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House
Session
Year
Department
Member
More
Primary member
More
Answering member
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
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Publisher
Motion that the Charter for Budget Responsibility: Autumn Statement 2014 update, which was laid before this House on 15 December 2014, be approved. Agreed to on division (515 to 18).
Motion that the Charter for Budget Responsibility: Autumn Statement 2014 update, which was laid before this House on 15 December 2014, be approved. Agreed to on division (515 to 18).
Lead member
George Osborne
Answering member
Ed Balls; Danny Alexander
Department
Treasury
Type
Debates
Subjects
Borrowing; Expenditure; Fiscal policy; Public sector; Public expenditure; Reform; Social security benefits; Public sector debt; Social security; Public finance; Office for Budget Responsibility
Date
13 January 2015
Reference
590 cc736-788
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Motion that the modified Charter for Budget Responsibility, which was laid before this House on 19 March, be approved. Agreed to on division (520 to 23). Noes originally erroneously reported as 22. Corrected as a Point of order at c437-8.
Motion that the modified Charter for Budget Responsibility, which was laid before this House on 19 March, be approved. Agreed to on division (520 to 23). Noes originally erroneously reported as 22. Corrected as a Point of order at c437-8.
Lead member
George Osborne
Answering member
Chris Leslie; Ed Balls; Danny Alexander
Department
Treasury
Type
Debates
Subjects
Budgets; Fiscal policy; Public expenditure; Reform; Public sector net cash requirement; Social security; Public finance; Office for Budget Responsibility
Date
26 March 2014
Reference
578 cc373-401
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Financial Services Bill. Second reading debate. Agreed to on question. Programme motion on proceedings in Public Bill Committee, Third Reading and any other proceedings agreed to on question. Money resolution and carry-over motion agreed to on question.
Financial Services Bill. Second reading debate. Agreed to on question. Programme motion on proceedings in Public Bill Committee, Third Reading and any other proceedings agreed to on question. Money resolution and carry-over motion agreed to on question.
Lead member
George Osborne
Answering member
Ed Balls
Department
Treasury
Type
Debates on bills
Legislative stage
Second reading
Procedure
Programme motions; Carry-over motions; Money resolutions
Legislation
Financial Services Bill 2010-12 to 2012-13
Subjects
Consumers; Banks; Credit; Building societies; Bank of England; Financial services; Financial Services Authority; Protection; Regulation; Financial Policy Committee; Financial Conduct Authority; Prudential Regulation Authority
Date
6 February 2012
Reference
540 c43-131
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Debate on a motion that this House has considered the matter of the economy. Negatived on division (79 to 213).
Debate on a motion that this House has considered the matter of the economy. Negatived on division (79 to 213).
Lead member
George Osborne
Answering member
Ed Balls
Department
Treasury
Type
Debates
Subjects
Children; Disclosure of information; Banks; Women; Finance; Families; Incentives; Interest rates; Economic situation; Economic and monetary union; Economic growth; Inflation; Forecasts; Low incomes; Pay; Poverty; Managers; Mortgages; Loans; Regulation; Unemployment; Treasury; Cuts; Office for Budget Responsibility
Date
6 December 2011
Reference
537 c178-272
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Allocation of time motion agreed to on question. Second reading agreed to on question and Bill stood committed to a Committee of the Whole House. Committee stage debate. Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to. Clauses 3 to 6 ordered to stand part. Clause 7 agreed to as amended. Clauses 8 to 17 ordered to stand part. Schedules 1 and 2 agreed to. Bill reported as amended. Report stage agreed to on question. Third reading debate. Agreed to on question and Bill passed.
Allocation of time motion agreed to on question. Second reading agreed to on question and Bill stood committed to a Committee of the Whole House. Committee stage debate. Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to. Clauses 3 to 6 ordered to stand part. Clause 7 agreed to as amended. Clauses 8...
Lead member
George Osborne
Answering member
Ed Balls
Department
Treasury
Type
Debates on bills; Committee of the Whole House (HC)
Legislative stage
Committee stage; Third reading; Report stage; Second reading
Procedure
Allocation of time motions
Legislation
Sovereign Grant Bill 2010-12
Subjects
Disclosure of information; Conditions of employment; Accountability; Accountancy; Crown lands and estates; Crown Estate; Finance; Expenditure; Historic buildings; Minimum wage; National Audit Office; Travel; Repairs and maintenance; Royal family; Royal household; Sovereign grant; Committee of Public Accounts
Date
14 July 2011
Reference
531 c526-83
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Motion made, that— (1) new provision be made for, or in connection with, the financial support of the Sovereign and of the heir to the throne; (2) any sums payable in respect of provision so made should be payable out of money provided by Parliament; (3) provision be made enabling the continuation, in the reigns of Her Majesty’s successors, of the payment of the hereditary revenues of the Crown as directed under section 1 of the Civil List Act 1952; (4) provision be made about allowances and pensions under the Civil List Acts of 1837 and 1952; (5) any sums payable in respect of such allowances and pensions by virtue of any provision so made should be charged on the Consolidated Fund; (6) it is expedient to amend the law relating to the financial support of members of the Royal Household. Agreed to on question. Ordered, that a Bill be brought in upon the foregoing resolution. (Bill 213 2010-12)
Motion made, that— (1) new provision be made for, or in connection with, the financial support of the Sovereign and of the heir to the throne; (2) any sums payable in respect of provision so made should be payable out of money provided by Parliament; (3) provision be made enabling...
Lead member
George Osborne
Answering member
Ed Balls
Department
Treasury
Type
Legislative debates
Legislation
Sovereign Grant Bill 2010-12
Subjects
Crown lands and estates; Civil list; Finance; Expenditure; Historic buildings; Travel; Repairs and maintenance; Royal family; Royal household; Sovereign grant
Date
30 June 2011
Reference
530 c1144-78
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill. Second reading debate. Amendment debated and negatived on division (230 votes to 321). Original motion agreed to on question. Programme motion on proceedings in Committee, on Report, Third Reading and any other proceedings agreed to on division (320 votes to 230). Queen's recommendation signified. Money resolution agreed to on division (304 votes to 225).
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill. Second reading debate. Amendment debated and negatived on division (230 votes to 321). Original motion agreed to on question. Programme motion on proceedings in Committee, on Report, Third Reading and any other proceedings agreed to on division (320 votes to 230). Queen's recommendation signified....
Lead member
Baroness May of Maidenhead
Answering member
Ed Balls
Department
Home Office
Type
Debates on bills
Legislative stage
Second reading
Procedure
Programme motions; Money resolutions; Queen's recommendation; Reasoned amendments
Legislation
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill 2010-12
Subjects
Accountability; Crime; Alcoholic drinks; Demonstrations; Arrest warrants; Elections; Drugs; Police; Parliament Square; Misuse; Licensing laws; Police authorities; Young people; Reform; War crimes; Police and crime commissioners
Date
13 December 2010
Reference
520 c707-85
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Academies Bill (HL). Committee stage third day. Clause 3, discussed with new clause 1, agreed to. Clause 4, discussed with new clause 7, agreed to. Clauses 5, 16 to 19 agreed to. Clause 20 agreed to as amended. New clause 7 negatived on division (223 votes to 315). Bill reported as amended. Third reading debate agreed to on division (317 votes to 225). Bill passed, with an amendment. Clause 3: Application for Academy Order New clause 1: Reversion of Academies to maintained status Clause 4: Academy Orders New clause 7: Social cohesion Clause 16: Pre-commencement applications etc. Clause 20: Short title
Academies Bill (HL). Committee stage third day. Clause 3, discussed with new clause 1, agreed to. Clause 4, discussed with new clause 7, agreed to. Clauses 5, 16 to 19 agreed to. Clause 20 agreed to as amended. New clause 7 negatived on division (223 votes to 315). Bill reported...
Lead member
Nick Gibb
Answering member
Ed Balls
Department
Department for Education
Type
Debates on bills; Committee of the Whole House (HC)
Legislative stage
Committee stage; Third reading; Report stage
Procedure
New clauses
Legislation
Academies Bill (HL) 2010-12
Subjects
Conditions of employment; Admissions; Applications; Ballots; Finance; Fees and charges; Education; Governing bodies; Local government; Parents; Property transfer; Public consultation; Pupils; Primary education; Standards; Teachers; Secondary education; Sports; Academies; Free schools; Maintained schools
Date
26 July 2010
Reference
514 c742-833
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Academies Bill. Second reading debate. Amendment negatived on division (234 to 333). Main question agreed on division (326 to 236). Programme motion relating to proceedings in committee and other proceedings agreed on division (322 to 238). Money resolution agreed.
Academies Bill. Second reading debate. Amendment negatived on division (234 to 333). Main question agreed on division (326 to 236). Programme motion relating to proceedings in committee and other proceedings agreed on division (322 to 238). Money resolution agreed.
Lead member
Lord Gove
Answering member
Ed Balls
Department
Department for Education
Type
Debates on bills
Legislative stage
Second reading
Procedure
Programme motions; Money resolutions; Reasoned amendments
Legislation
Academies Bill (HL) 2010-12
Subjects
Admissions; City technology colleges; Finance; Education; Free school meals; Pupil exclusions; Personal, social, health and economic education; Standards; Special educational needs; School choice; Religion; Academies; Building schools for the future programme; Free schools; Relationships and sex education; Maintained schools
Date
19 July 2010
Reference
514 c24-143
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Queen's speech debate (fourth day) on education and health.
Queen's speech debate (fourth day) on education and health.
Lead member
Lord Gove
Answering member
Ed Balls
Department
Department of Health; Department for Education
Type
Queen's speech debates
Procedure
Addresses to the Crown
Subjects
Disability; Curriculum; Closures; Hospitals; Health services; Finance; Education; General Teaching Council; NHS; Public expenditure; Pupils; Waiting lists; Standards; Schools; Teaching methods; Department for Education; Building schools for the future programme; Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency; British Educational Communications and Technology Agency; Pupil premium
Date
2 June 2010
Reference
510 c455-547
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
It is very important to protect and support entrepreneurs in creating more jobs for the future; there is a consensus on that on both sides of the House. I am proud of the fact that this year, compared with last year, the figures for young people not in education, employment or training have fallen for 16-year-olds, 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds, even in a recession. The reason for that is that, unlike the Conservatives, we will not forget the school leavers guarantee. We will fund the school leavers guarantee so that there is a college, school or apprenticeship place for every young person, not just some young people.
It is very important to protect and support entrepreneurs in creating more jobs for the future; there is a consensus on that on both sides of the House. I am proud of the fact that this year, compared with last year, the figures for young people not in education, employment or training have fallen for 16-year-olds, 17-year-olds and 18-year-olds, even in a recession. The reason for that is that, unlike the Conservatives, we will not forget the school leavers guarantee. We will fund the school leavers guarantee so that there is a college, school or apprenticeship place for every young person, not just some young people.
Answered by
Ed Balls
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Asked by
Nigel Evans
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Type
Oral answers to questions
Can I give the Secretary of State a figure, as well? Over the past 10 years, the number of people aged between 16 and 24 who are not in education or employment has risen by 150,000 to 750,000. In my constituency, H. J. Berry, the oldest chair-maker in Britain, has closed, with the loss of 85 jobs; the oldest shoe shop in Clitheroe, D. Lord & Son, has closed; and we have recently seen the closure of Kaydee bookshop, with a loss of jobs. Let us forget the September guarantee and have the May promise—that we will get off the backs of entrepreneurs and allow them to create jobs for young people and others alike.
Subjects
School leaving
Date
8 March 2010
Reference
507 c10
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I know that the constituents of Bexleyheath and Crayford will be hoping, along with 50 other local authorities, that they will have the chance to come into Building Schools for the Future in the coming years. As he knows, that is a guarantee that Labour will make but that the Conservatives will cut. As for one-to-one tuition, which is vital to make sure that every child can make progress if they fall behind, it was in our fifth-Session Bill, which the Conservative party voted against on Third Reading. That is why there would not be progress under a Conservative Government.
I know that the constituents of Bexleyheath and Crayford will be hoping, along with 50 other local authorities, that they will have the chance to come into Building Schools for the Future in the coming years. As he knows, that is a guarantee that Labour will make but that the Conservatives will cut. As for one-to-one tuition, which is vital to make sure that every child can make progress if they fall behind, it was in our fifth-Session Bill, which the Conservative party voted against on Third Reading. That is why there would not be progress under a Conservative Government.
Answered by
Ed Balls
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Asked by
David Evennett
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Type
Oral answers to questions
I note the Secretary of State's response, but far too many schools are still not making the required level of progress. Is he aware that in almost a quarter of state-funded secondary schools, fewer than half the pupils made the expected progress between key stages 2 and 4 in English and maths? Is that not an indictment of his record, and his Government's record, over the past 13 years of failure?
Subjects
Standards; Secondary education
Date
8 March 2010
Reference
507 c4
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I know that some people do not think that there is a role for local education authorities, but the reason why we have made progress is because of those authorities that have been willing to support and challenge where progress was needed. The fact is that in 1997 only one in 20 schools were getting five GCSEs, including English and maths, whereas the number today is not one in 20 schools but one in three. That is a real measure of the progress on standards that we have seen in the past 10 years.
I know that some people do not think that there is a role for local education authorities, but the reason why we have made progress is because of those authorities that have been willing to support and challenge where progress was needed. The fact is that in 1997 only one in 20 schools were getting five GCSEs, including English and maths, whereas the number today is not one in 20 schools but one in three. That is a real measure of the progress on standards that we have seen in the past 10 years.
Answered by
Ed Balls
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Asked by
Derek Twigg
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Type
Oral answers to questions
Is not a real picture of our success given by Halton, where the percentage of children getting five grades A to C has gone up by 36 per cent. since 1998 to more than 70 per cent. today? Congratulations must go to the teachers and pupils there. Is it not also important to recognise the role of local education authorities? Will he examine the important contribution that Halton has made to increasing and improving standards there?
Subjects
Standards; Secondary education
Date
8 March 2010
Reference
507 c4-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
My hon. Friend's point is very important. In the pre-Budget report, the Chancellor of the Exchequer allowed us, for this year, next year and the year after, to ring-fence funding for Sure Start, for schools and for the school leavers guarantee, with rising funding in real terms, so that we can provide these extra places—a pledge that we will make and that the Conservatives refuse to match, because of their commitment to have cuts now to reduce the deficit.
May I give my hon. Friend a figure about her constituency that I know will be of interest to her? In Milton Keynes, youth unemployment among 18 to 24-year-olds exceeding six months now stands at 365 young people. That is a low number because of the new deal, the school leavers guarantee and the future jobs fund. The figure peaked in June 1985 at 1,285 young people—almost four times as many. That is what happens when one cuts spending and does not act to protect youth jobs.
My hon. Friend's point is very important. In the pre-Budget report, the Chancellor of the Exchequer allowed us, for this year, next year and the year after, to ring-fence funding for Sure Start, for schools and for the school leavers guarantee, with rising funding in real terms, so that we can provide these extra places—a pledge that we will make and that the Conservatives refuse to match, because of their commitment to have cuts now to reduce the deficit.
May I give my hon. Friend a figure about her constituency that I know will be of interest to her? In Milton Keynes, youth unemployment among 18 to 24-year-olds exceeding six months now stands at 365 young people. That is a low number because of the new deal, the school leavers guarantee and the future jobs fund. The figure peaked in June 1985 at 1,285 young people—almost four times as many. That is what happens when one cuts spending and does not act to protect youth jobs.
Answered by
Ed Balls
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Asked by
Phyllis Starkey
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Type
Oral answers to questions
I thank the Secretary of State for those additional places. He knows that the youth unemployment level in Milton Keynes has gone up quite considerably during the recession. Can he assure me that he will maintain the September guarantee and the funding that goes with it, and that he will not be tempted to remove it too early simply in order to pay down the deficit?
Subjects
School leaving
Date
8 March 2010
Reference
507 c9-10
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
We have a national curriculum that specifies the particular areas that need to be covered, including, for example, in history, the first world war, the second world war and the slave trade, but how teaching is done is really a matter for head teachers and teachers, rather than for the Secretary of State to prescribe. We have the best generation of teachers and some of the best school leaders that we have ever had. I think that starting to tell people how to teach and what to teach would be over-centralising. That may be the approach of the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), but it will not be my approach.
We have a national curriculum that specifies the particular areas that need to be covered, including, for example, in history, the first world war, the second world war and the slave trade, but how teaching is done is really a matter for head teachers and teachers, rather than for the Secretary of State to prescribe. We have the best generation of teachers and some of the best school leaders that we have ever had. I think that starting to tell people how to teach and what to teach would be over-centralising. That may be the approach of the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), but it will not be my approach.
Answered by
Ed Balls
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Asked by
Kelvin Hopkins
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Type
Oral answers to questions
High schools in my constituency have, like many others, made dramatic improvements in attainment in recent years. That is down to a number of factors, including dedicated, high-calibre teachers, but above all to a return to rigorous teaching methods. Will my right hon. Friend seek to make sure that such teaching methods are adopted nationally, so that we can get national improvement?
Subjects
Standards; Secondary education
Date
8 March 2010
Reference
507 c5
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
There has been repeated discussion on these matters. I have attempted to correct the hon. Gentleman on his statistical failings, but he keeps refusing to listen. What he does in his comparisons is to look only at the children on free school meals who go to schools. He repeatedly ignores the performance of young people on free school meals who go to further education colleges. His statistics therefore always give a very unfair and biased picture of what is going on, which I guess must account for why he keeps saying that his school reforms would lead to rising standards, while the head of the Swedish equivalent of Ofsted has said that they would lead to falling standards and greater inequality. I think that he should do his homework a little bit better.
There has been repeated discussion on these matters. I have attempted to correct the hon. Gentleman on his statistical failings, but he keeps refusing to listen. What he does in his comparisons is to look only at the children on free school meals who go to schools. He repeatedly ignores the performance of young people on free school meals who go to further education colleges. His statistics therefore always give a very unfair and biased picture of what is going on, which I guess must account for why he keeps saying that his school reforms would lead to rising standards, while the head of the Swedish equivalent of Ofsted has said that they would lead to falling standards and greater inequality. I think that he should do his homework a little bit better.
Answered by
Ed Balls
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Asked by
Lord Gove
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Type
Oral answers to questions
The Secretary of State will be aware that, in the last year for which we have figures, of the 80,000 children who were eligible for free school meals—the very poorest—only 45 got to Oxford or Cambridge. Why are so many poor children being failed by Labour?
Subjects
Standards; Secondary education
Date
8 March 2010
Reference
507 c5-6
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I will do my best to answer all four questions, to the extent that I followed them. The point that I was making is that the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) regularly alleges, as he did only a week and a half ago, that only 189 pupils eligible for free school meals got three As at A-level, but he counts only pupils at maintained schools' sixth forms and excludes those who go to sixth-form colleges or further education colleges. I have written to him and contacted him to try to get him to correct that mistake, but he refuses to do so. Similarly, he refuses to acknowledge that his free schools initiative will not only divert money away from other state schools, but will lead to falling standards and greater social inequality. I would have thought that he would join me in congratulating the six areas which today have been given more than £400 million of school investment. Let me read a quote from EducationInvestor—[Interruption.] ... Very briefly, the quote is:""'What we're saying is if financial close has been reached, it will go ahead.' If not . . . Decisions about whether to continue with projects will be made on a 'case by case basis.'""
That was the shadow schools Minister. What that means is that schemes at 700 schools in 50 areas could potentially be cancelled by a Conservative local authority. That is the threat to school building. That is why the hon. Member for Surrey Heath will not talk about the Swedish model or his school building—
I will do my best to answer all four questions, to the extent that I followed them. The point that I was making is that the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) regularly alleges, as he did only a week and a half ago, that only 189 pupils eligible for free school meals got three As at A-level, but he counts only pupils at maintained schools' sixth forms and excludes those who go to sixth-form colleges or further education colleges. I have written to him and contacted him to try to get him to correct that mistake, but he refuses to do so. Similarly, he refuses to acknowledge that his free schools initiative will not only divert money away from other state schools, but will lead to falling standards and greater social inequality. I would have thought that he would join me in congratulating the six areas which today have been given more than £400 million of school investment. Let me read a quote from EducationInvestor—[Interruption.] ... Very briefly, the quote is:""'What we're saying is if financial close has been reached, it will go ahead.' If not . . . Decisions about whether to continue with projects will be made on a 'case by case basis.'""
That was the shadow schools Minister. What that means is that schemes at 700 schools in 50 areas could potentially be cancelled by a Conservative local authority. That is the threat to school building. That is why the hon. Member for Surrey Heath will not talk about the Swedish model or his school building—
Answered by
Ed Balls
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Answering body
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Type
Oral answers to questions
Subjects
Standards; Secondary education
Date
8 March 2010
Reference
507 c6-7
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Obviously, I do not know the details of this particular case, but what I do know is that the Brian Lamb review was set up to try to make sure that parents get the information, support and voice that they need if they feel their children are not getting the proper support that they require. There are variations around the country in the ways in which local authorities support children with special needs, and particularly their parents, but the important thing to do is to make sure they get the support they need. I am sure that, as the constituency MP for the young man in question, the hon. Gentleman will do his best, and I will be very happy to help in any way I can.
Obviously, I do not know the details of this particular case, but what I do know is that the Brian Lamb review was set up to try to make sure that parents get the information, support and voice that they need if they feel their children are not getting the proper support that they require. There are variations around the country in the ways in which local authorities support children with special needs, and particularly their parents, but the important thing to do is to make sure they get the support they need. I am sure that, as the constituency MP for the young man in question, the hon. Gentleman will do his best, and I will be very happy to help in any way I can.
Answered by
Ed Balls
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Asked by
Nicholas Winterton
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Type
Oral answers to questions
I am extremely grateful to you, Mr. Speaker.
The Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust believes a 13-year-old boy in my constituency who attends a secondary school and who has learning difficulties needs additional support at school, but the education authorities are not prepared to grant that support. What advice can the Secretary of State give me on how to put this matter right and give this young man an opportunity to make progress?
Subjects
Admissions; Disadvantaged; Higher education; Pupils
Date
8 March 2010
Reference
507 c24
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
That flexibility should be there. We are talking about brand-new or fully refurbished school buildings. Over the past couple of years, I have visited many schools that have had to work with the issue of listed buildings, but it is possible to do so if the planning is right and the resources are there. I know that Coventry has benefited from those resources. I hope that the new schools in my hon. Friend's constituency have reached financial closure, but their funds would be cut by the Conservatives were they to win the election.
That flexibility should be there. We are talking about brand-new or fully refurbished school buildings. Over the past couple of years, I have visited many schools that have had to work with the issue of listed buildings, but it is possible to do so if the planning is right and the resources are there. I know that Coventry has benefited from those resources. I hope that the new schools in my hon. Friend's constituency have reached financial closure, but their funds would be cut by the Conservatives were they to win the election.
Answered by
Ed Balls
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Asked by
Geoffrey Robinson
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Type
Oral answers to questions
May I ask the Secretary of State to take a second look at one aspect of the Building Schools for the Future programme? Schools with listed aspects to their architecture—classrooms built on concrete, for example—are penalised because they cannot rebuild completely. An element of flexibility is needed, but it does not exist at present.
Subjects
Finance; Schools
Date
8 March 2010
Reference
507 c21-2
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I assure my hon. Friend that we will do all that we can to work with his local authority to enable it to complete the process in due course. The Minister for Schools and Learners will be happy to meet my hon. Friend and local officials. What I cannot do, however, is give an assurance that the money will be there. We are guaranteeing Building Schools for the Future for the future, but the Conservative party is not giving that guarantee. Only the re-election of my hon. Friend can ensure that those schools are built for his constituents.
I assure my hon. Friend that we will do all that we can to work with his local authority to enable it to complete the process in due course. The Minister for Schools and Learners will be happy to meet my hon. Friend and local officials. What I cannot do, however, is give an assurance that the money will be there. We are guaranteeing Building Schools for the Future for the future, but the Conservative party is not giving that guarantee. Only the re-election of my hon. Friend can ensure that those schools are built for his constituents.
Answered by
Ed Balls
(Labour; Co-operative Party)
Asked by
Andy Reed
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Type
Oral answers to questions
Leicestershire county council failed to get its BSF bid beyond the Partnerships for Schools process and on to Ministers' desks. Will Ministers assure me that they will explain the reasons for that, and will they join me in urging the council to talk to all who oppose the bid, so that we can achieve a genuine consensus and partnership locally and the bid can be submitted again in the near future?
Subjects
Admissions; Disadvantaged; Higher education; Pupils
Date
8 March 2010
Reference
507 c22
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons