Live Education Questions

:00:00. > :00:14.Good afternoon. Wellcome to live coverage of the Commons. In an hour

:00:15. > :00:18.the Labour MP Andrew Quinn will be asking and urgent question about the

:00:19. > :00:24.ministerial code of conduct in the light of the surprise appointment of

:00:25. > :00:29.George was one of the London Evening Standard editor. After that the main

:00:30. > :00:32.business is the first general debate on the prisons and courts built

:00:33. > :00:39.which brings a number of changes to the prisons system. And don't forget

:00:40. > :00:44.to join me for a round-up from both Houses of Parliament at 11pm at

:00:45. > :00:46.first that his questions to the Education Secretary, Justine

:00:47. > :01:02.Greening, and her ministerial team. Order, order. I know that the whole

:01:03. > :01:10.house will want to join me and offering many happy returns to Dame

:01:11. > :01:16.Vera Lynn on her 100th birthday. Dame Vera is a national treasure.

:01:17. > :01:24.But I ask colleagues not to burst into song... Questions to the

:01:25. > :01:33.Secretary of State for Education. Number one, Mr Speaker. Secretary of

:01:34. > :01:38.State. Thank you, Mr Speaker. For Chelmsford a shift to fairer funding

:01:39. > :01:41.would been an overall increase of 1.9% in schools funding. We want

:01:42. > :01:44.schools and local areas to receive a consistent and fair share of the

:01:45. > :01:48.schools budget so they can give every child the opportunity to reach

:01:49. > :01:52.their full potential. These are important reforms in must make sure

:01:53. > :01:56.we get them right. We want to hear a wide range of views through our

:01:57. > :02:02.consultation which closes this week. Will my right honourable friend

:02:03. > :02:06.accept that it is to be warmly welcomed the 31 of the 35 schools in

:02:07. > :02:12.Chelmsford would get increased funding as a result of the fairer

:02:13. > :02:15.funding programme? However, the four schools who would have modest

:02:16. > :02:18.increases in funding, two of them are the grammar schools which would

:02:19. > :02:23.have decreased due to the relatively low number of pupils, and is there

:02:24. > :02:31.anything that can be done to rectify this problem for two sectors of

:02:32. > :02:35.academic excellence? He is right that overwhelmingly Chelmsford

:02:36. > :02:37.schools gain from the shift to fairer funding. Our approach

:02:38. > :02:43.essentially sees money following the Charles with extra money for those

:02:44. > :02:48.pupils with extra needs. We set out our desire to see grammars take more

:02:49. > :02:52.young people from disadvantaged and lower farm income backgrounds and if

:02:53. > :02:56.they do so selective schools will also be able to financially benefit

:02:57. > :03:03.from that. Two I just mention that determine the initial reply were

:03:04. > :03:06.perfectly properly when the somewhat beyond Chelmsford. I'm make no

:03:07. > :03:10.criticism of that at all, it simply means that it widens the field for

:03:11. > :03:19.colleagues. Who don't represent Chelmsford. Harriet Harman. Thanks

:03:20. > :03:24.to increased investment is the work of teachers, teaching staff, and

:03:25. > :03:28.parents, the standards in our schools in Southwark have massively

:03:29. > :03:33.increased. But they are not overfunded. Surely it cannot be

:03:34. > :03:38.right that her pupil we are going to see a cut of ?1000 per year as a

:03:39. > :03:44.result of this so-called fair funding formula. It is not fair,

:03:45. > :03:50.what ever she needs to do in the other parts of the country she needs

:03:51. > :03:53.to do so, but do not cut income in schools for the poorest children.

:03:54. > :03:57.Our approach will operate consistently for young people and

:03:58. > :04:03.children wherever they are growing up. We cannot have a similar

:04:04. > :04:09.accountability system and end up funding children in their schools

:04:10. > :04:14.differently. Even after the changes they were making bringing forward a

:04:15. > :04:17.consistent funding formula, London schools because of the many

:04:18. > :04:25.challenges they face will still receive 30% more than other schools

:04:26. > :04:28.on average. I understand the Secretary of State has an incredibly

:04:29. > :04:34.hard job to do on money does not grow on trees, however can I check

:04:35. > :04:36.when she reviews the consultation findings to look at the corner to

:04:37. > :04:39.funding a school needs to open its doors because I feel that

:04:40. > :04:45.deprivation has been overweighted in the formula. One of the things we

:04:46. > :04:49.have seen as a result of launching second phase consultation is the

:04:50. > :04:54.first properly informed debate about how we should be funding schools and

:04:55. > :04:57.what the relative balance of investments should be fought

:04:58. > :05:00.different judge with different challenges. The consultation

:05:01. > :05:03.finishes later this week. I would like to thank the house and

:05:04. > :05:08.colleagues for their engagement with it and will respond to the points

:05:09. > :05:13.people are made in due course. Vera Lynn was a pupil at bracts in

:05:14. > :05:20.primary school within my constituency, along with every other

:05:21. > :05:24.school in my constituency Bracton will have as budget cuts. Ministers

:05:25. > :05:30.often tell us that the schools budget as a whole isn't being cut.

:05:31. > :05:34.Shouldn't that guarantee apply to individual schools like Bracton as

:05:35. > :05:41.well as to the system as a whole? I can pay my tribute to Dame Vera Lynn

:05:42. > :05:46.and she has been an iconic and an amazing figure, actually. And a

:05:47. > :05:49.fantastic female role model as well for many young girls and women

:05:50. > :05:52.growing up in our country. But in relation to the point that he makes,

:05:53. > :05:56.we need to make sure that for the first time in our country we now

:05:57. > :06:00.seek consistent funding for all children wherever they are growing

:06:01. > :06:04.up. We have seen significant rises in the overall schools budget over

:06:05. > :06:07.the years and indeed this government has not only protect the overall

:06:08. > :06:12.schools budget in line with inflation, we have also made sure

:06:13. > :06:16.that the cash amount per pupil is protected as well. That is

:06:17. > :06:23.important. But we have two now make sure that we fund children in our

:06:24. > :06:26.schools fairly wherever they are. Torbay schools have managed a great

:06:27. > :06:30.job in teaching pupils despite being some of the most historically

:06:31. > :06:38.underfunded. Would the Secretary of State reassure me that whilst it

:06:39. > :06:44.goes up 2.3% of Robert Koren formula hits grammar schools quite badly. We

:06:45. > :06:48.should ensure we are still finding a solution. He rises an important

:06:49. > :06:52.point and as I said I think it is important we reflect the fact

:06:53. > :06:55.funding needs to follow children who have got additional needs. We know

:06:56. > :06:59.that in particular there is an attainment gap for children who are

:07:00. > :07:02.coming from lower income and disadvantaged areas and families we

:07:03. > :07:08.also know that many children who start both primary and secondary

:07:09. > :07:11.behind a level we need to give an uplift for their pupils to enable

:07:12. > :07:15.their teachers to help them to catch up. These are important parts of the

:07:16. > :07:18.formula. As he set out there are also other aspects and we need to

:07:19. > :07:23.carefully look at those and we will though. I have to say to the number

:07:24. > :07:27.of children he is not seeing the wood for the trees because the

:07:28. > :07:32.Minister for schools recently wrote to the Chelmsford weekly news about

:07:33. > :07:38.the uplift of 1.9%. However it denies the wider picture that ?6

:07:39. > :07:43.million is being withdrawn from funding in Essex overall. Can the

:07:44. > :07:46.minister explain for instance how the Chelmsford School for girls

:07:47. > :07:56.which is estimated to lose ?300,000 will make its cut? I think I have

:07:57. > :07:59.answered my right honourable friend from John Studd but the bottom line

:08:00. > :08:06.is the only budget that would be going up under Labour is their

:08:07. > :08:18.interest, which would lead to fewer teachers unless investment. Question

:08:19. > :08:21.number two. With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like permission to

:08:22. > :08:32.link this question with question seven. Do you agree with the open

:08:33. > :08:36.University... , cry quite understand the desire to make the gripping but

:08:37. > :08:40.what we are waiting for is his initial answer. Thank you. -- I

:08:41. > :08:43.understand the desire of the honourable gentleman to make the

:08:44. > :08:50.gripping. It is essential we support learners while they study. The

:08:51. > :08:53.government will introduce make sense loans for learners studying at

:08:54. > :08:59.higher level technical qualifications and attending

:09:00. > :09:01.colleges at the new Institute of technology. Maintenance loans will

:09:02. > :09:06.be available for the first time for both full and part-time higher

:09:07. > :09:12.education distance learners in the same year subject to satisfactory

:09:13. > :09:16.controls being in place. Does the Minister not agree with the open

:09:17. > :09:19.University that the decision to delay maintenance loans for distance

:09:20. > :09:24.learners would adversely affect disabled students for whom distance

:09:25. > :09:27.learning is the best option and those from poorer backgrounds who

:09:28. > :09:33.need maintenance loans to support them while they study? I thank the

:09:34. > :09:37.honourable gentleman for his question. I am very supportive of

:09:38. > :09:40.distance learners and the incredible work of the open University and we

:09:41. > :09:45.want to offer these maintenance loans but we want to get it right.

:09:46. > :09:47.We have a duty to ensure that we are giving the right value for money to

:09:48. > :09:55.the public and the right controls are in place. The Chancellor in his

:09:56. > :09:59.budget statement declared that the commitment to lifelong learning, yet

:10:00. > :10:04.maintenance loans have been capped at less than 60 years of age. Given

:10:05. > :10:09.this government's apparent determination to raise the

:10:10. > :10:15.retirement age and their appalling treatment of the women, does the

:10:16. > :10:19.Minister agree with me and most commonly Dame Vera Lynn that life

:10:20. > :10:23.does not end at 60? 'S well this government has introduced advanced

:10:24. > :10:26.learner loans, we are going to be offering maintenance loans for

:10:27. > :10:30.students going to Institute of technology colleges or national

:10:31. > :10:35.colleges and for future distance learners. We have just announced an

:10:36. > :10:38.extra ?500 million to support further education. So it is this

:10:39. > :10:44.government who is actually backing skills and giving people the funding

:10:45. > :10:47.that they need. Britain's record in engineering and the technical field

:10:48. > :10:55.is absolutely deplorable coming as media 16th amongst EU countries.

:10:56. > :10:58.While I welcome the new maintenance grants will the Minister join me in

:10:59. > :11:02.agreeing that the private sector has a role to play and in particular

:11:03. > :11:08.will he welcome the announcement by Sir James Dyson at the aim is to

:11:09. > :11:17.open a new technical College at the Lavington in my constituency. -- the

:11:18. > :11:21.Lavington. I could not have put it to myself. -- Hullavington. I

:11:22. > :11:24.congratulate Dyson, what is happening there and elsewhere with

:11:25. > :11:28.the investment the government is putting the two skills, with 500

:11:29. > :11:34.million extra announced last week, 40 million for a pilot lifelong

:11:35. > :11:39.learning study, we are investing and putting our money where our mouth is

:11:40. > :11:45.and building a skills and apprenticeship nation. Mr Speaker,

:11:46. > :11:48.this budget's timetables which says the Treasury ?400 million, we did

:11:49. > :11:54.not hear that from the Minister, is now a double whammy for learners. It

:11:55. > :11:59.delays until 2019 and jeopardises the Sainsbury's technical skills

:12:00. > :12:03.agenda, it hits disabled and disadvantaged distance learners and

:12:04. > :12:07.so with a 30% drop in part-time learning since 2011, why is his

:12:08. > :12:13.department, as the OBI art reveals, in its budget document section,

:12:14. > :12:17.planning to cut business and learner support even further?

:12:18. > :12:25.I have to say I am a means by the honourable gentleman's question. I

:12:26. > :12:28.thought he would be getting up to celebrate the extra we are spending

:12:29. > :12:32.on further education. I thought he would be getting up to celebrate the

:12:33. > :12:38.two in William pounds we will be spending on apprenticeships by 2020

:12:39. > :12:43.will stop the 40 million unpalatable lifelong learning. -- the 200

:12:44. > :12:50.million. By 2020 we will have more funding that goes to adult education

:12:51. > :12:56.then at any time in England's history. It is time he got up and

:12:57. > :13:03.supported us. Question three, Mr Speaker. Good mental health and

:13:04. > :13:08.well-being are a priority for the department, it is why we funded

:13:09. > :13:13.guidance and plans for teaching pupils about emotional well-being. A

:13:14. > :13:17.recent plan is to make relationships and sex education strategy that

:13:18. > :13:26.supports this agenda. Pupils can also develop soft skills including

:13:27. > :13:29.as ill as resiliency. Thank you. Mental health in young people is a

:13:30. > :13:33.growing concern. As with physical health we must look at prevention as

:13:34. > :13:39.well as treatment. Will my right honourable friend agree with me to

:13:40. > :13:45.discuss what the department can do to encourage schools to build

:13:46. > :13:48.resilient in children? My honourable friend is absolutely right that

:13:49. > :13:53.prevention is vital, that is why we are inviting bids to run a trial to

:13:54. > :13:57.provide sound evidence about what works to promote good mental health

:13:58. > :14:01.in schools. Prevention will also be an important focus on the mental

:14:02. > :14:05.health been paper, published later in the year. I will meet with my

:14:06. > :14:08.honourable friend in relation to her question. I'm sure that once the

:14:09. > :14:20.green paper has been published we will meet again. Sorry Mr Speaker,

:14:21. > :14:29.did you see me? Thank you. If the Minister aware...

:14:30. > :14:38.LAUGHTER Is the Minister aware of the crisis in mental, child mental

:14:39. > :14:44.health care in Cumbria? And does he agree with me the great investment

:14:45. > :14:50.to equip teachers to be able to help with preventative measure to in the

:14:51. > :14:56.classroom is the central -- is essential, if we are to make

:14:57. > :14:59.children's lives better. I agree with the honourable gentleman, we do

:15:00. > :15:02.need to better link schools with mental health services and that is

:15:03. > :15:06.why one of the pieces of work we have underway at the moment is to

:15:07. > :15:14.create a single point of contact in schools, working with the children

:15:15. > :15:19.adults mental health service, to help train children and in the

:15:20. > :15:25.school environment. There is a lot more work to do. Parents who have

:15:26. > :15:32.children with autism have told me they have difficult the accessing

:15:33. > :15:40.curricula and extracurricular activity. What more can be done to

:15:41. > :15:44.link up schools and CAMHS? As I referred to in the answer I've just

:15:45. > :15:48.given to the honourable gentleman opposite, we are working with NHS

:15:49. > :15:52.England and with CAMHS services to make sure that they can better

:15:53. > :15:56.support and work alongside school through a single point of contact,

:15:57. > :16:00.so they can spread that knowledge and good practice but also get

:16:01. > :16:05.quicker referrals into those more specialist services where they are

:16:06. > :16:09.needed. There is a strong commitment from the government in this area,

:16:10. > :16:15.supported by the Prime Minister. The Minister may be aware of the recent

:16:16. > :16:19.support, that spoke of as many as 35,000 children being born every

:16:20. > :16:25.year with prenatal exposure to alcohol with a significant impact on

:16:26. > :16:31.school. Can he tell us what his plans are to ensure that school

:16:32. > :16:34.staff have the training they need to understand the difficulties,

:16:35. > :16:38.behavioural and educational needs of those children? I am well aware of

:16:39. > :16:42.the effects of the till alcohol syndrome, I saw it in my own life

:16:43. > :16:45.growing up with foster children that we looked after. I know it is a

:16:46. > :16:49.cause he has been advocating strongly to the changes to teacher

:16:50. > :16:54.training and teaching standards there is much greater emphasis on

:16:55. > :16:58.having teachers skilled in special educational needs, of which Beatle

:16:59. > :17:05.course and is part of. But it is what happens on the ground that it

:17:06. > :17:14.important and we will continue focusing on that. The ?4.4 billion

:17:15. > :17:17.priority school buildings programme is rebuilding and refurbishing those

:17:18. > :17:25.schools in the very worst condition, there are two phases, phase two

:17:26. > :17:28.which runs from 2021 sort schools from the deadline of the 21st of

:17:29. > :17:36.July 2000 14 and is signed to improve the fabric of specific

:17:37. > :17:40.buildings in 277 schools. A school inches and Hirst is a special school

:17:41. > :17:44.at dealing with young people with some of the most profound and

:17:45. > :17:47.complex disabilities, it is magnificent, but every year it has

:17:48. > :17:51.two plan applicants away because it does not have the size to cope,

:17:52. > :17:56.neither do the other two special schools in the borough. They were

:17:57. > :18:01.were delighted to be successful in their application announced in 2015

:18:02. > :18:05.but the first visit from anyone from the education funding authority to

:18:06. > :18:12.the school was only in February of this year. Will he see what can be

:18:13. > :18:15.done to speed up this special set of circumstances? Can eight paid

:18:16. > :18:22.tribute to my honourable friend to the way he has fought for

:18:23. > :18:28.improvement to the school, it was visited by my honourable friend the

:18:29. > :18:33.children's Minister. It was successful in its peers. The

:18:34. > :18:43.education funding has started to identify the... We can say we do

:18:44. > :18:46.know where we do know when. The headteacher in my constituency,

:18:47. > :18:50.Steve can well, it is a fantastic school with great results, a state

:18:51. > :18:57.school. He has had problems trying to find better sports facilities. He

:18:58. > :19:03.was supposed to have something in 2010 to help with this but it was

:19:04. > :19:11.pulled. Now it seems there is no way the Jordans to have sport... It is

:19:12. > :19:16.all part of money that we're spending between now and 2021 12

:19:17. > :19:19.great pain, rebuild and replace buildings in the worst condition,

:19:20. > :19:23.this could not be possible if we did not have the strong economy that we

:19:24. > :19:30.have today and didn't have when his party was in power. Can I thank the

:19:31. > :19:34.government for the new form that has been made available for capital

:19:35. > :19:39.projects and special schools. Two and a half million pounds is coming

:19:40. > :19:43.to Nottinghamshire to build a school in my constituency. Could the

:19:44. > :19:45.government did great efforts to publicise this bond is that

:19:46. > :19:52.colleagues in conceptual and across the country know that it is better

:19:53. > :19:55.than? Yes, I'm grateful to my honourable friend, it is a ?250

:19:56. > :20:00.million package that was recently announced. Part of capital spending

:20:01. > :20:04.is commitment by this government to ensure we have the right fabric of

:20:05. > :20:10.schooling system. Again, any possible by having a strong economy.

:20:11. > :20:14.Has the removal and treatment of asbestos been prioritised within

:20:15. > :20:18.this programme? We do not know the exact extent to how many buildings

:20:19. > :20:26.from the 1960s and 1970s riddled with it. We published a review as to

:20:27. > :20:31.how to manage asbestos in schools and it is our aim over time to

:20:32. > :20:35.eliminate asbestos in schools as schools are replaced or the

:20:36. > :20:38.furthest. In the meantime, schools need to ensure that asbestos

:20:39. > :20:43.contained mysterious on damaged and not in locations where they have

:20:44. > :20:49.honourable to damage. Number five, Mr Speaker.

:20:50. > :21:05.Thank you. We have a wealth of advice and guidance for employers

:21:06. > :21:09.and small businesses and we have information on all aspects of

:21:10. > :21:19.apprenticeship and recruitment and provides training organisations...

:21:20. > :21:23.Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have small businesses in panic chase he found

:21:24. > :21:28.it difficult to identify an apprentice, they are keen to take

:21:29. > :21:32.them on. -- I have small businesses in my constituency. Can my right

:21:33. > :21:35.honourable friend outline what the government is doing to make it

:21:36. > :21:41.easier for small businesses to connect with local colleges and

:21:42. > :21:45.possible appointed chests's I thank her for her question and for her

:21:46. > :21:51.championship of apprenticeships in her constituency. We're doing a lot.

:21:52. > :21:55.We're spending millions to incentivise small businesses to have

:21:56. > :22:03.apprentices. We have a huge communication programme. Businesses

:22:04. > :22:08.have been contacted recently. We have a network of 500 apprenticeship

:22:09. > :22:17.ambassadors. We're doing everything we possibly can. It is worth

:22:18. > :22:19.noticing that to ... The new register of apprenticeship training

:22:20. > :22:25.providers which was published last week exclusive a significant number

:22:26. > :22:30.of successful trading providers including four in Birmingham, two in

:22:31. > :22:36.Coventry, is he not aware if he goes ahead with that position he is

:22:37. > :22:41.essentially destroying technical education the 16-year-old in the

:22:42. > :22:49.West Midlands? I thank the honourable lady for her question, it

:22:50. > :22:56.is worth noting that a percentage of those people who applied to get on

:22:57. > :23:00.the register have been successful. A of educational colleges got on the

:23:01. > :23:04.register. She mentions Birmingham, there are hundred and 78 providers

:23:05. > :23:08.of apprenticeship training in burning him that have got onto the

:23:09. > :23:17.register, but all existing apprentice Chisnall not be affected

:23:18. > :23:21.in the colleges... What advice can give the small businesses in my

:23:22. > :23:24.constituency about the insensitive is to link up with small businesses

:23:25. > :23:34.as opposed to link up with large businesses? Well, the good news is,

:23:35. > :23:40.there are means of pounds being spent by the taxpayer incentivising

:23:41. > :23:43.small businesses to provide apprenticeships and on top of that

:23:44. > :23:49.we have a huge communications programme that I highlighted

:23:50. > :23:52.earlier. High employee expectations, good standards on the part of the

:23:53. > :23:57.college coming young people ambassadors for apprenticeships, the

:23:58. > :24:01.verdict of Ofsted unbending much appalled in college but it is

:24:02. > :24:06.wonderful colleges in Birmingham, 13 in the West Midlands that have been

:24:07. > :24:10.denied access and have goose cease being provided apprentice cheesed

:24:11. > :24:20.will stop can you understand the outrage over this inexplicable

:24:21. > :24:24.decision? And will he meet with banning MPs? I'm very happy to meet

:24:25. > :24:27.with Birmingham MPs and MPs than any other areas. The crucial thing

:24:28. > :24:34.behind this decision is that we're trying to make sure that we improve

:24:35. > :24:38.quality. Everybody had to fulfil the same criteria to get on the

:24:39. > :24:41.register. It is important to note that from tomorrow those who did not

:24:42. > :24:51.get on can reapply. Maybe they're not on the register now but they can

:24:52. > :24:56.get on it and reapply from tomorrow. I would like to link this answer to

:24:57. > :25:01.question 15, as well. National funding proposals to see more money

:25:02. > :25:06.following the student. Particularly to schools that are educating

:25:07. > :25:11.disadvantaged and pupils from lower income families, immolation to the

:25:12. > :25:15.question he specifically asked, one of the schools he has highlighted

:25:16. > :25:19.has a school roll were 25% of the young people are on free school

:25:20. > :25:26.meals, the other school had less than 1% of that becomes the majority

:25:27. > :25:30.of the difference. I thank the Secretary of State for that answer

:25:31. > :25:35.but can I just draw head to the attention to the grammar schools in

:25:36. > :25:38.my constituencies who face a court of 3% in their funding under the

:25:39. > :25:44.proposed formula despite the School of the road getting in increase in

:25:45. > :25:46.11%. Can I ask the Secretary of State to examine within the

:25:47. > :25:54.necessary Treasury constraints how we can have such inexplicable

:25:55. > :25:56.outcomes? We must insure that selective schools understand that

:25:57. > :26:04.the government is fully on their side. He does point out that I do

:26:05. > :26:09.not get to write my own checks. I have to live within my departmental

:26:10. > :26:13.budget, as well. We are looking very carefully at how we can make sure we

:26:14. > :26:21.get a fair funding approach right. I think it is right that we make sure

:26:22. > :26:23.that similar children facing similar challenges and needs our constituent

:26:24. > :26:31.refunded where ever they growing up in the UK. The grammar school in my

:26:32. > :26:35.constituency has a great headteacher, wonderful staff and

:26:36. > :26:38.pupils they get huge attainment it would like to expand, how can the

:26:39. > :26:45.Secretary of State helped that school to expand then it had at the

:26:46. > :26:49.moment? To build on my previous point, the consultation on schools

:26:50. > :26:52.that work for everyone covered our proposals to allow the expanding

:26:53. > :26:57.existing selective schools to offer more choice to parents and increased

:26:58. > :27:01.the number of places, that a good and outstanding. We will make a

:27:02. > :27:10.dedicated... When will the Secretary of State to

:27:11. > :27:19.publish her much briefed white paper given that the purdah begins on

:27:20. > :27:25.Thursday and will that white paper increase the number of free school

:27:26. > :27:28.meals. And can she clarify why in her 30 minute budget debate speech

:27:29. > :27:35.did the word selection or grammar not pass her lips. She is trying to

:27:36. > :27:39.get me to pre-empt my white paper which will be coming out in the

:27:40. > :27:43.coming weeks and I am pleased that the Labour front bench is finally

:27:44. > :27:46.engaging in the fact that there is a real chance here to make sure we

:27:47. > :27:55.have an approach on selection that works in the 21st-century and for

:27:56. > :27:58.our education system as it is today. Mr Speaker, is the Secretary of

:27:59. > :28:05.State aware that this is international happiness day? And if

:28:06. > :28:11.she wants to make a lot of people happy in this country she will

:28:12. > :28:16.renounce their dedication to grammar schools and free schools and invest

:28:17. > :28:24.in the education of all our children up and down this country. I am

:28:25. > :28:28.delighted he has alerted me to the fact it is international happiness

:28:29. > :28:31.day that I have to say I think he is completely at odds with his own

:28:32. > :28:36.front bench. We have no idea what the Labour approach is in relation

:28:37. > :28:41.to selection and I would point out that we will be publishing our white

:28:42. > :28:43.paper in response to our consultation but I suspect the

:28:44. > :28:50.Labour Party will remain a policy freezer. In the budget ?320 million

:28:51. > :28:54.was announced four new schools, some of which may be grammar schools.

:28:55. > :28:56.Could my right honourable friend confirmed that new schools are

:28:57. > :29:03.desperately needed and whereas some of this may be grammar schools that

:29:04. > :29:07.is not perfect the revenue funding we are discussing today. He's

:29:08. > :29:14.absolutely right, we have to be planning ahead. We know we have to

:29:15. > :29:19.create more good school places, some of the children were responding to

:29:20. > :29:27.choices at local level but others will be for nonselective school

:29:28. > :29:31.places. Under the academies scheme the teaching profession in England

:29:32. > :29:35.has experienced a sustained attack on its terms and conditions,

:29:36. > :29:38.including salary awards below nationally agreed pay scales. Can

:29:39. > :29:47.the Secretary of State guaranteed unequivocally that no teachers and

:29:48. > :29:54.propose new selective schools will be paid below nationally agreed

:29:55. > :29:57.rates? We need schools to run themselves in ways that deliver

:29:58. > :30:03.strong educational outcomes and I know she does not clearly want to

:30:04. > :30:09.talk about in Scotland we are seeing standards going backwards on

:30:10. > :30:11.science, maths and reading. It is a pleasure to debate with the

:30:12. > :30:17.secretary of state again. A few weeks after we both appeared on

:30:18. > :30:22.question Time but now it is answer time. The Prime Minister promised us

:30:23. > :30:28.way to expand selective education with 70,000 free new school places

:30:29. > :30:36.funded by ?320 million. Given that free school places cost over ?21,000

:30:37. > :30:42.age to create that is not for 17,000, let alone 70. I set the

:30:43. > :30:46.Education Secretary simple maths question as week can she didn't

:30:47. > :30:52.answer. Just how many places will be created and that what cost? It is

:30:53. > :30:55.time for a reset. I would have hope she would have welcomed the fact

:30:56. > :31:04.that we announced half ?1 billion extra for school capital not just

:31:05. > :31:10.for making sure places are available but also she asked about the

:31:11. > :31:17.numbers. I think she seems to have misunderstood the fact that there

:31:18. > :31:25.will be further investment in the next parliament which I would have

:31:26. > :31:29.hope she would have welcomed. As I told the house last month increasing

:31:30. > :31:31.educational opportunity for disadvantaged people underpins our

:31:32. > :31:36.commitment to making sure we have a country that works for everyone,

:31:37. > :31:38.through the brutal premium worth 2.5 billion as this year, we're

:31:39. > :31:44.narrowing the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers

:31:45. > :31:51.and into the 16-17 ?4.2 million of this funding was allocated to

:31:52. > :31:57.schools in Boston and Skegness. I recently posted constituency schools

:31:58. > :32:00.conference bringing together the governors and teachers and I'll like

:32:01. > :32:05.to thank the Secretary of State for her personal involvement. What I

:32:06. > :32:08.heard at the conference is that while teachers and governors

:32:09. > :32:12.welcomed extra ?4.6 million that is proposed to come to Lincolnshire,

:32:13. > :32:14.they believe that after the consultation closes we could hear

:32:15. > :32:18.that it would be better distributed so that secondary schools in

:32:19. > :32:22.particular see the unique needs of Lincolnshire address. Can the

:32:23. > :32:30.Minister confirm this consultation will address that. I'm sure the

:32:31. > :32:34.secretary of state has heard my honourable friend 's play in that

:32:35. > :32:38.regard. But I will also add that another change this government has

:32:39. > :32:40.brought in that will help disadvantaged children is around

:32:41. > :32:44.progression measures and making sure the progress of every child will

:32:45. > :32:51.count towards the schools measured performance. I'm sure that will help

:32:52. > :32:53.schools in his area. My Bristol South constituency sends the least

:32:54. > :33:00.number of children to Bristol University. The University scheme

:33:01. > :33:03.aimed at widening access has taken a third of people from private

:33:04. > :33:08.schools. Would the Minister agree with me that makes a mockery of that

:33:09. > :33:14.scheme. Unfortunately for me and probably beneficially for her at the

:33:15. > :33:24.constituency fought back. Mr Speaker we of course welcome schemes to try

:33:25. > :33:30.and widen participation in education. Universities intend to

:33:31. > :33:42.spend more than a on measures to improve access to student success

:33:43. > :33:45.further access agreements. Some of our most deprived communities are

:33:46. > :33:50.found in rural and coastal areas so what account is the department

:33:51. > :33:55.taking of the particular challenges schools face in rural and coastal

:33:56. > :34:00.areas like Cornwall? My honourable friend will know that in parts of

:34:01. > :34:05.the consultation we are looking at trying to look at that particular

:34:06. > :34:09.aspect of our school geography and the sparsity factor is seeking to

:34:10. > :34:13.try and address that. But of course we also have a new opportunity areas

:34:14. > :34:15.which are looking at part of the country including coastal town areas

:34:16. > :34:19.where there are particular challenges faced by school that we

:34:20. > :34:26.can try and home in on and try and spread that good practice. Bell how

:34:27. > :34:29.does that in the funding to 35 schools in my constituency followed

:34:30. > :34:35.by the news that the business rate revolution will cost them thousands

:34:36. > :34:37.more will do anything to help education opportunity customers how

:34:38. > :34:41.does the Minister sleep a night knowing the ditch on affect his

:34:42. > :34:46.government 's policies will have on educational children across

:34:47. > :34:50.Birmingham? Mr Speaker, with an eight-week-old baby I'm not sleeping

:34:51. > :34:55.particularly well at the moment. But what we do know is that business

:34:56. > :34:58.rates are funded and that there is a consultation taking place to try and

:34:59. > :35:01.ensure that the funding that we do have available which is at record

:35:02. > :35:08.levels for schools is distributed as fairly as possible. What measures

:35:09. > :35:14.will the Minister take to ensure that selective and top performing

:35:15. > :35:21.secondary schools are accessible to children irrespective of their

:35:22. > :35:24.backgrounds. As part of the consultation we proposed a number of

:35:25. > :35:28.conditions that would make new selective schools more accessible to

:35:29. > :35:31.children from low-income backgrounds. We are currently

:35:32. > :35:34.analysing all the responses we have- at which I'm sure will include my

:35:35. > :35:40.honourable friend's constituency of Telford and we ran to publish a

:35:41. > :35:45.formal response in the spring. May I thank the Secretary of State for her

:35:46. > :35:53.reply to me regarding the application for UTC in Doncaster

:35:54. > :35:56.which will increase educational opportunities for pupils from

:35:57. > :36:00.disadvantaged backgrounds. But will the Minister make sure that other

:36:01. > :36:05.ministers came myself and other MPs informed as to the progress of

:36:06. > :36:08.further discussions. I know we have to get on with as quickly but can he

:36:09. > :36:18.undertake to do that and perhaps discuss the best way forward? I am

:36:19. > :36:21.happy to give that undertaking. I'm sure in her own contingency pupils

:36:22. > :36:33.also want to make similar opportunities available to them.

:36:34. > :36:38.My national funding formula proposals will mean that we will

:36:39. > :36:42.have a clear, relatively simple and transparent funding system that

:36:43. > :36:45.matches funding to children's needs and to the schools they attend to

:36:46. > :36:49.ensure that all pupils reach their full potential regardless of where

:36:50. > :36:56.they live. We recognise schools are facing cost pressures which is why

:36:57. > :37:03.we want to help them use their funding in cost-effective ways.

:37:04. > :37:10.Pramac of National Audit Office and education policy Institute have both

:37:11. > :37:16.highlighted the risk of standards falling. In London with his 70%

:37:17. > :37:20.cuts, symptoms of schools facing cuts when we have the highest child

:37:21. > :37:25.poverty rates in the country. This is dangerous and divisive and is a

:37:26. > :37:33.cap on aspiration. Isn't it time we have another U-turn this week,

:37:34. > :37:36.Minister? The EPI did say that the National funding formula is broadly

:37:37. > :37:44.welcomed. Executive chairman said the department is right to pursue

:37:45. > :37:48.the formula used targets are significant and she will know that

:37:49. > :37:52.in London remains the highest funded part of the country. 30% better

:37:53. > :37:59.funded on a per person who will faces than the national average. It

:38:00. > :38:03.might international happiness David but I can say that parents in

:38:04. > :38:08.Staffordshire are pretty unhappy. They have been in the county that is

:38:09. > :38:11.in the bottom 15 of funding throughout the UK. Sarah funding

:38:12. > :38:15.this not have to be open, it needs to be fair and Staffordshire schools

:38:16. > :38:21.are losing out. That is unacceptable. I'm sure my honourable

:38:22. > :38:24.friend will be making observations through the consultation process

:38:25. > :38:28.that closes on Wednesday and we will listen very carefully to those

:38:29. > :38:33.contributions. However I would say that funding in his the constituency

:38:34. > :38:37.rises by bad one in his constituency, equal to about

:38:38. > :38:42.?600,000 and the 5% of his schools will see an increase. We do need

:38:43. > :38:49.shorter questions and shorter answers. Heads in my constituency

:38:50. > :38:51.have told me they are already having to cut teachers, teaching

:38:52. > :38:57.assistants, key courses and even school hours. From the EPI report we

:38:58. > :39:02.find there are unlikely to be any schools in England which will avoid

:39:03. > :39:06.funding cuts per pupil. Does the Minister recognised the government

:39:07. > :39:11.is breaking yet another manifesto promise? No, 54% of schools in this

:39:12. > :39:16.country will gain funding under the national funding formula. And she

:39:17. > :39:22.will be aware that in her local authority, Hounslow, overall funding

:39:23. > :39:27.will rise from ?171 million to 107 to ?1.2 million. As a result of the

:39:28. > :39:31.national funding. My right honourable friend will know that I

:39:32. > :39:33.am the only member of Parliament in England and Wales who can say that

:39:34. > :39:40.every school in their constituency will either hold or seek arise so

:39:41. > :39:46.can I thank the Minister... LAUGHTER For looking at the funding formula

:39:47. > :39:50.that has the too many years disadvantaged some schools and it

:39:51. > :39:52.only goes to show how extraordinary hard it has been for some of our

:39:53. > :39:59.schools to deliver that quality education. I am grateful to my

:40:00. > :40:02.honourable friend for her support. It is a fair funding formula, it

:40:03. > :40:07.does give priority to disadvantage and it gives priority to load prior

:40:08. > :40:09.attainment and a thing for too long to many parts of the country have

:40:10. > :40:15.been underfunded and this will remedy that. How will the new

:40:16. > :40:20.national funding formula helps students at the Paxton primary

:40:21. > :40:23.Academy in Fulton Heath which is now in its third year in Portakabins

:40:24. > :40:28.piled up in the backyard of a rugby club. And because work is still not

:40:29. > :40:33.started on the permanent school they are now looking at the fourth and in

:40:34. > :40:39.Portakabins. It is unacceptable that this should continue. Will the

:40:40. > :40:44.Minister meet with me and parents? I'm very happy to meet the

:40:45. > :40:47.honourable gentleman. 96 and of schools in temporary commission have

:40:48. > :40:50.a permanent site and the vast majority of cases it is for just one

:40:51. > :40:57.year. These are exceptional circumstances. The group of friends

:40:58. > :41:01.I met on Friday asked whether the funding which was saved as a result

:41:02. > :41:06.of the government change of heart on forced a canonisation could be used

:41:07. > :41:13.to support schools facing funding cuts? Might right honourable friend

:41:14. > :41:17.will know how dealings with the Treasury work. -- academisation. We

:41:18. > :41:24.managed to secure a very good deal and we have are several school

:41:25. > :41:27.funding, rising to ?42 billion by 2019-20 as pupil numbers rise, at a

:41:28. > :41:36.time we are seeking to to tackle the public sector deficit we inherited

:41:37. > :41:44.from the party opposite... Ki questions I think that they need to

:41:45. > :41:48.be extremely brief. I set the simple maths question earlier but I do not

:41:49. > :41:54.think we had a clear answers so let me set her on nonverbal reasoning.

:41:55. > :42:03.If David promised to protect school funding per pupil, and adjusting's

:42:04. > :42:07.plan cut funding, what does that make Teresa?

:42:08. > :42:13.In our manifesto we said we would protect school funding in real terms

:42:14. > :42:21.and we have done. It is the highest level of school funding on record

:42:22. > :42:25.and will rise to in 2020 as school pupil numbers rise. I have to say to

:42:26. > :42:28.her that I do not believe that the party opposite in the way they

:42:29. > :42:32.managed our economy in the past, and if they were ever to get into power,

:42:33. > :42:37.the way they would manage the economy in the future would be able

:42:38. > :42:42.to match that level of funding. I don't think I had an answer about

:42:43. > :42:45.the promise they made, at this rate the Conservative Party manifesto

:42:46. > :42:52.will turn out to be the greatest work of fiction since Paul Nuttall

:42:53. > :42:56.lasted his CV. We are in favour of fairer funding but this is not fair

:42:57. > :43:01.and it is not funding either. Will she finally tell us whether they

:43:02. > :43:07.will meet the promise made by the former Prime Minister that not one

:43:08. > :43:11.pupil would... We made it clear that we would maintain the funding in

:43:12. > :43:17.real pounds, and that is precisely what we're doing at a time of fiscal

:43:18. > :43:19.constraint when we are having to tackle underdone ?50 billion

:43:20. > :43:24.public-sector deficit, inherited from the opposite, we have still

:43:25. > :43:28.protected school funding in real terms and at the same time we are

:43:29. > :43:37.introducing a fairer funding system. Some think that the party opposite

:43:38. > :43:41.failed to do. Question number ten, Mr Speaker. I put social mobility at

:43:42. > :43:47.the heart of everything my department does. New legislation to

:43:48. > :43:51.support greater access to university and investment in technical

:43:52. > :43:56.legislation means that we aim to ensure where at people comes from

:43:57. > :44:00.does not determine whether get to in life. Thank you for the answer. At

:44:01. > :44:03.the all-party group for universities give a day we had an excellent

:44:04. > :44:08.presentation from Sunderland University on all aspects on helping

:44:09. > :44:13.social mobility. Can we ensure that that stretches down to all types of

:44:14. > :44:18.schools, academies, grammars, and secondary and that we learn from

:44:19. > :44:21.each other particularly in the devolved institutions? Indeed, I

:44:22. > :44:26.fully agree with him, the higher educational research Bill enables us

:44:27. > :44:32.to do more for widening access but also participation of these sorts of

:44:33. > :44:35.students. It is all about making sure that universities alongside

:44:36. > :44:45.grammars, faith schools and independent schools can play a

:44:46. > :44:50.stronger role. A broad range of higher education institutions are

:44:51. > :44:54.covered by an existing duty to take reasonably practical steps to ensure

:44:55. > :45:00.freedom of speech, and the Bill in the other place proposes to extend

:45:01. > :45:03.it to all registered providers, the Honourable member will be interested

:45:04. > :45:07.to know that I have today written to the sector, highlighting the

:45:08. > :45:11.importance of this duty and reminding institutions of their

:45:12. > :45:15.responsibilities in this respect and emphasising the importance of rapid

:45:16. > :45:26.action when freedom of speech issues arise. Notwithstanding... Does the

:45:27. > :45:32.Minister agree that we should safeguard universities as places of

:45:33. > :45:36.free speech? Indeed, policies and codes of practice should not be

:45:37. > :45:39.allowed to just gathered dust they are crucial to demonstrating to

:45:40. > :45:43.students that free speech should be the heart of our university system,

:45:44. > :45:49.they need to be meaningful documents that students and staff understand

:45:50. > :45:53.and crucially, respect. Mr Speaker there are of course duties to ensure

:45:54. > :45:57.that children excluded from school have education in place, although

:45:58. > :46:01.there are excellent examples of alternative provision over all

:46:02. > :46:11.outcomes are not good enough. That is why our ambition to mix schools

:46:12. > :46:16.responsible for... Does the Minister share my horror at the dramatic

:46:17. > :46:20.increase in the number of permanent exclusions in Norfolk, 296 in the

:46:21. > :46:24.last academic year, with a hundred students at the last count waiting

:46:25. > :46:28.for a place initial state school, given the awful results for children

:46:29. > :46:32.who are permanently excluded, what message does he spend to Norfolk to

:46:33. > :46:37.sort out this situation? Exclusion should always be a last resort and

:46:38. > :46:41.we need to make sure there are no inappropriate exclusions anywhere in

:46:42. > :46:42.the country. A meeting the gentleman owner another matter so perhaps we

:46:43. > :46:59.can discuss that as well. Thank you. We are building an

:47:00. > :47:02.apprenticeship and skills nation and crafting opportunities to create

:47:03. > :47:08.widespread provisions to meet our skills needs to help those of social

:47:09. > :47:11.disadvantage and we are spending 80 million on national colleges, 170

:47:12. > :47:16.million is an Institute of technology colleges and extra money

:47:17. > :47:20.for further education. I welcome the progress that ministers are making

:47:21. > :47:24.in helping to raise the profile of and standards in technical

:47:25. > :47:28.education, but can my right honourable friend tell the friend

:47:29. > :47:31.house what steps are being taken to help improve the job prospects of

:47:32. > :47:35.those young people who will benefit from the investment announced in the

:47:36. > :47:40.budget? From 2019, students will have a choice of two routes,

:47:41. > :47:46.academic or state-of-the-art technical route, of 15 different

:47:47. > :47:51.route within that. We are investing in that, an extra 500 million on top

:47:52. > :47:55.of existing funds, we are building the skills and the apprenticeship

:47:56. > :48:02.nation the country needs and we are creating the skills that are pupils

:48:03. > :48:12.need. High further education will help Britain lead the fourth

:48:13. > :48:15.technical revolution. My honourable friend is exactly right and I

:48:16. > :48:21.congratulate him for the work he does on this area, our technical

:48:22. > :48:24.education reforms, are apprenticeship reforms are strong

:48:25. > :48:26.backing of further education is exactly what we're doing to create

:48:27. > :48:33.the skills to make sure the people have the jobs and skills they need

:48:34. > :48:43.to their futures. Finally. Question 14.

:48:44. > :48:47.Apprenticeships are jobs and availability is determined by

:48:48. > :48:55.employers offering opportunity, our ambition is to reach 3 billion

:48:56. > :48:59.apprenticeship staffed by 2020 and to support the growth across many

:49:00. > :49:05.regions. Will my honourable friend join me in congratulating a

:49:06. > :49:06.hairdressing Academy in South enter their support of apprenticeships,

:49:07. > :49:17.the excellent busy... My honourable friend is exactly

:49:18. > :49:20.right. I congratulate the headdresses for their support of

:49:21. > :49:29.apprenticeship is. We now have 900,000 apprentices, Mr Speaker. The

:49:30. > :49:32.highest ever on record. With 700 starts, we are building that

:49:33. > :49:38.apprenticeship nation and giving those young people that ladder of

:49:39. > :49:44.opportunity. Question number one, Mr Speaker. The budget announced a ?500

:49:45. > :49:49.million investment in technical education which was hailed by the

:49:50. > :49:54.CBI as a great budget the skills. It also provided for additional half ?1

:49:55. > :49:57.billion on top of that comment new school places and school

:49:58. > :50:02.refurbishment, that is in addition to our announcements over the past

:50:03. > :50:07.few months of ?450 million of school sports facilities and ?215 million

:50:08. > :50:12.fund to help schools properly support pupils with disabilities. Of

:50:13. > :50:15.course, I'm delighted to say that we are taking forward amendments to the

:50:16. > :50:19.children and social work Bill enabling us to put age-appropriate

:50:20. > :50:22.relationship and sex education in secondary schools and relationship

:50:23. > :50:26.education in primary schools on a statutory footing and I want to

:50:27. > :50:31.thank the House for their support in that. A simple yes or no will

:50:32. > :50:37.suffice. Does the educational secretary agree with the

:50:38. > :50:41.international trade secretary when he was... And also the Chancellor

:50:42. > :50:45.and Foreign Secretary that children should not be included in official

:50:46. > :50:50.immigration statistics? I think the important thing is that we remain an

:50:51. > :50:55.open country for international students, because that is one of the

:50:56. > :51:04.best ways we can ensure that our university centre stays world-class.

:51:05. > :51:09.Well, I have just been advised namely that the honourable gentleman

:51:10. > :51:13.for Branford is not here, but fortunately the Honourable member

:51:14. > :51:23.for gelling and is, so we shall hear from him. Will the Minister join me

:51:24. > :51:26.in congratulating a school for my constituency...

:51:27. > :51:44.Good quality teaching is vital to encourage more schools to study stem

:51:45. > :51:48.subjects, we are spending money to recruit and train more maths and

:51:49. > :51:52.physics teachers and we are funding programmes such as the stimulating

:51:53. > :52:00.physics network which seeks to improve engagement the bowels. --

:52:01. > :52:02.engagement for girls. I have no doubt that the Secretary of State

:52:03. > :52:06.understand the ... We now have a situation where

:52:07. > :52:24.the sum will ... In doing so will she reduce the

:52:25. > :52:27.damage that is currently being is caused by Brexit? That the

:52:28. > :52:30.government has been clear on many occasions that it values the

:52:31. > :52:35.contribution EU nationals make to our higher educational and stews and

:52:36. > :52:38.two our research establishment and wants to settle their position as

:52:39. > :52:40.soon as particle quickly pounds, subject to similar steps been put in

:52:41. > :52:49.place Thank you, can my right honourable

:52:50. > :52:53.friend outlined what steps she is taking to insure that schools have

:52:54. > :52:57.structured educational plans in case which provide appropriate levels of

:52:58. > :53:06.additional support for children with special educational needs such as

:53:07. > :53:12.ADHD? Mr Speaker, the zero to 25 code of practice should follow a

:53:13. > :53:15.cycle of third to as SS, plan, do, review, to enable schools to

:53:16. > :53:20.systematically put support in place and review progress and that is the

:53:21. > :53:27.code of practice that is on statutory footing and one all

:53:28. > :53:32.schools have to take account of. Thank you very much. Can the

:53:33. > :53:36.Secretary of State explain how you turn in scrapping her own innovation

:53:37. > :53:42.clauses in the children and social work Bill and since her minister and

:53:43. > :53:46.chief social worker with the key protagonists of these strongly

:53:47. > :53:49.opposed dangerous clauses, Canty also explain how she can possibly

:53:50. > :53:55.remain confident in their abilities to protect our most runnable

:53:56. > :53:58.children? -- can she also. I am very pleased to see the Honourable Lady

:53:59. > :54:03.back, I know she has not been able to be here for some time. It is

:54:04. > :54:09.simple, we were unable to build the consensus that was required to

:54:10. > :54:11.innovate. But, I remain commitment to innovation and would welcome

:54:12. > :54:19.local authorities plans to how they can improve outcomes for children by

:54:20. > :54:26.redesigning their services. Has the trauma centre in Bath received any

:54:27. > :54:32.extra funding and what work is the government doing to better target

:54:33. > :54:39.was also is to improve the work? I can confirm that the trauma recovery

:54:40. > :54:43.has improved received funding to support 16 children in 11 families

:54:44. > :54:48.and I pay tribute to their important work. They are one of 17,000

:54:49. > :54:51.families who have benefited from that new adoption support fund that

:54:52. > :54:54.was created by this government. I will look at the other issue that my

:54:55. > :54:59.honourable friend raise and Doctor impacts outside of the House. If the

:55:00. > :55:03.Minister concerned that when the apprenticeship levy is introduced it

:55:04. > :55:07.will disproportionately benefit London and the South East, rather

:55:08. > :55:12.than areas that the North and particularly Hull, as the money will

:55:13. > :55:14.not be redistributed? Will the Minister look at making sure that

:55:15. > :55:24.the money goes to this areas most in need? We will be spending, bike

:55:25. > :55:27.2020, two and half billion pounds on apprenticeships and most of that is

:55:28. > :55:32.raised through the levy, that will be spent with ever are

:55:33. > :55:38.apprenticeships are needed. Haase where ever are apprenticeships are

:55:39. > :55:41.needed. Earlier this month six Pembrokeshire schools work together

:55:42. > :55:47.to launch their own Academy trust, what can he do to make sure that the

:55:48. > :55:52.Pennine trusts raise aspiration? It is good news that these schools have

:55:53. > :55:57.recognised the potential is to drive school improvement and schools I

:55:58. > :56:04.sing the power of education driving up standards. We are supporting the

:56:05. > :56:09.Pennine trust to harvest the potentials of those schools. Thank

:56:10. > :56:13.you. The EU is the largest research network in the world and Persaud

:56:14. > :56:18.paid big science like the work of gravitational waves between Glasgow

:56:19. > :56:21.University and an institute in Germany. How will the Secretary of

:56:22. > :56:29.State maintain the freedom of movement so crucial to academic

:56:30. > :56:34.collaboration after Brexit? Well, the Prime Minister has been clear in

:56:35. > :56:38.her Lancashire house speech that European research collaboration

:56:39. > :56:42.remains extremely important as an object for our Brexit negotiations

:56:43. > :56:50.and we have said also that we value the contribution that EU nationals

:56:51. > :56:53.make to our scientific endeavours. On Friday I which stood a school in

:56:54. > :56:58.my constituency which makes a huge contribution to the wider community,

:56:59. > :57:02.what role does he see leading independent schools playing in

:57:03. > :57:05.enhancing educational opportunities in their locations?

:57:06. > :57:10.We believe they can play a significant role and is part of the

:57:11. > :57:15.schools that work for everyone consultation. We have had excellent

:57:16. > :57:20.discussions and we look forward to bringing this to a conclusion.

:57:21. > :57:25.Research shows that when a pupil joins a school at a difference on

:57:26. > :57:30.from all the other is the cost is between 250 and ?600. I welcome the

:57:31. > :57:35.inclusion of the mobility factor in the new formula. But putting a 0.1%

:57:36. > :57:40.waiting on it means that the amount will be less than ?70. Will the

:57:41. > :57:46.longer term formula taken more realistic view of the costs? He is

:57:47. > :57:53.right to highlight this and it was the additional factor we put into

:57:54. > :57:57.their working formula when we are now consulting on that were not in

:57:58. > :58:01.the original consultation. I have no doubt he will put in his own

:58:02. > :58:06.consultation response which we would be grateful for. As the Minister of

:58:07. > :58:12.State will know because he has visited the number of times that of

:58:13. > :58:19.her is not only one of the fastest-growing LEAs for student

:58:20. > :58:29.numbers at seven in ten of our primary sector children have English

:58:30. > :58:33.as an additional language. Will the funding reflect this? Again it is

:58:34. > :58:39.part of our fairer funding formula that we are finishing the

:58:40. > :58:52.consultation on this week. We have got to make sure we have to enable

:58:53. > :58:56.all of our children to catch up. What is the Secretary of State doing

:58:57. > :59:00.to improve early years development in the home to make sure that every

:59:01. > :59:11.child is ready to learn on their first date? I eventually get to say

:59:12. > :59:13.something. The home learning environment is absolutely

:59:14. > :59:18.fundamental to early years development. This government is

:59:19. > :59:26.investing over ?6 billion per year in the early years. It is more than

:59:27. > :59:34.any government has ever spent before. Koo Ja-cheol attention to

:59:35. > :59:39.recent research by the business that Cambridge ahead in teacher shortages

:59:40. > :59:42.in Cambridge and given the structural problems they have

:59:43. > :59:47.identified could the Secretary of State Meade King discuss Ed? I would

:59:48. > :59:53.be very happy to meet the honourable gentleman and the headteachers he

:59:54. > :59:56.has in mind. It is deeply shocking that girls including in Leeds are

:59:57. > :00:00.not going to school because they cannot afford sanitary products.

:00:01. > :00:03.Will the Secretary of State eliminate this and introduced free

:00:04. > :00:09.sanitary products for all girls receiving free school meals? He has

:00:10. > :00:16.raised an important issue and it's one I will look at carefully and

:00:17. > :00:20.write to him about. In Dewsbury 50 out of 50 schools will lose funding

:00:21. > :00:26.and not one will gain which is their second highest number of schools

:00:27. > :00:32.facing cuts in any constituency. Thornhill Academy from educating

:00:33. > :00:40.Yorkshire is set to lose ?500,000, nearly ?7,000 per pupil. -- ?700 per

:00:41. > :00:46.pupil. We have protected the core schools budget in fact by 2019-20 at

:00:47. > :00:54.will have risen to ?42 billion per year. All schools will benefit from

:00:55. > :00:57.that. We can no longer accept a country where different children can

:00:58. > :01:05.have different amounts of funding just because of where they are

:01:06. > :01:08.growing up. The problem with the way the secretary of state and the

:01:09. > :01:12.Minister of State describes the so-called fair funding formula is

:01:13. > :01:17.that they imply that they actually give and amounts of money per pupil.

:01:18. > :01:22.But in those places like Peterborough, like Slough, where

:01:23. > :01:25.pupil numbers are increasing fast we have to educate children for free

:01:26. > :01:30.because no money arrives for those pupils until the year and a half

:01:31. > :01:36.later. What is she going to make sure that actually schools in places

:01:37. > :01:42.where the population is growing get funding per pupil? There are two'

:01:43. > :01:46.elements of the proposed fair funding formula that will aid and

:01:47. > :01:50.can help in this issue. One is mobility, we had a question on that

:01:51. > :01:54.today, for children living in the year. The second is in relation to

:01:55. > :01:57.Democratic growth -- demographic growth and she points out how we can

:01:58. > :02:03.make sure we can have a fast response in being able to enable

:02:04. > :02:08.local authorities to cope. In Knowsley Metropolitan Borough in my

:02:09. > :02:12.constituency there will be no academic A-level provision later

:02:13. > :02:16.this year. What is the Secretary of State doing to make sure that many

:02:17. > :02:21.of the young people who live in my constituency can aspire and go and

:02:22. > :02:26.get A-levels and can afford to do so because they now have to travel so

:02:27. > :02:30.far and have no money to do so. As she will know we have had meetings

:02:31. > :02:36.on this very issue fairly recently we are working with the regional

:02:37. > :02:39.schools commission to make sure they will be provision of those who want

:02:40. > :02:46.to study without having to leave the borough. We must now move on. Before

:02:47. > :02:52.I called the honourable gentleman, the member for Denton and Redditch

:02:53. > :02:54.to ask his urgent question, I would emphasise to the house that this

:02:55. > :02:55.question relates to