theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_30

Patrick Hurley:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had recent discussions with relevant stakeholders on the potential merits of introducing an exemption from the higher business rates multiplier for (a) cultural and (b) entertainment venues. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government has met with a wide range of stakeholders on business rates reform.

As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026/27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that eligible cultural and entertainment venues benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so the Government will introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties in 2026/27 – those with RVs of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.

The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the Government can factor the revaluation outcomes and broader economic and fiscal context into decision-making.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_31
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_31

Cameron Thomas:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which 20 companies made the largest tax contributions to the Exchequer in the 2024-25 financial year. \p Dan Tomlinson: HM Revenue and Customs are unable to disclose which 20 companies made the largest tax contributions to the Exchequer in the 2024-25 financial year.

To do so would be a breach of HM Revenue and Customs’ duty of taxpayer confidentiality.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_32
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_32

Julia Lopez:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to expand the (a) Enterprise Investment Scheme and (b) Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme scheme to support older companies seeking increased investment. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government is focused on making the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business, and understands the key role of a competitive investment environment in achieving economic growth.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government committed to creating a positive environment for entrepreneurship and business investment. We are working with leading entrepreneurs and venture capital firms on how policy supports that, including the role of the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_33
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_33

Jim Allister:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate she has made of the number of farms that will be affected by proposed changes to inheritance tax in Northern Ireland; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of these changes on food supply chains. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

Information from claims is not recorded to enable regional or national breakdowns of the number of estates expected to be affected. However, the Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.

The Government published a tax information and impact note on 21 July 2025. The note explains that the measure is not expected to have a material impact on food security and it is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/reforms-to-agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_34

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of keeping the personal allowance at £12,570 on pensioners’ tax liability. \p Dan Tomlinson: The Government is committed to making sure older people can live with the dignity and respect they deserve in retirement. The State Pension is the foundation of the support available to them. Over the course of this Parliament, the yearly amount of the full new State Pension is currently projected to go up by around £1,900 based on the Office for Budget Responsibility's latest forecast.

The Personal Allowance - the amount an individual can earn before paying tax - will continue to exceed the basic and full new State Pension in 2025/26. This means pensioners whose sole income is the full new State Pension or basic State Pension without any increments will not pay any income tax.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_35

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has considered the potential merits of requiring businesses to pay a tax equivalent to employer National Insurance contributions for each AI agent that performs tasks previously done by people. \p Dan Tomlinson: Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) are charged based on employee earnings. As AI agents do not receive earnings, it is not clear on what basis employer NICs would be levied.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_36
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_36

Mary Glindon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of childcare support for PhD researchers on the demographics of people who take up studentships. \p Josh MacAlister: Student parents are eligible for the universal 15 hours of free early education which is available to all 3 and 4-year-olds regardless of family circumstances. Students who work in addition to studying may be eligible for 30 hours free childcare if they meet the income requirements.

The government recognises the value of parents continuing in education and provides a range of support for students in higher education to support them with childcare. Further information on the childcare offers available to parents can be found at: https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/.

The government introduced new support packages for students starting postgraduate master’s degree courses from the 2016/17 academic year onwards and postgraduate doctoral degree courses from 2018/19 onwards. These loans are not based on income and are intended as a contribution to the cost of study. They can be used by students according to their personal circumstances to cover the costs of fees and living costs including childcare. The new support packages have provided a significant uplift in support for postgraduate students while ensuring the student support system remains financially sustainable.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_37
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_37

Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to the Fourth Report of Session 2024-25 of the Education Committee, Children’s Social Care, published on 10 July 2025, HC 430; and whether she plans to accept the recommendation on the development of a national foster care strategy. \p Josh MacAlister: The department responded to the Fourth Report of the Session 2024-25 of the Education Committee, Children’s Social Care in September 2025. This includes our response to recommendation 29: ‘The Department for Education must put in place a national fostering strategy to complement the existing strategies for adoption and kinship care. As part of this, it should consult on introducing a national register of foster carers and review the financial support available to ensure that it is adequate to meet their needs.’

Foster care is one of my top priorities as Minister for Children and Families, and we need to go further and faster with recruiting and retaining more carers. We are prioritising fostering in our reform of children’s social care, as demonstrated by the announcement of an additional £40 million investment over this financial year and the next two financial years. This will bring benefits to thousands of fostered children. We will set out more detail on our planned investments and reforms for fostering in due course.

The Education Select Committee published the findings on 17 October 2025, the findings can be found here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/49799/documents/266904/default/.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_38
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_38

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 8 October 2025 to Question 72845 on City of Sanctuary UK, on which dates officials from her Department met with Schools of Sanctuary since July 2024; and what was discussed at each meeting. \p Josh MacAlister: Three meetings have taken place between officials and Schools of Sanctuary during the 2024/25 academic year. One meeting was to discuss school admissions policy and processes, and two were to hear about the work of the organisation.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_39
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_39

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy for schools to (a) appoint a designated young carers lead and (b) implement a (i) flagging and (ii) registration scheme for young carers. \p Josh MacAlister: The statutory guidance 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' states that all school staff should be alert to the potential need for early help for young carers and requires designated safeguarding leads to be trained to understand and respond to their needs, ensuring young carers are supported to thrive in school.

We have no plans to introduce a registration scheme for young carers. Local authorities have a statutory duty to identify young carers who may need support and undertake a needs assessment where support may be needed, or upon request.

To further improve visibility and support, young carers were added to the school census as a distinct group in 2022/23. This has increased their visibility in the school system, providing valuable demographic data and insights into their educational outcomes.

Further, Ofsted’s new education inspection framework references young carers when assessing the impact of a school’s work on attendance, behaviour, personal development and wellbeing of disadvantaged pupils.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_40

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to section 58 of the Children Act 2004, if she will take legislative steps to remove the defence of reasonable punishment for parents. \p Josh MacAlister: The landmark Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, a key part of the government’s Plan for Change, represents the most transformative piece of child protection legislation in a generation, including wholesale reform of the children’s social care system and the introduction of measures to improve information sharing between education, police, health, justice and social workers to stop vulnerable children falling through the cracks.

While the department is looking closely at the impact of the legal changes made in Wales and Scotland in relation to reasonable punishment, we have no plans to legislate at this stage.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_41

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reliance on international students on the higher education sector. \p Josh MacAlister: This government welcomes international students who meet the requirements to study in the UK and enrich our university campuses, forge lifelong friendships with our domestic students and become global ambassadors for the UK.

Higher education (HE) providers in the UK received an estimated £12.1 billion in tuition fee income from international students in the 2023/24 academic year, which supported the provision of places for domestic students and research and development.

Our world class HE sector attracts high quality students from across the globe and can offer a fulfilling and enjoyable experience to international students from around the world.

The Post-16 education and skills white paper sets out the government’s commitment to building a world-class skills system, one that breaks down the barriers to opportunity, meets the needs of students and employers, drives economic growth, and improves lives across the country.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_42
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_42

Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding her Department plans to provide to schools that are not eligible for funding under the Connect the classroom programme for upgrading essential IT infrastructure. \p Olivia Bailey: The department is committed to supporting all schools to harness the transformative potential of technology. By setting digital and technology standards, developing support services, including our plan technology for your school service, and investing in connectivity, we aim to help all schools to have essential digital infrastructure in place.

Funding under the Connect the Classroom programme is targeted at schools in greatest need, ensuring public investment delivers the most impact.

The department is currently finalising internal budgeting processes and will announce any updates on future funding via GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_43
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_43

Mark Garnier:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help further education colleges support young people who are not in education, employment or training through (a) flexible funding arrangements and (b) supporting collaborative working with local authorities. \p Josh MacAlister: Through the Post-16 education and skills white paper, the department is committed to enabling local and strategic authorities, schools, and further education (FE) providers to more effectively identify, track and share data about young people. These measures aim to prevent young people falling out of education/training and becoming not in education, employment, or training, and look to ensure that those without a post-16 study plan are automatically allocated a place at a local college or FE provider.

We will provide £1.2 billion of additional investment per year in skills by 2028-2029. This investment will enable us to support 1.3 million learners each year. This significant investment will ensure there is increased funding to colleges and other 16-19 providers to maintain real terms per-student funding in the next academic year to respond to the demographic increase in 16 to 19-year-olds. This will enable the recruitment and retention of expert teachers in high value subject areas, and interventions to retain top teaching talent.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_44

Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the system of fining parents for taking their children out of school. \p Olivia Bailey: Tackling absence is central to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. Thanks to the efforts of schools and local authorities, attendance is moving in the right direction. Children attended over 5.3 million additional days in the 2024/25 school year compared to the 2022/23 school year, with over 140,000 fewer pupils persistently absent.

The ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance sets out a support-first approach, ensuring penalty notices are used only when appropriate.

The national framework for penalty notices, introduced in August 2024 following national consultation, is designed to improve consistency and fairness across the country. Penalty notices must be considered on an individual basis, preventing schools from having blanket rules. Schools or local councils may choose to issue a ‘notice to improve’ instead of a penalty notice as a further offer of support before a penalty notice is issued.

The department is monitoring the impact of these reforms alongside wider attendance measures, including regional improvement for standards and excellence Attendance and Behaviour Hubs and Attendance Mentors, which are helping to drive improvements.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_45

Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to include children from low-income families not currently in receipt of free school meals in the eligibility criteria for the Holiday Activities and Food programme. \p Olivia Bailey: Through our Plan for Change, the government is committed to giving every child the best start in life. On 28 August 2025, we confirmed over £600 million for the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme for the next three financial years. This equates to just over £200 million each year.

This multi-year commitment gives parents and providers certainty that clubs will be available over what can otherwise be an expensive holiday period, ensuring that children and young people continue to benefit from enriching holiday experiences and nutritious meals. The programme also opens up work opportunities for parents on low incomes to support their families.

We will be releasing further details about the HAF programme by the end of the year, including updated local authority guidance.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_46

Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to promote parity of esteem for T Level qualifications in university admissions processes. \p Josh MacAlister: The department regularly engages with the higher education (HE) sector to ensure T Levels are recognised as excellent preparation for higher study. We encourage the sector to accept T Levels on an equivalent basis to A levels by assigning them UCAS points in line with three A levels. For example, the highest overall T Level grade, Distinction*, is awarded the same number of points as three A*s at A level. T Level progression into HE is increasing year on year, as we are seeing more subjects become accessible to T Level graduates, with prestigious courses such as medicine now open to T Level learners in some institutions. Whilst thousands of T Level students go on to HE each year, not all providers give full clarity on their entry requirements. We are working closely with the sector to address this and continue to inform the sector on the merits of T Levels as a qualification of choice.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_47

James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of funding for (a) schools and (b) colleges in North West Norfolk constituency. \p Georgia Gould: The government has increased school funding by £3.7 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, a 6% increase on 2024/25 levels, and committed to a further increase of £4.2 billion through the 2025 Spending Review. This additional funding will provide an above real terms per pupil increase on the core schools budget and support us to transform the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.

With regards to colleges, £8.5 billion of 16 to 19 programme funding has been invested during the 2025/26 academic year. Published allocations show that 16 to 19 funded institutions in Norfolk have been allocated approximately £112 million in 16 to 19 total programme funding.

In North West Norfolk, mainstream school funding per pupil through the dedicated schools grant averages £6,343 (excluding growth and falling rolls funding) in the 2025/26 financial year. The precise funding individual schools receive will depend on how Norfolk local authority decide to distribute the funding they receive.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_48

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the (a) status and (b) timeline for completion of the (i) Greensands, South Cambridgeshire and (ii) Lime Academy, Fenland new special school is. \p Josh MacAlister: The department is working at pace through these decisions to try and give all local authorities updates as soon as possible. We continue to be committed to ensuring that all children with special educational needs and disabilities receive the support they need to achieve and thrive.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_49

Sojan Joseph:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the placement of children with new foster parents does not have a disruptive impact on their education. \p Josh MacAlister: The government recognises the importance of continuity and stability throughout a looked-after child’s life.

Under the care planning, placement and case review guidance and regulations, and Section 22c of the Children Act 1989, social workers, with the support of the local authority’s virtual school head, must minimise disruption to a child’s education. School changes should be minimised, and necessary transitions carefully planned and supported. Where change is unavoidable, their Personal Education Plan should outline arrangements to minimise disruption to education, especially during exam periods.

The department is supporting local authorities to recruit foster carers and committed an additional £25 million, on top of a previously announced £15 million, to support further recruitment. We also recognise the need to support foster carers properly, in order to retain the carers we already have. Ensuring foster carer sufficiency is vital to enabling local authorities to provide local fostering homes, and keep children close to their school and community.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_50

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure young people with SEND can access the Youth Guarantee. \p Josh MacAlister: The ‘Get Britain Working’ White Paper introduced the Youth Guarantee, ensuring every 18 to 21 year-old in England can access education, training, an apprenticeship, supported internships or help to find work. The department is working to make this inclusive for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The Youth Guarantee trailblazer scheme is providing £45 million funding for eight mayoral combined authorities from spring 2025. The Youth Guarantee trailblazers are testing focused support for vulnerable groups such as care leavers, young people with SEND and young people educated in alternative provision settings. This focused support includes mentoring, confidence building, coaching and financial management skills. This testing will inform the future rollout of the Youth Guarantee.

The department is taking several other steps to help those with SEND access the Youth Guarantee, including:

The Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper commits to ‘building a system that leaves no learner behind’ by joining up skills and employment systems, expanding flexible training options, and guaranteeing access to education or work pathways for all, including those at risk of becoming not in education, employment, or training.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_51
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_51

Max Wilkinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve the employment rate for graduates under the age of 25. \p Josh MacAlister: In September, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, announced plans aimed at ensuring young people gain the skills needed in the job market, with a target of two thirds of young people in higher education by age 25.

The Post-16 education and skills white paper sets out our plans to ensure higher education equips graduates with the technical skills needed in the economy, including by developing new higher technical qualification awarding powers.

It also sets out our plans to reform the Strategic Priorities Grant to align funding with future skills needs.

One of the primary objectives of the Office for Students is to ensure all students are able to progress into employment or further study. It is currently consulting on proposals to broaden the employment indicators it uses to assess higher education providers’ quality ratings, to incentivise more focus on supporting students to achieve positive employment outcomes.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_52
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_52

Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what responsibility her Department has for ensuring media literacy. \p Georgia Gould: I refer my hon. Friend, the member for Oxford East, to the answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 47185.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_53

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she will have discussions with Ofqual on the potential merits of requiring exam boards to give special consideration to students who are absent from school during the academic year due to exceptional circumstances. \p Georgia Gould: Special consideration is any adjustment given to a student who has temporarily experienced an illness, injury, or other event outside of their control, which significantly affects their ability to either take or demonstrate what they can do in an assessment.

Special consideration can only be given for things that happen immediately before or during an exam or assessment. To be eligible for special consideration, students must have been fully prepared for the assessment and have covered the whole course. Special consideration does not apply where students miss a course due to absence, if they enrolled part way through, or if their education was disrupted.

As the exams regulator, Ofqual is clear that qualifications must represent what a student knows, understands, and can do. This is important so that qualifications maintain their value and users of qualifications, including universities and employers, have trust in the grades awarded.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_54
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_54

Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department will make an assessment of the level of contingency capacity of (a) schools and (b) colleges in the event of other school settings being forced to close. \p Georgia Gould: The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places sits with local authorities. The department engages with councils on a regular basis to review their plans for creating additional places and to consider alternatives where necessary. When local authorities are experiencing difficulties, we support them to find solutions as quickly as possible.

As with schools, the duty is also with local authorities to have a strategic overview of the 16-19 provision available in the area and to identify and resolve gaps in provision so that each young person receives an offer of a suitable place.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_55
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_55

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children in Lincolnshire were waiting for an Education, Health and Care plan as of October 2025. \p Georgia Gould: ​​The latest published figures that show the number of children and young people with an education, health and care (EHC) plan as at January 2025 are available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/4ed35aab-4605-47d4-0c1d-08de07233b94. Figures are published as at January each year. Information for January 2026 will be published in summer 2026.

​The department does not hold information on the number of children waiting for an EHC plan.

​The number of requests for an EHC needs assessment which were outstanding at the end of the 2024 calendar year in Lincolnshire local authority is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/e64ee712-b7aa-4ff8-f961-08de0724494a.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_56
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_56

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will consider adding bicycle training onto the national curriculum. \p Georgia Gould: Schools are best placed and have the flexibility to decide on the activities they provide to deliver a rounded and enriching education to suit their pupils’ needs. This includes cycling training programmes such as Bikeability. Physical education is a foundation subject in the national curriculum and compulsory at all four key stages.

The department welcomes the opportunity for continued collaboration with Bikeability to create sustainable improvements in physical activity for young people. For example, through active travel and promoting the overall wellbeing benefits of physical activity, including through cycling.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_57
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_57

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of academic exchange programmes between UK and Australian universities; and whether she plans to increase levels of bilateral cooperation in higher education. \p Josh MacAlister: The government is committed to providing enriching opportunities for students and young people to experience other countries and cultures, including through trips and exchanges with key partners such as Australia.

The department monitors participation in schemes such as the Turing Scheme, the UK government’s global programme for students to study and work abroad. The scheme has helped tens of thousands of UK students to study and work abroad, including in Australia, and is now in its fifth year.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_58
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_58

Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders on opening Technical Excellence Colleges in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England. \p Josh MacAlister: The department is introducing technical excellence colleges (TECs) to specialise in training skilled workforces which industry needs in growth-driving priority sectors. Ten construction TECs were appointed in August 2025, with one in each of the nine English regions and the tenth with a cross-regional remit. The department has engaged with North East Mayoral Combined Authority and Tees Valley Combined Authority throughout the process of appointing Sunderland College as the CTEC for the North East. Additionally, officials have engaged more widely with strategic authorities, trade bodies such as the Construction Industry Training Board, and membership organisations such as the Association of Colleges. The department will take a similar approach with the selection of the next wave of TECs in defence, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and digital and technologies.

The selection process for these TECs will start by the end of 2025, with delivery planned to begin from April 2026. Further details will be published in due course.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_59
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_59

Rebecca Paul:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has had discussions with (a) Surrey County Council and (b) Surrey Police on child safeguarding following the conviction of Stephen Ireland. \p Josh MacAlister: Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime that no child should ever have to endure. We recognise the lifelong impact it can have on victims and survivors and remain committed to strengthening our response to this abuse.

The department holds regular meetings with Surrey County Council to discuss a wide range of topics including child protection and safeguarding. While we do not comment on if individual cases have been raised, we are aware of the serious concerns raised following the conviction of Stephen Ireland and continue to work closely with local authorities to ensure robust safeguarding practices are in place.

In addition, the government published its progress update on tackling child sexual abuse on 9 April, which responds to the 20 recommendations from the final report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. Work is underway on several key recommendations, including legislating for mandatory reporting and establishing a child protection authority with a consultation set to be published before the end of 2025.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_60
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_60

Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support young people into education in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England. \p Josh MacAlister: On 20 October, we published the Post-16 education and skills white paper, outlining reforms to build a world-class skills system and support young people into education and training. This includes a target for two-thirds of young people to participate in higher-level learning (academic, technical, or apprenticeships) by age 25.

A new Youth Guarantee will support young people to access to education, training, or provide help into work or an apprenticeship. Eight trailblazer areas are testing ways to help those at risk of becoming not in education, employment, or training.

The department will invest nearly £800 million more in 16 to 19 education in 2026/27, helping support high quality teacher recruitment and retention. We will also pilot an automatic guaranteed provider place for all 16-year-olds.

We will introduce targeted, means-tested maintenance grants before the end of this parliament to help students from low-income backgrounds progress onto higher education courses that support our missions and Industrial Strategy.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_61
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_61

Peter Prinsley:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of falling birth rates on the sustainability of small rural primary schools; and what steps she is taking to ensure that these schools are (a) protected and (b) supported. \p Georgia Gould: ​​The department recognises the essential role that small, rural schools play in their communities. The national funding formula (NFF) accounts for the particular challenges faced by small schools in rural areas, namely, the impact of falling rolls, through the lump sum and sparsity factors. The NFF lump sum for the 2025/26 financial year is set at £145,100 and provides a fixed amount of funding that is unrelated to pupil-led factors. In addition, eligible primary schools attract up to £57,400, and eligible secondary or all-through schools attract up to £83,400, in sparsity funding in 2025/26 through the NFF.

​Local authorities hold the statutory place planning function, ensuring there are sufficient schools in their area to meet the needs of pupils. It is for local authorities, in collaboration with academy trusts and other local partners, to balance the supply and demand of school places, in line with changing demographics, as they have done for many years. ​
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_62
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_62

Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what transport support is available for SEND families (a) in cases where a child is placed in a specialist setting but is not yet of compulsory school age and (b) in other instances. \p Georgia Gould: ​​The Education Act 1996 requires local authorities to arrange free home to school travel for eligible children. A child is eligible if they are of compulsory school age, 5 to 16, attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, or because the nature of the route means it would be unsafe for them to do so. There are extended rights to free travel for children from low-income families.

​Local authorities have the discretion to arrange travel for other children, such as those below compulsory school age attending a specialist setting, but are not required to do so. It is for each local authority to decide whether and how to exercise their discretionary power.​
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_63
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_63

Michael Wheeler:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children were in receipt of funded childcare in Worsley and Eccles constituency in the 2024-25 academic year. \p Olivia Bailey: It is our ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.

The latest January 2025 statistics relating to funded early education and childcare were published on 11 July 2025. These are available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/funded-early-education-and-childcare/2025.

Statistics at constituency level are not readily available. Figures on the number of children registered for the families receiving additional support, universal and working parent entitlement in Salford can be accessed at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/26af6f8f-ac9d-4ccb-94e3-08de11382822.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_64
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_64

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations she has received from teachers on the adequacy of support for pupils with SEND. \p Georgia Gould: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. That is why we are continuing to engage closely with the teaching workforce, children, parents and experts including through regular Improving Education Together SEND subgroup meetings, which bring together employer representative organisations, unions and government, and the department’s teacher, headteacher and support staff reference groups as we develop plans to ensure all children get the outcomes and life chances they deserve.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_65
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_65

Michael Wheeler:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the size of the waiting list for accessing early years childcare in Worsley and Eccles constituency in the 2024-25 academic year. \p Olivia Bailey: It is our ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.

We have announced over £400 million of funding to create tens of thousands of places in new and expanded school-based nurseries to help ensure more children can access the quality early education where it is needed and get the best start in life.

We do not retain data on school-based nursery places available in the Worsley and Eccles constituency. However, according to the department’s latest Childcare and Early Years Provider Survey for the reporting year 2024, there were 52,200 registered nursery class childcare places available in the North West region of England. The median hourly parent-paid fee for childcare in the region was £5.75 per hour for children under two, £5.60 per hour for two year-olds, and £5.50 per hour for three and four year-olds.

We do not have an estimate of the size of the waiting list for accessing early years childcare in Worsley and Eccles constituency in the 2024/25 academic year.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_66

Valerie Vaz:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to Question 76247, due for answer on 15 September 2025. \p Georgia Gould: The response to Written Parliamentary Question 76247 was published on 16 October 2025.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_67

Jo Platt:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) colleges and (b) schools will be able to offer appropriate post-16 pathways in the (i) 2026-2027 and (ii) 2027-2028 academic years. \p Josh MacAlister: The department published the Post-16 education and skills white paper on 20 October 2025. This sets out comprehensive reforms to build a world-leading skills system that break down barriers to opportunity, meets student and employers’ needs, widens access to high quality education and training, supports innovation, research and development, and improves people’s lives.

We are investing nearly £800 million extra in 2026/27 in funding for 16 to 19-year-old education, helping to enable the recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers. We will also pilot an automatic guaranteed provider place for all 16-year-olds, to ensure no one is left behind after year 11.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_68

Vicky Foxcroft:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of discontinuing BTEC qualifications on the number of young people not in education, employment or training. \p Josh MacAlister: On 20 October 2025, the department set out plans to introduce V Levels, a third, vocational pathway at level 3 that will sit alongside A levels and T Levels, and offer a vocational alternative to these academic and technical routes. They will blend applied learning with practical assessment, with content linked to occupational standards set by Skills England. We have launched a consultation on post-16 level 3 and below pathways : https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/post-16-level-3-and-below-pathways.

This government is fully committed to T Levels, which are out-performing other large qualifications in T Level areas. In line with this, funding for qualifications of 720 guided learning hours and over in T Level areas will be removed in 2026 and 2027.

We are keeping funding for most existing qualifications in place until new V levels and other qualifications come in.

As detailed in the Post-16 Education and Skills white paper, we will transform our approach to supporting young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) or at risk of becoming NEET by reforming how they are identified, tracked and supported. The Youth Guarantee will guarantee young people aged 18 to 21 access to education, training and/or help to get into work.
wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-04 conversation_69

Jo Platt:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure sustainable funding linked to inflation for the Holiday Activities and Food programme. \p Olivia Bailey: Through our Plan for Change, the government is committed to giving every child the best start in life. On 28 August 2025, the department confirmed over £600 million for the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme for the next three financial years, from 2026/27. This equates to just over £200 million each year.

This multi-year commitment gives parents and providers certainty that clubs will be available over what can otherwise be an expensive holiday period, ensuring that children and young people continue to benefit from enriching holiday experiences and nutritious meals. The programme also opens work opportunities for parents on low incomes to support their families.

The department will be releasing further details about the HAF programme by the end of the year.