theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_142
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_142

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of delays in approving Gateway 2 applications by the Building Safety Regulator on housebuilding targets. \p Alex Norris: MHCLG and the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) both recognise the concerns about the impact of Gateway delays on investment decisions in high-rise projects and are taking significant measures to address the current challenges. The Gateways for building control approval set out under Building Safety legislation have been operational since October 2023 and are a departmental priority to facilitate both new homes and remediation projects and to ensure that failings that led to the Grenfell Tower tragedy do not happen again.

MHCLG and BSR jointly keep BSR’s operational set up under review and are undertaking a further programme of enhancements. MHCLG is exploring all possible options with the BSR to ensure it is equipped for the high demand of applications. The Department has already provided additional funding to bring further capacity into the BSR for building control caseworkers and in-house technical specialists. The benefits of this additional funding will continue to scale up in the coming months.

The BSR is conducting a systematic review of all of its building safety guidance and service content to identify where improvements are needed. This includes understanding themes emerging from user and stakeholder feedback. User testing will form an integral part of any changes made. The BSR will also continue to work with the Construction Leadership Council and other representative bodies to support industry written guidance.

A significant number of poor quality applications that do not meet the regulatory standard are contributing to overall processing times resulting in delays. MHCLG recognises that changes are still bedding in. However, it is clear that the sector must also take responsibility for the projects it delivers. The BSR is supporting applicants to ensure they are meeting the functional requirements of the building regulations.

On 28 April, the Minister for Building Safety, Fire & Local Growth hosted a roundtable with the BSR and developers to discuss industry’s concerns. The BSR meets weekly with the Construction Leadership Council to work through, address and resolve issues associated with the new Gateway processes for building control applications. Both MHCLG and the BSR welcome direct engagement with industry and are prioritising the need to improve the rate in which applications can progress through the system first time, lessening the rate of invalidated and rejected applications.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_143
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_143

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will issue guidance to local authorities on the potential impact of local circumstances on the application of a (a) second homes and (b) empty homes premium to council tax. \p Jim McMahon: The government has published guidance on the implementation of the empty and second homes council tax premiums which encourages councils to consider local circumstances when deciding whether to apply a premium. The guidance can be found here - Guidance on the implementation of the council tax premiums on long-term empty homes and second homes - GOV.UK

It is for councils to decide where it is appropriate to apply the premiums and assess their effectiveness at a local level.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_144
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_144

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 April 2025 to Question 44299 on Park Homes: Sales, whether she will outline her plans to seek further evidence from the sector before the House rises for summer recess. \p Matthew Pennycook: We will set out our plans to seek further evidence from the sector in respect of the rationale for the commission in due course.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_145
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_145

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Section 106 contributions paid to local authorities ahead of a development. \p Matthew Pennycook: Local authorities are able to seek a section 106 planning obligation from a developer to mitigate the impact of a development in order to make it acceptable in planning terms. The obligation might, for example, specify the periods at which the required contributions must be provided by the developer. Local authorities have enforcement powers to ensure compliance with any such provisions.

The government does not collect data on section 106 contributions paid to local authorities ahead of a development taking place. However, any local authority that has received section 106 contributions is required to publish an infrastructure funding statement at least annually. Guidance recommends that authorities report on the delivery and provision of infrastructure, as well as estimated future income from developer contributions, where they are able to do so.

The government is committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions, including section 106 planning obligations, to ensure that new developments provide appropriate affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_146
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_146

Ms Polly Billington:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when her Department plans to lay statutory instrument to remove the one-metre rule requiring planning permission to install heat pumps in England. \p Matthew Pennycook: Further announcements on permitted development rights for domestic air source heat pumps will be made in due course.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_147
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_147

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 48207 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, how the fire and rescue services Relative Needs Formula works. \p Jim McMahon: I refer the hon. member to the answer to Question UIN 36212 answered on 11 March 2025.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_148
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_148

Marsha De Cordova:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help support leaseholders living in buildings under 11 meters with cladding remediation works. \p Alex Norris: The responsibility for fixing historical cladding fire safety defects should rest with building owners. They should not pass these costs on to leaseholders but should seek to recover costs from those who were responsible for building unsafe homes.

The department reviews cases brought to its attention which includes engaging freeholders and managing agents to make sure that proposed works are necessary and proportionate.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_149
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_149

Rachel Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her timetable is for consulting on mandatory qualifications for managing agents. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 41307 on 2 April 2025.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_150
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_150

Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of restricting permitted development rights for (a) caravans and (b) temporary installations on agricultural land to cases where planning permission has been granted for a dwelling. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_151
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_151

Paul Holmes:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report by the Office for Budget Responsibility entitled Economic and fiscal outlook, published in March 2025, CP 1289, whether the forecast of 1.3 million homes in the next five years applies to (a) England and (b) the UK. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 41927 on 1 April 2025.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_152
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_152

Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether consumer standards set by the Regulator for Social Housing apply to socially rented residential pitches on local authority (a) owned and (b) managed Gypsy and Traveller sites. \p Matthew Pennycook: All registered providers of social housing, including local authorities, are required to deliver the outcomes of the consumer standards set by the independent Regulator of Social Housing (‘the regulator’).

The regulatory standards apply to social housing as defined by the Housing and Regeneration Act (2008). The Act defines low-cost rental accommodation as accommodation rented below market rate and made available to those whose needs may not be adequately served by the commercial market.

Socially rented residential homes on local authority owned or managed Gypsy and Traveller sites will be subject to the regulator’s consumer standards if they meet the definition of social housing under the Act.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_153
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_153

Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing EU citizens with settled status in the UK the right to vote in local and parliamentary elections. \p Rushanara Ali: EU citizens who were legally resident in the UK prior to withdrawal from the EU, or whose countries have a bilateral reciprocal voting rights agreement with the UK, can vote in local elections in England and Northern Ireland.

Citizens of EU Member States have never been able to vote in UK general election based on that citizenship. The Government has no plans to change this.

The franchise for local and devolved government elections in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru respectively.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_154
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_154

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to accelerate the processing of pensions claims made by retired firefighters in Yeovil constituency. \p Alex Norris: While the government has responsibility for overarching policy and legislative changes to the firefighters’ pension scheme regulations, the firefighters’ pension scheme is locally administered by each individual Fire and Rescue Authority.

As the designated scheme manager, it is for each Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA) to determine their administrative timetable, including for the McCloud/Sargeant remedy, in accordance with the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (PSPJOA), including when remedy payments will be distributed.

The Government has been working, and will continue to work, with the fire sector and Local Government Association to support and remind FRAs of their duty under the PSPJOA for all affected individuals.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_155
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_155

Rachel Blake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Statement of 21 November 2024 on Leasehold and Commonhold Reform, HCWS244, what her planned timeline is for (a) reforms of and (b) consultations on the leasehold system. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244).
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_156
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_156

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, who attends daily meetings between her Department and Birmingham City Council. \p Jim McMahon: MHCLG Resilience & Recovery Directorate officials attend the multi-agency coordinating group established in response to the declaration of a major incident by Birmingham City Council. Area Team officials are also meeting twice weekly with Birmingham City Council's operational team to support the council's efforts to clear the backlog of waste on the streets. In addition, a number of meetings continue to take place as part of the regular dialogue between MHCLG officials and the leadership of the city council to ensure the welfare of Birmingham residents and a swift resolution to the dispute.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_157
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_157

Daisy Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how leaseholders can challenge costs incurred for a Deed of Variation to leasehold agreements. \p Matthew Pennycook: Leaseholders who are dissatisfied with costs incurred as part of a deed of variation should seek legal advice. Free initial legal advice is available through the Leasehold Advisory Service.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_158
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_158

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans she has to reduce the size of local authority planning committees. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 48951 on 7 May 2025.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_159
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_159

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 42592 on Councillors: Planning, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of councillors on the planning process. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes a regulation-making power to issue statutory guidance on a national scheme of delegation.

The government intend to formally consult on proposals relating to the delegation of planning decisions in England alongside the Bill’s passage.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_160
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_160

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press notice entitled OBR concludes planning reforms will bring housebuilding to its highest level in 40 years, published 26 November 2025, further to the HM Treasury press release on 26 March 2025, whether it is her Department's target to deliver 1.5 homes by the end of this Parliament in (a) England or (b) the UK. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 5686 on 11 October 2024.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_161
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_161

Julia Buckley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she is taking steps to adopt national (a) standards, (b) timescales and (c) charges for (i) roads on new housing estates and (ii) other public amenities. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November (HCWS244).
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_162
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_162

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to (a) local planning authorities and (b) the Planning Inspectorate on whether applicants for planning permission should be required to provide information on their (i) protected characteristics and (ii) associated diversity information. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has not issued guidance specific to planning applications on providing information relating to protected characteristics and associated diversity information.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_163
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_163

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of councils extending the right to be placed on the rent books of primary tenancies to adults with additional needs on (a) costs to and (b) the provision of social housing by local authorities. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department has not undertaken an assessment of potential impact of councils right to be placed on the rent books extension.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_164
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_164

David Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to protect shared ownership leaseholders from excessive administration fees imposed by housing associations during the resale of their share; and whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that such fees are proportionate to the share being sold. \p Matthew Pennycook: Shared ownership landlords are required to publish clear information about the resales process for shared ownership properties on their websites.

They are also required to outline their current selling fee in a ‘Key Information Document’ provided to prospective shared owners before reservation.

Some shared ownership leases will also state the resale fee which can be charged by shared ownership landlords.

The government is considering what more can be done to improve the experience of shared owners.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_165
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_165

Llinos Medi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to take steps to regulate overvaluations of properties by estate agents. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is committed to ensuring that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous estate agents.

All estate agents are legally required to belong to one of two government-approved redress schemes; administered either by The Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. This legislation is currently enforced by local authorities and by the National Trading Standards’ Lettings and Estate Agency Team, who have the power to issue warnings and banning orders to rogue estate and letting agents.

The previous government committed to regulate the property agent sector in 2018 and asked a working group chaired by Lord Richard Best to advise them on how best to do it.

However, they failed to respond to the recommendations set out in the working group’s 2019 Regulation of Property Agents: working group report which can be found on gov.uk here.

This government will set out our full position on regulation of estate, letting and managing agents in due course.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_166
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_166

Llinos Medi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the oral contribution from the Minister for Housing and Planning in response to an question from the hon. Member for Cheltenham on 28 October 2024, Official Report, col 517, when she plans to outline her plans for the regulation of letting, management and estate agents. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government will set out our full position on regulation of estate, letting and managing agents in due course.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_167
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_167

Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 23 April 2025 entitled Further reforms to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime, HCWS594, which projects were used to calculate the difference in the average processing time of applications in this Parliament compared to the last Parliament; and what (a) projects in the pipeline were and (b) methodology was used to calculate the estimated reduction in expenditure. \p Matthew Pennycook: Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) applications once accepted by the Planning Inspectorate are being processed on average 50 days quicker in this Parliament than in the last. This was calculated using the average time taken by projects processed in the parliamentary term July 2019 to July 2024 compared to projects in this parliament between July 2024 to February 2025.

Information on applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, and their decisions, can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website here. This page includes information on projects already determined, projects due for decision and projects at an earlier stage in the application process.

In Written Ministerial Statement of 23 April 2025, the government announced that it will amend the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to remove the statutory requirement to consult as part of the pre-application stage for NSIP applications, bringing requirements in line with all other planning regimes. We estimate that these changes could result in a cost saving of £1bn across the pipeline. This estimate is based on analysis from the National Infrastructure Commission which identified that delays can cost a project around £1.5m per month of delay. Together with evidence from key stakeholders in the NSIP process which shows that these changes could save projects 12 months, we estimate a saving of £18m per project. If you apply £18m in savings to the number of expected projects that would benefit from these changes within this Parliament, it will give a total saving of over £1bn.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_168
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_168

Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with planning authorities in the (a) South West, (b) South East, (c) West Midlands, (d) East Midlands and (e) the East of England on the designation of new green belts. \p Matthew Pennycook: Government policy in respect of the designation of new Green Belts may be found in Chapter 13 of the National Planning Policy Framework, which sets out that new Green Belts should be established only in exceptional circumstances.

The Framework was recently updated following extensive consultation, including with local planning authorities.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_169
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_169

Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of the levels of availability of (a) affordable and (b) social housing on people living in (i) North Cornwall constituency and (ii) rural areas. \p Matthew Pennycook: It is for local authorities to assess the size, type and tenure of housing needed for different groups in the community, including those who require affordable housing, and to reflect this in their planning policies.

However, the government have made clear that authorities should consider the particular needs of those who require Social Rent homes when undertaking needs assessments and setting policies on affordable housing requirements.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_170
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_170

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 40908 on New Towns: Planning Permission, whether she plans to allow housing development on Sites of Special Scientific Interest. \p Matthew Pennycook: The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that development on land within or outside a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and which is likely to have an adverse effect on it (either individually or in combination with other developments), should not normally be permitted.

The only exception is where the benefits of the development in the location proposed clearly outweigh both its likely impact on the features of the site that make it of special scientific interest, and any broader impacts on the national network of Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_171
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_171

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what funding options are available to community land trusts for (a) site remediation and (b) preliminary infrastructure work following the abolition of the Derelict Land Grant. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government recognises the value of Community Land Trusts in developing homes for local communities.

Community Land Trusts can apply for funding through a range of existing programmes, including the Brownfield Land Release Fund and the Affordable Homes Programme.

The Department continues to engage with the sector and keeps funding options under review to support community-led housing delivery.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_172
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_172

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Chinese influence in UK universities on national security. \p Janet Daby: The first duty of the government is to keep the country safe, and we will always protect our national security and values. We expect the sector to be alert to a range of risks when collaborating with international partners, and to conduct appropriate due diligence to comply with legislation. There are a set of measures that protect against undue foreign interference in our universities, ranging from the Academic Technology Approval Scheme, which vets students and researchers seeking to study in sensitive areas, to the provisions of the Higher Education Freedom of Speech Act 2023, which offer a focused route for concerns to be escalated, including relating to foreign interference in academic freedom and free speech. In England, providers are also required to have adequate and effective management and governance arrangements and must ensure that decisions are taken without direction, coercion or covert influence.

As a matter of longstanding policy, the department is unable to release information regarding assessments on the grounds of national security. The UK welcomes international partnerships and students, including from China, who make a very positive impact on the UK’s higher education sector, our economy and society as a whole.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_173
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_173

Sir Andrew Mitchell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department plans to take to improve learning outcomes for boys at Secondary School level. \p Catherine McKinnell: Every child and young person should be able to achieve and thrive in education, regardless of background. As in previous years, girls continue to do better than boys across all headline measures, and although the gap has narrowed compared to 2018/19, there is more to do. The department is committed to addressing this challenge.

High standards across education are the key to unlocking stronger outcomes and a better future for all children and young people, including boys. We aim to deliver these improvements and reduce gaps in outcomes through excellent teaching and leadership, a high quality curriculum and a system which removes the barriers to learning.

Teaching quality is the single most important in-school factor in improving outcomes, which is why the department is committed to recruiting an additional 6,500 expert teachers. We have established an independent, expert-led Curriculum and Assessment Review, which is looking closely at the key challenges and barriers to attainment for young people. Alongside this, we are strengthening our tools for faster and more effective school improvement by launching the new regional improvement for standards and excellence teams.

As part of a £2 million investment to drive standards in reading and writing, teachers in secondary schools are being offered new training and resources this year to help them support readers at all levels. Next year, the department will commission further training focusing specifically on struggling readers in secondary school who are at risk of falling behind.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_174
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_174

Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of combining SEND policy and SEN information reports. \p Catherine McKinnell: The ‘Special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice’, paragraph 6.81, states that schools should ensure that information reports are easily accessible by young people and parents, and are set out in clear, straightforward language. They should include information on the school’s special educational needs (SEN) policy and named contacts within the school for situations where young people or parents have concerns. They should also give details of the school’s contribution to the SEND local offer and make clear where that local offer is published.

The department does not routinely collect data on the readability of information reports, but has reviewed examples of SEN information reports, and considered their accessibility for parents and guardians who have and/or do not have SEND.

A school’s SEN policy provides the broader aims and values of the school’s approach to SEN, although there is no requirement to publish it as a separate document. The department will consider whether any changes are needed to the relevant duties in the context of future improvements to the SEND system.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_175
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_175

Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including supply teachers in any forthcoming workforce strategy for (a) teacher recruitment and (b) teacher retention. \p Catherine McKinnell: High quality teaching is the in school factor that has the biggest positive impact on children’s outcomes. Ensuring a high quality teaching workforce is therefore critical to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost life chances for every child. This is why the department will recruit 6,500 new expert teachers across secondary and special schools and colleges, get more teachers into shortage subjects, support areas that face recruitment challenges and tackle retention issues.

Supply teachers make an important contribution to the smooth running of schools by filling posts on a temporary basis and covering teacher absences.

School autonomy is vital to the health of our education system. Headteachers are ultimately responsible for employment in their schools, as they are best placed to understand the specific needs of their pupils and make staffing decisions accordingly.

The department is determined to improve the attractiveness of the teaching profession so that existing teachers want to remain in it, former teachers want to return to it, and new graduates and career changers wish to join.

We continue to incentivise teacher recruitment through increasing teacher trainee bursaries to £233 million in 2025/26, with a focus on shortage subjects, and doubling retention payments from this year. A successful recruitment strategy starts with a strong retention strategy, and we are doing more to improve wellbeing and reduce workload, including actively promoting flexible working such as allowing planning, preparation and assessment time to be taken from home.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_176
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_176

Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with teachers on the use of applications using generative artificial intelligence for (a) lesson-planning and (b) resource-generating. \p Catherine McKinnell: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, ministers and departmental officials engage extensively with teachers, leaders, support staff and experts to both respond to the implications of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies and to support schools to teach a knowledge-rich computing curriculum up to 16. In March, the Secretary of State for Education along with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology attended a department-sponsored Hackathon, a demonstration of AI tools, which explored how these can save time for teachers, leaders and support staff.

The department has adopted a collaborative and innovation-focused approach to testing where AI can be effective in supporting educational delivery through looking domestically and internationally to understand good practice and investing in programmes that generate evidence and build understanding of what works.

The AI content store project is pre-processing educational content and resources to support the creation of high-quality AI tools, initially for formative assessment, as part of the Innovate UK funding competition.

Following the department’s call for evidence on generative AI, we are developing online resources and guidance materials to support school AI safely, to be published this year. The Chiltern Learning Trust and the Chartered College of Teaching have been contracted to deliver these resources, developed collaboratively with the sector.

In addition, the department provided up to £2 million funding to support Oak National Academy to develop AI tools for teachers including an AI lesson planning assistant, Aila, that helps teachers create personalised lesson plans and resources in minutes, saving them hours.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_177
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_177

Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the level of use by teachers of generative artificial intelligence to support lesson-planning and resource-creation or tailoring. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department launched a call for evidence on generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education, which sought views and experiences from practitioners, the Edtech sector and AI experts on the use of generative AI in education, including to support lesson planning and resource creation. The department published a report on the views of educators and experts on generative AI, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/generative-ai-in-education-educator-and-expert-views.

The department commissioned a ‘use cases for generative AI’ or ‘Hackathons’ project, working with Faculty Science Ltd in partnership with the National Institute of Teaching to assess possible uses for generative AI in education.

Following on from this, the department is now piloting an Edtech evidence board to bring together a group of experts to assess and evaluate the impact of Edtech tools, including generative AI tools, on teaching and learning against set criteria. This could then be shared with the sector to support and inform their technology choices.

In addition, the department provided £2 million funding to support Oak National Academy to develop AI tools for teachers. Oak has launched an AI lesson assistant, Aila, that can help teachers plan lessons.

The department is also funding Ofsted to gather insights from early-adopter schools and further education colleges on the use of AI and the role leaders are playing. The aim of this research is to provide an up-to-date assessment of what emerging practice is developing.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_178
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_178

Sir Andrew Mitchell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to encourage more girls into STEM subjects in (a) further and (b) higher education. \p Catherine McKinnell: High and rising school standards are central to the government’s mission to break down barriers and provide every child with the best start in life. As part of this, the department supports various initiatives to encourage more girls into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

The ‘I Belong’ programme, part of the National Centre for Computing Education, helps schools understand barriers to girls’ engagement with computing and aims to increase computer science qualification uptake in primary and secondary schools.

To build a strong mathematics foundation for all children, the Maths Hubs programme improves teaching in publicly funded schools. Supported by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics, the programme addresses attainment gaps linked to disadvantage, gender or other factors.

The STEM Ambassadors programme features over 28,000 volunteers from more than 7,500 employers, inspiring over 3 million young people annually by sharing personal experiences in STEM careers. 48% of the volunteers are women.

To provide careers information and guidance, the Careers and Enterprise Company, supported by £30 million of government funding, coordinates a careers hub network covering 95% of secondary schools and colleges, involving 400 employers and 4,000 business volunteers, many in STEM roles.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_179
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_179

Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that supply teachers are provided with up-to-date information on (a) pupils with (i) special educational needs and (ii) disabilities, and (b) behaviour management procedures. \p Catherine McKinnell: Supply teachers perform a valuable role and the department is grateful for their important contribution to schools across the country.

A supply teacher’s pay and working conditions will depend on who employs them. Supply teachers employed directly by a state maintained school or local authority must be paid in accordance with the statutory arrangements for teachers laid down in the ‘school teachers’ pay and conditions document’. If a supply teacher is employed by a private agency or non-maintained school, the employer can set the rate of pay and conditions of employment.

Schools and local authorities are currently responsible for the recruitment and deployment of their supply teachers. School leaders should ensure supply teachers are equipped with the necessary access and information to carry out their role effectively.

There is an established robust safeguarding framework in place in the form of ‘keeping children safe in education’ (KCSIE), which is the statutory safeguarding guidance that all schools and colleges must have regard to when safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Part 1 of this guidance should be read by all staff who work directly with children and sets out the different types of abuse and harm, and supports all staff to know what signs to look out for, including how to respond to any concerns about a child.

The statutory ‘special educational needs and disability code of practice’ states that all teachers and support staff who work with the pupils with special educational needs should be made aware of their needs, the outcomes sought, the support provided and any teaching strategies or approaches that are required. This should also be recorded on the school’s information system.

All schools are required to have a behaviour policy that outlines effective strategies to promote good behaviour and specifies the sanctions for misbehaviour. This policy must be communicated to all pupils, school staff (including supply staff) and parents to ensure everyone is aware of the high standards of behaviour expected. The behaviour policy should also reflect the school's culture and be supported by all staff and senior leaders, including the head teacher.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_180
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_180

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his policy is on the acquisition of UK Artificial Intelligence firms by foreign-owned firms. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The government has powers under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 to review and, where required, intervene in investments that may pose a risk to national security. The NSI Act both facilitates investment into sensitive sectors - such as artificial intelligence - with appropriate safeguards where needed and provides powers to act where necessary and proportionate.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_181
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_181

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question 20698 on Foreign Investment in UK: National Security, if his Department will modify the National Security and Investment Act 2021 annual reporting to include the (a) number and (b) nature of transactions that relate to links to a company owned in (i) part and (ii) whole by a foreign state. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Transparency is a crucial part of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, whilst also balancing commercial and national security considerations.

By publishing information on the origin of acquirer associated with acquisitions reviewed under the National Security and Investment Act 2021, the Cabinet Office goes beyond its obligations under Section 61 of the Act, providing greater transparency on the nature of acquisitions scrutinised.

The reports do not specifically include the number or proportion of transactions that relate to links to a company owned in (a) part or (b) whole by a foreign state, however, they include the number of accepted notifications, call-in notices issued, final notifications issued, withdrawals from a called in acquisition and final orders issued by origin of investment.

Information related to publication of final orders is available on GOV.UK and includes the named Parties subject to the final order.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_182
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_182

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question 20702 on Foreign Investment in UK: National Security, if his Department will modify the National Security and Investment Act 2021 annual reporting to ensure a separate categorisation for sectors grouped within Artificial Intelligence. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Transparency is a crucial part of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, whilst also balancing commercial and national security considerations.

Sectors are reported in line with definitions presented in the Notifiable Acquisition (Specification of Qualifying Entities) Regulations 2021. Acquisitions are often associated with multiple areas of the economy. Information is only gathered at the sector level as the Act does not define more granular areas of the economy.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_183
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_183

Lizzi Collinge:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Infected Blood Compensation Authority plans to provide (a) support and (b) resources to people disputing the distribution of compensation paid to the estates of those who died intestate. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The Infected Blood Compensation Authority’s priority is to deliver compensation to those who are legally entitled to it under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025, which includes infected people, affected people and estates of those infected people who have very sadly died. IBCA provides legal and financial advice to those who are eligible for compensation under the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme. IBCA does not, however, currently fund legal advice to those who are distributing a person’s estate following the receipt of a compensation payment.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_184
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_184

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the previous Cabinet Secretary has received approvals from the Advisory Commission on Business Appointments. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: In accordance with the Business Appointment Rules, former Cabinet Secretaries are obliged to submit applications to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments for new appointments or employment that they wish to accept during the two year period following their final day of service.

The timing of the publication of advice is for ACOBA, who are operationally independent of the Cabinet Office.
wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_185
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-07)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-07 conversation_185

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to make reforms to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. \p Georgia Gould: The Government has taken the decision to close the consultation to reform the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, which began in 2017. The scheme terms as set out in 2010 will remain in place but the Government remains open to reviewing the terms of the scheme in the future.