Live Education Questions House of Commons

Transport for London bill, Lords as amended. What day? 14th of March.

14th of March, thank you very much. Questions to be Secretary of State

for Education. Number one Mr Speaker. Is part of our moral

responsibility to ensure that refugees resettled in the United

Kingdom receive appropriate support especially the young children. The

international organisation for migration complete an assessment of

the needs of each FPGA to be resettled in the UK including any

educational support required by children all copies of thousands all

Punjabi necessary arrangements are in place so that the needs of these

young Syrians are met. The Scottish government currently funds eight

service which is unique to Scotland with offers specific support went

well for education and immigration process to local authorities and

unaccompanied children. Will the UK government following the footsteps

and increase for refugees in the UK? I think the honourable gentleman for

his question I think we can all agree that those who are speaking

refuge from wartime areas, competent towns where they have been in

situations of immense stress and deception need all the support they

can. We have a system of pointing caseworkers to work with each family

or an individual who comes here to seek refuge to identify the needs

that they have and particularly element in my department is making

sure that children with special education needs get the board. Those

with mental health needs but also of course additional educational issues

such as actually would support. The government s decision on the 28th of

January two provide additional levies for unaccompanied minors

coming from conflict zones such as theory but also in Europe, what

discussions have been had with the data barman to provide additional

support when they do reach these shores for the support they need? I

think my honourable friend very much indeed and I know that he recently

visited the camp and Calais, you'll know there are task force is being

set up across government to make sure that all those that claim

asylum will come to live in the United Kingdom under the

resettlement problem, get support. I just outlined in my previous insert

the particular area of my department seeks to take interest in but also

to make sure that support is delivered this will die special

educational needs, mental health, additional educations were such as

length would support. I welcome the steps taken so far, what we have

learned from previous arrivals of refugees or example those coming to

Leicester many years ago is the involvement of the diaspora

community is extremely important to make people feel at home. What steps

has been taken to ensure that be here in diaspora are involved in the

process. Can I thank the honourable Desmond, we are extremely sensitive

as the government working right the way across the United Kingdom,

particularly with local parties. To the background of those coming here,

to their particular needs. Some will absolutely want to be near those

from their communities and the diaspora as he says. For others

there may be other reasons why that is something that is not right,

given their particular needs but great care is taken, the needs are

assessed and then they are guaranteed to have housing,

education am already ready and waiting when they arrive here. Given

that both the resettlement programme and the of silent dispersal

programme so far have been pretty unevenly matched across the country,

what extra support can be given to those local authorities who are

taking a large number of people under both of those programmes

because it is often matched with very challenging situations and

schools both in terms of cool places and school standards and so needs

that extra support. Element we work across government and have made it

clear, pagan powers in the immigration act to make sure that

there is help available to local parties who do help to take those

particularly unaccompanied fathom seeking to them so they are not just

an cant who have taken many of these children initially but they're

across country there's financial help available. In the budget but

also have committed ?129 million to assist the local authority costs

over the years 2-5 of the resettlement team. There is

additional help her children with national educational needs,

additional funding including people premium for those with English as an

additional leg was. I understand of course it is right that we should

have a big problem, but I think the question from the honourable

gentleman I think there are also those who come to this country to

make huge successes and an enormous contribution to this country and we

must never forget that also. Mr Speaker with permission I will

answer this question with questions four and 16. We are delivering on

our commitment to provide working parent of three and 4 euros with 30

hours of free child care to ensure providers can deliver high-quality

childcare we will be increasing funding for childcare by over 1

billion a year by 2019. The childcare bill has cleared its part

in three stages and 25 local authorities will be piloting the

programme from the summer ahead of full delivery in the summer of 2017.

Will my honourable friend to one of me and congratulations for the

fantastic work they already do and agree with me that be 33 hours of

nursery education will make such a difference to the most deprived

parts of my town. My honourable friend is absolutely right. Families

in deprived parts of ready 12 save ?5,000 a year as a result of the 30

hours and if further support they can get it for the child tax credit

system. The 30 hours free child care is to help families with the cost of

living, enabled him to work more hours and give children the best

start in life. I very much welcome that York is one of the pilot

schemes and I congratulate the Minister for all his work on this.

But at the minister knows there is some concern amongst nursery

providers over the future funding levels driven by despair the between

the amount local authorities pay. As such, with the minister consider

future reasons into and what does -- avoid top piping and can I ask them

to consider visiting nurseries in my constituency to see how the pilot is

working as well? I would like to reassure my honourable friend that

later this year we will be consulting on an early year s

national funding formula. As part of this we will set a Permax petition

on local authority cost why things to ensure that the record investment

being made in childcare is allocated fairly and reaches providers at the

front line. I am particularly impressed by the animation in

childcare brought about by local authority in York and that is why we

chose them as one of our early implementers and I will be delayed

to visit again Bob. Has my honourable friend on an assessment

of the number of nursery races and limits and if there is enough

revision capacity for these places? My honourable friend asked a very

important question. I think the key point here to make it that Dublin,

the entitlement to free care is not the same as Dublin the demand for

childcare. Many parents already by more than 18 hours and indeed there

is spare capacity in the system. The 6 billion funding going into

childcare easier should incentivize more providers to enter the market

and where there are specific local difficulties, there are ?50 million

made available through the spending review to tackle capacity

constraints there. I have heard nothing today that assures me that

for parents seeking this extra 30 hours that they are going to be able

to find them. I do not know if the Minister is aware, but 482 childcare

places have been lost in Enfield in early years and 114 providers have

disappeared since 2010. Though when parents are looking for these places

I will be very surprised if they are on the ground. What is the minister

do to ensure that he can make meet the promised that his government

have made? I'm afraid I have to disagree with the honourable ladies.

And the last Parliament, the childcare sector created 230,000 new

places. I am confident that with record investment, the sceptre will

rise to the challenge of delivering the 30 hours and I think it is about

time we stop talking down the childcare sex there and recognise

the continued growth of the industry. Rethink constituency

surgeries I've had representations about five it providers and

state-mandated nurseries that the funding simply is not going to be

there and it's no good blaming beast that there were blaming local of the

rates for the fact the government have got a model which is half-baked

I'm underfunded and running behind time. What is the minister going to

do to make sure the place they made to parents of the general election

is made real through the availability of places and crucially

the funding to go with it? I made answer your question with a dose of

reality. The government is investing more in childcare than any previous

permit. At a time when other departments are facing financial

constraint, this government has made a strategic childcare priority about

childcare that is why we undertook the first ever cost of childcare

reviewed to ensure that funding is fair to providers and sustainable

for the taxpayer. Mr Speaker, the national order office report

published last week raises concerns about how the childcare for some

three and four-year-olds could impact the current provision for

disadvantaged to-year-olds. Could the minister explained what steps

would be taken to ensure in case provision for one group would impact

and the good work currently being done with the disadvantaged

to-year-olds? The honourable member asked a very good question and the

answer is there it be no adverse impact for the two-year-old offer.

We were the first government to introduce 15 hours of free child

care for disadvantaged to-year-olds, that will carry on. We have

increased the hourly rate for the funding for two-year old but we have

also inserted that the earliest pupil premium continues of those

tool, three and four-year-olds will are particularly disadvantaged do

not bark -- fall even further behind. The Minister is right to

talk about incentivizing providers to come forward and this is a big

opportunity. Can I urge them to dig into account needs of different

types of providers such as child monitors as well as nurseries and

other types of settings and should all be able to take part in this

larger and exciting opportunity? I totally agree with the honourable

member. One of the great things about the childcare market in the UK

is the diversity of provision that is available to parents and so that

we can meet all parents need especially when it comes to work

b-day childminder, nurseries, school nurseries and one of the things we

are going to be doing is making sure that like the ability for parents is

that the heart of how the 30 hours is delivered. Thank you Mr Speaker.

Minister it really is all about delivery. He talks about meeting all

parents need and what is he going to do when already 59 local authority

is say that they do not have the place is to meet current obligations

to three-year-old, never mind the additional hours. Once again, a dose

of reality. 99% of four-year-olds are accessing the existing 15 hours

of childcare. 96% of three-year-olds are accessing it and I am happy to

compare our record with that of the previous labour government. After 13

years in office, they provided 12 and a half hours of free child care,

and happy time this party has provided 30 hours of free child

care. They never offered anything for disadvantaged to-year-olds, we

have a programme for disadvantaged to-year-olds. We are investing more

than any previous government. They may not like it but they must accept

it. The conservatives are the party of childcare. Mr Speaker, my party

introduced your start. There was no sort start, there were no children

centres, there was no you never sold off for on any kind of childcare

prior to the Labour government in 1997. Mr Speaker, the test of this

will be how many families actually use the additional hours and the

test of this will be the families are. What I would like to know Mr

Speaker is how he has managed to concoct a system where a household

with an income of ?200,000 a year gets the benefit of the additional

hours, whereas a single parent on the minimum wage, 20,000 single

parent on the minimum wage are not going to be eligible. How have you

managed to come up with something so deeply unfair? Let me explain the

policy that she should by now be familiar with to her. Our

eligibility criteria makes absolute sense. In order to get 30 hours free

child care you need to be in work and earning over ?107 a week and it

does not matter if you are a lone parent. Not more than ?100,000 a

year which means if anybody in the family earned over ?100,000 a year

they are not eligible. I know that members opposite do not want to hear

it, but labour s childcare voucher scheme meant that parents who were

earning over ?1 million to get childcare subsidies but the other

boys did not. We're not allowing that to happen in our childcare

scheme. Question number three Mr Speaker. Thank you Mr Speaker. This

government is determined to make Britain the best place in the world

to study stem subjects, our reforms to curriculum and qualifications are

designed to raise Edwards to match that internationally. Our network of

match-ups and science learning partnerships are supporting schools

with the aim of improving the quality of math and science teaching

and a 67 million lb is will train up to 17 and a half thousand math and

physics teachers by 2020. In my constituency, there are a number of

newly well-paid jobs and entering space, renewable energy and other

highly skilled high-tech sectors including the Navy. What further

method can I take back to employers to ensure that Mets will have the

resources, the expertise to inspire and prepare our young people for

these jobs in West Cornwall Eley Cornwall and what more can the

department to do that we have the needs for the future? As a member of

the science and technology committee my honourable friend of a keen

advocate of the high-tech sector, particularly his support for the

Greeley that I earned patient and Cornwall. He is right therefore to

share the government s determination to improve them schooled in this

country, that is why the government fund the Cornwall and West Devon

math club and science learning partnerships to subtract -- provide

support to schools to improve math and science education, but also

reforming Mr Speaker technical and professional education and taking

steps to improve the quality of careers advice to young people.

Thank you Mr Speaker. Families and schools are doing an excellent job

raising for businesspeople to visit cool to inspire the next generation

of entrepreneurs including finance and technology entrepreneurs. With

the secretary of State outline the plan to engage more businesspeople

with more schools to encourage more young people to help build our

enterprise economy, particularly in science and technology? This is

precisely what is happening. They are working very closely with the

enterprise companies because we want to insert there is a connection

between the employers and schools so we do have a generation of young

people inspired by technology and to know what jobs are available in the

technology sector, where incidentally on average earnings are

19% higher than those not working in the technology sector or. With the

minister agreed there was no prime minister more passionate about

science, technology and mathematics in its power to liberate individuals

potential than Howard Wilson. And what he further agree that Howard

Wilson set out the open University and all those part of technics

became part of the University in order to help that process of

changing our culture whiff cannot we now we liberate the universities to

do more in partnership with goals to get best culture change that Howard

Wilson started so much work for? The honourable gentleman seem to get a

bigger cheer for mentioning Howard Wilson then he would have got a he

mentioned the current leader of the Labour Party. But I absolutely agree

with him about the importance of inspiring young people, the

University technical colleges that have been established to do this and

in a labels we estimate huge increase in the number of young

people taking for example map A-levels up to 18%, to some 82,000

young people taking a little map which is the single most popular

A-levels waste will stop physics has increased by 15% and also chemistry

injuries increased by 15% by blue we currently have a situation where the

income showed up for non-EU workers equalled ?35,000 and this will cause

issues for many of them teachers currently working in UK schools and

teachers that could be recruited from abroad. To the minister

explained to schools that currently have gaping holes in them teaching

positions how he is working with the home office to ensure these guilds

can continue recruiting from abroad? There is a consultation as the

honourable Lady will now between the home office about this and that

consultation will report in due course. Thank you Mr Speaker. One of

the traditional problems with getting more students to study stem

subjects has been to persuade girls to take them. Up to a level and

beyond, does the minister have any evidence that the policies to

encourage more girls to take up these very important subjects are

working? The honourable friend is absolutely right and the government

recently sent out an ambition to seek a 20% increase in growth

injuries to science and map a level by 2020. We established with

industry the you are live campaign which is designed to encourage young

people, particularly girls when making the a level choices to choose

back and physics. We have seen a huge increase in the girl taking

these subjects, physics has gone from 5000 8002010 to 6800 and this

year and and map it has risen from 28,000 and 20p to 31,000 this year.

That's 2010. Wood in Stoke-on-Trent we have decided to act on the crisis

and math teaching so will the minister congratulate inspiring

headteacher is alongside the City Councilman the Denise Coates

foundation and establishing the 1 million lb excellent partnership

open by Sir Michael Wells on last week to attract math graduate to Sir

Stooke and support the CBD of current classroom teachers? I am

delighted to join the honourable gentleman the member for Stoke

Central and passing on my congratulations. It is good to see

inspirational and imaginative innovative programmes designed to

encourage more young people with a science background to come into

teaching. With permission, Mr Speaker I will answer this question

with question ten. The careers and enter bread Company has made an

excellent progress and it started here will stop and as "To the world

of work and the world of work to schools which have all experts

agreeing it is a key ingredient of high-quality careers education and

guidance. Thank the Minister for that response and I was delighted to

meet with the careers and interbred company recently as part of my role

as chairman of the ABB G4 women enterprise. Can the minister advised

what steps will be taken to ensure that great role models and mentors

will be provided to supplement the work and ensure that students from

all backgrounds are aware of the wealth of opportunities available to

them once they leave education? Mr Speaker, that is an excellent

question. Any path, too much emphasis has been put on one-to-one

careers advice which often happens too late and is not delivered

effectively. That is why the ?70 million has been made available

across this Parliament to find career services including a new

national mentoring screamed -- scheme to focus on the most

disadvantaged but also the honourable friend is absolutely

right about mentors, especially for young girls in particular in areas

like spins objects and stem professions and that as well. Does

the honourable friend agree with me that too often the old career

services is regarded as something as a source of mild gentle humour for

people remembering their school days perhaps because they were first

delayed and the enormous importance of offering work experience from

businesses and other employers from all that there's not just to young

people as I know many honourable members to hear in their towns? Wood

my honourable friend is absolutely right. For a long-time career advice

became the punch line a joke and many people have experiences where

the advised that they were given just not make sense to them at all.

That is why we are focusing in our career strategy on real practical

employer interactions so the world of work can go into schools and also

children can actually see what is out there and have their passions

lighted and excited so that they can work out what is best for them. Mr

Speaker, will the honourable members be delighted because he lost the

punch line for his joke and should go easy on the self-congratulation

since the government has provided that's presided over the

disintegration of career services for young people. DFD failed to

include work experience in the curriculum. No wonder the CBI told

them the career service was broken, so young people will need that help

from the careers and interbred company to start repairing five

years of damage. But the minister tell lies what resources are going

to begin into volunteer enterprise advisors? There is only ?17 million

a year going to the company after all, and it just how many of them

will there be or the thousands of schools and colleges that need them?

The honourable gentleman talk as if there has ever been a golden age of

careers advice and service and everyone will tell you there have

never been a golden age of careers advice and service. The missing

piece in careers advice and guidance was employee interactions and that

is what the excellent careers and interbred company is setting up. As

part of a strategy it has ruled out enterprise advisors and 30 local

enterprise partnerships have signed up to be part of this so that every

school will have an enterprise coordinator to link them to the

world of work. Mr Speaker, we have 59 University technical College is

open or in development, we are well on the weight to meeting our

manifesto commitment of opening a UTC within reach of every city.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Will the Minister join with me in welcoming

the excellent work that has been carried out by the leading UTC and

my Dartford constituency. UTC is play an increasingly vital role with

ensuring that we have the engineering and scientific goals

needed in the workplace and therefore will the minister to all

he can to ensure that the UTC is allowed to flourish?

I'd like to thank my horrible thing for all the work he is doing with

them. It is a particularly good example because it is art of a

successful multi-Academy trust and that is a situation that we want to

see replicated across the University technical College movement because

UTCs are sharper insight of those trust. -- stronger. The priority

schools billing programme was established to rebuild and refurbish

those schools and the very worst condition across the country. The

4-point work within programme is targeting to... The department has

made no decision in relation to a third phase to the programme.

February the school building programme downgraded in the last

major product authority, it resulted in just one school being out for

repairs not addressing the urgent need of ten schools. This is costing

one point to three million just to keep the schools open. Will the

Minister meet with me to discuss the urgent needs of funding for school

buildings in New York and review the education funding authority

condition survey as data collection does not provide copperheads of

evidence based to match local authority priorities. I will be

delighted to meet up with the honourable member to discuss the

issues in York with her. Just give her and update there are currently

two schools being rebuild it -- rebuild or refurbish. Budget Hall

primary school have is conditioned met under phase two. A total of

seven schools have applied for both phases and are being considered. I

recently visited an academy that serves constituents of myself and

the honourable member from tiredness, the buildings are

important additions and in many dating from the 1930s, with the

Minister agree to meet with myself and the other honourable men

Minister to help us get back on track? I did not realize this is

going to be this kind of session, but of course I am happy to meet

with the Minister and other members of his local authorities to discuss

their funding needs and the building programme was for schools and urging

conditions. Obviously there is a conditional approval in front which

schools in his local area can apply to as well. The gentleman himself is

the Minister. Thank you Mr Speaker, what steps are

currently being taken to promote the installation of fire systems while

the repair work is being done to schools as part of the programme? I

think... I'll have to look at it and write back to her. Will the Minister

join me in welcoming the news that the trust has been selected to build

a brand-new primary school at Ensley and bath helping to fill a growing

hole in our primary school numbers in our popular city for young

families. Obviously, I joined a member in welcoming the news. It is

good to hear positive news about school places, too often there's a

lot of scam in places it is a lot of good -- it is good to see that there

is positive news. We are determined to deliver educational excellence

everywhere, so that every child reaches their full potential

regardless of their background. That is why we are protecting the people

at the current rates for duration of this priming giving schools billions

of pounds in additional funding to improve disadvantage peoples

attainment. -- people's. I very much except today's announcement of their

funding in schools with many of us can pay for since we were collected.

Does he agree with me that the best way to support those disadvantage is

by having a national funding for them based on need, irrespective of

where the need arises? My honourable friend, in many ways have

highlighted the basic principles behind our consultation on the new

national funding formula. That is simply around fairness. The old

system, for decades has been to complex, too convoluted into unfair.

Even disadvantage children being disadvantage by the system. It is

long overdue and it cannot be right at anything other than need space

systems as we want to implement and work with everyone to make sure we

get that to happen. The Minister will be aware that for children in

those schools would be higher proportion of them on school meals

are less likely than they were five years ago to be taught by qualified

teacher in art, dance and musical. In contrast to professional parents,

two thirds of whom pay for additional lessons in the subjects,

parents on lower wages are much less likely to be able to afford them. I

replied to see that working-class kids are excluded from the creative

subjects in our education system? I know the honourable Lady has an

admirable track record in pursuing the more creative side of school

life. I admire her persistence in doing so. There are many schools

right across the country with strong cats were recruiting heads within

the schools for music, dance, drama and many other Icher curricular

activities. We have a basic strong curriculum which all teach children

as they need to be taught. We are supporting disadvantaged children

through the premium and premium plus an special education needs to make

sure they get the support they need and the rounded and grounded

education we want for our children. We need to make sure that schools

are making that decision and strong cats and know exactly how to achieve

that. -- strong cats. Come enjoy this immense background is just one

reason for poor educational attainment. And coastal communities

such as my constituency is a particular issue. In addition to the

national teaching service, can they outline what other support which is

given to areas such as my own? Mr Speaker, the national teaching

service has been an important innovation in trying to ensure that

we have a strong teaching workforce in all parts of the country,

including my honourable friend's constituency. Also in those areas

where recruitment has been difficult in the past around STEM subjects and

others. That is why we put a significant investment into those

areas and why we continue to ensure that we pay the people premium to

those schools, to the school had another support that they are

getting the standard teaching they desire. Can he explain how the new

proposal will cater for the needs of pupils who were disadvantage. ... At

which to distribute funding, that was his own statement. That is

correct. On Friday had the opportunity to meet with

representatives from a local charity and character which provides

permission from those suffering from mental health services. I was still

the many schools use the people premium to provide the services to

help with mental health issues and their schools. As the Minister agree

with me that the provision of mental health in schools, to solve issues

that are very early stages absolutely critical? My honourable

friend is right to highlight the importance of establishing it as

early as possible, the underlying cause of a child's ability or

inability to learn in school. That can be too emotional, or mental

health issues. That is like the that pupil premium there are schools

being critical about how to access them money in an individual ways of

a can... Civic and support children in an individual way so they can get

to the height of their ability. Summer schools are known to address

educational inequalities amongst some of our most disadvantaged

pupils along with helping to tackle holiday hunger. Yet, recent survey

showed that 64% of schools are warning they would not be able to

offer this due to a government... Code sneaked out. Perhaps not the

kind of Christmas present vulnerable people hoping to receive from the

Minister. With the attainment gap, why would the Prime Minister... A

summer schools have proven very effective since the attainment gap

in helping disadvantaged children and help to give them a start. Buyer

ministers ignoring this evidence and scrapping funding for summer

schools? -- why are. The honourable Lady has raised in error and

education which I think is an excellent example, she must also

remember the backdrop in which we are taking the education system

forward. We have protective funding, more money is going to them than

before. We have protected the people premium, 2.5 billion over the next

year and we have made sure to live a strong curriculum through that were

children in primary schools should be learning the basics and have the

building box to ensure that they have a right future. It is for

schools to decide how they can achieve that they have the money to

do it. Question 12 please. When parents are refused placement in the

school of their chores done much with it is important that they have

the opportunity to up appeal this decision. There is a system in place

or handling the uphills. We are currently reviewing the admission

system, including how well the changes to the cyst too schools are

necessary. We will conduct a full public consultation on any changes

in due course. The secretary of state recently stated her ambition

for the government to potentially ban civil society organizations that

raise concerns about the admissions process of schools. Be civil society

organizations perform a very important public duty and

constituency have been in touch with me to say that they find the

admissions process too complex and too long to deal with by themselves.

Does the Secretary of State agree with me that Manning said. Society

organizations will not only exacerbate the difficulties that

parents are ready phase, but further enable preachers of the omission

goat? The purpose of that announcement was to enable the

school to focus on the concerns of parents and not to have the system

absorbed by having to handle multiple objections by eight

campaigning organizations. This is the recommendation of the schools

adjudicator herself as a consequence of experiencing these issues in her

term of office. The Minister means, I think I might he's referring to

secular organizations have been trying to clog up the process and

appeal processes. Will he confirm to the House that the code of practice

brought in this year was to prevent that sort of thing from happening?

That is one of the purposes for the announcement made by my right

honourable friend, to ensure that the school admission process is

about ensuring that parents and only parents have a fair system and they

can object to school admission arrangements that will be regarded

as unfair in their area. It is not to be used as a campaigning tool.

Question number 13, Mr Speaker. The government is committed to raising

standards and maps, we have introduced an ambitious new National

Curriculum which places greater focus on routine and mental

arithmetic. Long multiplication, long division and fractions are now

... We have removed the use of calculators from test. And have

place to introduce a multiplication tables check for all pupils at the

end of year six. I think the Minister for his reply. Improving

maps in primary schools is crucial for children later in life as they

provide the foundation for more advanced learning. It is the

government in doing to ensure that more children in primary school with

the expected levels of university. We have launched a network of dirty

fight match-ups, these are school let centers of excellence which are

driving confirmation of teaching based on this practice

internationally. They have delivered successful teacher changes with

Shanghai and introduced height quality single port technologies

into schools. -- Singapore. They have a southeastern -- Southeast

Asian way of teaching. I have had the experience of teaching

statistics and observe that some of the students cannot do simple

arithmetic that they have never done multiplication tables in early

primary education. I suspect it's a silly problem today. What is the

government doing to ensure that they are requiring that they are learning

their multiple patient tables in the early years of primary school. -- I

suspect it is still a problem. It is a requirement that all children by

the end of year before we'll know there was a patient tables up to

number 12. -- multiplication. We will do a check for this nature.

This is a wonderful achievement if we can ensure that every child is

primary school knowing their multiplication tables by heart it

will transform mathematics teaching in this country at secondary school

and beyond. Number 15 Sir. We have noted significant contribution in

helping to shape our education system over many years. They've

schools are among some of our best performing schools. Parents of all

faith value them for the quality of their education and strong ethos. We

continue to work closely with faith organizations to ensure that the

character of the school is maintained and developed. Faith

schools are true partner, wife of the government insisting on the cap

of 50% of people of a faith attending a new free school. We know

that there is a hidden agenda to by the government, they do not want

100% Muslim schools. The fact is that the Muslim schools are

oversubscribed anyway. While this is doing is preventing the Catholic and

new free schools coming on stream. Why has the -- why not abolish the F

freedom prevail? The 50% limit on a faith admissions to free schools, it

does ensure that the new high-quality school places that they

provide are available to local children, not just those of a

particular faith. Helps ensure that those peoples received an inclusive,

broadly based education. We are always happy to hear representations

on how best to achieve these goals. I will survey welcome applications

to establish, for example, more conflict free schools. The interest

of our Catholic Church in particular is currently reluctant to do so.

Number one, Mr Speaker. Hope the honourable members will be glad to

hear that today we have published proposals for consultations to start

the process introducing a national funding formula for schools in

2017-18. These plans will ensure that every school in local areas, no

matter where they are in the country is funded fairly. It will ensure

that people with say many to attract the same level of funding and give

teachers for more certainty for future budgets. Areas of highest

will the most funding, people and is an image continue to lose received

additional support. -- continue to receive. Lutton goes Academy was

given ?100,000 by her department, but never opened. Ira Peter Lee

asked the Department for Education to Tommy whether that money has been

paid back... The request of Garner didn't answer, when will she tell me

how much money was wasted on this preschool project? The honourable

gentleman received a letter from the Parliamentary Secretary of State for

schools on the 29th of January 2015 telling him about the reason that

the project could not go ahead. And the fact that the project have

fallen short of the rigorous criteria that we have set. Total

revenue cost was published by the end of March of this year, in line

with the transparency agenda are... We will publish him a clear that

means that the full revenue cost, once the amount has been justified

it will be published. When I was sitting over there I asked Prime

Minister Tony Blair, what is he going to do about Staffordshire

which is always on the bottom 20 for funding compared to other local

educational authorities, he agreed with me and said it was very unfair.

And then he did nothing. Some may I commend the Secretary of State for

getting on with this wonderful consultation. What is the

recommendation that she would give to my constituents, teachers and

parents, to make sure that we get fairer funding for schools and

Staffordshire? Can affect the horrible gentleman very much indeed.

I'm delighted that we are making progress on this very important

issue. Isn't it typical that takes a majority conservative government

summit address on this important issue. I would urge the honourable

gentleman to encourage, my honourable friend, I apologize, to

encourage his constituents, like the John Taylor high school which I

recently had the pleasure of visiting to make sure that they take

part in this important consultation. Mr Speaker cannot take this

opportunity as the MP for the home of Berdych cycling to pay tribute to

the amazing success of the British cycling team and the track World

Championships last week. The day before international women's Day the

incredible Laura should be singled out for her level overall. Let's

hope she is paid as much, if not more than her male colleagues.

Something that the Secretary of State does not seem very good at

achieving for women in her old apartment. Mr Speaker, there'll be

156 new GE CSC and a level specifications and September, with

just 17 teaching weeks left in the school year, how many of these are

ready? Can I think the honourable lady very much indeed. Isn't it

typical that yet again she brought it up the issue of gender pay gap

was her party that absolutely nothing to address. This party that

is publishing the regulation to make that decimation of the public and

private sectors will care of that. I join your and congratulating the

cycling team on the germination of treatment and including Laura. I'll

call we are working with... To make sure that all specifications are

ready, 65 are ready but there's further information to be made

public on that. That is right, just 65 or 66 to the 156 are ready. That

is less than half. Core subjects such as sciences and modern

languages still to be approved. The governments own workload challenge

promised teachers a leading time of one year for significant changes to

qualifications, as it stands teachers will have just weeks or no

time at all to prepare for these huge changes. Isn't the truth that

the government with my are managing every part of the curriculum

including the use of! It's what is causing the delay in that they are

way behind with these new exams, no wonder we have a teacher shortage

crisis? Let me say to the honourable lady that the examples have argued

published the specifications and assessment materials and draft.

They're working their way through to make sure that the exam boards and

the specifications are ready to be published. We want to give teachers

as much notice as possible. Isn't it typical that on that side of the

House they need to learn the lesson that the campaign needs to learn as

well. If you talk about the negatives all of the time you're

going to find that they fulfill themselves. If you want to and

alternative you need to do with some policies. What we are doing on the

side of the House is raising the standards of our qualifications. I

met with him last week to talk about specifications. They are absolutely

making process. She either wants to make -- raise standards, but with

the comment she made, she clearly does not want to. Archie Hayward, a

15-year-old student is the first British teenager to secure... Will

the Minister join me in congratulating him and also confirm

that the government will continue to support resent science and

technology is like of course, I join my honourable friend in

congratulating Archie Hayward on his significant achievement. Which I am

sure will provide him with the insight and the inspiration to

continue studying science and mathematics stop you want to see

more young people studying these subjects which can lead to rewarding

and interesting careers. The government is supporting that

through a more challenging curriculum and qualifications, the

best of teaching and improved career advice and schools. The headteacher

in my constituency show me the sample paper for this years stage

two sets. The apron included... It included many gems, I am tempted

to ask how many members here could answer questions on these topics.

But more importantly, I think the question is, the children can answer

these questions is my ... That she understood the concerns but to be

Baek teaches that they want the highest standards for the children

that they are looking after, but far from helping to raise standards,

such an approach runs the risk of setting ten and 11-year-old up for

failure. It is important to understand that the scale of the

reformed, four or five years' time would be in a position where every

child reading primary schools knows their multiplication tables by

heart, where every child is a fluid reader because of our focus on

funding, ... For the first time, primary schools are exquisitely

teaching English grammar. He should be welcoming this. Virtual school

has are taking place to remote the educational achievements of our

children, with the Minister join me in encouraging the progress of her

jewels will heads such as my own initiative they help facilitate...

Was like I am more than happy to do so. The reason we put that Brolin

plays in the last parliament was because they make a significant

contribution, promoting educational progress and helping children by

working closely with the schools. Since March/ every had

responsibility for managing the pupil premium plus, an extra ?1000

per extra child in care. To make sure that they can really fulfill

the potential. This morning I spoke to the headteacher at one shekels

best-performing secondary schools, she is in my constituency. --

Sheffield. He has to be concerned by the uncertainty created by the lack

of detail in this morning's statement. Like all good Hattie

Grant in advance is now recruiting for 2017. But he is unsure what is

funding will be in that year. When can I tell him that he will know

whether he's a winner loser as a result of this consultation? I think

it important we understand the basic principles of why we actually having

a consultation, so that the same pupils across the country need to

attract the same amount of money. There will be another consultation

on the details. It is important that we know about the reason behind the

factors and that there are certainty and transparency for all schools

going forward. We have said there'll be a phase transition and it will be

very mindful of those schools where there is potential for there to be

less funding, to make sure that they are not destabilize. It is right and

it is this government that has grabbed this metal after many years

of previous government absolutely flunking. Will my honourable friend

to me in recognizing the vastly improved design technology test with

the help inspire the next-generation of technical and engineering

professionals? Am grateful to my honourable friend for that question,

we have made significant reforms to both the DMT into the a level

working closely with the design technology exaggeration to ensure

that we have a high-quality DMT qualification result of higher

education, apprenticeships and high-quality employment in the

sector. I hope will eat itself to more people taking the

qualification. -- organization. Masher I attended an event at the

Royal College of Central schools and, in my constituency. Does the

Minister agree with me that not enough is being done to educate

children in schools about HIV and the support that is available to

women who are actually living with HIV? She raises a very important

issue and it is actually one of the very few statutory requirements that

young people in secondary school do have to be taught about the dangers

of HIV. I share her concern need to improve the quality of that

education throughout our system. The Minister will be aware... And

particularly with the new poll has been proposed for primary schools in

my constituencies. What extra funding and support the government

gave to schools such as that which I faced with questions at this time?

We see ?20 million of pacing me funding would help to create nearly

3000 new places, it has been outplayed in a another ?47 million,

I should say that we have featured a new free school which opened in

provide 630 additional primary places in the area. I hope that my

honourable friend will work with other providers to encourage more

free schools to be built in the local area.

The recent and latest children some day to back shows there has been

little change to the number of children placed some difference from

-- distance from home areas and 20 soil despite the introduction of

welcome regulations. The underlying problem continues to be the unequal

distribution of children across the country. What more can be done to

support local authorities working together and using their powers to

ensure more local? I shared the concern that we still see a large

number of children being placed out of urea in residential care. Always

exceptions to that rule. I'm to be so. That is why we have commissioned

the independent review to look at residential player B round of all

care options were children, including how we can have a better

spread of residential care both in terms of geography and types of care

on offer so that those children who do see that as their best possible

route through the care system have a better prospect than they have

currently. I welcome the competition -- consultation on a fairer funding

formula especially since it includes high needs funding which we are

underfunding or in Kingston but I would like to ask what my honourable

friend s varmint is doing to support friend s varmint is doing to support

families navigating the new system in place or send provision? We know

one of the biggest frustrations of parents from the old system was not

knowing or finding it hard to access the reservoir for their children,

that is why I recently a further ?80 million of support in 2016-17

including additional financial support for it does to better

navigate the system and now 45,000 families have already benefited from

the extras apart. Louw for school metres aren't -- meals are the

lifeline for many vulnerable families in my constituency yet

there are still too few families getting the benefit. Does the

Minister agree with me that the local authorities that have got the

required data to identify these kids should have an automatic perhaps be

obligated to do so? And I think the honourable gentleman, I know that

his colleague the honourable member has also been praising the members

bill on this issue. I agree the that there are old families entitled to

free school meals that should be able to obtain them. There are

issues around the collection of data and sharing of information between

different benefits but I am keen to make progress on this very important

issue. I think Bergen had was the place the Secretary of State had in

mind. Given the strong link in some cases between early age cannabis use

and future mental health issues, what assessment does the minister

make of efforts by schools to tackle and to deter it illegal drug use?

The government has taken steps to tackle and teacher s powers to

search including illegal drugs have an strengthened. They have the power

to discipline pupils for behaviour and confiscate or dispose of a

robbery at the disciplinary penalty where reasonable to do so. The

school s behaviour policies as set out the verse two confiscate printed

items. Sir Michael will start one last week of a brain drain due to

minister s early answer about it minister s early answer about it

being up to school and qualified teachers in crisis but does the

Minister share my concern that teaching assistants are increasingly

being used to teach as he am and the retaining pupils? I do not accept

the comments of the two big bet there. We are doing everything we

can to recruit and to despite increasing our pupil numbers and the

talents of a strong economy and the strengthening graduate jobs market,

we are ensuring that there are now record numbers of teachers in our

classrooms, 13,000 more teachers today in our classroom than in 2010.

Teacher recruitment, Mr Speaker, is a challenge and I use every blog

when I have two extol the virtues and rewards of teaching. To help

raise the status of a future profession. What does she do? Will

the minister... Thank you, Mr Speaker. Will the Minister join me

in welcoming the development of high-quality curriculum materials

and the banner of education destination which uses the Isle of

Wight s natural environment and attractions to teach outside the

classroom? Yes, I would of course. Issues like field trips and trips to

the behaviour and museums and so on are very important part of education

and we have encouraged more schools to organise the strip for young

people as much as possible. I'm sorry, but we must move on. Urgent

question, Mr Alistair Carmichael. Does the secretary of state from the

event make a defendant on announcement that the Royal Navy

will join Nato forces in the interception of migrants and

refugees in the Mediterranean? Secretary of State for defence,

Michael Fallon. The scale of the migration challenge, Mr Speaker,

requires Nato, the European Union and other European countries across

Europe to work together to address both its symptoms, the constant flow

of migrants and the conditions we see them faith and the causes in

Syria and beyond. We must also work with locals ability and authority of

to tackle the gains that profit from smuggling migrants. The United

Kingdom has