.. And the uniform policy behng implemented amah and at short notice
:48:55. > :48:59.people -- parents are being told that day but must buy new uniforms.
:49:00. > :49:05.The children who don't have been forced to attend a learning unit in
:49:06. > :49:09.an excluded room. Walk can the Minister due to better protdct
:49:10. > :49:13.parents who cannot afford stch upfront costs without their children
:49:14. > :49:17.being punished? I'm happy to look into the individual case, btt I
:49:18. > :49:22.think that the honourable gdntleman and others yet again are putting up
:49:23. > :49:26.more barriers in the way of this scope improving the. Since 2005 at
:49:27. > :49:32.this school has been below the national average. This has been
:49:33. > :49:37.going on for ten years. This school is now an Academy, is sponsored by a
:49:38. > :49:42.trust that has done extremely well for another school Norwich primary
:49:43. > :49:46.Academy in his own constitudncies of the I'm happy to look at thd
:49:47. > :49:50.individual case, but he would do better to work with the loc`l MP to
:49:51. > :50:00.raise the educational attainment for all children stop
:50:01. > :50:07.this extends to children with special educational needs, hncluding
:50:08. > :50:11.those in a fantastic school in my constituency. The one-year honour
:50:12. > :50:16.from the reforms, with the Linister of JD House on what progress has
:50:17. > :50:21.been made? I am a pleased to hear about the work going on in his
:50:22. > :50:26.constituency, that he is championing. These reforms that we
:50:27. > :50:31.have brought represent the biggest change, and the biggest opportunity
:50:32. > :50:37.special education and support in a. Good progress is being made. This is
:50:38. > :50:45.a 3 year transition, but today all consoles have published... We have
:50:46. > :50:50.also integrated educational health and care plans available now for
:50:51. > :50:54.more complex needs which nedd to be addressed. As I mentioned a few
:50:55. > :50:59.moments ago, we are working towards the introduction of the first ever
:51:00. > :51:01.inspection from work with the quality commission to ensurd that
:51:02. > :51:04.parents and young people know whether they are able to access the
:51:05. > :51:11.range and quality of servicds that they need. Doctor Lisa Cameron.
:51:12. > :51:20.Thank you Mr Speaker. There is a real concern that following the
:51:21. > :51:25.Paris attacks, he pulled his permission could intensify. What
:51:26. > :51:31.programmes hasn't she planndd to prevent religious intolerance? She
:51:32. > :51:34.asks an important question, and sadly it is becoming ever more
:51:35. > :51:39.something that we have to think about. Religious intolerancd is
:51:40. > :51:43.unacceptable, and all schools are provide -- required to promote the
:51:44. > :51:47.rule of law, democracy, indhvidual law, and tolerance with those of
:51:48. > :51:49.different faiths and beliefs. Schools should be places whdre we
:51:50. > :52:00.support community commute as cohesion. The national citizens
:52:01. > :52:05.service. Is curriculums shotld take about the importance of respecting
:52:06. > :52:11.others. The other schools do this in very diverse areas, but we lust
:52:12. > :52:16.continue this focus on area. With my friend, when considering thd review
:52:17. > :52:20.on school funding, ensure that the problem that has arisen in recent
:52:21. > :52:25.years with the underfunding of the two grammar schools and othdr
:52:26. > :52:29.grammar schools and ethics, it is addressed. It seems unfair that they
:52:30. > :52:37.should be suffering in the way that they have through this currdnt
:52:38. > :52:42.funding formula. As he is aware we have protected the core school
:52:43. > :52:50.budget real term, and the looking into make finding her. I can assure
:52:51. > :52:58.that the grammar school, anti-school for girls, will receive funding that
:52:59. > :53:06.route flex the peoples needs fairly. Friday I met with the Glasgow
:53:07. > :53:10.foreign affairs that its funding is under pressure and demand is
:53:11. > :53:15.increasing. Can the Secretary of State tell us whether funds from the
:53:16. > :53:23.refugee resettlement progralme will be made, and what steps she is the
:53:24. > :53:25.-- taking to support this? The speaking of English is hugely
:53:26. > :53:29.important in terms of integration, and that is something that we want
:53:30. > :53:34.to see with anyone who comes here and you need to. We can support them
:53:35. > :53:38.so they can become members of our society. I'm happy to take this
:53:39. > :53:44.matter away and talk to my friends... There are rules for what
:53:45. > :53:53.money can be spent on, but H am happy to write to him. Thank you Mr
:53:54. > :53:57.Speaker. Constituencies likd mine and stooping and have a need for
:53:58. > :54:02.school places and new schools, by a lack suitable sites for new
:54:03. > :54:06.schools. Will the Minister visit with me to see what more thd
:54:07. > :54:10.government can do to help local authorities find a suitable sites
:54:11. > :54:18.for schools in places like line and to give them? As the Secret`ry of
:54:19. > :54:24.State said at last weeks London educational conference, we recognise
:54:25. > :54:29.the importance of these aside. We will work with local authorhties to
:54:30. > :54:32.designate property teams in the funding agencies by identifxing
:54:33. > :54:37.potential sites. When it coles to school buildings and repairs, we on
:54:38. > :54:46.this site are creating placds and fixing the school roof whild the sun
:54:47. > :54:52.is shining. Following last week s devastating risk -- report `bout
:54:53. > :54:57.450,000 children are being sexually abuse over the last two years. I
:54:58. > :55:01.wonder if the Secretary of State disagrees with me and disagrees with
:55:02. > :55:02.the children community -- Commissioner... Should be
:55:03. > :55:10.compulsory? I do not disagree with the
:55:11. > :55:14.honourable Lee that education should be compulsory but I think it should
:55:15. > :55:17.be age appropriate and just because something is statute does not mean
:55:18. > :55:21.that it is always talked whhle. What I would rather see is that these
:55:22. > :55:25.issues there is a good currhculum, taught well, taught by compdtent
:55:26. > :55:30.teachers or people coming in from outside were going to inspire those
:55:31. > :55:34.young people. Will be Secretary of State join me in saluting the work
:55:35. > :55:37.of the ambassadors and to w`nt to tell the House what further steps
:55:38. > :55:44.are being taken to make surd that more and more children do... I will
:55:45. > :55:48.join my honourable friend and saluting work of the stem
:55:49. > :55:55.ambassadors. Since 2010 we have seen a level stem increase to radically.
:55:56. > :56:01.Matt is now the single most popular a level choice with 92,000 hnjuries
:56:02. > :56:06.last year. But we do want to go for further. Of your life campahgn is
:56:07. > :56:11.targeting your 11 pupils as they make their a choices with the aim of
:56:12. > :56:19.increasing physics by 50% in three years. Can I ask the schools
:56:20. > :56:23.minister if you meet and have a discussion with me about funding for
:56:24. > :56:32.the new at his word school hn Coventry? I'm happy to have such a
:56:33. > :56:35.meeting. Prince William school in and deal has recently converted into
:56:36. > :56:39.an academy but for many years and suffered from a chronic lack of
:56:40. > :56:43.investment. I'm grateful to ministers for the interest they have
:56:44. > :56:45.shown today but what reassurance can against that schools such as this
:56:46. > :56:55.will be top of the government's investment priority? We plan to
:56:56. > :57:00.spend billion pounds between 2016-2021 in February. We announced
:57:01. > :57:03.allocations of four point 2 billion between 2015 and 2018 to improve the
:57:04. > :57:07.condition of existing schools including funding for the condition
:57:08. > :57:17.improvement find to whisper prince William school is eligible to. Our
:57:18. > :57:23.core is to keep building safe and in good working. Into the Scottish
:57:24. > :57:28.Government launched a new chosen families and young people fhnd focus
:57:29. > :57:33.on improving educational eqtality and allowing young people to improve
:57:34. > :57:39.their potential copy are thd government very to save you look at
:57:40. > :57:45.this fine example from Scotland That always -- I am always happy to
:57:46. > :57:48.look at what happened in Scotland. The honourable gentleman might want
:57:49. > :57:52.to look at what we have been in England in terms of narrowing the
:57:53. > :57:55.gap between advantaged and disadvantaged and they might find
:57:56. > :58:01.they could learn something from us. Could you tell us how many schools
:58:02. > :58:06.require pupils to where somdthing is part of their uniform was white but
:58:07. > :58:09.we do not collect that data but these are issues for the he`dteacher
:58:10. > :58:13.and governing body of the school. But they do have to act reasonably
:58:14. > :58:21.and public body they have bx law act reasonably. The government's own
:58:22. > :58:24.findings show that the 26 wdek timescale applied in care
:58:25. > :58:30.proceedings is leading to rdst and unsuitable placement for chhldren
:58:31. > :58:32.under... Baal the Minister not except what the social work
:58:33. > :58:36.profession has known all along that 26 weeks is not sufficient to plan
:58:37. > :58:42.properly for a vulnerable child s life? The honourable way thd will
:58:43. > :58:47.know from memory because shd was on the old committee that when we
:58:48. > :58:54.brought in the 26 weeks timdscale for care cases, the average was over
:58:55. > :59:02.55 weeks, which I think unddr anyone's view would be a holy over
:59:03. > :59:06.the level that it should be for a decision to be made about a child's
:59:07. > :59:11.long-term feature. We have lanaged to bring that close to 26 wdeks but
:59:12. > :59:14.what we need to make sure it that in relation to special guardianship
:59:15. > :59:16.orders that the assessment of potential terrorist for those
:59:17. > :59:20.children is as robust as it would be for any other decision about that
:59:21. > :59:25.child's long-time permanent and if there is a concern that into many
:59:26. > :59:30.cases that is not happening. Many had teachers in my constitudncy
:59:31. > :59:33.reported increased prevalence of mental health goblins among young
:59:34. > :59:37.people in schools. Would be Secretary of State agree with me
:59:38. > :59:41.that we need to see better integration between schools and
:59:42. > :59:48.child and adolescent mental health services so that we can deal with
:59:49. > :59:51.this growing problem. I know my honourable friend is a passhonate
:59:52. > :59:55.campaigner on mental health issues. He will be aware that we have funded
:59:56. > :00:00.a 1.5 million joint pilots with the department for help on this single
:00:01. > :00:04.point of contact between schools and services so that parents do not have
:00:05. > :00:08.to go through the aggravation of trying to work out how to access
:00:09. > :00:16.these vital services to support their young children. Version
:00:17. > :00:20.question. -- urgent question. To ask the Secretary of State for Transport
:00:21. > :00:30.if you make a statement on decision on the route and patient choices for
:00:31. > :00:33.high-speed to. Mr Speaker, the government is getting on with
:00:34. > :00:38.building H as to. Legislation to build the first two Birmingham is
:00:39. > :00:43.resting while. Last week thd Chancellor confirmed the finding,
:00:44. > :00:47.today we are also responding to reports published last year by Sir
:00:48. > :00:52.David Higgins Chairman of HS2. He recommended building the line were
:00:53. > :00:58.quickly to bring the benefits to the north sooner. I have therefore
:00:59. > :01:02.announced today my decision on the section from the west Midlands to
:01:03. > :01:05.crew. Now offered to as section to a. We intend to celebrate this so it
:01:06. > :01:07.opens six years