Commons
Debate
7 July 2026
2 contributions
Independent Schools: Regulation of Proprietors
I sincerely thank my hon. Friend the Member for City of Durham (Mary Kelly Foy) for calling this debate, for her excellent speech and for her important advocacy on this crucial topic. I also join her in commending Mrs Middleton for her compassion and leadership; she has painted a powerful image of t…
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her advocacy on this topic both in the Chamber and outside it. I am extremely concerned to hear of the practice that has been described this evening. I am happy to meet with her, my hon. Friend the Member for City of Durham and any other affected Members, along wi…
Commons
Westminster Hall
1 July 2026
2 contributions
Early Years Funding: Hampshire
It is an honour to serve under your chairship, Sir Alec. I thank the hon. Member for North East Hampshire (Alex Brewer) for securing this important debate, and all hon. Members who are present. I will start by also thanking all the wonderful staff who work in early years settings in her constituency…
I thank my hon. Friend and constituency neighbour for giving me the opportunity to thank the fantastic early years staff in my constituency of Reading West and Mid Berkshire and across Reading, who do a brilliant job for our children. As a constituency MP, as well as a Minister, I know that giving e…
Commons
Ministerial Statement
25 June 2026
17 contributions
Draft Conversion Practices Bill
If I may, I will start with an apology to the Opposition spokesperson, the hon. Member for East Grinstead and Uckfield (Mims Davies). I had intended my statement to be sent much earlier today, and I understand that it did not reach her in time; I apologise for that, because that certainly was not my…
I understand that the shadow Minister did not have my statement in enough time, but I am disappointed with the way that her comments have massively broadened and misrepresented the scope of the draft Bill. I would encourage people to look at the detail of the draft Bill, and the very specific thresh…
+15 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
24 June 2026
Topical Questions
I thank my hon. Friend for that important question. The code is clear that nobody should be left without the services they need. The EHRC is clear that it will monitor the impact of the code.
Commons
Oral Questions
24 June 2026
3 contributions
Conversion Practices Ban
Conversion practices are an abhorrent and insidious form of abuse, perpetrated by people who believe that being LGBT is not only wrong but can be forcibly changed. This Government will ban that abuse.
I thank Pride in North Cumbria and Cumbria Pride for their brilliant work. My hon. Friend is right to say that Pride events are a wonderful asset to the community. Given recent decisions to defund Pride events, this is a lesson that Reform councils clearly need to learn. I can confirm that this Labo…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
24 June 2026
7 contributions
Discrimination against Trans People
Trans people deserve to live their life with dignity and respect, and without shame. This Government are committed to protecting and advancing the rights of trans people, including by equalising hate-crime legislation, delivering a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, and improving gender he…
I am so sorry to hear from my hon. Friend about the experience of her constituent, and I recognise how much anxiety there is in the trans community at the moment. Let me be clear that trans people’s rights against discrimination and harassment are protected in law—a fact that was underlined in the S…
+5 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Women and Equalities
24 June 2026
3 contributions
Discrimination against Trans People
Trans people deserve to live their life with dignity and respect, and without shame. This Government are committed to protecting and advancing the rights of trans people, including by equalising hate-crime legislation, delivering a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, and improving gender he…
I am so sorry to hear from my hon. Friend about the experience of her constituent, and I recognise how much anxiety there is in the trans community at the moment. Let me be clear that trans people’s rights against discrimination and harassment are protected in law—a fact that was underlined in the S…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
22 June 2026
Topical Questions
I thank my hon. Friend for all that he has done to secure that new hub in Cotmanhay. All the evidence shows that children who start school on the backfoot find it much harder to catch up. The Conservatives gutted Sure Start and let school readiness flatline, but this Government want the best start f…
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
22 June 2026
3 contributions
School Food Standards
I am delighted to see the enthusiasm for our reforms to school food. We want children to enjoy eating tasty, healthy food at school. That is why we are updating school food standards for the first time in a decade and putting young people’s voices at the heart of our plans. We will publish the new s…
Alongside updating the standards, we also want to support schools to implement them. That is why, alongside developing new governance and compliance proposals, it is right that we give schools the time they need to prepare and embed the new standards, including phasing some changes in secondary scho…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Debate
4 June 2026
6 contributions
Pride Month
I beg to move,
That this House has considered Pride Month.
It is a privilege to open this debate on behalf of the Government as we mark Pride Month, and it is a real honour to do so this year as the Minister for Equalities. I have spoken before at the Dispatch Box about growing up in the shadow of…
I thank my hon. Friend for the very important points he makes. I would just like to restate that, as the Supreme Court said, trans people have rights enshrined in law, and we are all duty-bound to uphold and defend those rights.
Unfortunately, the lives of trans people are all too often used as a p…
+4 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
27 April 2026
5 contributions
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
I beg to move,
That this House insists on its disagreement with the Lords in their Amendments 38V to 38X to Commons Amendment 38J, and proposes Amendments (a) to (j) to Commons Amendments 38J and 38K in lieu of the Lords Amendments.
I am pleased to speak once again on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, and I will start by reminding colleagues why it matters. First, and most importantly, this Bill is about keeping children safe, ensuring that no child is let down by the system, and ensuring that children in care get the …
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
22 April 2026
10 contributions
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
I beg to move,
That this House insists on its amendment 38J and disagrees with Lords amendments 38V to 38X to amendment 38J.
I am pleased to speak on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill for our third consideration of Lords amendments. The Bill is the biggest single piece of child protection legislation in a generation, and it will put in place a package of support to drive high and rising standards throughout our ed…
+8 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
20 April 2026
Topical Questions
I do agree, and I thank my hon. Friend for all she has done for children and families in her constituency. We are determined to ensure that every child gets the best start in life, and that every family gets the community and connection that these hubs will offer.
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
20 April 2026
2 contributions
Free Childcare: Providers
This Labour Government’s record expansion of free childcare is saving working families across the country over £8,000 a year. We have worked closely with early education providers across the sector throughout the roll-out, and I thank them for their tireless work. We are investing over £9 billion in…
I thank the hard-working staff in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency. When the Government say we are prioritising the early years, we mean it. We are investing £9.5 billion this year. Rates have increased more than ever before to reflect inflationary pressures and the increases to the national living…
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
20 April 2026
3 contributions
School Food Standards
This Government are updating the school food standards for the first time in more than a decade to reduce sugar, increase fibre and reduce unhealthy foods. Parents want this, it is crucial for children’s health, and it will drive a transformation in the quality of the food on our children’s plates.
Our revised standards will ensure that children can enjoy eating nutritious, familiar foods. That includes ensuring that delicious and varied vegetarian options are available every day, including pulses as the main protein three times a week. The consultation closes on 12 June, and I invite Members …
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
20 April 2026
4 contributions
Best Start Family Hubs
This Government are opening thousands of Best Start family hubs and network sites in every part of England, building on our proud legacy of Sure Start, providing families with community and connection, and ensuring that every child is supported to get ready for school. The Conservative party eroded …
I thank my hon. Friend for all that he has done to support family hubs in his constituency and across Cornwall. Yes, we have asked local authorities to ensure that 70% of hubs are in the most deprived areas, so that support gets to the families and communities under the greatest pressure. What a con…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
15 April 2026
21 contributions
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
I beg to move, That this House agrees with Lords amendment 17B.
The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will cut the cost of sending children to school, drive high and rising standards in our schools, and is the single biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation. This Labour Government are ambitious for every single child in this country. Thi…
+19 more contributions in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
14 April 2026
5 contributions
“For Women Scotland” Court Ruling: First Anniversary
It is a real honour to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. First, I thank the hon. Member for Upper Bann (Carla Lockhart) for securing this important debate. As Members have outlined, in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v. the Scottish Ministers, the Supreme Court ruled that the terms man, wo…
I wonder whether the right hon. Lady would let me make some progress. I am sorry; I have quite a lot of important points to get through.
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
9 March 2026
11 contributions
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
I beg to move, That this House disagrees with Lords amendment 2.
Children’s voices are heard rarely in this place and are too often ignored in our society, so I say at the outset that it is truly a special privilege to play my part in the passage of this landmark legislation. This Bill is about creating the conditions in which every child can achieve and thrive, …
+9 more contributions in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
5 March 2026
2 contributions
World Book Day
I am not sure it is possible to follow that, although I congratulate the hon. Member for Windsor (Jack Rankin) on his efforts and his speech entirely in rhyme. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship today, Mrs Hobhouse.
I thank all hon. Members for attending and contributing to this debate.…
Six! I misheard the hon. Member; I do apologise. And I am sure that they really enjoy listening to him read to them.
My hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight West (Richard Quigley) made a wonderful speech celebrating the literary past and present of the Isle of Wight, and was powerful in his cle…
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
2 March 2026
2 contributions
Topical Questions
I welcome and celebrate the launch of the Southampton literary festival by Bitterne Park school, and I thank my hon. Friend for all his advocacy in his constituency. The National Year of Reading is packed full of exciting events for all to participate in, and I encourage Members to do so.
I am sorry to hear about the closure of the school in the right hon. Lady’s constituency, but closures of private schools have been in line with historical trends. All pupils are entitled to a state school place, and the right hon. Lady should contact the local authority to discuss this further.
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
2 March 2026
3 contributions
Free Breakfast Clubs
Every primary school in England will have a free breakfast club by the end of this Parliament, giving children a healthy breakfast and a great soft start to the day and improving attainment and attendance. Another 2,000 schools will open free breakfast clubs this year, including Pondhu primary schoo…
It was a pleasure to spend time with my hon. Friend in his constituency recently, where he and I both enjoyed a range of activities with the brilliant Pinky, including our enthusiastic attempts at axe chopping. I know that my hon. Friend has worked really hard to support and encourage schools in his…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
2 March 2026
2 contributions
Nursery Provision: Greater London
Our best start in life strategy is expanding access to childcare, saving working families £7,500 a year and getting record proportions of children ready for school. We work closely with local authorities to ensure the quality and sufficiency of childcare, including across Greater London.
Absolutely. I congratulate the hon. Gentleman and all the parents and volunteers, Ofsted, and the early years professionals who have opened at impressive speed what sounds like a fantastic new provision for their community. I am pleased that the Government’s investment in childcare, which will total…
Commons
Oral Questions
Education
2 March 2026
6 contributions
Phone Use in Schools
Mobile phones have no place in our schools. We have published strengthened guidance that is clear that all schools should be mobile phone-free environments by default for the entire school day. Ofsted will be checking this at every inspection.
I thank my hon. Friend for his excellent support for the schools in his constituency. Lockable pouches are being used successfully by many schools and are listed in the Department’s examples of best practice approaches. Heads can rightly choose how they implement the mobile phone ban in their school…
+4 more contributions in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
26 February 2026
4 contributions
Independent Faith Schools: VAT
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Alec. I thank all hon. Members for attending, and particularly the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for securing this debate and for his characteristically engaging speech. I am grateful for the suggestions that he made, which have all been…
The hon. Gentleman made his case well in his speech earlier, and he makes it again now. The Government have carefully considered the options that he has put forward today. I have heard all of his points and they have been noted by my officials.
Private schools have steadily increased average fees b…
+2 more contributions in this session