0:00:08 > 0:00:12Good afternoon and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage of the
0:00:12 > 0:00:15Commons. In an hour, the first of three urgent questions granted by
0:00:15 > 0:00:22this because. The veteran Tory, Sir Bill Cash will be asking a question
0:00:22 > 0:00:28about Government policy on Brexit. The Brexit Minister will reply 4pm.
0:00:28 > 0:00:33Labour ask about recent Taliban attacks in Afghanistan. And then
0:00:33 > 0:00:36Labour backbencher Diana Johnson will be asking for an update into
0:00:36 > 0:00:41the enquiry -- on the enquiry into contaminated blood. The rest of the
0:00:41 > 0:00:45day will be spent on the Armed Forces flexible working bill. Don't
0:00:45 > 0:00:48forget to join me for a round-up of the day in both houses of
0:00:48 > 0:00:54parliament. First, questions to the newly appointed Education Secretary,
0:00:54 > 0:01:02Damian Hines.Thank you, Mr Speaker. With permission, I would answer this
0:01:02 > 0:01:06question with question ten. We have agreed that we will continue to
0:01:06 > 0:01:09benefit from EU programmes till the end of the current budget plan. We
0:01:09 > 0:01:15have reached an agreement on citizens' rights allowing citizens
0:01:15 > 0:01:20to live as now, helping provide certainty to current staff.Thank
0:01:20 > 0:01:24you, Mr Speaker, the Secretary of State will be aware of the comments
0:01:24 > 0:01:28made by Professor Andrea Noland when she told the Scottish affairs
0:01:28 > 0:01:32committee then Brexit would have a significant impact on the higher
0:01:32 > 0:01:35education sector in Scotland. Does the Minister understand the concerns
0:01:35 > 0:01:42and agree with the convener of universities Scotland?Of course,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45people working in the university sector in Scotland, as throughout
0:01:45 > 0:01:50the UK, will be thinking about the future in what will be a time of
0:01:50 > 0:01:54some change. It will remain the case that the United Kingdom has an
0:01:54 > 0:01:57exceptionally strong message to get the world in terms of the strength
0:01:57 > 0:02:02of our institutions, the attractiveness of coming here to
0:02:02 > 0:02:08study and partnering with our institutions on research.Scotland's
0:02:08 > 0:02:13universities have so far been awarded almost 400 million Horizon
0:02:13 > 0:02:202020, and a 11% share of funding secured by all UK institutions.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23Given its huge importance, when will the Government tell universities how
0:02:23 > 0:02:29they plan to square the funding circle after the current programme
0:02:29 > 0:02:42finishes?These are important matters and I know... I think it is
0:02:42 > 0:02:47important we have a guaranteed till the end of the Horizon 2020
0:02:47 > 0:02:50programme. What happens in future will be a matter for us to agree
0:02:50 > 0:02:55with the other nations.May I congratulate my honourable friend on
0:02:55 > 0:03:02his new position. As my honourable friend had a chance to read the
0:03:02 > 0:03:09report published today about the problems of snobbery between higher
0:03:09 > 0:03:11education and technical education? Does he agree with me that
0:03:11 > 0:03:18universities need to do a lot more to embrace technical education
0:03:18 > 0:03:21students, apprenticeships, and financial incentives should go to
0:03:21 > 0:03:26those universities that are encouraging apprenticeships?I
0:03:26 > 0:03:31confess that the report has not yet been read by me, but I look forward
0:03:31 > 0:03:37to reading it when I have time to do so with proper attention. What my
0:03:37 > 0:03:40right honourable friend pensions, and he has consistently campaigned
0:03:40 > 0:03:45on this, it is so important we do not have a wall between the academic
0:03:45 > 0:03:50and the technical and vocational. Degree apprenticeships are a great
0:03:50 > 0:03:53opportunity for more people to benefit from certain types of
0:03:53 > 0:03:57education and to make sure we widen participation.Will my right
0:03:57 > 0:04:06honourable friend join me in welcoming a record number of
0:04:06 > 0:04:11students into our university system again this year?He is correct that
0:04:11 > 0:04:15the United Kingdom remains an exceptionally attractive destination
0:04:15 > 0:04:19for international students, with numbers of non-EU international
0:04:19 > 0:04:24students at a record high, and we want that to continue, of course.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28What conversations has the Minister had with the Home Secretary about
0:04:28 > 0:04:32the contribution made by international students and staff in
0:04:32 > 0:04:36our British universities, and about their classification in immigration
0:04:36 > 0:04:44statistics?I make the point that I totally recognise the value of the
0:04:44 > 0:04:47higher education sector to our country. The migration advisory
0:04:47 > 0:04:51committee will be looking at the question of international students
0:04:51 > 0:04:54as well as that of migration in general so that we can consider
0:04:54 > 0:05:02those things fully.Since the introduction of Horizon 2020, Welsh
0:05:02 > 0:05:05universities have received over 83 million euros in funding from the
0:05:05 > 0:05:10programme, enabling participation in over 2000 collaborations. Could he
0:05:10 > 0:05:17confirm whether the Government intends to negotiate successor
0:05:17 > 0:05:20programmes so that universities in Wales can continue to benefit from
0:05:20 > 0:05:26and contribute to such programmes? Horizon 2020 has worked very well
0:05:26 > 0:05:30for UK universities and we have the second highest number of
0:05:30 > 0:05:33participants in those programmes of any EU state. In the future, it will
0:05:33 > 0:05:40be absolutely vital that we continue to work cooperatively with our near
0:05:40 > 0:05:47neighbours on many things, including the University research.Can I
0:05:47 > 0:05:50welcome the Secretary of State and his team to their place. He will no
0:05:50 > 0:05:55doubt be aware of the challenges of getting young people, especially
0:05:55 > 0:06:02girls, into certain careers. Does he agree that the UK immigration policy
0:06:02 > 0:06:06for prospective academic and research staff from the EU should
0:06:06 > 0:06:12not be restrictive?I alluded a moment or two ago to the migration
0:06:12 > 0:06:15advisory committee and the work they will be doing. This country has
0:06:15 > 0:06:20always been clear that we want to be attractive and welcome the brightest
0:06:20 > 0:06:26and the best. We have a very successful but also very
0:06:26 > 0:06:30international and outward looking education sector, which I anticipate
0:06:30 > 0:06:37continuing.The Royal Society of Edinburgh, in their evidence to the
0:06:37 > 0:06:41migration committee, stated that the UK risks undermining the Scottish
0:06:41 > 0:06:46Government's efforts in developing into rest and uptake of Stem
0:06:46 > 0:06:49subjects if restrictive immigration policies are put in place. So what
0:06:49 > 0:06:53discussions as he had in this area with the Home Secretary and with
0:06:53 > 0:07:00university principals to commit to looking at a tailored immigration
0:07:00 > 0:07:07policy for Scotland?As I say, we will of course be looking at all
0:07:07 > 0:07:12aspects of this, both with regard to students and academics, and indeed
0:07:12 > 0:07:16more widely, the migration advisory committee is looking at immigration
0:07:16 > 0:07:21and the role it plays in different sectors of the economy. We continue
0:07:21 > 0:07:24to discuss with our neighbours what will happen in the future. The
0:07:24 > 0:07:28universities minister will be speaking with EU science ministers
0:07:28 > 0:07:31later this week, and scissors in the interest of everyone that we work
0:07:31 > 0:07:36for the good of the UK to make sure we have such a highly successful
0:07:36 > 0:07:43education system.With your permission, I would like to answer
0:07:43 > 0:07:49this question with question 22. In 2013, we published a new primary
0:07:49 > 0:07:52school curriculum that significantly raised expectations in English and
0:07:52 > 0:07:57maths and which promoted the use of phonics in the teaching of reading.
0:07:57 > 0:08:05In 2012, we introduced the phonics cheque for six-year-olds. A 2016
0:08:05 > 0:08:08study showed nine-year-olds in England showing the highest ever
0:08:08 > 0:08:12scores, moving England up from joint tenth the joint eighth out of 50
0:08:12 > 0:08:17countries worldwide.I am grateful for that answer. Thanks to some
0:08:17 > 0:08:22tough decisions by the Minister for schools and sheer hard work by our
0:08:22 > 0:08:27teachers, reading standards are the highest for a generation, but sadly,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30disadvantaged children still lag behind. What is the Minister and his
0:08:30 > 0:08:42department doing to address that? The survey links strong performance
0:08:42 > 0:08:48with good results in the test. We are now focusing on strengthening
0:08:48 > 0:08:51the maths, reading and writing elements of the early years
0:08:51 > 0:08:56foundation stage to help prepare children for year one of primary
0:08:56 > 0:09:03school. The attainment gap has closed by 10.5% at Key stage two. We
0:09:03 > 0:09:08want to go further and close the gap altogether.I do regular phonics
0:09:08 > 0:09:14practice with my children, which is the Minister has said, is helping
0:09:14 > 0:09:20children get better at reading. But there doesn't seem to be the same
0:09:20 > 0:09:24focus on practising core maths skills in primary schools. Could my
0:09:24 > 0:09:29right honourable friend advise what he is doing to improve Martin
0:09:29 > 0:09:33primary School, especially the learning of times tables?My
0:09:33 > 0:09:36honourable friend is absolutely right to emphasise... And thank you,
0:09:36 > 0:09:42by the way, for making sure how children learn their phonics. She is
0:09:42 > 0:09:44absolutely right to emphasise the importance of children knowing there
0:09:44 > 0:09:49are times tables by heart up to 12 times 12 by the end of year for
0:09:49 > 0:09:51regulators. That is why we are introducing an on-screen
0:09:51 > 0:09:57multiplication tables checked for all pupils at the end of year four
0:09:57 > 0:10:01of primary school. The prize is to have all pupils leaving primary
0:10:01 > 0:10:05school is fluent in their multiplication tables, ensuring they
0:10:05 > 0:10:09have the essential foundation for success in mathematics at secondary
0:10:09 > 0:10:13school.The reality is that children can only improve their literacy and
0:10:13 > 0:10:17humorously if they are in school. In North East Lincolnshire, children
0:10:17 > 0:10:22lost nearly 3500 days of education last year alone. What will the
0:10:22 > 0:10:28Government make sure -- what role the Government do to make sure that
0:10:28 > 0:10:35more children in my area don't lose out juju exclusion?It is important
0:10:35 > 0:10:39we change the definition of persistent absence from 15% to 10%.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43We will increase the fines that will be applied to parents who don't send
0:10:43 > 0:10:48their children to school regularly. The Minister for school standards
0:10:48 > 0:10:53will have seen independent research showing that Harrow is the best
0:10:53 > 0:10:57place to send your children to school. Perhaps the Minister will
0:10:57 > 0:11:02come to my borough to see what is working in terms of literacy and
0:11:02 > 0:11:05numerous it. If he does, he will meet headteachers very concerned
0:11:05 > 0:11:09about cuts to their budgets as a result of a lack of sufficient
0:11:09 > 0:11:13funding from the Government. What is the Minister going to do about that?
0:11:13 > 0:11:17Can I congratulate all the teachers and pupils in Harrow for receiving
0:11:17 > 0:11:22that accolade. Can I say about school funding, we are spending
0:11:22 > 0:11:28record amounts on school funding - £41 billion this year. No Government
0:11:28 > 0:11:33has spent that much on our schools in our history, and it will rise to
0:11:33 > 0:11:3944.2 billion next year.The Minister will know that only 1% of children
0:11:39 > 0:11:43moving from mainstream to alternative provision during their
0:11:43 > 0:11:46GCSE years achieved good GCSEs including English and maths. What
0:11:46 > 0:11:51more can be done to support this important group of students?We seem
0:11:51 > 0:11:58to have gone from Harrow to rugby. But it doesn't mean that others
0:11:58 > 0:12:02can't take part. And we are focused, predominantly, on the state sector.
0:12:02 > 0:12:10Minister of State...
0:12:10 > 0:12:16My honourable friend raises a valid point. These are honourable children
0:12:16 > 0:12:21attending these schools. We have commissioned new research into the
0:12:21 > 0:12:27relationship with alternative provisions to see what we can do to
0:12:27 > 0:12:32raise standards.The situation in Wirral is that we have fine teachers
0:12:32 > 0:12:38but insufficient government resources. I want all the schools in
0:12:38 > 0:12:43my constituency, Mr Speaker, when it comes to literacy and numeracy to be
0:12:43 > 0:12:47good or outstanding. In the case of one the rapidly improving school,
0:12:47 > 0:12:52Bedlington high school, there seems to be an administrative delay
0:12:52 > 0:12:56getting in the way of teaching and learning and the resources for that.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00But the minister meet with me so we can bring our leadership to stop the
0:13:00 > 0:13:04red tape getting in the way of children's learning.We do want all
0:13:04 > 0:13:08schools to be good or outstanding. We want parents to be confident that
0:13:08 > 0:13:13the local school is a good score that will provide a high standard of
0:13:13 > 0:13:20education. That is why today I am pleased there are 1.9 million more
0:13:20 > 0:13:23pupils in good or outstanding schools banned the work in 2010.
0:13:23 > 0:13:31I'll be happy to meet the honourable lady.What the school minister join
0:13:31 > 0:13:40me in congratulating Greenfield School. Prior to becoming an academy
0:13:40 > 0:13:43it was one of the most challenged schools in Kettering with progress
0:13:43 > 0:13:53levels below average.I am happy to congratulate the school in his
0:13:53 > 0:14:02constituency. I just signed a letter congratulating the headteacher on
0:14:02 > 0:14:09the achievements.Key stage two statistics have shown that the
0:14:09 > 0:14:11attainment gap between children on school meals and their peers has
0:14:11 > 0:14:24widened. At least the last secretary of state talk the talk on social
0:14:24 > 0:14:30mobility. Is it not clear that the government does not walk the walk?
0:14:30 > 0:14:35The honourable gentleman is not correct. The attainment gap at Key
0:14:35 > 0:14:40stage two has closed by 10.5%. We have seen a significant increase in
0:14:40 > 0:14:48the proportion achieving the expected standard in English and
0:14:48 > 0:14:54maths rising to 61%. These are significantly more demanding tests
0:14:54 > 0:14:59than in previous years. We are producing a cohort of primary school
0:14:59 > 0:15:03leavers who are far better equipped in maths and English, ready for the
0:15:03 > 0:15:14demands of secondary school. Ministry of State. We are consulting
0:15:14 > 0:15:19on the proposals in our green paper on children and young people's
0:15:19 > 0:15:23mental health. It was published last month and supported by over £300
0:15:23 > 0:15:31million of funding. There are plans to train mental health leads in
0:15:31 > 0:15:35schools. Schools will also receive... I am so sorry, Mr
0:15:35 > 0:15:44Speaker. That is anticipating the next question. Can I said that with
0:15:44 > 0:15:48your permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to take this question with
0:15:48 > 0:15:57question 12. Schools can teach about dodgy BT issues within the
0:15:57 > 0:16:10curriculum and they must comply with the equality act. -- LBGT issues.
0:16:10 > 0:16:17Relationship education and sex education is compulsory and we are
0:16:17 > 0:16:20speaking to stake holders about this to make sure that they are adequate
0:16:20 > 0:16:25and age-appropriate.With the change in leadership at the Department of
0:16:25 > 0:16:41the new Secretary of State, or the Department, is the view that issues
0:16:41 > 0:16:51regarding the...Young people need to learn that there are different
0:16:51 > 0:16:54types of relationships and that RSC should meet the needs of all young
0:16:54 > 0:17:00people.Can the Minister provide detail on how schools will be
0:17:00 > 0:17:04assessed to make sure they are including these lessons and what Ben
0:17:04 > 0:17:09Trott will be used to measure this? These are the issues that we are
0:17:09 > 0:17:14engaging in with subject experts. There was a wide call for evidence
0:17:14 > 0:17:24from teachers, pupils and parents. There will be a full debate on this
0:17:24 > 0:17:36in the house one week dropped the regulations.There was no general
0:17:36 > 0:17:51guidance regarding rights are met by children with C and D.I think the
0:17:51 > 0:17:55honourable lady is thinking of a matter of great importance with
0:17:55 > 0:18:08which the relationship to the current question is not clear.A
0:18:08 > 0:18:21number of things have been done regarding restructuring money and
0:18:21 > 0:18:28mergers of institutions. We've appointed seven national leaders of
0:18:28 > 0:18:31further education and the work of the FT commissioner has had a vital
0:18:31 > 0:18:36role. That work has also been extended.I'm grateful to the
0:18:36 > 0:18:45Minister for her answer. East Coast College is doing great work to
0:18:45 > 0:18:49provide social mobility and productivity, but it needs to be
0:18:49 > 0:18:53properly funded. What steps are being taken to make sure colleges
0:18:53 > 0:18:59can deliver a high quality rounded curriculum.Funding is important
0:18:59 > 0:19:03which is why I mention those figures. The strategic College
0:19:03 > 0:19:08improvement fund is important. Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth merged
0:19:08 > 0:19:14to form is close college, a more financially viable institution. We
0:19:14 > 0:19:18are putting 500 million a year in the technical education to increase
0:19:18 > 0:19:25the hours of learning for those on technical routes. £20 million to
0:19:25 > 0:19:33help teachers prepare for that. I am aware that this is a complex sector
0:19:33 > 0:19:37delivering a wide range of courses in quite difficult financial
0:19:37 > 0:19:49circumstances.Too long.Then I thank her for her efforts on behalf
0:19:49 > 0:19:54of Exeter College which was not granted the contract by the learning
0:19:54 > 0:19:58and skills funding agency to provide apprenticeships through small firms.
0:19:58 > 0:20:03I would like to continue with those efforts, working with officials from
0:20:03 > 0:20:08her department and agency because if it is not rectified it will do
0:20:08 > 0:20:13serious damage to the provision of apprenticeships in Exeter and Exeter
0:20:13 > 0:20:18College which is one of the top performing colleges in the country.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23I praise my officials who continue to work with individual members to
0:20:23 > 0:20:30make sure these problems are ironed out.Does my right honourable friend
0:20:30 > 0:20:34agree with me that the input of businesses is key to delivering
0:20:34 > 0:20:44high-quality further and technical dedication?He is absolutely right.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Further education colleges are critical in drawing together
0:20:47 > 0:20:51businesses from the local area and along with local authorities they
0:20:51 > 0:20:54can have a significant impact on the education and training that young
0:20:54 > 0:21:02people get.Wakefield College opened its implants schools and renovations
0:21:02 > 0:21:06-- innovation Centre last year which will help entrepreneurs start their
0:21:06 > 0:21:18own business. However, the collaborative programme is up in the
0:21:18 > 0:21:28air because of her department's lack of input.She is right to praise the
0:21:28 > 0:21:34work of Wakefield College. Colleges like that are real examples of what
0:21:34 > 0:21:39can be achieved. I appreciate the importance of outreach work. I'm
0:21:39 > 0:21:45happy to discuss it further with her at any time.With the Minister agree
0:21:45 > 0:21:51that sixth form colleges are an extremely valuable part of our
0:21:51 > 0:21:56education system making that great link between education and
0:21:56 > 0:21:59employment? But the Minister kindly meet with me to discover whether in
0:21:59 > 0:22:05a tertiary review funding may be lowered to age 16 instead of
0:22:05 > 0:22:11starting at age 18.I'm always happy to meet with my honourable friend.
0:22:11 > 0:22:16Sixth form colleges do an excellent job. I was recently at a conference
0:22:16 > 0:22:22for six on colleges and I will do everything I can to support them.
0:22:22 > 0:22:3021% less, that is what the student gets, 16-19, compared to 11-16. The
0:22:30 > 0:22:36tertiary review needs to start with tertiary education at 16-19. Can the
0:22:36 > 0:22:40Minister confirm that it will be included in the review?The review
0:22:40 > 0:22:46is under discussion but as the honourable gentleman knows I I have
0:22:46 > 0:22:58my tin hat out my battle dress on. I will always campaign for those young
0:22:58 > 0:23:02people who don't go to university. How can the Minister to confidently
0:23:02 > 0:23:21when the whole record on further education is a mess. Five sector
0:23:21 > 0:23:27leaders are calling for a levy briefing. Will she get a grip on it
0:23:27 > 0:23:32and will she make sure that she does not claim that those concerned
0:23:32 > 0:23:44running FE down? Her party is split on AG and FE politics.I reject the
0:23:44 > 0:23:47honourable gentleman's suggestion that this is a mess. For the first
0:23:47 > 0:23:53time a government has really got to grips with this. I will be running a
0:23:53 > 0:23:56training session for members from all political parties and I suggest
0:23:56 > 0:24:02the honourable gentleman comes along. It is very easy to get
0:24:02 > 0:24:06apprentices if you don't care about the quality, but I do care about the
0:24:06 > 0:24:10quality. It's really important we raise the quality, raise the number
0:24:10 > 0:24:19and make sure young people have the skills they need for the future.
0:24:19 > 0:24:26Jamie Stone. Number five, Mr Speaker. The proportion of children
0:24:26 > 0:24:31taking a language has increased. In December we outlined plans to
0:24:31 > 0:24:39improve language teaching in England.I also welcome the
0:24:39 > 0:24:43Secretary of State to his place. I've listened to the answer with
0:24:43 > 0:24:47great interest. North of the border Scotland's economic prosperity will
0:24:47 > 0:24:53be dependent on young people having the best of language skills. Will
0:24:53 > 0:24:55the Secretary of State and his department be good enough to share
0:24:55 > 0:25:01the best practice with the Scottish Government so that we can... Who
0:25:01 > 0:25:11will share information with the Scottish Government.Just as in
0:25:11 > 0:25:15England we have looked across the world for the best practice in
0:25:15 > 0:25:20various subjects. We are happy to share with others and I am very keen
0:25:20 > 0:25:22to work collaboratively with the Scottish Government so we can both
0:25:22 > 0:25:38see what we can learn from each other.Do you not agree
0:25:39 > 0:25:43with me, what the secretary of state not agree with me that Germany is a
0:25:43 > 0:25:47very important language to learn because only does it give you the
0:25:47 > 0:25:50grammatical structures that you would otherwise learn with Latin,
0:25:50 > 0:25:56which we very rarely do in our schools nowadays. It's easy to speak
0:25:56 > 0:26:06German with a convincing accent if you are British.Order, order! Can I
0:26:06 > 0:26:16just remind ministers that there is no obligation to provide
0:26:16 > 0:26:19multi-sentence replies. There is no prohibition on a single sentence
0:26:19 > 0:26:27reply. Some people think they are quite desirable.Secretary of State.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31I don't quite know where to go after that, but he makes an interesting
0:26:31 > 0:26:48point regarding the value of languages.We are suitably impressed
0:26:48 > 0:26:52when 80% of children in EU member states learn a second language in
0:26:52 > 0:26:55primary school. What will the Minister do to make sure children in
0:26:55 > 0:27:02the UK don't fall behind?It starts with an international outlook. It's
0:27:02 > 0:27:06about encouraging more teachers to come here to teach foreign
0:27:06 > 0:27:15languages.The number of entries for GCSE Mandarin has increased. Will be
0:27:15 > 0:27:17secretary of state continued to support that and other landlord is
0:27:17 > 0:27:27spoken in the bar's fastest-growing economies?
0:27:27 > 0:27:33Fifth the Mandarin programme is very much in focus at the Department for
0:27:33 > 0:27:48Education.By 2019-20 we will be spending the...A recent survey by
0:27:48 > 0:27:56the preschool learning Alliance finds that one fifth of nurseries
0:27:56 > 0:28:00don't think they will be financially viable in a year. Will the Minister
0:28:00 > 0:28:06commit to reviewing the funding rates before more places rated good
0:28:06 > 0:28:09and outstanding by Ofsted close-down?Can I thank the
0:28:09 > 0:28:13honourable member for the question. The Government has always been clear
0:28:13 > 0:28:16that providers can choose whether to offer the 30 hours and what pattern
0:28:16 > 0:28:25of days and hours they offer. Evaluation indicated that a higher
0:28:25 > 0:28:28proportion of providers were able and willing to offer 30 hours and
0:28:28 > 0:28:33there were no indications that there was a financial barrier to that.May
0:28:33 > 0:28:39I welcome to the men -- welcome the Minister to his place. The
0:28:39 > 0:28:43Government promised 33 hours of childcare for all working parents of
0:28:43 > 0:28:473-4 -year-olds. Yet it has been revealed that only a third of
0:28:47 > 0:28:51providers can offer the hour is completely free. Four in ten don't
0:28:51 > 0:28:58think they will be all bull -- able to offer the scheme next year. It
0:28:58 > 0:29:02will only work of minute -- it will not work if the ministers go ahead
0:29:02 > 0:29:08with the real terms cuts to funding. Will he rethink the Scouts? Pay
0:29:08 > 0:29:14providers fairly and keep the promises made the families?We've
0:29:14 > 0:29:18seen no significant issues with parents actually gaining places with
0:29:18 > 0:29:22providers for 30 hours, and of course, we keep monitoring the
0:29:22 > 0:29:24situation but there are no significant issues. The numbers are
0:29:24 > 0:29:32very promising at the moment. Question seven, Mr Speaker.Since
0:29:32 > 0:29:362010, the number of open academies and free schools has increased to
0:29:36 > 0:29:41almost seven and a half thousand. The number of primary schools
0:29:41 > 0:29:44converting to academies has grown significantly, and as of the first
0:29:44 > 0:29:58of the year, there were 4592.Thank you, Mr Speaker. One local authority
0:29:58 > 0:30:05has more than 25% shares. It has been converting primary schools in
0:30:05 > 0:30:10my area since September. And the Secretary of State clarify the
0:30:10 > 0:30:14Government position on local Government control of
0:30:14 > 0:30:17multi-authority Academy trusts?We limit local authority representation
0:30:17 > 0:30:23on Academy trust boards to help maintain the independence of
0:30:23 > 0:30:26academies while ensuring boards can benefit from the right mix of skills
0:30:26 > 0:30:30and experience. I am happy to meet with my honourable friend to discuss
0:30:30 > 0:30:36his concerns.Can I welcome the new Secretary of State to his position.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39I wonder since taking up opposite the hazard a chance to read and
0:30:39 > 0:30:44reflect upon a letter which the cross-party education select
0:30:44 > 0:30:48committee wrote to the Minister following our evidence hearing from
0:30:48 > 0:30:51the Minister and the National schools commissioner about what we
0:30:51 > 0:30:56feel is a lack of oversight and accountability, and critically, a
0:30:56 > 0:31:03lack of transparency, when it comes to the oversight of multi-Academy
0:31:03 > 0:31:07trusts?We have a framework in place. Academies have been a
0:31:07 > 0:31:12fundamental part of the improvements we have seen in schools. The
0:31:12 > 0:31:15multi-Academy trusts in turn are a fundamental part of making sure good
0:31:15 > 0:31:19practice can be spread more widely across the system. We have good
0:31:19 > 0:31:23practice guidance which is published. There are audited
0:31:23 > 0:31:27accounts and various processes. Ultimately, the Secretary of State
0:31:27 > 0:31:36is accountable to Parliament for the performance of the schools system.
0:31:36 > 0:31:41Will my right honourable friend, in promoting multi-Academy trusts, also
0:31:41 > 0:31:46show the role which secondary schools can have in leading the
0:31:46 > 0:31:49primary schools that become part of those trusts? That will be very
0:31:49 > 0:31:52important for people attending primary schools and then going to
0:31:52 > 0:31:58that secondary school in due course. My right honourable friend makes a
0:31:58 > 0:32:02very important point. The different phases of education can share a
0:32:02 > 0:32:08great deal of expertise.Mr Speaker, all this focus on structures is
0:32:08 > 0:32:12taking us away from the real issue - even Tory Party donors this weekend
0:32:12 > 0:32:16and Academy chain heads are talking about real terms cut the funding,
0:32:16 > 0:32:20which is what I am seeing in my constituency. Will this Government
0:32:20 > 0:32:24please face up to the real crisis, the real terms cut in schools
0:32:24 > 0:32:29funding?There is more money going into our schools in this country
0:32:29 > 0:32:35than ever before in their history of the country. We know that in real
0:32:35 > 0:32:39terms, per pupil, across the system, it is increasing. With the national
0:32:39 > 0:32:48funding for mark-up -- funding formula, they will see a cash
0:32:48 > 0:32:54increase.Question eight.Michael policies, we continue to monitor the
0:32:54 > 0:32:58pupil premium for effectiveness and value for money through the
0:32:58 > 0:33:01educational endowment foundation. We seek to make sure that schools are
0:33:01 > 0:33:07confident in using this evidence. Wiltshire teachers continually
0:33:07 > 0:33:11stressed the concerns that many parents fear the stigma of
0:33:11 > 0:33:19registering for free school meals, meaning there kids don't get pupil
0:33:19 > 0:33:23premium. Will the Minister make the link to ensure that all children who
0:33:23 > 0:33:27need the additional funding do get a?Let me be clear, we should not
0:33:27 > 0:33:31allow any stigma to get in the way of parents seeking the best for
0:33:31 > 0:33:34their children. We will continue to highlight effective practice from
0:33:34 > 0:33:38those schools that have really made a great effort to get children
0:33:38 > 0:33:43register for free school meals and make sure that actually we share
0:33:43 > 0:33:48that practice with all schools and local authorities.Can I share the
0:33:48 > 0:33:53opinion of the honourable member for Chippenham that in rural areas there
0:33:53 > 0:33:57is still stigma, and people will not put their children forward for free
0:33:57 > 0:34:01school meals and therefore as a matter of fact for the pupil
0:34:01 > 0:34:05premium. Will he look again at the criteria to make sure these children
0:34:05 > 0:34:13are not losing out?We wanted to make it that way we want to make it
0:34:13 > 0:34:17as simple as possible for schools and local authorities to determine
0:34:17 > 0:34:20eligibility. We are exploring opportunities to make the system
0:34:20 > 0:34:33more efficient.Puma will -- it is used more effectively in some
0:34:33 > 0:34:37schools than in others. Can the Minister tell the How is what plans
0:34:37 > 0:34:42the department has the get Ofsted to look more closely at usage and drive
0:34:42 > 0:34:49forward best practice across our schools? -- tell the House.The
0:34:49 > 0:34:55education foundation is looking at this seriously.Pupil premium Islam
0:34:55 > 0:34:58act to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds and to
0:34:58 > 0:35:03address poor attainment, yet is the Minister as concerned as I am that
0:35:03 > 0:35:05the northern powerhouses reported to have identified that aren't about
0:35:05 > 0:35:09this debris is a growing north - south divide that is impacting
0:35:09 > 0:35:22attainment too?Everything we are about is narrowing the gap.Thank
0:35:22 > 0:35:26you, Mr Speaker. Can I again welcome the new Secretary of State to his
0:35:26 > 0:35:31place. I wonder if he could join me in getting a copy of the
0:35:31 > 0:35:38Conservative manifesto from the library? It is filed under political
0:35:38 > 0:35:43fiction, Mr Speaker, where he will note is a pledge to protect funding
0:35:43 > 0:35:49for the pupil premium. But instead, it's been cut by over £100 million
0:35:49 > 0:35:53in real terms this spending period. So will he now act to keep that
0:35:53 > 0:36:06promise?I would confirm that the figures are the same figures.Number
0:36:06 > 0:36:1811.Thank you, Mr Speaker. The year of engineering this year is a
0:36:18 > 0:36:22campaign to rose the profile of jobs in engineering for all young people.
0:36:22 > 0:36:27There Rover 980 partners who have signed up to be part of it,
0:36:27 > 0:36:32including workshops, toolkits for use in schools and...The Minister
0:36:32 > 0:36:39was seeking to group this with question 15. Ministers seem a tad
0:36:39 > 0:36:47kebab your -- discombobulated this afternoon.If I may, with your
0:36:47 > 0:36:54permission, take questions 11 and 15 together.Students in my
0:36:54 > 0:36:59constituency came first in the UK National Robotics competition and
0:36:59 > 0:37:02represented their country in Washington. Would my honourable
0:37:02 > 0:37:06friend agree that this is exactly the kind of initiative that gets
0:37:06 > 0:37:10people interested in Stem subjects and will encourage them to take them
0:37:10 > 0:37:15up as careers?The competition must be the subject of young people's
0:37:15 > 0:37:20dreams. I would indeed congratulate colleagues and state that £406
0:37:20 > 0:37:26million in the autumn budget was put aside to improve skills, including a
0:37:26 > 0:37:32maths premium for 16-19 -year-olds, but also driving up interest in
0:37:32 > 0:37:38engineering.I'm an engineer, and I started as an apprentice. It is the
0:37:38 > 0:37:42year of engineering, but the industry is facing a shortfall of
0:37:42 > 0:37:4620,000 places. Does the Minister agree that apprenticeships are a
0:37:46 > 0:37:50good, cost-effective way to study engineering, and if so, can she tell
0:37:50 > 0:37:54me what the Government is doing to promote them?They are an excellent
0:37:54 > 0:37:58way to study engineering, and I would point her to the degree
0:37:58 > 0:38:06apprenticeships, postgraduate it's in technical -- postgraduates in
0:38:06 > 0:38:10digital technology and John Moore's unliveable. We put money aside to
0:38:10 > 0:38:13help with the development of apprenticeships, a brilliant way for
0:38:13 > 0:38:18young people to get skills. Engineering is a fantastic career,
0:38:18 > 0:38:22as I know very well, but because there are so few women engineers,
0:38:22 > 0:38:27just 8%, it is much harder for girls in particular to see engineering
0:38:27 > 0:38:32role models. Can the Minister tell me who, specifically, is responsible
0:38:32 > 0:38:36for getting more engineers into schools to share their experience,
0:38:36 > 0:38:42and more schools in the engineering companies? And how is their success
0:38:42 > 0:38:46being measured?As I can say to the honourable lady, 980 partners have
0:38:46 > 0:38:52signed up. The honourable member for South Basildon and Easter is the
0:38:52 > 0:38:55Government envoy during this year of engineering. It is critical, we're
0:38:55 > 0:39:04putting real money... We are putting real money into improving the
0:39:04 > 0:39:13teaching of maths for 16-19 -year-olds. As I said earlier, it is
0:39:13 > 0:39:15important to use colleges and local authorities to get engineers into
0:39:15 > 0:39:22schools to teach children about the prospects that exist. I join Jo
0:39:22 > 0:39:27point to the gender pay gap, which they will see is large in
0:39:27 > 0:39:31engineering. There is opportunity out there.It is estimated the UK
0:39:31 > 0:39:36will require 1.8 million additional engineers by 2025. The Scottish
0:39:36 > 0:39:40Government has published a stem education and training strategy.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44Well the Secretary of State do something similarly concrete to
0:39:44 > 0:39:48encourage girls into engineering? There was a lot of concrete work
0:39:48 > 0:39:51happening, going back to the apprenticeship levy. Engineering
0:39:51 > 0:39:58companies are putting money aside into an account. Employers want
0:39:58 > 0:40:02engineers and will employ them, particularly those doing degree
0:40:02 > 0:40:08apprenticeships.Number 13, Mr Speaker.It is clearly incredibly
0:40:08 > 0:40:12important that autistic children are well supported in their education.
0:40:12 > 0:40:18We have funded the autism education trust since 2012 to deliver training
0:40:18 > 0:40:22to education staff in early years, school and further education.I
0:40:22 > 0:40:26thank the Minister by his reply, and we look forward to welcoming the
0:40:26 > 0:40:30Secretary of State on Wednesday when the HP GG for autism launches its
0:40:30 > 0:40:39report. Will he commit to implementing the report's
0:40:39 > 0:40:41recommendations to improve the educational experience for children
0:40:41 > 0:40:46with autism in this country?I wholeheartedly welcome the report. I
0:40:46 > 0:40:49know the Secretary of State is visiting on Wednesday, and I look
0:40:49 > 0:40:53forward to meeting with her and discussing the report fully with
0:40:53 > 0:41:01colleagues.When my own county Derbyshire is about to cut almost £3
0:41:01 > 0:41:05million from children's services, including almost 400,000 from
0:41:05 > 0:41:10special and disability services to support children, schools are
0:41:10 > 0:41:15already struggling. How will these cuts help, and how will the
0:41:15 > 0:41:20Government ensure that support for special needs children is improved?
0:41:20 > 0:41:25No local authority needs to cut those services. We are investing 9
0:41:25 > 0:41:29billion in children's services. Like Hackney, they see it as a priority.
0:41:29 > 0:41:34There is no reason for her local authority to do that.Thank you very
0:41:34 > 0:41:38much, Mr Speaker. I would also like to welcome the Minister to his
0:41:38 > 0:41:43place. The healthy pupils fund was designed to help pupils with a range
0:41:43 > 0:41:47of health needs. The department promised to protect that fund in
0:41:47 > 0:41:52full, yet they have cut it, leaving a gap of 200 million between income
0:41:52 > 0:41:57from the sugar levy and their
0:41:57 > 0:41:58spending commitments. Can the Minister explain why he is content
0:41:58 > 0:42:02to see funding in this area slashed, and will he guarantee there will be
0:42:02 > 0:42:11no more cuts to come?Is not only is the money from the sugar levy, we're
0:42:11 > 0:42:19giving over and above that to make sure students are healthy.
0:42:19 > 0:42:25Schools have always been subject to inspection, by Her Majesty 's
0:42:25 > 0:42:29inspectors and from 1992 by Ofsted, since 2010 we have simplified
0:42:29 > 0:42:35inspection, reducing graded judgment from 27 to just four, freed best
0:42:35 > 0:42:39schools from routine inspection and introduced lighter touch inspections
0:42:39 > 0:42:47for good schools.We face a teacher retention crisis in this country,
0:42:47 > 0:42:51one head in Oxford recently described to me, after a devastating
0:42:51 > 0:42:56OxfordOfsted inspection that she and her staff felt criminalised.
0:42:56 > 0:43:00What is being done to change the culture of fear changed by
0:43:00 > 0:43:05inspection, that has been identified as one of the biggest burdens on
0:43:05 > 0:43:10teachers. I have identified a range of drivers, including accountability
0:43:10 > 0:43:14and perceived pressures, we took steps to address this, in the 2017
0:43:14 > 0:43:23action plan, including the dedication to reducing...And by
0:43:23 > 0:43:27training inspectors and monitoring reports. The Winter 2016 teacher
0:43:27 > 0:43:32voice on the bus survey shows that 39% of head teachers had used advice
0:43:32 > 0:43:41from Ofsted to change practice to reduce unnecessaryworkload.
0:43:48 > 0:43:52£100,000 has been spent just last year on recruitment alone, when will
0:43:52 > 0:43:55the government end rip-off agency fees, or introduce its own portal to
0:43:55 > 0:44:02better link available teachers and recruiting schools.Working to
0:44:02 > 0:44:06introduce a free website to enable schools to recruit teachers through
0:44:06 > 0:44:15their website.All children must be kept safe, we take tough
0:44:15 > 0:44:21intervention action when any council fails in its duty.William rigged.
0:44:21 > 0:44:25As the case in Rotherham shows, the introduction of high-quality
0:44:25 > 0:44:28leadership is of course part of the answer, but will my honourable
0:44:28 > 0:44:35friend in his portfolio take on board the portfolio suggestion of
0:44:35 > 0:44:39this port committee -- select committee, and give guidance when
0:44:39 > 0:44:43suggested intervention.Many government professionals provide
0:44:43 > 0:44:47support and guidance that works within the authority existing
0:44:47 > 0:44:51structure, in the most serious structures, -- cases, independent
0:44:51 > 0:44:55commission will provide that, and the ultimate reprimand is putting
0:44:55 > 0:45:02them in trust.We cannot afford to have failing children services but
0:45:02 > 0:45:07how far do ministers on the benches opposite recognised the massively
0:45:07 > 0:45:10increased demand on children services in Britain, seems like
0:45:10 > 0:45:14sexual exploitation of young people, as well as a whole range of
0:45:14 > 0:45:18difficulties caused by poverty in the home. What does that mean in
0:45:18 > 0:45:26terms of commitment of funding?I have been to see both Hackney and
0:45:26 > 0:45:30Doncaster, in Hackney's case, a turnaround in 2006 and Doncaster,
0:45:30 > 0:45:35over the last two years, it is about leadership, and better quality --
0:45:35 > 0:45:38that equality of outcome depends upon not just the leaders at the top
0:45:38 > 0:45:42of the social workers at the front line being able to feel confident in
0:45:42 > 0:45:50the service they provide.The honourable gentleman's sedentary
0:45:50 > 0:45:53chuntering would constitute a book in itself, and it may sell rather
0:45:53 > 0:46:00well(!)LAUGHTER Secretary of State. This government
0:46:00 > 0:46:03is committing to providing a world-class education for all young
0:46:03 > 0:46:07people, raising attainment and narrowing the gap between the
0:46:07 > 0:46:10affluent and the disadvantage, working with dedicated teachers and
0:46:10 > 0:46:14professionals throughout education and beyond, and must continue to
0:46:14 > 0:46:17raise standards, from early years through to further and higher
0:46:17 > 0:46:21education and ensure the right care and support are always there for
0:46:21 > 0:46:25society's honourable children. I will work to make sure that the
0:46:25 > 0:46:28education system offers opportunity to everyone in every phase and every
0:46:28 > 0:46:31place, the successes are clear, 1.9 million more children in good or
0:46:31 > 0:46:34outstanding schools and latest figures showing the attainment gap
0:46:34 > 0:46:39narrowed by 10% but there is more to do, to spread opportunity,
0:46:39 > 0:46:46particularly in areas of the country is Dorothy left behind.I recently
0:46:46 > 0:46:49visited Ashmore Parc Nursery School in my constituency which provides
0:46:49 > 0:46:54outstanding education as to 60% of nursery schools across the country.
0:46:54 > 0:47:00Unfortunately, the future of their funding is in doubt, will the
0:47:00 > 0:47:02Secretary of State guarantee their sustainable funding beyond 2020?
0:47:02 > 0:47:08Secretary of State.I join with the honourable lady in paying tribute to
0:47:08 > 0:47:10that local nursery and I would point out this government is spending more
0:47:10 > 0:47:15on childcare and early years than any previous government, not only
0:47:15 > 0:47:22with the 30 hours commitment but the extra provision for disadvantaged
0:47:22 > 0:47:24two-year-olds and the work that has been done on the hourly rate as
0:47:24 > 0:47:30well.Figures out today show a worrying rise in the number of hate
0:47:30 > 0:47:34crimes in schools, does this not underline the fact that organisation
0:47:34 > 0:47:39like the Holocaust education trust have a vital role to play, in
0:47:39 > 0:47:49stamping out these boring attitude? -- these are borrowed -- abhorrent
0:47:49 > 0:47:53attitude.Every young person should learn about the Holocaust, before
0:47:53 > 0:47:57never again comes never forget, I commend the work done on the
0:47:57 > 0:48:03Holocaust education trust and others.The Secretary of State's
0:48:03 > 0:48:07predecessor this morning admitted they were wrong to abolish
0:48:07 > 0:48:12maintenance grants, that student finance system is regressive,
0:48:12 > 0:48:15variable fees will punish the poorest, and their review is to kick
0:48:15 > 0:48:20the issue into the long grass rather than take decisions. Apart from
0:48:20 > 0:48:29that, she is very supportive(!) but she is right, isn't she.We have a
0:48:29 > 0:48:36system of higher education finance in this country which means we have
0:48:36 > 0:48:39unprecedented levels of disadvantaged people going to
0:48:39 > 0:48:42university, it means the universities are properly funded. In
0:48:42 > 0:48:47October the Prime Minister said that we would be taking quick action with
0:48:47 > 0:48:51raising the threshold for repayment and freezing the top fees for next
0:48:51 > 0:48:56academic year, I think it is also right that we have looked at all
0:48:56 > 0:49:00aspects of value for money for young people and indeed other people going
0:49:00 > 0:49:03through university and the alternative to university such as
0:49:03 > 0:49:07taking a degree apprenticeship as we were talking about earlier.What
0:49:07 > 0:49:09consideration is being given by ministers to implement the
0:49:09 > 0:49:13government's commitment to ending the faith -based admissions cap for
0:49:13 > 0:49:18free schools?I thank my honourable friend for the important question, I
0:49:18 > 0:49:22value greatly the contribution that church and faith schools make to the
0:49:22 > 0:49:26education system, they are consistently Henry high performing
0:49:26 > 0:49:28popular schools, every child deserves a good school place, that
0:49:28 > 0:49:33is why school that work for everyone set out consultation to enable a
0:49:33 > 0:49:36wider group of providers including the Catholic Church to set up new
0:49:36 > 0:49:42schools and I am carefully considering the proposals...Under
0:49:42 > 0:49:46the government's current Universal Credit plans, 1 million children in
0:49:46 > 0:49:49poverty in working families are expecting to no longer to be in
0:49:49 > 0:49:54title to free school meals including 2800 in Sunderland, will the
0:49:54 > 0:49:58Minister comment on why his department does not take this
0:49:58 > 0:50:01opportunity to ensure that all children in poverty, including those
0:50:01 > 0:50:07in low paid working families receive a free school meals?Quite simply,
0:50:07 > 0:50:12the proposals will involve more children being eligible for free
0:50:12 > 0:50:16school meals than under the previous system, we have a short-term
0:50:16 > 0:50:20arrangement, very early days of Universal Credit, which was
0:50:20 > 0:50:24different, but we estimate 50,000 children more will be eligible for
0:50:24 > 0:50:29free school milk than on the old system. INAUDIBLE
0:50:29 > 0:50:33Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, what is the department doing to help
0:50:33 > 0:50:36children with special educational needs, in their pathway through to
0:50:36 > 0:50:44adult hood, and where appropriate, into the workforce?Minister.We
0:50:44 > 0:50:46have introduced supportive internship programme for young
0:50:46 > 0:50:49people, which is having a significant impact in supporting
0:50:49 > 0:50:55young people into work.Thank you, Mr Speaker. Educational institutions
0:50:55 > 0:51:00in my slab constituency lost more than £1.3 million in the first last
0:51:00 > 0:51:03three financial years, as a result of the decision to redirect the
0:51:03 > 0:51:07underspend in the 16 to 19 education budget, away from sick form
0:51:07 > 0:51:13students. Can the Secretary of State confirm if the review of funding of
0:51:13 > 0:51:16tertiary education promised by the Prime Minister will investigate this
0:51:16 > 0:51:21underspend and look at returning it to schools and colleges?Minister of
0:51:21 > 0:51:26State.We will look into the precise issue raised, but I should point out
0:51:26 > 0:51:31to him, we are spending records numbers of money, both five to 16
0:51:31 > 0:51:37and beyond.£41 billion on school funding this year, rising next year
0:51:37 > 0:51:41and 34.5 billion the year after, you can only provide the sums of money
0:51:41 > 0:51:45if you have a strong economy providing tax revenues to fund
0:51:45 > 0:51:51public services, which we will not have if we have a Labour government.
0:51:51 > 0:51:54My constituency of Sittingbourne and Sheppey, has one of the highest
0:51:54 > 0:51:58numbers of children with special educational needs, in Kent, will the
0:51:58 > 0:52:03Minister join with me therefore in welcoming the news that inspire a
0:52:03 > 0:52:10free school which will cater for 168 young people with autism disorder
0:52:10 > 0:52:14will in my constituency, and will he also join with me in congratulating
0:52:14 > 0:52:18local people who campaign for many years for such a school and the
0:52:18 > 0:52:25academies trust that has taken up the bat -- baton to deliver the
0:52:25 > 0:52:29school.I congratulate everyone who has set up that school, and to the
0:52:29 > 0:52:37trust which will oversee the development of the new school.In
0:52:37 > 0:52:40the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire, our bereaved community needs
0:52:40 > 0:52:44its local education services more than ever. I was pleased to see that
0:52:44 > 0:52:47the proposed merger between Kensington and Chelsea College and
0:52:47 > 0:52:51West London college has been thwarted, and an overdue
0:52:51 > 0:52:56consultation is to be opened. Will the Secretary of State act to secure
0:52:56 > 0:53:00the financial future of a community led college, along with a diverse
0:53:00 > 0:53:04and locally representative board, if that is what the consultation
0:53:04 > 0:53:10requests?I was delighted to meet with campaigners along with my right
0:53:10 > 0:53:15honourable colleague, from DC LG, and I would congratulate the FDA
0:53:15 > 0:53:22Commissioner for stepping in. -- DCLG. -- FE. I know that he is
0:53:22 > 0:53:24anxious to keep closely in touch with the honourable member opposite
0:53:24 > 0:53:29to make sure we get the right solution for this precious college,
0:53:29 > 0:53:35this valuable resource, which has been around for many years.Schools
0:53:35 > 0:53:36in South Gloucestershire have welcomed the special division fund,
0:53:36 > 0:53:42providing targeted support for peoples with SEN D, can new plans be
0:53:42 > 0:53:47out like to continue that plan beyond 2018, so it can continue to
0:53:47 > 0:53:54provide this exceptional provision. 215 million of capital funding over
0:53:54 > 0:54:00and above the basic funding has been allocated to do that for mainstream
0:54:00 > 0:54:08and special schools. Schools in the most deprived areas of Bath are
0:54:08 > 0:54:13losing between 25 and £75,000 under the new funding deal. What should be
0:54:13 > 0:54:19cut in those schools? Teaching posts or mental health services?No school
0:54:19 > 0:54:25will see a cut in funding in 2018/19, every single school in the
0:54:25 > 0:54:29country will see an increase in funding of at least half a percent,
0:54:29 > 0:54:32those schools that have been historically underfunded in previous
0:54:32 > 0:54:36Labour governments will see significant rises in school funding.
0:54:42 > 0:54:48My constituent, was head of an outstanding primary trust in Bath
0:54:48 > 0:54:51and North East Somerset, in 2015 she resigned following bullying on
0:54:51 > 0:54:56social media which resulted in false accusations investigated by the
0:54:56 > 0:55:00national college of teaching and leadership and were dismissed, in
0:55:00 > 0:55:03January, 2017, she took the new T2 court and successfully won her case
0:55:03 > 0:55:09against defamation. But -- NUT. Two month later they were able to refer
0:55:09 > 0:55:12it again. How is it right that teachers lives can be made a misery
0:55:12 > 0:55:18by repeated malicious referrals, particularly by those that have a
0:55:18 > 0:55:23vested interest.My noble friend raises an important point, the
0:55:23 > 0:55:28regulation of teachers is a very important feature of the College of
0:55:28 > 0:55:32teaching, I will look into the issue raised, and I'm happy to meet with
0:55:32 > 0:55:40him.University Scotland said that after the "Brexit" vote, Scottish
0:55:40 > 0:55:44tired education sector could lose out big-time by the Royal Society of
0:55:44 > 0:55:47Edinburgh calling for the reintroduction of a post study work
0:55:47 > 0:55:50Visa, I welcome the introduction in Glasgow and Edinburgh universities
0:55:50 > 0:55:54but can you confirm it will be rolled out across Scotland or will
0:55:54 > 0:55:58Scotland be able to tailor its own immigration policy for students?I
0:55:58 > 0:56:04thank the honourable gentleman... At long last, Mr speaker, I thank the
0:56:04 > 0:56:08honourable gentleman for that question, as had been made clear,
0:56:08 > 0:56:13earlier, there is a lot of work that is being done on international
0:56:13 > 0:56:15students, by the advisory committee, I am happy to take the issue on
0:56:15 > 0:56:22Scottish visas Pacific the and come back to them.Andrei Jenkins.
0:56:22 > 0:56:25Physical education is a part of the school curriculum, only last week I
0:56:25 > 0:56:29visited a primary school in my constituency, which has secured a
0:56:29 > 0:56:35minibus to allow children to attend more sporting engagement, thanks to
0:56:35 > 0:56:37the initiatives that have increased sport funding in schools.-- Andrea
0:56:37 > 0:56:41Jenkyns.Having seen these benefits to the policies on the ground, will
0:56:41 > 0:56:44the Minister reassure the south of the government will continue to
0:56:44 > 0:56:52support sport in schools.Honourable friend is right, that is why we have
0:56:52 > 0:56:55introduced the premium, very important initiative, I think sport
0:56:55 > 0:56:59is very important not only for reducing obesity but for ensuring
0:56:59 > 0:57:01that children are able to concentrate in lessons.The mention
0:57:01 > 0:57:08of sport gives me a heaven sent opportunity... To congratulate the
0:57:08 > 0:57:11inimitable Roger Federer on his latest triumph. He just gets better
0:57:11 > 0:57:16and better. Dr Rupa
0:57:22 > 0:57:26Visiting my old school, which produced not me but also the
0:57:26 > 0:57:35Conservative MP Angela Rumbold, my concern is at the history A-level
0:57:35 > 0:57:41syllabus, as it completely omits the 1945-51 Labour Government, asks
0:57:41 > 0:57:45candidates for Conservative strengths and weaknesses, and stops
0:57:45 > 0:57:54in 1990s. By deleting labour, are they trying to rewrite history?The
0:57:54 > 0:58:01A-level history syllabus is widely consulted on, and the actual detail
0:58:01 > 0:58:06of the content of the exam is determined by exam boards, which are
0:58:06 > 0:58:10independent so long as they conform to the subject content, which as I
0:58:10 > 0:58:17said, was widely consulted upon. With over 30,000 cardiac arrests
0:58:17 > 0:58:21taking place outside hospitals every year, and a disgracefully low
0:58:21 > 0:58:25survival rate of just 4%, it is no surprise there is huge public
0:58:25 > 0:58:31support to make sure every child is given a half-hour lesson on
0:58:31 > 0:58:34emergency life-saving skills so we can create a generation of
0:58:34 > 0:58:36life-savers. Will the Secretary of State meet with me to talk about
0:58:36 > 0:58:42making this a reality?My honourable friend has been consistent in
0:58:42 > 0:58:46campaigning on this for a number of years. Of course, I will be very
0:58:46 > 0:58:53happy to meet with him to discuss what he says.The desperate rush to
0:58:53 > 0:58:57convert schools into academies does not appear to be matched by any rush
0:58:57 > 0:59:04to ensure adequate financial oversight and value for money. Will
0:59:04 > 0:59:08the Secretary of State please investigate why United learning
0:59:08 > 0:59:12received £150,000 to support Sedgefield School in London, despite
0:59:12 > 0:59:16the school remaining maintained and United learning not even becoming
0:59:16 > 0:59:21its sponsor?We trust schools to manage their own budgets, and most
0:59:21 > 0:59:27do some extremely well. We are spending a record amount on schools,
0:59:27 > 0:59:30£41 billion. Academies are required to provide audited accounts every
0:59:30 > 0:59:35year and their financial health is closely monitored by the funding
0:59:35 > 0:59:40agency. I will look at the specific issue is raised, but United Learning
0:59:40 > 0:59:44is a very successful multi Academy trust raising academic standards in
0:59:44 > 0:59:49schools, including in one in my constituency.I very much welcome
0:59:49 > 0:59:54the steps the Government is taking to improve the mental well-being of
0:59:54 > 0:59:57school pupils, but would he agree with me that extracurricular
0:59:57 > 1:00:02activities such as sport are also vital in promoting good mental
1:00:02 > 1:00:06health and we should promote them at every opportunity?Mental health
1:00:06 > 1:00:10among our young people is paramount importance. The Prime Minister has
1:00:10 > 1:00:15given particular attention to it, and a green paper makes some
1:00:15 > 1:00:21important indications of the way forward. He is also right to mention
1:00:21 > 1:00:27that active lives and sport also play an important part.Can I ask
1:00:27 > 1:00:30the minister, not all children arrive at school equal, and those
1:00:30 > 1:00:34who are homeless and in temporary accommodation have the worst set of
1:00:34 > 1:00:41circumstances. A headteacher in my constituency recently wrote about
1:00:41 > 1:00:47her pupil, Jack, who has become an absentee student since going into
1:00:47 > 1:00:51temporary accommodation. What does his department say to those
1:00:51 > 1:00:55children?We know moving into temporary accommodation can mean
1:00:55 > 1:01:05changing schools, strongly associated with poor attainment. I
1:01:05 > 1:01:12will look at the case that the honourable lady mentions.I
1:01:12 > 1:01:17congratulate the Secretary of State on his position, and so I don't
1:01:17 > 1:01:21apportion blame for the problems at Broadfield house in my constituency,
1:01:21 > 1:01:26which has had school failure after failure. Can I ask for a meeting to
1:01:26 > 1:01:31ensure that this facility is back in educational use for the local
1:01:31 > 1:01:34community as soon as possible?I will of course meet my honourable
1:01:34 > 1:01:44friend.Wirral Metropolitan College failed to secure funding for
1:01:44 > 1:01:55apprenticeships this year despite a positive Ofsted report last year.
1:01:55 > 1:02:00There are colleges who have missed out in the procurement process. Will
1:02:00 > 1:02:04the Minister asked the skills funding agency to look again at the
1:02:04 > 1:02:07application from Wirral to make sure it can continue to work with
1:02:07 > 1:02:12employers to provide vital skills training in Wirral?We are looking
1:02:12 > 1:02:16at how to ease colleges and independent educational providers.
1:02:16 > 1:02:21We had over 1000 beds, totalling £1.1 billion, and about half of
1:02:21 > 1:02:27that, there will always be places for the disappointed, but we will be
1:02:27 > 1:02:32working with those colleges to smooth the transition and make sure
1:02:32 > 1:02:35they are able to provide that valuable training we need to make
1:02:35 > 1:02:36sure young people have