theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_133
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_133

Nadia Whittome:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of using tablets for the Reception Baseline Assessment on children's (a) cognitive and (b) social development; and what guidance her Department has issued to schools on ensuring that the use of tablets in the classroom is balanced with traditional learning methods. \p Catherine McKinnell: The digital elements of the reception baseline assessment (RBA) have been in development since 2019 and subject to extensive trials with teachers and pupils, using the Standards and Testing Agency’s internationally recognised assessment development approach. This has included item validation trials in 2020, 2021 and 2023 involving 2,801 pupils across 277 schools, and a technical pre-test trial in 2022 where 2,406 assessments were completed across a nationally representative sample of 254 schools. In November and December 2024, a voluntary trial involving over 1,000 schools took place, and participating schools undertook key activities needed to administer the assessment, including completing a sample assessment with three pupils. Input from the trials and extensive review by early years experts and teachers has helped shape the content and the digital platform to meet the needs of schools and pupils.

The revised RBA remains interactive and play-based, retaining the use of small toys and verbal responses for other questions. Pupils can respond verbally to on-screen questions if they do not wish to interact with the screen, and a paper-based alternative is available where this is more suitable for the pupil.

Schools, trusts, and local authorities are responsible for making decisions that best meet their educational and operational needs regarding the use of technology in the classroom. The department does not set specific requirements for how often schools should use tablets. To help schools make informed decisions when procuring technology, the department has published advice and guidance to schools through the digital and technology standards and the plan technology for your school service.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_134
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_134

Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of the 13,660 children looked after in kinship foster care on 31 March 2024 were subject to (a) a full care order, (b) an interim care order and (c) a voluntary arrangement under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989. \p Janet Daby: Information on the number of children looked-after in foster placements with relatives or friends by legal status is shown in the table below.

Number of children in England in foster placements with relatives or friends at 31 March 2024 by legal status

Interim care order (C1)

3,430

Full care order (C2)

8,450

Single period of accommodation under section 20 (Children Act 1989) (V2)

1,720

The latest information on children looked-after in foster placements with relatives or friends under all legal statuses, relating to the year ending 31 March 2024, was published on 14 November 2024 in the annual statistical release ‘Children looked after in England including adoptions’ at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions/2024.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_135
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_135

Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring coordination in establishing a system to identify children with parents in prison. \p Janet Daby: The Department for Education and the Ministry of Justice recognise the importance of cross-government coordination to identify children affected by parental imprisonment and to help ensure that they get the support they need to thrive. In June, we held a cross-government workshop with officials from a range of government departments, to help deepen attendees’ understanding of the impact of parental imprisonment and foster collaborative thinking on how policies and strategies can better reflect the needs of families. In July, officials from the Department for Education, the Ministry of Justice, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and the Department of Health and Social Care, attended the Family Hub All Party Parliamentary Group meeting with a special focus on families affected by parental imprisonment. Further discussions are ongoing as part of strategic planning.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_136
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_136

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support schools to help prevent (a) knife crime and (b) youth violence. \p Stephen Morgan: Keeping children safe is a top priority for this government. The department works closely with the Home Office to deliver better and safer outcomes for children and young people through the Opportunity and Safer Streets Missions.

Education plays a vital role in helping children lead safe, fulfilling lives and can act as a protective factor for those who are vulnerable. Statutory guidance, including ‘Working together to safeguard children’ and ‘Keeping children safe in education’ sets out the safeguarding duties and responsibilities of education settings. This spans action taken within schools, such as through effective whole-school behaviour policies and pastoral support provision, through to the role of schools within multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, and action taken by schools to escalate concerns about children to local authority services.

The department encourages and supports all schools to adopt effective, evidence-based approaches to preventing violence, working in close partnership with the Youth Endowment Fund to promote and embed best practice in violence prevention across the education sector.

Updated relationships, sex and health education guidance was published in July 2025, including new content focused on staying safe from all forms of violence, and skills to help children avoid involvement in conflict and violence, such as knife crime. For those children who need more focused prevention support, the department is building on the insights from its evaluated school-based support, attend, fulfil, exceed taskforces and Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforces programmes, working to ensure all schools can benefit from these insights.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_137
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_137

Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help support local authorities to (a) simplify and (b) standardise the process for accessing (i) SEND funding and (ii) Education, Health, and Care Plans in early years settings. \p Stephen Morgan: As part of our strategy to give every child the best start in life, the department is committed to make it easier for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to access early education and childcare by investing in the support available to them in the early years and improving the way funding is distributed to providers.

New early years inclusion funding will give providers additional resources to support inclusion and early intervention, helping to prevent needs from escalating. The department will work with local authorities to reduce bureaucracy, encourage greater consistency and ensure that support reaches the children who need it quickly.

The department works closely with local authorities where education, health and care plan timeliness is a concern, supporting them to identify challenges and put in place effective recovery plans. This includes specialist SEND adviser support where needed.

Further details of the government's intended approach to SEND reform, including for the early years, will be set out in a Schools White Paper in the autumn.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_138
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_138

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to increase support for schools to assist children in the early stages of primary education in West Dorset constituency. \p Stephen Morgan: Starting school is a big step, and the department wants every child in reception to feel confident, supported and ready to learn. Preparing children for this transition should be a partnership between parents, early years settings, health services and schools.

Reception is a vital foundation year that sets children up for success. That’s why we are expanding support through tailored improvement offers, helping parents feel confident in their child’s progress, and strengthening teaching in early literacy and numeracy.

From September 2026, schools will benefit from specialist training and support, reaching around 10,000 more children. Our regional improvement for standards and excellence teams have made reception a national priority, offering universal, enhanced and intensive support to schools.

The department is also funding new partnerships between schools and nurseries to improve transitions, strengthen relationships and share best practice. This joined-up approach will help children feel ready and at home in the classroom.

Finally, the department is enhancing professional development, including more early years content in the national professional qualification (NPQ) for headship, new training for reception teachers, and more places on the NPQ in early years leadership.

Together, these measures will ensure every child gets the best possible start to their school journey.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_139
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_139

David Williams:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate her Department has made of the cost of the provision of a hot meal at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools. \p Stephen Morgan: The department spends over £1.5 billion annually supporting schools to provide free meals to around 3.4 million children. We have recently confirmed that free meals will be extended to all households receiving Universal Credit from September 2026. This expansion is being backed by £1 billion in additional funding over the multi-year spending review period and will benefit half a million pupils.

The department provides free school meals (FSM) funding to schools, who have flexibility to provide meals in the way that works best for them. FSM are currently funded at £495 per pupil annually.

As with all programmes, we continue to keep funding for FSM under review to ensure that schools can continue to provide hot and nutritious meals that support pupil attainment and health. Departmental officials meet regularly with the sector, including the school catering industry, and use these insights to inform our work.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_140
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_140

Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure disadvantaged students have access to the financial support they need to remain in university. \p Janet Daby: The department wants to support the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university, regardless of their background, where they live and their personal circumstances.

The government has increased maximum loans for living costs by 3.1% for the 2025/26 academic year, in line with forecast RPIX inflation. The government also provides means-tested non-repayable grants to low-income full-time students with children and adults who are financially dependent on them. Students with disabilities can apply for non-means tested disabled students’ allowance to support additional disability-related study costs. For the 2025/26 academic year, maximum dependants’ grants and disabled students’ allowance are being increased by 3.1%.

Student Premium funding rates that are available through the Strategic Priorities Grant are being maintained for 2025/26 to support successful outcomes for students. All English higher education providers registered with the Office for Students (OfS) that intend to charge higher level tuition fees must have an Access and Participation Plan approved by the OfS.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_141
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_141

Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to review the thresholds for maintenance loans. \p Janet Daby: The government recognises the impact that the cost-of-living crisis has had on students. However, we need to ensure that the student funding system is financially sustainable.

The government has increased maximum loans for living costs for full-time and part-time undergraduate students by 3.1% for the 2025/26 academic year. A 3.1% increase is in line with forecast inflation based on the RPIX inflation index.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_142
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_142

Lauren Edwards:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to extend mental health education in schools to (a) colleges and (b) post-16 institutions. \p Janet Daby: The department has made health education compulsory in all state-funded schools, helping pupils to make good decisions about their health and wellbeing and seek support when needed.

While there is no national curriculum in post-16, the government encourages a whole-institution approach to mental health and wellbeing. This includes supporting the Association of Colleges in their goal for 100% sign-up to their Mental Health Charter and to align it with the University Mental Health Charter.

All further education (FE) colleges are funded to provide health and wellbeing tuition as part of their extra-curricular personal development activities. Many FE colleges have counselling services providing mental health support and 41% of learners in post-16 institutions are now covered by NHS-funded mental health support teams.

The government is committed to continuing the higher education (HE) Mental Health Implementation Taskforce. The Taskforce includes students, parents, mental health experts and the HE sector, and the government will soon appoint a new HE Student Support Champion as chair.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_143
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_143

Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the average difference between (a) maintenance loan and (b) living costs for university students. \p Janet Daby: Through the student loan system, the highest levels of maintenance support are paid to students from the lowest income families, while those from more affluent families receive a smaller contribution towards their living costs. In addition to support for living costs from Student Finance England, students may be eligible for additional financial assistance from their university.

The Student Income and Expenditure Survey 2021/22 reported on the average living costs for full-time and part-time English undergraduate students and across different demographic groups for the 2021/22 academic year. The survey, including all income and expenditure tables, can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/student-income-and-expenditure-survey-2021-to-2022.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_144
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_144

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support people with visual impairments in (a) further education (b) higher education and (c) apprenticeships. \p Janet Daby: Support for people with visual impairments in further education, higher education (HE), and apprenticeships is guided by legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the special educational needs and disabilities code of practice, with tailored provisions depending on the setting and the needs of the individual.

All education and training providers and other related service providers have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people, including those with visual impairments, so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled students.

Reasonable adjustments can include adapting teaching methods (providing materials in accessible formats or using assistive technology), modifying assessments (offering extra time or alternative formats), ensuring physical accessibility (ramps or accessible accommodation), and offering personalised support services (including note-takers, interpreters, or mental health support).

In apprenticeships, learning support funding of £150 per month is available to training providers to make reasonable adjustments which support apprentices with learning difficulties and disabilities.

Disabled Students’ Allowance is available for eligible HE students for the provision of more specialist support, including specialist equipment, travel costs and non-medical helpers such as specialist note-takers or printing materials in large print or braille in addition to any reasonable adjustments made by their HE provider.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_145
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_145

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 18684 on Students: Loans, what progress she has made in developing a longer-term plan for higher education reform. \p Janet Daby: The department is determined that the higher education (HE) system should deliver for our economy, for providers and for students. Whilst we have already taken action to help move the sector towards a more stable financial footing, we recognise that a real change of approach is needed, both from the government and from the sector itself, to support our broader plans for HE. That is why we will publish our plans for HE reform soon as part of the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_146
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_146

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many employees in her Department earn (a) £100,000 and (b) £166,000 or more per year. \p Janet Daby: The information requested is available in our published transparency data, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disclosure-of-scs-posts-and-salary-information.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_147
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_147

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what comparative estimate she has made of the number of specialist-school places (a) in Rushcliffe constituency and (b) nationally; and what plans she has to increase capacity of those places. \p Catherine McKinnell: The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or who require alternative provision sits with local authorities.

The requested data on state-funded special schools can be found in the annual School Capacity statistics publication here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity/2023-24. This has been available since March 2025.

School level capacity data can be combined with information on constituency from ‘Get Information About Schools’ (GIAS), which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-capacity/2023-24. For ease, data on the special school in Rushcliffe parliamentary constituency can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/1da3dffd-c9cd-4d3c-a168-08dde2cf2374.

Nationally, local authorities reported that there were 153,000 special school places in England as of 1 May 2024.

The department has now published allocations for £740 million in High Needs Provision Capital Allocations (HNPCA) for the 2025/26 financial year. The funding can be used to adapt schools to be more accessible for children with SEND, to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs.

Nottinghamshire County Council has been allocated just below £14 million for the 2025/26 financial year. It is up to local authorities to make decisions about the places they create and to prioritise their funding to meet local needs.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_148
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_148

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress she has made on expanding T-level course availability in colleges in the Tees Valley. \p Janet Daby: The department is investing in the future of T Levels, boosting their expansion through £28 million of capital funding in 2025 so that students have access to industry-standard equipment. We are increasing industry placement provision with a targeted Employer Support Fund and changes to delivery approaches to unlock opportunities for students and employers.

Nationally over 25,500 students started a T Level in the 2024/25 academic year, a significant increase of nearly 60% from the previous year, and 21 T Levels are now available. A new T Level in marketing launches this September.

Further education colleges across Tees Valley, including those in Middlesbrough, Darlington and Hartlepool, are now delivering T Levels in a range of subjects, from construction to health and engineering and manufacturing to accounting.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_149
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_149

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to align (a) inspection, (b) funding and (c) placement-decision systems to reflect constraints faced by mainstream schools supporting pupils with complex needs. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department is providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, following the Autumn Budget 2024. This brings total high needs funding for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to over £12 billion. Of that total high needs funding, Nottinghamshire County Council is being allocated over £130 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG).

In addition to the DSG, local authorities also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG) in the 2025/26 financial year, for local authorities to pass on to specialist settings in their area to support with the costs of teacher and support staff pay awards, and national insurance contributions costs.

Local authorities allocate their high needs funding to support specialist settings, and also mainstream schools with pupils identified as having more complex SEND where the additional support costs for those mainstream pupils are more than £6,000 per annum. The provision that is funded can include adaptations to the curriculum and learning environment, and targeted teaching support where necessary.

The department also allocates annual capital funding to support local authorities to meet their statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for children with SEND or who require alternative provision.

The department has published allocations for £740 million in High Needs Provision Capital Allocations (HNPCA) for the 2025/26 financial year. Of this, Nottinghamshire have been allocated £14 million. The funding can be used to adapt schools to be more accessible for children with SEND, to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs.

The department is considering the funding required for future years and how it is to be allocated, following the conclusion of the recent spending review. Our objective is that future funding for SEND supports our plans for reforming the SEND system, which will be set out in further detail in a White Paper in the autumn.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_150
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_150

Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment has she made of the economic impact on kinship carers arising from (a) reduced employment rights compared with biological parents, (b) variations in local kinship care offers and (c) reducing access to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund. \p Janet Daby: The government has launched a review of the parental leave system, which will consider whether the current support available meets the needs of working families who do not qualify for existing leave and pay entitlements, including kinship carers.

We are legislating through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to mandate local authorities to publish a local offer for children and families in kinship care arrangements. This will help kinship families better understand what support may be available to them locally. However, the content of the local offer is decided by the local authority, based on their assessment local needs, and therefore the content of local offers may vary significantly between areas.

Eligibility for access to the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) is unchanged, and the revised criteria for the ASGSF will enable as many children and families as possible to access funding.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_151
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_151

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve post-16 education pathways for students not choosing higher education. \p Janet Daby: As announced in the spending review, the department is making over £1 billion of additional investment per year in skills by 2028/29. This will support and grow the wide range of technical routes and work-based training available for people of all ages across the country. This includes:

The department has also strengthened legislation to ensure all secondary pupils have multiple opportunities for meaningful encounters with providers of technical education and apprenticeships.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_152
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_152

Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to Question 61769 tabled by the hon. Member for Gorton and Denton on 23 June 2025. \p Janet Daby: The response to Written Parliamentary Question 61769 was published on 23 July 2025.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_153
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_153

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to support apprenticeships in green industries in the Tees Valley. \p Janet Daby: Upskilling the country’s workforce is vital to meet the government’s clean energy by 2030 mission, with apprenticeships playing a key role in supporting employers to develop the skills they need.

Employers across England, including Tees Valley, can benefit from over 40 apprenticeships that directly relate to delivering the government’s clean energy mission. This includes the level 3 low carbon heating technician and the level 4 corporate responsibilities and sustainability practitioner apprenticeships. We are also reducing the apprenticeship minimum duration to eight months so that shorter apprenticeships are possible from August 2025. This includes the level 2 dual fuel smart meter installers apprenticeship, which can be completed in eight months, enabling learners to achieve occupational competence more quickly.

In addition, Skills England continues to work with employers to ensure that new and existing apprenticeships reflect green skills.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_154
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_154

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support skills development aligned with advanced manufacturing industries in Teesside. \p Janet Daby: The government is evolving apprenticeships into a new growth and skills offer to provide greater flexibility for employers and learners, aligned with the Industrial Strategy. In response to business needs, the offer will boost skills in the manufacturing sector through key initiatives such as:

The Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, published in June, is addressing skills gaps through a range of targeted programmes, such as the Upskilling and Reskilling Programme, which is being co-developed with industry to ensure training provision aligns with sector needs. The Department of Business and Trade is working closely with Skills England on the development of these programmes to ensure alignment with national skills priorities.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_155
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_155

Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to press release entitled Young Futures Hubs to launch offering vulnerable young people lifeline, published on 15 July 2025, whether her Department is now leading on the design and implementation of Young Futures Hubs; and which other departments are involved in discussions. \p Janet Daby: The government is committed to rolling out a network of Young Futures Hubs. These will bring together services to help improve children and young people’s access to support to reduce crime and improve mental health and careers opportunities.

The design and implementation of hubs is a cross-government endeavour. Expertise has been brought together from across departments, particularly the Department for Education, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Home Office, Department of Health and Social Care, Ministry of Justice and Department for Work and Pensions, to deliver on this manifesto commitment.

The government will be engaging with national and local partners, local communities and children and young people to explore options for the design and delivery of the hubs, ahead of the first hubs becoming operational this year.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_156
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_156

Mims Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of launching a comprehensive review of student loan interest rates. \p Janet Daby: Student loans are subject to interest so that those who can afford to do so contribute to the full cost of their degree. To consider both students and taxpayers and ensure the real value of the loans over the repayment term, interest rates are linked to inflation.

Interest rates on student loans do not affect monthly repayments made by borrowers. Regular repayments are based on a fixed percentage of earnings above the applicable student loan repayment threshold. Any outstanding debt, including interest built up, is written off after the loan term ends (or in case of death or disability) at no detriment to the borrower.

A full equality impact assessment of how the student loan reforms may affect graduates, including detail on changes to average lifetime repayments under Plan 5, was produced and published under the previous government in February 2022 and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reform-equality-impact-assessment.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_157
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_157

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of school attendance levels by region. \p Stephen Morgan: The department publishes figures on pupil attendance using daily data submitted by state-funded schools. The latest data for the 2024/25 academic year to date, including regional breakdowns, is published here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-attendance-in-schools/2025-week-29.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_158
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_158

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department is providing to local authorities facing financial strain in delivering SEND services in (a) the South West and (b) Dorset. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department is providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year. Total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is over £12 billion in 2025/26.

Of that total, the Southwest is being allocated over £983 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), an increase of £71 million on last year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs national funding formula. Of this amount, Dorset is being allocated over £60 million, an increase of £4 million on last year.

The department intends to set out plans for reforming the SEND system in further detail in a Schools White Paper in the autumn and are considering the funding for future years following the spending review that concluded in June. We will also set out later this year how the government will support local authorities to deal with their historic deficits.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_159
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_159

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of (a) literacy and (b) numeracy rates among pupils in the North East of England. \p Catherine McKinnell: The most recent data shows that in the 2023/24 academic year, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading at key stage 2 in the North East. This matches the national average in 2023/24.

In the 2023/24 academic year, 73% of pupils met the expected standard in mathematics at key stage 2 in the North East. This compares to the national average of 74% in 2023/24.

In the 2023/24 academic year, 62.3% of pupils achieved grades 4 or above in English and maths GCSEs in the North East. This compares to 65.4% of pupils achieving grades 4 or above in English and mathematics GCSEs in England.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_160
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_160

Mims Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support councils with home to school transport costs for SEND children. \p Catherine McKinnell: I refer the hon. Member for East Grinstead and Uckfield to the answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62198.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_161
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_161

Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of unqualified teachers working in maintained schools. \p Catherine McKinnell: Information on the school workforce in England, including numbers of teachers with and without qualified teacher status (QTS) by school type, is published in the ‘School workforce in England’ statistical publication, which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-workforce-in-england.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_162
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_162

Cat Eccles:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help ensure that children have access to a (a) full and (b) balanced curriculum; and what steps she is taking to help ensure that children have access to the creative arts (i) up to and (ii) after GCSE level. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department wants every child, regardless of background, to have a rich and broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum.

Art and design, music, dance (included in physical education) and drama (included in English) are in the national curriculum and are compulsory in all maintained schools. From key stages 1-3 for art and design, music, and dance; and key stages 1-4 for drama. At key stage 4, all pupils in maintained schools have an entitlement to study an arts subject, if they wish.

The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review aims to ensure that all pupils gain knowledge and skills that set them up for life. The Review will publish its final report in the autumn, and the government will respond.

Alongside the Review, we have announced our intention to launch a new National Centre for Arts and Music Education, to help meet the government’s ambitions for improved and more equitable arts education.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_163
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_163

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that statutory deadlines for SEND assessments and Education, Health and Care Plans are consistently upheld by local authorities. \p Catherine McKinnell: I refer the hon. Member for West Dorset to the answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65182.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_164
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_164

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that secondary school pupils have access to appropriate school transport arrangements in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Catherine McKinnell: I refer the hon. Member for Surrey Heath to the answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54948.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_165
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_165

James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of communication by Teachers’ Pensions with scheme members. \p Catherine McKinnell: Teachers’ Pensions employs a wide range of communication methods to contact members of the scheme including via member portal, website, telephone contact centre, webchat, text messaging, post, email and social media platforms.

The department regularly discusses the frequency, timeliness and content of key member updates with Teachers’ Pensions and how they are made available to relevant members.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_166
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_166

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of proposals from Stop Killing Games to require video game publishers to (a) permit and (b) facilitate the use of third party online servers for games when they take a commercial decision to cease support for those titles themselves. \p Chris Bryant: The Government is aware of the Stop Killing Games campaign and concerns relating to the continued access to video games, including licensed, online-only video games, and we appreciate the frustrations of players of some games that have been discontinued. The Government has spoken with the video games industry and has responded to a recent petition on this issue.

There are no plans to amend existing consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) and Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA), giving clear advice to consumers. Video game sellers must not omit or hide material information, or provide it in an unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely manner.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_167
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_167

Sarah Green:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with (a) early career and (b) small artists through the Creator Remuneration Working Group. \p Chris Bryant: This government is committed to supporting UK artists, including emerging talent, to succeed and reach their full potential. We recognise that the success of our world-leading music industry relies on artists at every level receiving their fair share of the rewards, especially in the era of streaming.

That is why we convened the music industry through the Creator Remuneration Working Group over the past year to address concerns over low creator earnings. As part of this engagement, I met with representatives from across the music sector, including the Council of Music Makers, which advocates for musicians at every stage of their careers, as well as independent record labels, to discuss the challenges facing creators.

The outcome of the Working Group, published in August, is designed to deliver real benefits for UK creators, both through the principles created by the British Phonographic Industry, as well as individual commitments made by major labels. Together, these measures seek to support fair remuneration for the artists, songwriters, and session musicians that form the bedrock of the industry, as well as enhancing the growth of the overall UK music sector.

As part of this Government’s Industrial Strategy, our recently published Creative Industries Sector Plan introduced the new Music Growth Package of up to £30 million over three years from 2026; more than doubling funding for the grassroots music sector. This funding will support new artists with touring, performance, mentoring and export opportunities and ensure they have the resources and guidance to grow their careers, reach wider audiences, and sustain long-term artistic success.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_168
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_168

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the grassroots ticket levy on the long term financial sustainability of small independent music festivals. \p Chris Bryant: The Government supports the live music industry’s work to introduce a voluntary levy on tickets for stadium and arena shows. This will compliment the significant increase in government funding for the grassroots sector through our new Music Growth Package, of up to £30m over the next 3 years. This package will deliver concrete benefits for venues and emerging artists with touring, performance, mentoring and export opportunities.

Funding from the grassroots ticket levy will be distributed by the LIVE Trust to existing industry-led initiatives that will support grassroots festivals, as well as artists, promoters and venues. This targeted support will not only benefit current small festivals, but also help secure the pipeline of talent to safeguard their future and create the right conditions for future growth.

The Government is encouraged to see sector reporting showing that 44% of 2025 tickets on sale since July now include the levy, and 1.9 million levied tickets have been sold since January. Autumn ticket sales and the establishment of the LIVE Trust should mean even greater uptake by Winter. We want to see a voluntary levy be in place for as many concerts as possible in 2025 and 2026, and we will continue to convene the live music industry to drive progress. We would encourage all artists, promoters and venues to promote the levy.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_169
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_169

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps her Department has taken to promote the Women's Rugby World Cup. \p Stephanie Peacock: We are ambitious and want to make this the biggest Women’s World Cup (RWC) ever. Over 400,000 tickets have already been sold for the tournament, more than double the number bought for the previous tournament in New Zealand in 2022, including a sold out final at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham highlighting the demand for women’s sport in the country.

The Government is proud to have provided just under £18m of investment into the tournament since summer 2024 which will be used for all aspects of tournament delivery.

In addition to this DCMS Ministers have supported the promotion of the tournament directly with the Secretary of State Lisa Nandy appearing on the BBC at the 100 Days to go event which also coincided with the reveal of the new Women's RWC trophy. I was then delighted to represent the Department at the 50 Days to go Event held in Parliament and the England teams opening match of the tournament in Sunderland against the USA.
wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_170
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-09-05)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-09-05 conversation_170

Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she has taken to reduce (a) racism, (b) sexism and (c) other forms of discrimination within sports. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government’s stance is unequivocal: racism, sexism, or any other form of discrimination has absolutely no place in our society, and no place in sport and activity. We are committed to stamping it out, from the elite level to the grassroots, ensuring that sport truly is for everyone, regardless of their background or ethnicity.

The Government is working closely with the sector, particularly its Arm’s Length Bodies Sport England and UK Sport, and the national governing bodies, to tackle racism and discrimination in sport.

Implemented by Sport England and UK Sport, the UK Code for Sports Governance has been a powerful tool for improving good governance and diversity in the sector, making these a non-negotiable condition of public funding. It has directly influenced the composition and culture of sports organisations by requiring them to actively address equality, diversity, and inclusion.

It is clear, however, that more needs to be done. The Government will continue to work with the sector and relevant organisations to fight discrimination in sport.