To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department's guidance permits schools to make participation in school events, trips, and extracurricular activities conditional on achieving a minimum attendance rate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department's guidance permits schools to make participation in school events, trips, and extracurricular activities conditional on achieving a minimum attendance rate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of how much money schools will be expected to allocate to cover the costs of the Overnight Visitor Levy arising from educational visits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of how much money schools will be expected to allocate to cover the costs of the Overnight Visitor Levy arising from educational visits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made regarding the potential merits of an exemption for school and educational visits from the Overnight Visitor Levy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made regarding the potential merits of an exemption for school and educational visits from the Overnight Visitor Levy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance will be issued to combined authorities in relation to the application of the Overnight Visitor Levy to educational overnight visits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance will be issued to combined authorities in relation to the application of the Overnight Visitor Levy to educational overnight visits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been of the potential impact of the proposed Overnight Visitor Levy on costs for schools on overnight educational visits, particularly where related to GCSE or A-Level requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been of the potential impact of the proposed Overnight Visitor Levy on costs for schools on overnight educational visits, particularly where related to GCSE or A-Level requirements.

It is good to give my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Marsha De Cordova) a break.

The Commission has considered the proposed changes to the education outreach model. The changes are designed to save money—over half a million pounds every year— and to ensure that we reach more students across the UK and increase the opportunities that Members have to meet children and young people. Although more than 30 Members have signed an early-day motion on the topic, in 2025-26 no events were held in nearly a third of our constituencies.

Under the proposals, the current model will be replaced by a digital model of outreach to increase opportunities for Members to speak to students. The proposed new service will help to reach schools in every constituency. A final decision on the proposals will be made following the consultation proposal.

It is good to give my hon. Friend the Member for Battersea (Marsha De Cordova) a break.

The Commission has considered the proposed changes to the education outreach model. The changes are designed to save money—over half a million pounds every year— and to ensure that we reach more students across the UK and increase the opportunities that Members have to meet children and young people. Although more than 30 Members have signed an early-day motion on the topic, in 2025-26 no events were held in nearly a third of our constituencies.

Under the proposals, the current model will be replaced by a digital model of outreach to increase opportunities for Members to speak to students. The proposed new service will help to reach schools in every constituency. A final decision on the proposals will be made following the consultation proposal.

The parliamentary education outreach service plays a vital role in delivering in-person democratic engagement workshops in schools across the country, especially those that are disadvantaged and harder to reach, by engaging them in the work of our political system. Does my hon. Friend agree that the closure of the in-person service risks making Parliament more removed from young people across the country?

The parliamentary education outreach service plays a vital role in delivering in-person democratic engagement workshops in schools across the country, especially those that are disadvantaged and harder to reach, by engaging them in the work of our political system. Does my hon. Friend agree that the closure of the in-person service risks making Parliament more removed from young people across the country?

We understand my hon. Friend’s concerns about these proposals, but the new model is designed to increase engagement with schools across the UK. Given the high number of constituencies that receive no outreach visits at all, the key benefit here is that the proposals would remove geography as a barrier so that schools everywhere can access these sessions. Furthermore, the proposed model will sit alongside other UK-wide programmes that continue to provide in-person opportunities, including our UK Parliament Week; teacher training activity delivered around the country; the travel subsidy scheme, which supports visits to Parliament; and the “Learn with the Lords” programme. With those programmes taken together, Parliament will continue to have a strong and visible presence beyond Westminster.

We understand my hon. Friend’s concerns about these proposals, but the new model is designed to increase engagement with schools across the UK. Given the high number of constituencies that receive no outreach visits at all, the key benefit here is that the proposals would remove geography as a barrier so that schools everywhere can access these sessions. Furthermore, the proposed model will sit alongside other UK-wide programmes that continue to provide in-person opportunities, including our UK Parliament Week; teacher training activity delivered around the country; the travel subsidy scheme, which supports visits to Parliament; and the “Learn with the Lords” programme. With those programmes taken together, Parliament will continue to have a strong and visible presence beyond Westminster.

I have to say, I am dismayed by the fact that there will not be humans in contact with young people. From my experience, I know that young people are really engaged when somebody turns up in their place, particularly in their school. At a time when we are trying to reduce the screen time of young people, I want to speak up in support of having people going into schools, especially when they are slightly more distant from London—it is something so very different. I shall certainly reply to the consultation when it comes along, if I have not missed the boat, and I will speak up for this particular scheme; it is fantastic.

I have to say, I am dismayed by the fact that there will not be humans in contact with young people. From my experience, I know that young people are really engaged when somebody turns up in their place, particularly in their school. At a time when we are trying to reduce the screen time of young people, I want to speak up in support of having people going into schools, especially when they are slightly more distant from London—it is something so very different. I shall certainly reply to the consultation when it comes along, if I have not missed the boat, and I will speak up for this particular scheme; it is fantastic.

The scoping work focused on large-scale and ambitious digital education outreach work across the UK. Case studies included in the research were the Royal Ballet and the North East Museums’ “Hadrian’s Wall Live” focus day, which both attracted very high levels of interest.

The scoping work focused on large-scale and ambitious digital education outreach work across the UK. Case studies included in the research were the Royal Ballet and the North East Museums’ “Hadrian’s Wall Live” focus day, which both attracted very high levels of interest.

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission has made an assessment of the potential impact of closure of the Education and Engagement Outreach Team on schools.

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission has made an assessment of the potential impact of closure of the Education and Engagement Outreach Team on schools.

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what financial support is available for school parties visiting the House of Commons from constituencies that necessitate an overnight stay in London.

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what financial support is available for school parties visiting the House of Commons from constituencies that necessitate an overnight stay in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to make enrichment activities, including residential trips, (a) affordable and (b) accessible for children on free school meals in Yeovil constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to make enrichment activities, including residential trips, (a) affordable and (b) accessible for children on free school meals in Yeovil constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a visitor levy on school trips, business travel and major events.

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a visitor levy on school trips, business travel and major events.

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the potential merits of prioritising schools who are furthest from Westminster for education visits to Parliament.

To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the Commission has made of the potential merits of prioritising schools who are furthest from Westminster for education visits to Parliament.

Given my hon. Friend’s journey time from Cornwall, I can understand why she asks that question. The Commission recently endorsed recommendations from our participation team to improve the school visit booking process and the use of our travel subsidy. Schools from her area will have extra time to apply. We want to encourage greater participation from schools furthest away from Westminster by increasing capacity through our education service.

Given my hon. Friend’s journey time from Cornwall, I can understand why she asks that question. The Commission recently endorsed recommendations from our participation team to improve the school visit booking process and the use of our travel subsidy. Schools from her area will have extra time to apply. We want to encourage greater participation from schools furthest away from Westminster by increasing capacity through our education service.

I am so pleased that schools furthest from Westminster are going to be prioritised and given time to apply for parliamentary trips. It takes at least six hours to get here from Cornish schools, which means they have to take a number of days in London. That is why their visits are rare and often in the summer term, when they interfere less with formal exams. Could my hon. Friend confirm that children from remote and deprived areas will be helped to surmount the barriers they face in getting here?

I am so pleased that schools furthest from Westminster are going to be prioritised and given time to apply for parliamentary trips. It takes at least six hours to get here from Cornish schools, which means they have to take a number of days in London. That is why their visits are rare and often in the summer term, when they interfere less with formal exams. Could my hon. Friend confirm that children from remote and deprived areas will be helped to surmount the barriers they face in getting here?

The new booking process, which will be launched in September, will ensure that regions are allocated visit opportunities to ensure that no region accesses more than its fair share. Consideration has been given to the circumstances of band C schools—those furthest from Westminster—which have a clear preference for summer-term access due to the long distances they must travel. The education team will weight band C visit opportunities to favour the summer term, so that the booking opportunities best meet those schools’ needs.

The new booking process, which will be launched in September, will ensure that regions are allocated visit opportunities to ensure that no region accesses more than its fair share. Consideration has been given to the circumstances of band C schools—those furthest from Westminster—which have a clear preference for summer-term access due to the long distances they must travel. The education team will weight band C visit opportunities to favour the summer term, so that the booking opportunities best meet those schools’ needs.

Schools in some of the most geographically isolated and economically deprived communities, including in my Camborne, Redruth and Hayle constituency, have found it difficult to secure tour bookings under the new parliamentary booking system, which also affects their ability to access the associated travel subsidy, which is essential for schools...

Schools in some of the most geographically isolated and economically deprived communities, including in my Camborne, Redruth and Hayle constituency, have found it difficult to secure tour bookings under the new parliamentary booking system, which also affects their ability to access the associated travel subsidy, which is essential for schools...

My hon. Friend raises an important matter—one that is dear to my heart, too, given the relative distance from this place to my north-east constituency. It is important to ensure that students living in rural areas, and indeed in any area, do not miss out on the opportunity to visit...

My hon. Friend raises an important matter—one that is dear to my heart, too, given the relative distance from this place to my north-east constituency. It is important to ensure that students living in rural areas, and indeed in any area, do not miss out on the opportunity to visit...