Live Debate: Commons Chamber

Estimates Day: 2nd allotted day. There will be debates on estimates relating to the Department for Education; the Department of Health and Social care; and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I rise to address the house this afternoon on the Department for Education's Main Estimate for 2025/26, as chair of the education select committee. I would like to thank the Liaison Committee and the Backbench Business Committee for allocating time for this debate this allocating time for this debate this afternoon. This debate is an important opportunity to scrutinise the government's spending plans which must deliver for every child, which must deliver for every child, young person, and family.

Education is the bedrock of opportunity, social mobility, and economic social mobility, and economic growth. The government inherited a situation in which almost every situation in which almost every aspect of the Department for education's areas of responsibility were facing severe challenges. From the financial pressures of early years providers, the erosion of school budgets and teacher pay, to school budgets and teacher pay, to the crisis in the SEND system, underfunding of further education and skills, a total reset needed in and skills, a total reset needed in children's social care.

children's social care.

14:45

Helen Hayes MP (Dulwich and West Norwood, Labour)

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I thank my honourable friend. She is giving an important speech which is an important subject. Would she add the issue we've had with school buildings? As a former teacher, I've seen this myself. We inherited an

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issue with RAAC but there are other issues as well. I thank you for the intervention. He makes an important point about He makes an important point about the state of the school estate. The final area of challenge is that final area of challenge is that universities also any of them facing a risk of insolvency. At the heart of all of the departments responsible are these are individual responsible are these are individual children and who need and are entitled to the best possible start in life, secure foundations, great education, and every opportunity to grow into active citizens with grow into active citizens with successful careers and good quality I I will I will draw I will draw on I will draw on the I will draw on the Education Committee's ongoing enquiries to ensure the funds meet the urgent needs of communities.

On SEND, the main estimate reflects government recognition of the challenges, with an immediate increase in the high needs revenue funding of over £1 billion. There is only 130% uplift, from 310 million, to £740 million to create new school places and the inquiry has heard powerful testimony about the crisis in the SEND system with but this is calling for reform to ensure the funds translate into effective delivery for children. Rising SEND costs could absorb much of the mainstream school budget uplift and capital investment and it might not meet growing demand.

The forthcoming schools white paper promised this autumn must set out old reforms with the resources available to ensure that they can be implemented successfully. Our inquiry report will set out recommendations to the government for reform of the SEND system and I hope the government will take time to take full account of the work and I would urge the Minister to consider a timeframe informed by the evidence. Turning to children's social care, there is acute funding pressure exposed by the inquiry with crisis interventions prioritise over preventative support due to a cut in early intervention spending since 2012.

The spending review introduces a transformation fund over three years, including £75 million in 2025-26 and 270 million for the new social care prevention grant. It's a vital step towards effective reform and the additional funding for children's homes and foster care placements is also welcome. However, the independent review estimated the need for an additional £2.6 billion over four years. The work of my committee underscores the emergency of investing in early intervention to reduce the number of children being taken into care and improve outcomes.

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I'm grateful to the work of the chaired by my honourable friend but chaired by my honourable friend but will she agree that the adoption special guardianship support fund, cutting the value of grants to cutting the value of grants to families will be more pressure on social care and leave children

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social care and leave children without the vital support that they need. I thank my honourable friend of

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I thank my honourable friend of the intervention. They are has been the intervention. They are has been great alarm. I think what is important is that in reviewing the funding the government looks at how funding the government looks at how effect with support for adoptive families can be provided across both families can be provided across both health and education. And it must health and education. And it must really look to give confidence to families that the support that they rely on and the support that is rely on and the support that is needed can't be delivered.

Adoptive families have not always been able families have not always been able to access the support that they need in the past. I agree this is an in the past. I agree this is an urgent and important consideration. I call for a clear analysis of the funding required and he plans to bridge the gap between the funding that has been announced and the £2.6 billion prescribed by the independent review so preventative services which keep families together can be prioritised. In the early years, the expansion to 30 hours from September 2025 is transformative and the main estimate allocates £8.48 billion, nearly double the spend in 2023-24, with an additional £1.8 billion in 2025-26.

The IRS highlights higher than expected take-up could increase costs by £1 billion annually and the second PC shortfall of 70,000 places and 30,000 staff. The money for the new nurseries and primary schools is a positive step but the committee has heard concerns about delivery timelines and workforce shortages with rising provider costs including minimum wage and national insurance increases and I approached the Minister to clarify how the depart will have capacity and support providers to deliver the expansion on time.

It's for the government gives careful consideration to improving quality and consistency in early years and on how best to ensure the high quality early years education maximises the unique opportunity in the first 1000 years of the life of a child to stop the disadvantage of being embedded for a lifetime. The 12.7% increase in the apprenticeship of budget to just over £3 billion alongside £1.2 billion annually by 2028-29 and £625 million for construction skills will signal the government commitment to equipping young people for the changing economy.

The inquiry heard concerns about the funding of level seven apprenticeships and witnesses include the British Chamber Of Commerce have warned it could limit opportunities and deter participation. The absence of detail on the lifelong learning entitlement is also of concern and the forthcoming skills and education white paper must provide a unified and comprehensive vision for skills funding for our young people and adults and I would urge the government to reconsider the decision and set out how it will be that to maximise impact.

Higher education faces significant challenge and the real terms cut to direct teaching funding by the strategic that is grant is now more than 80% lower than 2010-11 level. My committee has heard evidence of universities closing courses, reducing repairs and maintenance, facing financial instability and the report from the Office for Students in 2025 ones that recovery is reliant on optimistic forecast and the modern strategy promises that are targeted funding and universities which are supporting thousands of jobs in every town or city that has a university need city that has a university need urgent support and so I repeat the call for a transformation fund to stabilise universities and enable them to deliver the necessary reforms to ensure that they meet Joe skills needs and contribute to economic growth through research and development and the role that they play in building international collaboration.

The education Select Committee will continue to scrutinise the work of the Department of education carefully and hold the government to account, ensuring the funds deliver for every child and there are no and I would urge ministers to act quickly and engage with the enquiries and translate investment into meaningful change. Education is our most powerful lever for a more fair and strong country and so we must make

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sure that it delivers. This is an important opportunity

14:54

Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP (East Hampshire, Conservative)

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This is an important opportunity to discuss upcoming cuts in the to discuss upcoming cuts in the Department For Education and we know that limits are coming down from the estimates document. Also, there is a technical change as a result of changes in the student loan and those are large numbers to come from technical changes and we know from the Comprehensive Spending Review document that, like other clubs, the DfE have arrived at 5% savings and efficiencies but it does not say 5% of what and I presume it's not the entirety of the budget because the DfE is different from other departments in that so much of the spend goes directly to schools, colleges, early years settings and provides for children.

We know that the admin spend, according to the estimate, is increasing and that is in line with other across the country and there are extra costs imposed and what are these efficiencies? I hope the Minister will be able to tell us. So many things have been cut and there is a discretionary spend and it is lacking, computer science, and I don't think that you can take out many more. In particular, I would like him to reassure us that the PE

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and primary sport premium is safe. I thank my honourable friend for a giving way. I head teacher has a giving way. I head teacher has told me about funding going down in real terms significantly this year real terms significantly this year and there is a crisis with potential and there is a crisis with potential staff cuts coming and I for global education providers of early years saying that they are being saying that they are being punitively hit and there is not any support with national insurance.

He support with national insurance. He agreed that for a Labour government that promised so much on education,

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children are seen very little. My honourable friend makes a powerful point and the cost powerful point and the cost pressures are not funded and the argument extends into regular state funded schools. I might quibble about the fact he said the Labour government promised to do so much government promised to do so much but I think the manifesto was rather light on education commitments under light on education commitments under was the commitment to roll out mental health teams to cover all the schools in the country and that schools in the country and that turns out to be quite similar and identical to the policy of the previous government, to roll out support teams to cover all the schools in the country and the second commitment was about breakfast clubs and the maths and breakfast clubs are a mystery to me because I've repeatedly had ministers saying that it will save events £450 per year but then they are reimbursing the school £150 a year.

Where is the rest of the money year. Where is the rest of the money supposed to come from? Some schools have a breakfast clubs charge a reasonable rate and so they will lose revenue from the existing this club and putting some schools in my constituency. It's worth remembering that, typically, the breakfast club provision that exists with BB impossible to families on Universal Credit at a rate of up to 85% to the extent that is childcare that is enabling parents to go to work.

And then there is infamous qubit went to 6005 additional teachers for was going to be paid for by the receipts on VAT from private schools. And now the government says that it will pay for housing, not 40 not 40 euros. It's not clear that people be much revenue to spend on anything because most recent figures show the fall in the number of children at independent schools. These are the government's own figures. Then the government House own figures show the fall in children at independent schools of 11,000 and, of course, the number of teachers in this country is not going up, it is going down.

The government have tried have this every possible way. They were asked early on and there is a line in the manifesto and it comes more than once and they have said that they will recruit 6005 expert teachers in key subjects and when asked repeatedly that means, what are these key sub checks, they refused to say. Eventually they said that this will be reflected across schools and colleges across the country and then some numbers came out saying the number of teachers in primary schools had gone down and it was redefined to not include primary teachers but secondary teachers and that brings us back to the question that if it is only secondary schools, where teachers have specialist subjects, what are the key subject that will count towards this number because the word key would not be there if it was any subject.

And if they mean teachers with a qualified teacher status, as I suspect, and I think the Minister is readying herself... If they mean qualified teacher status, I would gently remind the Minister that we did this in the Bill committee and some colleagues may recall. The number of teachers today do not have qualified to your status and that is not very high sending 3.1%. What do colleagues suppose it was in May, 2010, the previous time there was a change in government? Today, it was 3.1%.

Now it is 3.2%. It's hardly changed and to the extent it has, it has gone down. Other revenue spending has gone down effectively We know from reports from teachers and head teachers in the sector press, that shortfalls are being reported in the range of between 10% and 35%. Schools and suppliers are also facing a higher National Insurance Contributions Act which will have a knock-on effect on the cost of other services into those schools.

And schools are picking up the cost of breakfast clubs, and there is an extension of free school meals eligibility and so on. Overall if we look at the detail, and estimates and the spending review, all of these increases are frontloaded. That is to say, in this year, 2024/25, increase is 6.8%. It comes down to 5.2% the following year and 3.4% then 2.1% and 1.6%. The main point I want to put to the Minister today, and in a constructive and co-operative way, is that things are changing very significantly now in schools because of demographic change.

We have reached a point where I do not believe it is legitimate to use the measure of real terms per pupil as the yardstick for whether effective school resourcing is increasing or decreasing. That is because the number of pupils is going to fall. We know already from the TESS, the Times educational supplement that it is increased in two years. Labour MPs will argue this point, I hope they do, they will say obviously when you have a smaller number of children, there will be less funding.

There is of course some logic to that argument. But in a sense it does not matter what arguments Labour MPs make in this chamber because back in their constituencies, talking to head teachers, they will hear something different. Because when people numbers are rising, you hold real terms per pupil funding constant, that is a net increase in resourcing to the school. When they are falling, even if you increase real terms per pupil by a few percent, that feels very much like a cut.

If you think about it in real practical terms, if you have a primary school class of 27, and the numbers go up to 29, that is an increase in revenue to the school of something like £12,000. The vast majority of your costs don't change. It works the same way in reverse. If you move from 29 pupils to 27, you lose between £10,000 and £12,000. Of course you are still having the same costs, you're still paying the teacher the same and so on.

In urban setting, some schools may close, and that is a very painful process to go through. No MP wants to be presenting an area where schools close. But at least that way the numbers can be made to work over a wider area and some of the schools can convert to nursery schools or to special schools. A big secondary school, you might reduce from 1/8 form entry to 1/6 form entry. But a rural primary school, neither of those things is an option.

You have major indivisibility. Right now at 92% of DfE funding for schools is driven by pupil numbers. And I don't think that will work over the years ahead. I asked ministers what they are going to do to reform funding so it is fair and effective at a time of falling overall pupil numbers?

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I am going to start with an immediate four minute time limit. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. It is a pleasure to speak in this estimates debate today. I will start estimates debate today. I will start my usual interests my wife is my usual interests my wife is employed in a school. I would like to make three points about the impact on my constituency. Firstly to welcome the condition improvement funding which will see investment in funding which will see investment in my schools, at an academy and primary school, and in Bexleyheath will stop there are two specific issues which the Department for education led impact on my local

15:06

Daniel Francis MP (Bexleyheath and Crayford, Labour)

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education led impact on my local authority, and the controlled authority. I'd like to address this today. I'm pleased to see this recent representation that my Conservative -controlled council welcomes the market pillar in The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. My authority had the highest overspend of any local authority in the previous financial year, any health authority in London of the previous financial year for children's social care. They welcome children's social care. They welcome that because they want to see the placement as not-for-profit as seen in Scotland and Wales.

And I welcome the Minister's thoughts of how things being brought forward and the bill can help with the social care setting. My main point I would like to support my honourable friend and her comments about SEND funding. My local authority, they signed the safety valve agreement with the previous government, because of the rate of designated school grants. The submission to the Chancellor said while they are grateful for account funding, the statutory override opens on 31st of March 26.

Whilst the plan is it does not come out of deficit present until 2028/29, so that safety valve continues to overspend and continues to put a significant pressure on our local authority. My counsel believes the statutory override needs to be extended for a period of up to three years. And despite having agreed it with the previous government, the statutory override is only a temporary solution at best a more fundamental and long-term challenge of getting funding. I know the Minister will be bringing forward proposals after the summer break, but I think some comments later today and some assurances about the issues with SEND funding going forward would be helpful from the

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local authority. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I

15:09

Adam Dance MP (Yeovil, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I do welcome the investment for our do welcome the investment for our teachers, school buildings, free school meals and SEND support. I have remained concerned about SEND provision in Somerset. I know by my personal experience and listening to constituents how much of a difference of ink SEND children the support they need can make. Teachers go above and beyond to give children in their classes the education they really deserve. However, we have a SEND system in crisis.

It actually feels like we have gone backwards when I was at school which I am sorry to say. Thanks to the cuts made under the previous Conservative government over many years. Now, like in so many other areas of life, parents in Yeovil are often left with losing draw in a postcode lottery, waiting months to get the support the children deserve. I think there are two really effective ways that the Department can invest in its budget to improve the outcome for SEND children at school.

The backlog of EHCPs in Somerset is too high. It is of course right that Somerset Council gets more money to urgently support EHCP provision. Not every SEND child needs and EHCP for support. Instead we urgently need universal screening for neurodiverse conditions in primary school. This would be a fantastic way to empower our teachers to identify the individual needs for children in the

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classes, and adapt their teaching. I'm grateful to my honourable

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I'm grateful to my honourable friend for giving way on that point. I speak to lots of SENCOs in schools in my constituency. They always tell me is that the earlier the me is that the earlier the diagnosis, the more that you can put a child on a path to effective a child on a path to effective learning. Does he regret that I do the loss of sure start centres, the

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the loss of sure start centres, the best ways to identify as early as possible the learning conditions? I thank my honourable friend. I

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I thank my honourable friend. I totally agree, I'm sorry to see lots of these centres have gone. I agree that we need to put more flex that we need to put more flex ability in. The more likely they are to succeed. And researchers like UCL have developed a screener that goes far beyond the current phonics screenings and it is really cost- screenings and it is really cost- effective. I hope that the government schools White Paper due this autumn will set up a plan for this autumn will set up a plan for rolling out such screenings across schools.

Once children's needs have been identified in school, we also need to identify that our teachers need to identify that our teachers are fully equipped to help. That is why we urgently need better internal teacher training, CPD for teachers, and education professionals, cleaning teacher assessments, and and senior staff. We must also make sure SENCO is represented on senior leadership teams. And I giving designated time to do their work properly. I ask that the Minister, the Secretary of State will update us on the progress made for teacher training, and we can expect them to be rolled out.

Madame Deputy Speaker, there can be no better investment in the future of our country and investing in education and young people. Because making sure everyone has a quality education career always provides a return. I know that from my personal background, from having ADHD and dyslexia. I left school having the support by was really bullied to the point where I was sprayed with deodorant and satellite when I got off the school bus. I know how vital this support really is.

Without support, I had at school, I would not be here today because the eye would have taken my own life. This is so important. Please, let's get

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on with universal screening and teacher training for neurodiverse conditions. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Can also pay tribute to the member for Yeovil was sharing that for Yeovil was sharing that traumatic experience with us. Can I start popping tribute to teachers in my constituents, I met secondary my constituents, I met secondary heads before Christmas and a meeting primary school heads in the coming months. I'm proud to say there is so months. I'm proud to say there is so much to welcome this estimate to clearly around capital investment in schools across the country which I schools across the country which I think presents a dual opportunity not just to rebuild crumbling schools that were left to us by our schools that were left to us by our Tory predecessors but to invest in schools to increase efficiency and reduce school bills.

I welcome the extra billion pounds to reform and enhance special educational needs enhance special educational needs and disabilities, and I look forward to more announcements in the SEND space. Share some of the concerns my honourable friend mentioned earlier,

15:14

Tim Roca MP (Macclesfield, Labour)

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honourable friend mentioned earlier, and breakfast club funding. Can I congratulate the serial colleagues? It means children will stop going to school hungry would give them the best chance to learn. And schools in my constituency will be better off. I welcome the funding that has been allocated in the spending review to expand eligibility for free school meals. An extra 1200 children in Macclesfield will receive a free school meal at lunchtime. Each one of them will have life change, Break Down Barriers to Opportunity.

What there is not enough of in the assessment is a significant real terms increase for Treasury schools. Head teachers still tell me that things are tough because of the historic funding formula, and it receives the 13th lowest amount of funding per pupil. That is £5000 less than the highest share, and it is a high needs block. We are ranked 12th out of 151 local authorities. It is £2005 less per pupil. Of course this is entirely explained by the formula and it is right to say it is unimportant for Miller.

Schools are metropolitan areas are more expensive to run and we should see additional investment based on provision. The basic funding does not keep pace with basic costs, and things become tough. In Macclesfield, it is not quite rural enough, not quite deprived enough, and it makes things very difficult for head teachers trying to balance the books. Particularly after 14 It only works if there is basic entitlement, so that all schools have the budget sufficient to make ends meet.

Some of them are spending as much as 80% of their budget on fixed staff costs. In the long run, fixed staff costs. In the long run, the teachers are more expensive. I am pleased the school and my constituency is excellent, classes, making it work. The Department is making changes and changing the funding formula. It agrees absolutely that areas with more deprivation should receive more deprivation should receive more funding. We must make sure that children are looked after at schools that are finding it tough.

I will continue to fight for Federer funding for my constituents in

15:18

Ian Sollom MP (St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire, Liberal Democrat)

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funding for my constituents in Macclesfield. -- fairer. The government has set itself an government has set itself an ambitious budget with targets including 80% employment rate and supporting 65,000 additional supporting 65,000 additional learners per year by 2028-29. Some learners per year by 2028-29. Some of the decisions that we have seen of the decisions that we have seen recently, alongside Liberal Democrat colleagues, I recently wrote to the colleagues, I recently wrote to the government, expressing my concerns around the skills fund and the impact this will have on growth projects and in her response the Minister of foreign assured us that education is a priority and the recent announcements in the spending recent announcements in the spending review are most welcome.

There is a commitment to supporting 65,000 commitment to supporting 65,000 extra learners per year and cutting the adult skills fund. The the adult skills fund. The government has invested to train 65 skilled construction workers, recognising that targeted skills investment drives economic growth but the logic should apply across all of the set was facing the skills shortage and at the moment we do not have that priority. The principal at the regional College is severing my constituency, Mark Robertson, and he said the cuts have a £1 million drop in funding for his college and it is in funding for his college and it is Needs for health care, employability training, maths skills, due to the lack of available funding and he warns that the position will be considerably worsened for 2025-26 as the adults skills fund will fall that, in the drive of social care workers by 2028 and the need to train and retrain people employed in areas like digital skills, that these priorities are not aligned with fully joined up policy regarding adult skills fund into enabled the need for workers to be made.

This disconnect between those growth ambitions and the funding reality extends to universities which are facing huge financial pressure and in some cases the growing risk of insolvency. Data released recently suggest up to 72% of higher education providers will be in deficit by 2025-26 without mitigating action. The causes for the situation are well documented and so I will not go into them but the combination of those factors means that it's inevitable that more institutions will be forced to make difficult decisions on staffing across all jobs in the sector and the economic consequences will extend beyond this and universities are often the largest employers and the knock on economic benefits of students living in the area are students living in the area are substantial.

In my own constituency, on my doorstep of my constituency, we have Cambridge University and Anglia Ruskin, which delivered over 5000 degree apprenticeships in the five years between 2018-23. That will be recognised across the country. We will look further at higher education funding.

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I am hoping to get everyone in so

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I am hoping to get everyone in so the time-limit is in immediate three

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minutes. I want to start by paying tribute to all those who were with children and young people in nurseries,

15:21

Mrs Sureena Brackenridge MP (Wolverhampton North East, Labour)

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and young people in nurseries, schools, universities. I want to schools, universities. I want to About the urgent need for education spending to be tailored to local needs because in constituencies like mine, that need is undeniable and maintaining the system as it stands is not an option. It must be built for an ambitious education system that actively identifies challenges early and intervenes and it is not enough to focus only on academic comes. The education system must equip young people with the skills and confidence and resilience that they need to be prepared for life and prepared for the world of work.

Around 40% of children in the other hand can are growing up in poverty. It is a start increase in the last decade. These realities hit education hard. In 2024, 46 % of disadvantaged pupils in England met expect to standards compared to 67% of peers. At the GCSE level, the gap is start with fewer than one in four students achieving the strong price With the honourable member agree it's important to have a broad and exploratory curriculum a GCSE level and that the recent decision to close off certain subjects for students in my constituency reflects a trend towards a narrowing I cannot speak on the local level issues but I can't say that I welcome the curriculum and assessment review that will look to change that model of one-size-fits- all.

I welcome several can rinse in the estimates particularly the announcement that from September 2026, households receiving universal credit will be eligible for free school meals and that is over 500,000 more children that will benefit with 100,000 children lifted out of poverty and, for a constituency like mine, this could be life changing. It must be well funded and properly delivered. I welcome the uplift in funding for 2025-36 but the money must float where it is needed most and cannot simply reinforce the status quo but must be targeted to level the playing field for disadvantaged children.

£1 billion of that is earmarked for high needs and SEN the provision of local authority set to receive more per head. Funding increases are helpful but must be matched with delivery reforms and accountability. I want to highlight the £370 million investment in skill-based nurseries and education. In constituencies like mine, too many children are starting school already too far behind and finally I want to stress the importance of skills and further education because there is a high proportion of low call children working in these roles and we must ensure the annual investment helps people to train, obscure, access better opportunities and these have important and necessary but the measure of success will be in the how effectively they address inequality and whether the funding truly follows the need.

I would urge the government to ensure every element of the spending which is the children, families, the communities who are most in need.

15:25

Edward Morello MP (West Dorset, Liberal Democrat)

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The future of the country is being shaped every day. Too many children, families, schools in children, families, schools in places like West Dorset because the formula fails to recognise the challenges that schools face and there is the additional pressures of isolation. I spoke recently to the head teacher of a school in Dorchester and previously worked at the school in London and I was told that schools receive £10,000 per pupil and in west Dorset it is close to 5000.

The challenges of delivering education in rural areas are not fewer and in many cases they are greater. In my constituency, we serve students from all over Dorset with 52% of students with SEND, more than three times the national average. Many have health and educational clear plans and these children need specialist support skills teachers and facilities that meet their own needs but the school operates in a building with basic facilities, no hall, canteen, proper changing areas. Many pupils cannot access the support that they require and children with physical disabilities cannot easily move around.

In February 2023, the funding was finally secured but the delays, including the general election, revised costing, mean that it is still not missed and pupils remain in limbo. I urge the government to release the pond because every day that goes by is another that these children are not getting the education that they deserve. Any families rely on special guardianship support and that is a lifeline to vulnerable children and these children's face trauma and lasting stability and need therapy and support. This fund has faced cuts and uncertainty.

In recent months, adopted parents, special guardians, have feared the fund will be scrapped and it has only been confirmed that assisted pressure. Fair access fund has been cut from £5000-£3000 and families who have assisted long-term care are faced with the impossible choice of funding that is not available. We must prevent further cuts and commit to supporting vulnerable children and their families. Education spending is not just a budget but an investment in the next generation in the future of the country and it is the right of every child.

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As a former teacher, school

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As a former teacher, school governor, University lecturer, and a chair on classics and social mobility, I am proud to stand as a mobility, I am proud to stand as a Labour MP, is Pete on a manifesto commit to break down barriers to commit to break down barriers to opportunity for all young people. I opportunity for all young people. I grew up in an incredible place with fantastic skills and a fantastic fantastic skills and a fantastic college and of course we are from a lovely corner of the world in lovely corner of the world in Berkshire.

It would be wrong to suggest that the young people in my constituency do not face real constituency do not face real challenges. We have identified that we have below average social mobility and a below average number mobility and a below average number of 18-year-olds going on to higher education and half the rate of education and half the rate of working at the town next door and we are one of the councils in the safety valve programme and are safety valve programme and are facing sustained issues offering vital SEND education.

That is why I am so proud that this government is working to address these educational inequalities including dipping hard-working teachers in my constituency pay rises above inflation for the second year in a row and addressing the support staff and the negotiating body and extending free school meals so that over 3000 students will be eligible in Bracknell Forest and funding to open a new skill-based nursery. What a difference that is to a Tory party who prefer to fund tax cuts for private schools and the Reform was who believes that SEND students are who believes that SEND students are The SEND crisis does demand real action to address it.

That is why a particular welcome the £1 billion extra for SEND in last is Budget, extra for SEND in last is Budget, including £2.2 million more for Bracknell Forest Council to expand Bracknell Forest Council to expand provision. I have seen the effect of expanded provision myself and was very proud to open a new SRP in sand her school just the other week. -- Sandhurst school. We need a full range of provision, mainstream range of provision, mainstream support as well as new special schools and the Minister will know I have been lobbying her hard to deliver on the proposed special deliver on the proposed special deliver on the proposed special school for autism in my patch.

A school that was shamefully promised by the previous government without a penny to pay for it. I would like to penny to pay for it. I would like to take this opportunity to once again lobby my honourable friend to deliver much-needed service. deliver much-needed service. Enqueue. -- Thank you.

15:31

James MacCleary MP (Lewes, Liberal Democrat)

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I will start by declaring an interest as the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on education. Earliest providers are facing an escalating financial crisis, the government's latest tax increase will add an average of £40,000 per year staff Costa providers. Hopscotch nurseries, group operating across Sussex including in my constituency, estimate increased to implement cost will add to their wage bill by hundred £40,000. This is a time when 84% of nurseries nationwide report they cannot find suitable staff.

Staffing accounting for three quarters of the running costs, financial pressures mean nurseries face closures or fee hikes families cannot afford. A recent visit to nurseries in my communities, I have heard from practitioners working with young children every day that laudable as the Government's aim to expand funded childcare are, they're simply not enough qualified staff to be available to deliver it. Not enough applicants, lack of qualifications, low salary and half -- hi turnover has led to nurseries operating well below capacity. One of my constituency recently told me of my constituency recently told me they only take half the number of children they potentially could.

This is not lack of demand, far from it, it is lack of qualified staff to care for children safety. An early years Alliance poll of 1,000 nurseries in March found that two in five nurseries are set to reduce the number of government funded places for three and four-year-olds to cover rising costs, including increase in minimum wage an employers National Insurance. This is a direct opposite of the Government stated desire to expand provision for funded hours in early years. As a parent with young children myself, I have shared the frustration at rising childcare fees, which are getting the UK amongst the most expensive in the world.

Those who take on the most are particularly vulnerable, we without urgent intervention we risk the mass closure of facilities that are essential, not only to education but our economies and communities. A coalition showed that 20% of nurseries are operating at a loss. Can I urge Ministers today to reconsider exempting early years providers from the National Grid increases to prevent nurseries from being pushed to closure? We cannot afford to lose more essential childcare places, it is also a question of opportunity and fairness.

Investment in early childhood education has been proven repeatedly to significantly narrow achievement gaps, benefiting disadvantaged children. I support the government aims to expand funded childcare provision and provision of free school meals but without adequate funding for providers there is a real danger the Government will end up putting nurseries out of business and increase the strain on school budgets to bring. I implore Ministers to find ways to support our nurseries, including exemptions from governments National Insurance hike, to deliver education and support to our children in a way that is financially sustainable to both parents and providers.

Thank you.

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Thank you. I very much welcome the Government's investment in the Government's investment in education, as demonstrated through education, as demonstrated through these estimates that have come out today. I would particularly like to today. I would particularly like to very briefly touch upon the increased investment in SEND and High Needs Provision to the tune of £1 billion. Something I'm sure members knows very close to my heart. However, I would like to sound a note of caution and echo sound a note of caution and echo some of the comments made by my honourable friend, the member for Dulwich and West Norwood, and anchor particularly for her work on the Select Committee in this matter.

Investment alone will not solve the Investment alone will not solve the SEND crisis. We are facing... It is the biggest issue facing schools, one of the biggest issues facing one of the biggest issues facing councils. Dare I say it is one of the biggest issues facing local health authorities, not to get ahead of the next estimates debate. Money alone is something that is not going alone is something that is not going to solve this. We need institutional root and branch reform of how the SEND system works and I have said it SEND system works and I have said it before and I will say again, if we fix the SEND system, we fix the education system but every single child.

What we need is an investment

15:37

Jen Craft MP (Thurrock, Labour)

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in early years provision. Every time I visit a primary school, I'm confronted by Head Teachers who said confronted by Head Teachers who said the level of high needs, SEND provision in key stage I have basically skyrocketed in the recent years. And we can discuss the years. And we can discuss the reasons behind this, the COVID-19 pandemic I think prove the value of pandemic I think prove the value of early years intervention in that it early years intervention in that it did not take place by and large for four to five years.

And we have seen how the impact that has had on young people coming through. So early and people coming through. So early and quick intervention and investment in early years services, key stage I, early years services, key stage I, identifying and I will take umbrage with members who unfortunately on both sides of the House have spoken about overdiagnosis of conditions about overdiagnosis of conditions like ADHD and autism. We need quick diagnosis, we need accurate diagnosis, we need a treatment pathway to conditions that are on the rise primarily because of historic underdiagnosis.

And actually riding out who these children are who struggle with these conditions and being able to put conditions and being able to put early interventions in as quickly as possible is something that will save possible is something that will save us money in the long-term. Rings like speech and language therapy, if we are able to identify children who are at need of additional support in are at need of additional support in early years, that says an awful lot of money overall. It saves money to education, education -- education, health and local authorities as well.

I support the direction of travel in trying to get as many children in mainstream as possible. I firmly believe that early exposure to children who are different to yourself and only be better buses I by and large. However, I would like to press the Minister for a timescale to when the White Paper on SND will be out so I welcome her assurances that carers, parents and young people will be involved in this in a very meaningful way. I would also welcome her thoughts on how we would make sure that all schools are showing equal load when it comes to SEND provision.

-- Sharing equal load. Sharing equal load.

15:38

Rebecca Smith MP (South West Devon, Conservative)

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I'm here this afternoon to talk about the real-life impacts of the decisions that are included in these education estimates and specifically due to the short amount of time on school funding. There is a village in my constituency, for whom this is a particularly pertinent issue. They are currently in the middle of campaigning because the local trust that is responsible for the school is having to restructure from September. And this is entirely because of the cuts that schools have taste and the knock-on impacts from the Budget that we have already had.

-- Schools have faced. It is causing huge consternation for parents, complaint, campaign and a huge amount of stress as they are facing a different future to the one they were expecting. The learning Academy partnership trust who is responsible for the school as shared figures with me which highlight the reality of the changes to funding that they are facing. They are also one of the schools that full is for the f40 inconsistencies as well, that we have already heard about. Secondary schools in Devon can see as much as £1 million less funding than equivalent schools in a city like Manchester.

Whilst I hear what the honourable gentlemen mentioned earlier, that city schools need more money, rural deprivation is a key reality to and I think that is something we need to do more. In terms of the statistics...

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I'm extrema grateful... Just to say East Riding in Yorkshire is the lowest funded authority in the country for special education needs. I hope to hear from the Minister how I hope to hear from the Minister how the distribution as well as the quantum can be made fairer because

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quantum can be made fairer because under the strain in the system and unfair distribution exacerbate... I thank the honourable gentlemen phase intervention and there are issues about this right across the issues about this right across the country. -- For his intervention. Specifically to the pressures on the school, teacher pay awards and school, teacher pay awards and funded 1.7%, 4% increase, costing 359 1.7%, 4% increase, costing £359. 359 1.7%, 4% increase, costing £359. Supports our pay awards are funded Supports our pay awards are funded 0.9% is a 3.2% increase to this one 0.9% is a 3.2% increase to this one school, costing £295,000.

Teacher pension increase in supports our pensions and the National Insurance increases, total cost of £349,000, increases, total cost of £349,000, with 76,000 underfunded due to pupil-based funding. That is a pupil-based funding. That is a problem right across Devon and we are concerned about that because ultimately, this does mean these ultimately, this does mean these little village schools have to take a direct hit. This is something that neither parents, teachers know the trust that want to see. A big part of this is about a reduction in the job and your clients as well.

The real-time reduction of £200,000 from 25 to 26, +0.5% redirected by Devon local authority special educational needs. This is a massive impact on the most vulnerable people right across the community and ultimately, it is not enabling them to get the education they require. I would just briefly asked, having taken an intervention I will finish a bit earlier, but what is the future. In places like Dartmoor and Devon and especially those schools that fall foul of the f40 formula issues? And foul of the f40 formula issues? And what can the Minister do to reassure parents, teachers and other staff and children, most importantly, who I represent, who ultimately pay the price for these cuts, intentional or not, what reassurances can the Minister offer that there please and my please to ensure that their children and young people in my South West Devon constituency have the funding they need for the future they deserve, what reassurance can she provide me to make sure that

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takes place? In Portsmouth North, we know

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In Portsmouth North, we know education does not just open doors, transforms lives and I welcome this government commitment to rebuilding these foundations. Before entering this House I was a teacher and I know first-hand the power education know first-hand the power education has to transform individual lives and whole communities and how government policy can impact this negatively or positively. In

15:41

Amanda Martin MP (Portsmouth North, Labour)

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negatively or positively. In Portsmouth, sadly that power has often been held back by underinvestment in our postcode, inequality and a lack of opportunity or those outside the traditional academic path. I am proud that over 6 1/2 thousand children in Portsmouth will benefit from labour expansion of free school meals. And I'm also proud that teacher pay rising from 5.5 last year to 4% this year, recognising the dedication of staff across our schools. That combined with rising attendance and return of 3 million more school- based show that Labour's plan is working.

What makes me cross is the opposition benches talk about trade union pay rise and it is actually our teachers, doctors and Armed Forces that got that long-awaited pay rises, denied by the previous Government stop and it is time the opposition benches were honest about that. Mr Deputy Speaker... Children with educational needs in Portsmouth still faced...

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Order. ... And a shortage of school

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... And a shortage of school places, families awaiting and schools are stretched. Can the Minister set out how the Department Minister set out how the Department is working with local authorities to expand high quality provision in areas like Portsmouth and whether the Spending Review includes targeted capital or revenue support for this? If education is to drive growth and skills must be reformed and it must be front and centre and am glad it is part of our priority. Colleges are central to this.

Speaking with students and staff at Portsmouth College they are eager to Portsmouth College they are eager to do more but need the right investment. Ambition is the tool because the role of education is not because the role of education is not just social but economical. The Spending Review must understand as part of the wide Industrial Strategy that Labour is delivering. Skilful, you pubs and electrification of skills England vital tools to have training for the future of our jobs and it is vital the department ensures schools, colleges and businesses are integrated into the businesses are integrated into the strategy.

-- Skills hubs. We also need to cheers friendships, not just need to cheers friendships, not just the school leaders but -- need to get serious about apprenticeships, they must wipe everyone. I've heard from constituents in their 20s and from constituents in their 20s and 30s and beyond who want to rescale but cannot afford the drop in income. Although it may seem radical, will the Minister consider a means-tested a friendship loan system to allow student finance with an automated repayment tied into payment in the living wage because that kind of support could transform access for working parents, carers and those who want to change their career.

As a government and as a member of the education Select Committee I'm proud of the work we have done. The Spending Review lay solid foundations that there is a long way to go. Portsmouth North is a place of talent, determination and potential, Labour's plan is already delivering change and if we truly want an economic built on skills and society we must keep dishing

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forward. As we know, not all education

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As we know, not all education Daugherty's are created equal -- not all education authorities are all education authorities are created equal,... The average rise will not make up the years of will not make up the years of underfunding. As I recently raised in this House, it is reported that two thirds of the schools will be in two thirds of the schools will be in the red next year, which is having a massive impact on children in my constituency. I want to set out some of the pressures that are making the of the pressures that are making the situation worse and asked the Minister how the Spending Review Minister how the Spending Review will help tackle these? The first is the underfunding of staff costs.

The Government cannot fully funding the 4% pay rise for teachers, expecting

15:45

Claire Young MP (Thornbury and Yate, Liberal Democrat)

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4% pay rise for teachers, expecting schools to find 1/4 of this from efficiencies within their budget was not coupled with the underfunding national insurance reimbursement, this is massive pressure on budgets. Can the Minister explain what these efficiencies would look like? I can tell her what it already looks like in our schools before these cuts. In my local schools, clubs, trips and teachers having access, qualified teaching assistants replaced by apprenticeships,... Are shared across year groups or even several schools.

Each school will be asked to cut tens of thousand pounds they do not have and disproportionally will hit small rural schools where the star budget makes up a high budget total. SEND is a challenge nationwide that it particular hits hard those areas where school funding is lowest. And whether struggle deficit. It says in the spending review in relation to SEND the Government was set up the details in supporting local authorities as we transform to a reform system as part of the funding reform consultation.

There is no reference to the legacy safety... The two-year extension of statutory overriding is a temporary relief that does not solve the overriding program. Schools and the authorities need to plan ahead so I asked the Minister what assurances can she give authorities like South Gloucestershire who self the bell -- who safety valve is ending and when will they have 70 about future arrangements?

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Councils are asked to send services about funding alluded to in this case postcode lotteries for this case postcode lotteries for families with children waiting months to receive the support they need, does the honourable member agree with me we urgently need SEND funding reform, including removing the £6000 contribution 10 the postcode lottery and deliver the postcode lottery and deliver the

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postcode lottery and deliver the I agree because it incentivises the schools taking action on special the schools taking action on special education as they have to fund education as they have to fund £65,000. Turning to the final pressure I want to highlight, the pressure I want to highlight, the free school meals and breakfast clubs. The extension of free school meals are welcome. The funding doesn't recognise that schools are already having to subsidise school meals due to rising costs, and those meals due to rising costs, and those subsidies will now increase.

Schools in my area tell me they have declined to join thanks to a lack of declined to join thanks to a lack of funding. One had 88 pupils, and the non-price represents less than 15% of the breakeven costs of the of the breakeven costs of the current breakfast club, so yet again, they would have to subsidise the expense of other activities. To conclude, behind the headline numbers of schools in crisis, especially in constituencies like mine where they have been underfunded for years.

I hope the Minister can provide reassurance for constituents at the headline figures will translate into fair funding for South Gloucestershire.

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Nothing is more important than ensuring that every child in every ensuring that every child in every part of our country has the opportunity to thrive. That is why breaking down the barriers for breaking down the barriers for opportunity is such a key part of this government's plan for change. We are determined to undo the failure of the previous government failure of the previous government and see that every school has the resources it needs to offer the education that all children deserve. I welcome these estimates.

The commitment to additional funding for early years education will be early years education will be transformational for family budgets, saving families up to 7 1/2 thousand pounds a year. And helping mothers pounds a year. And helping mothers like me, enabling that balance with like me, enabling that balance with family life. Crucially, this will also enable us to achieve that absolutely key target of 75% of absolutely key target of 75% of children achieving a good level of development when they start school, development when they start school, which will equate to over half a million more children being school ready across the country.

Furthermore, the £6.7 capital Furthermore, the £6.7 capital investment into the school buildings will support several buildings and will support several buildings and rebuilding in hype and, whether it is the Academy enriched in or high is the Academy enriched in or high school, as well as tackling some of the crisis and the right removal and the primary school, as well as a number of other primary schools and schools across the constituency which will benefit from some of the other repairs being made available.

And thanks to this government's commitment to increasing access to free school meals, up to 6590 children will access this because this government understands that children who are welfare to concentrate in a classroom and are better able to learn. And I know how much it will mean to families across my constituency to be able to save up to £500 after this. This is a labour policy based on labour values that demonstrates the shared commitment between the Chancellor and the Minister and Secretary of State to make sure that we deliver on our promises to the next generation.

Having worked hard to tackle educational disadvantage for many years, I also know the importance of the rise reforms and that change in approach with up to £150,000 being made available as well as the teams coming in to make sure that no longer, families and communities are let down year after year without the intervention is needed to tackle failing schools and where the standards are not good enough. And to briefly move onto the enough. And to briefly move onto the skills agenda, the college have already had £1.5 billion of capital funding but the £1.2 billion funding but the £1.2 billion commitment made is absolutely crucial, and I will be making sure that Hibernian and my young people direct for benefit directly from direct for benefit directly from this.

There is so much more to talk about, whether it is mental health support, the apprenticeship levy, reviewing the curriculum and the reviewing the curriculum and the current approach to assessment or making progress or hiring the additional six and half thousand teachers, there is still a lot to do teachers, there is still a lot to do but it is a lot to recognise. but it is a lot to recognise.

15:51

Thank you. I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak in this debate on behalf of my constituents in Eastleigh, including the hundreds of family you feel they have been let down by a system that simply

15:52

Liz Jarvis MP (Eastleigh, Liberal Democrat)

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isn't working. Over the past year, I have had heartbreaking stories from Constituencies children have been left waiting years for assessments, left waiting years for assessments, and especially support they so desperately need. Hampshire's desperately need. Hampshire's surface received over 3800 in the surface received over 3800 in the last academic year alone. My constituents daughter has struggled severely with reading, writing and severely with reading, writing and confidence. When Chrissie asked for dyslexia assessment, her daughters primary school were unable to provide one. And the family can provide one.

And the family can afford private testing. Her daughters missed days of school through the fear of going in, through the fear of going in, becoming physically sick as a result. Natasha, another one of my result. Natasha, another one of my constituents told me she is at her wits and trying to secure the right support for her son. He has an E HCP support for her son. He has an E HCP matters without a diagnosis and placement after over two years delays in this coming occasion. What reassurance can the Minister give my constituents that their children are going to get the support they need going to get the support they need to reach their full potential? I have also been contacted by constituents who have expressed concern to the guardianship support concern to the guardianship support funds which has been a lifeline to some of the most vulnerable children in our society.

All the government consider reversing these cuts to give all children and young people the best possible future? Telling out of free school meals, I welcome the government's decision to expand eligibility to all children in households receiving Universal Credit. It is a step in the right direction, but make this policy work in practice, the government must introduce auto enrolment and ensure this expansion is fully funded and properly implemented. I have heard from the head teacher at the infant school in my constituency that the funding provided to schools hasn't kept pace with the actual cost of meals.

The cost of delivering meals now exceeds government funding by £1.11 per meal, forcing her school to find another 31,468 out of its budget for the financial year. Eastleigh college receives £2.66 per student but is close to 5 pounds. Has the government considered the impact on other areas of school budgets as we try to keep up with costs of school meals and what provisions are being made to cover the shortfalls. After years of neglect under the Conservatives, our education system is failing to deliver the outcomes children deserves, and it is children's and parents having to pick up the pieces.

We need a system that works with families and not against them.

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Parents with SEND children across Dewsbury racket nice one of the Dewsbury racket nice one of the graphics to contact me as I readily hold surgeries with desperate parents who feel they have nowhere parents who feel they have nowhere left to go. I've spoken with parents whose children have missed years of whose children have missed years of education. Parents's ability has been need to care for and teach been need to care for and teach their children at a school environment.

Many others have spent environment. Many others have spent years awaiting diagnosis and years more acquiring and Ian HCP. Perhaps this is the kind of silver bullet only to get their children born in school which does not have the additional resources to support additional resources to support their children. This is a growing nationwide crisis experienced by nationwide crisis experienced by schools and families and with secondary effect upon the DWP and the Treasury. Currently, the the Treasury. Currently, the responsibility for two local responsibility for two local authorities, but across the country, counties are struggling to balance their resources between looking after their people and maintaining after their people and maintaining the infrastructure.

I do not accept that these councils are all at

15:55

Cameron Thomas MP (Tewkesbury, Liberal Democrat)

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that these councils are all at fault. That simply cannot be. I empathise with those councils which will have observed this month spending review with their heads in their hands. Last month, I held the Westminster Hall debate the point out that Gloucestershire is among the lowest for children. I'm delighted that the school standards of the national formula for 2026 /27 for I hope the Gloucestershire will be firmly on the government's mind when this review takes place, but what I am asking for today is that the government acknowledges that the growing demand for SEND provision must be addressed by this government, not left to local authorities nor kicks down the road until 2030.

I'm asking that the government investigates and addresses the root causes of this growing problem and implements systems and processes within the Department, and the Ministry of Housing, communities and local government. Until it does, local authorities will continue to buckle under demand. Our teachers will continue to break, and our constituents across the country will continue to suffer. Thank you.

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I'm sorry to be brutal but we have managed to get everybody in. We are 10 minutes over time, so are 10 minutes over time, so frontbenchers could exercise a little caution and discretion, that would be helpful. LibDem

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spokesperson. Thank you very much. May I congratulate the chair of the Select Committee, the number four Dulwich in West Norwood on securing this important debate on the Department's important debate on the Department's estimates. Given the constraints we estimates. Given the constraints we have just mentioned, and given the remit of the Department is huge, I remit of the Department is huge, I just wanted to touch on a couple of areas on day-to-day school budgets and supports for vulnerable and supports for vulnerable children, and I hope that we can answer some questions on the free answer some questions on the free school meal announcement recently.

I think it is fair to say a year ago, think it is fair to say a year ago, when the Labour governments were to victory, since then, there has been victory, since then, there has been a huge amount of rhetoric about the opportunity emission and putting children at the heart of policy- children at the heart of policy- making, but the reality on the ground feels a little different. Because despite what the government would have us believe, school would have us believe, school budgets across the country are at best frozen and at worst, they are falling into deficit.

Years of Conservative mismanagement and underfunding from 2015 onwards, we all know the figures are there from 2015 onwards. There mismanagement. Their decisions cast a long shadow over our schools and colleges, and whilst the government trumpets for £0.7 billion for schools in the spending review, they failed to mention that the school budget will

15:59

Munira Wilson MP (Twickenham, Liberal Democrat)

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only see an increase of 0.4% over the spending review period, so when I speak to school leaders as they do regularly, they still express the same level of despair to me as I heard during the course of the last Parliament when the Conservatives barely mentioned children or barely mentioned children or schools. School leaders are tearing their hair out trying to balance the books when shouldering the double blow of an underfunded rise in employers national insurance and employers national insurance and underfunded teacher pay rises.

One school in my constituency has shared school in my constituency has shared their budget figures with me in detail to show what is really happening. They have around 1/4 of happening. They have around 1/4 of £1 million of salary pressures as a £1 million of salary pressures as a result of pay rises, yet only an additional £30,000 to fund that additional £30,000 to fund that hole. The result, the most vulnerable children will suffer with learning support assistants and learning support assistants and inclusion staff most likely to go.

inclusion staff most likely to go. In order to protect teaching staff who are obviously absolutely essential. Whilst prudence in previous years means reserves can be previous years means reserves can be drawn upon in future capital projects cancelled in order to keep the lights on this year, they are looking down the barrel of redundancies in 2026/27, and having seen figures from other schools budgets, I know the situation is not unique. The IFS has said that, following the spending review, schools will need to make efficiencies to the tune of 3 to £400 million to afford the underfunded teacher pay rises and increases, so when schools are facing ever-increasing pressures, whether that is to do with the demands, challenges, behavioural issues and much more, frankly, it is ridiculous for this government for them to find efficiencies.

I know school staff are already straining every sin you to find every penny possible down to banning things like colour photocopying so was frankly insulting when the written Ministerial statements came out just before the May recess which lectured them on taking responsibility to ensure that funding was spent as efficiently as possible, as if they don't already do that. Because these efficiencies or so-called of actually cuts, whether that is staff, extracurricular activities, school trips or mental-health support.

And to quote one Head Teacher from my constituency, every year, you think you are going to go into bankruptcy. I'm not sure that's into bankruptcy. I'm not sure that's I hope she will confirm to the House today how she expects schools to cough up the extra money for the teacher pay deal and National Insurance and if not, whether she will go into that with the Treasury for more? I wanted to briefly touch on an issue that a number of my honourable friend have spoken about, which is measures that are going to hurt our most memorable children, with cuts in grants to the adoption and special guardianship Swimming Pool Support Fund.

We know this fund provides therapy for children who in many cases have been through deep trauma and without significant therapy intervention, they are going to struggle to live a fulfilling... Have a fulfilling childhood and life ahead of them. -- Vulnerable children. We know after funding is expired, Ministers were dragged to this place to confirm funding could continue but then they snuck out announcement of cuts to the grant of 40% over the Easter recess. I know the Minister will come back and say the size of the pot at 50 million remains the same.

That is simply not the point. If £3000, which is what the grants have been cut to, cannot fund the therapy a child needs, it might as well be zero. Just be to the professionals and the unsung heroes who have stepped up the adopters and kinship carers who are dealing with the consequences of this trauma every day. They feel deeply let down by this Government and we are not dealing with massive figures here. When we look at the billions in the departmental estimates, we are talking about small packages which will make a huge amount of difference not just individual children but the taxpayer in the future, with money saved further down the track.

It is not only immoral, it is shortsighted. Halving the Department spending on consultancy and advertising spend would allow Ministers to reinstate grants to previous levels by boosting the fund from £50-£75 million. As we debate these estimates I once again called on the Minister to reverse these cuts and also now the Spending Review is complete, to announce very soon the ASG SF settlement four 2627 by October at the latest. So families and service providers can plan. I want to touch briefly on the welcome announcement to expand free school meals, policy the Liberal Democrats have been calling for and campaigning for many years.

And that we have campaigned alongside many others to ensure was adopted. Whilst this is a welcome announcement, there are a number of questions that need to be addressed. How many children are estimated to be losing out on free school meals as a result of the end of transitional protections? There has also been some suggestion from some quarters that children currently in receipt of free school meals will now lose access to pupil premium funding, as well as homeschool transport. Will the Minister clarify on the record to this House what the position is? We are also still in the dark as to where exactly the money for free school milk expansion is coming from.

-- Three school meal. While spinners in the Department of education have made a good fist of ensuring the headlines proclaim that the Department was a victor in the Spending Review battle, there is still a number of crucial issues hidden beneath the top line. Our schools and most vulnerable young people have been left struggling stop the devil is in the detail. So I hope the Minister can persuade us otherwise and actually convince us that she really does believe in extending opportunity to every child

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and young person in this country. Before the election, Labour said

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Before the election, Labour said that increasing VAT would pay for more teachers and even in December, more teachers and even in December, the Chancellor said, "Every single penny of that money will go into our state schools". More recently, the state schools". More recently, the Prime Minister has claimed this will instead pay for investment in social instead pay for investment in social housing. He says my government made the top of their decision to apply VAT to private schools and now we have the largest investment in affordable housing for a generation.

The statement from the Chancellor The statement from the Chancellor and the Prime Minister cannot both be true. You cannot spend every be true. You cannot spend every penny on state schools and also spend money on housing. So my first spend money on housing. So my first question to Ministers is who is not telling the truth? Is it the Prime Minister or the Chancellor? Logically, both cannot be true. And Logically, both cannot be true. And either way, we are not getting the extra teachers anyway.

In fact, extra teachers anyway. In fact, statistics just came out showing that there are not more teachers, there are fewer, there are 400 fewer overall. Including 2,900 fewer in overall. Including 2,900 fewer in primary. Teacher numbers went up 27,000 under the last government, 27,000 under the last government, now they are down 400 under this government. And at that point, it was at that point when those statistics came out, showing things were going in the wrong direction, it was at that point that Ministers suddenly, for the first time started saying that the loss of staff in primary schools would no longer count.

Primary school teachers no longer counter this government. They never said this before until the statistics show teacher numbers were falling. This pathetic attempt to move the goalposts is just so corrosive... It is a bit like when the Chancellor said making a unfunded pledge to Winter Fuel Payment was because things were going so well with the economy. Everyone knows it is not true, it is so crazy. The OBR said since the October forecast, the indicated consumer bodies have been negative in economic outlook and borrowing is predicted to be 30 billion higher in 2029.

But it seems this Government just think you can say black is white and people will believe you. In that same brazen spirit, the Secretary of State responded to this statistics showing there were fewer teachers in our schools and fewer teachers by saying we are getting more teachers into our classrooms. This chirpy tweet. Ministers now so premises do not count because pupil numbers are falling. Pupil numbers primary and now predicted to be high when they made that promise and on the same basis, you can equally exclude all of the many areas where numbers of pupils are falling in secondary.

And places where numbers in primary are still going up, like in Leicestershire. It is brilliant, if you just ignore all of the teachers that are getting the sack and of course teacher numbers are

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going up. ... In the spirit of same things that are not true and brazen statements, I wonder if you can get statements, I wonder if you can get onto the bit of his speech where he pretends the Conservative government invested more in our schools?

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invested more in our schools? I'm glad he has prompted... He must've got a copy of his speech. The last parliament, according to the IFS, real terms spending per pupil went up 11%. I thank him for pupil went up 11%. I thank him for allowing me to make that point. So why are so many teachers getting the sack? Partly because that is not the only broken promise. Labour also only broken promise. Labour also promised they would fully compensate schools for the cost of the National schools for the cost of the National Insurance increase.

The Minister size as I say this. Schools around the country will side to because they broke that promise. According they broke that promise. According to the CST and the union, schools have been left up to 35% short in have been left up to 35% short in some cases. With all these broken promises, let me check in on another promise. Perhaps the Minister will tell us. The Prime Minister promised two weeks of working spirits for all pupils, the Labour manifesto pupils, the Labour manifesto promised £85 million to pay for it in May, the Government tonsils to get onto and deliver extra work experience, when exactly will experience, when exactly will schools received the £85 million? -- Government told schools.

It is not Government told schools. It is not the only part the DfT were broken promises, on the Secretary of State's website it still says graduates will pay less under a Labour government. Labour had increased fees, they have not reduced them. The Spending Review was strangely silent on the tuition fees, weirdly silent. I assume the silence can only mean fees are set to rise in every stage of this Parliament. With these going up £10,000 a year for the first time in 2027 and it means the total amount per student paying the full amount will increase from 59,000 to 66,000 outside London, or from 69 to 77,000 in London.

So much for paying less. Ironically, the gain from universities from the broken promise and fee hike has been entirely wiped out by yet another broken promise. The decision to increase National Insurance, and other think Labour promise not to do and that broken promise has also hit nurseries. The earliest alliance said they were disappointed and frustrated about the Spending Review and responding to if it is said it repeats many promises only made -- already made that nurseries are running at losses and at risk of closure.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies note the funding and the Spending Review for early years is and may not be enough to meet additional unexpected demand. What does this all look like? When we look at it from the frontline, Sir John Coles is the leader of the largest school trust in the country and a distinguished former official in the DfE, what does he make of these estimates and this SR? He says education will for the first time in a Spending Review get less growth than the average cost of spending departments.

The last time we had such a poor cash settlement was the period 2014 to 2010, when average crashing priest was 1.8%. -- Average cash increase. Inflation was 1.5%. It slightly sticks in the throat that H MTR trying to present this is good news. They claim this is a 2 billion increase in real terms is a version of spin I cannot recall seeing before. It relies on treating financial year before the last election as the first year of the current spending review period.

He says when you strip all this away, to all intents and purposes it is a flat real-time settlement for three years. And if as schools are reporting, the 760 million SEND transformation fund coming out in the Core Schools' Budget Grant that represent a significant real terms funding cut in school funding. Perhaps the Minister will tell us whether that is correct and if it is coming out of call school spending? That brings me onto the suppressed premise in this estimate, the DfE is assuming they will save substantial amounts on special needs compared to the trend employed by previous years.

The Member for Yeovil in this debate talked about the cuts to special needs spending. Since 2016, according to the IFS, the spending has increased by £4 billion in real terms, 60% increase. If that felt like a cut to the Member for Goebel, he will not like what is being brewed up by the Treasury now. Because the SEND plan will be out this autumn, around the time what looks like now increasingly difficult Budget. So by DfE in a suitably tattoo ideas for the review.

First restricting EHCPs only to special schools, huge change cutting 271,000 children with EHCPs in special state schools and a further 37,800 in non- special independent schools, 60% of the total are not in special schools. total are not in special schools. And a bird who is the chair of the disabled children partnership and coalition of 120 charities says the idea of scrapping education health will terrify families. On top of that we learn from a minister of state in the health Department that the Government also plans to push a lot more children from special schools into the mainstream.

There are two big questions about this plan. To say the least, there is a clear tension between these two money-saving ideas. If you take away EHCPs in mainstream schools, parents will be a lot less confident when the council presses them to put the child into a mainstream school rather than a special one. Even the Government have you turned on the Winter Fuel Payment and are now saying the coming welfare will be a confidence vote in the Prime Minister, it will of course be Minister, it will of course be interesting to see the issues coming from the DfE.

We know from these estimates and from the SS are that estimates and from the SS are that as John Cole says, unless the government does deliver these savings in special needs, the settlement schools will increasingly become very difficult. To conclude, become very difficult. To conclude, this government has broken a staggering number of promises. staggering number of promises. Incredibly quickly. The Minister seems to believe they can just a seems to believe they can just a black is white and that they never meant any of the things that they so clearly promised.

This debate is clearly promised. This debate is about the money side of things but in terms of reform, is also going backwards with the Schools Bill which will lower standards and which will lower standards and smashup 30 years of cross-party reform to appease the trade unions. Talking about education, education, Talking about education, education, education, what we are now getting his broken promises, broken promises, broken promises. promises, broken promises.

16:13

Neil O'Brien MP (Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, Conservative)

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Thank you. Every child deserves the opportunity to achieve and thrive in education. And that is why this Government has, as Labour governments always do, prioritised education with the department's budget for day-to-day cash friendly, increasing by almost £6 billion compared to last financial year. And within that, we have increased the overall core skills by by £3.7 billion in 2526, compared to last year. This real terms per pupil increase in funding helps to underpin our ambition of achieving high and rising standards for all children in all of our schools.

This

16:15

Catherine McKinnell MP, Minister of State (Education) (Newcastle upon Tyne North, Labour)

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investment of £3.7 billion in 2025 investment of £3.7 billion in 2025 to 2026 includes both the £2.3 billion announced at the October budget and the £1.4 billion in additional funding being provided to support schools with staff pay support schools with staff pay awards and with the increases to employers National Insurance contributions from April, 2025. The majority of school funding is allocated through schools national allocated through schools national funding formula. In 2025 to 26, five point -- £5.1 billion of the schools NFF has been allocated through NFF has been allocated through deprivation factors and £8.6 billion will be allocated for additional will be allocated for additional needs overall.

That is over 1 pound in every 6 pounds of total core funding through the formula is funding through the formula is directed toward schools facing the most challenging cohorts. The Spending Review built on this Spending Review built on this investment in schools, across the Spending Review, period course course funding, including SEND investment, which I know is a big investment, which I know is a big issue for many honourable members issue for many honourable members that have spoken today will increase for £65.3 billion in 2025 and 26, two, £226.9 billion by 28-29.

So I will turn to the SEND system, which I know many members have spoken very passionately about in their contributions today. Because it is and has for too long been on its knees. And this government is determined to face up to the fact, too many families and children are simply not receiving the quality of SEND services and provision that they should expect. They are having to fight for those services and they are having to wait too long before they are made available.

It is therefore this government ambition at all children and people SEND see the right support at the right time to succeed in education and as they move on in life. To help this, we have invested annex a £1 billion have invested annex a £1 billion funding for high needs in 2025-26, compared to 24-25, we are also providing £740 million hiding capital funding in 25-26, so local authorities can adapt schools to be more accessible and build new places, including in specialist facilities within mainstream schools.

Over 1.7 million children and young people in England have special educational needs and the vast majority of those are educated in mainstream settings, so we are committed to improving inclusivity, ringing a new focus on expertise mention settings and an inclusive group them, such that the vast majority children can be well supported in mainstream setting with special settings catering for those special settings catering for those

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I thank the Minister for giving way and I will be brief. I would just like to clarify that the just like to clarify that the additional support that she is talking about, and ambition, is to talking about, and ambition, is to improve the SEND side. The statutory bit is the SEND site, there will be improvements and that, but if you improvements and that, but if you improve the SEN side, the bit which you don't need adversarial legal you don't need adversarial legal battle, you actually start to pull back some of these reasons for back some of these reasons for people having to go through what can be a truly horrific system.

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The lady makes a good point, and I was about to come to respond to a question that she particularly question that she particularly raised in her contribution to this debate, that we will be sending out further details of the extended approach to SEND reform. We intend to publish this in the autumn. We recognise that we need to support schools to provide that much greater schools to provide that much greater inclusion for children with SEND within mainstream schools, but we do within mainstream schools, but we do need to commence a transition process which will include working with local authorities to manage their SEND system, including deficits, alongside an extension to the dedicated schools override up until the end of 2027, 28.

I know this is an issue that many people have raised on their local authorities, and we will provide more details by the end of the year, including a plan for supporting local authorities with both historic and accruing deficits. And looking why do it teacher training, I was incredibly sorry to hear about the experience of the honourable member for Yeovil I think he was incredibly brave and it is important that he has shared it. And in response to the particular question he asked, hi quality teaching is central to ensuring that all pupils are given the best possible opportunities to achieve and to support all teachers.

It is implement thing teacher It is implement thing teacher training reforms to make sure that teachers have the skills to support all pupils to succeed, and we are determined to make sure as well that every family has a stable loving home where no child grows up in property, when no child likes the food and warmth, where no child is denied success due to their background. We are determined to turn the picture around, spreading growth and opportunity to every family in every corner of the country.

The Labour country has now announced that we are extending free school meals to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026. It will lift hundred thousand children out of poverty for will put £500 back into children's profits. It will help children to improve lives ahead of the child poverty strategy which will come out later this year, and providing of half a million children from disadvantaged backgrounds with a free nutritious lunchtime meal, every school deal will lead to higher attainment, improve behaviour, and better outcomes meaning that children get the best possible education and chance to succeed in work and life, and we will of course provide more details on this because decisions such as the expansion of free school meals, they don't happen by accident.

Nor are they simply the achievement, the outcome of hard work. Base only campaigners outside this place. They campaigners outside this place. They are decisions about who we put first in our national life. You as the first call on our resources as a country. Ours is a government that puts children first. Expanding free school meal eligibility is a choice made by this government which is determined to secure a brighter tomorrow for our children. Excellence everywhere for all of our young people.

A government that knows that delivering a more equal society, which we on this side of the house are determined to make real, is to be achieved by choice, not chance. And on the points that the honourable gentleman raised on children's social care during this debate, we are putting children first. This government is committed to delivering children's social care reform to break the cycle of late intervention and help more children and families thrive and stay safely and families thrive and stay safely together.

The 2025 to 26, the Department has allocated £380 million to deliver children's social care reform including new investments to support children in kinship and foster care in the autumn budget, and because this government is determined to ensure all children have the best start in life, by 2028, we aim for 75% of children to reach a good level of development by the end of reception. That is approximately 45,000 more children a year who will start school ready to learn, thrive, and succeed.

It's ambitious as no progress has been made on this measure in many years. We are creating 6000 new nursery places in schools across the country in the first wave backed by £37 million.

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I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. She has talked about the government making choices to government making choices to prioritise children. She has talked about keeping families together, so can she simply answer for the house can she simply answer for the house today how the cuts and grants for therapy for some of the most vulnerable traumatise children in our society is going to help those our society is going to help those families stay together when they manifest the most challenging behaviours which results in adoption breakdown and will result in worse outcomes for those families.

How is

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that putting children first? The changes we've made to the fair access limit to ensure that fair access limit to ensure that more children have access to the fund because year-on-year demand has fund because year-on-year demand has increased. We'd like to make clear that when we brought forward the that when we brought forward the legislation, the biggest overhaul in children's social care in a generation, the party opposite voted against it. We are determined to against it. We are determined to improve the life chances of children.

We are determined to children. We are determined to broaden that access and widen that access and the support is there for those that need it. And that is those that need it. And that is despite the tough fiscal inheritance that we have. We go back to childcare because, at the spending childcare because, at the spending review, we announced £370 million of funding to create tens of thousands of places in new and expanded school-based nurseries because despite the tough decisions, to get finance back on track, we are continuing to invest on the delivery of entitlements.

We will create a reception experience which sits children up for success to drive high quality practice. We are increasing evidence-based programs, boosting early literacy skills. We are delivering the largest ever uplift of the People's premium to support disadvantaged children at the earliest point in school lives. By taking a couple of interventions from the honourable member, I have run over my time. So, I would just like to summarise by saying that we have inherited a challenging set of circumstances but we are determined to change the life chances of children in this country.

So, my final word enclosing goes in appreciation of everyone working across our education system to support our children and young people. Our shared goal has to be to provide the highest quality outcomes for every child and by investing in education, this government remains committed to renewing the entire system to make that ambition and reality. We are putting our promises into action. And we are determined to change the lives of children across the country as we do so. across the country as we do so.

16:25

Helen Hayes MP (Dulwich and West Norwood, Labour)

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Thank you. I would like to thank all right honourable honourable members who have contributed to the debate this afternoon. The education and children's social care system across the country has been well represented and we have heard contributions on the challenges in SEND, in further education, in schools, and in rural areas and in the early years, and we have right on honourable members welcome the expansion of free school meals and the introduction of free breakfast clubs. I thank the Minister for her response and I join her in paying tribute to all of the professionals who work so hard everything all day to improve the lives of children and young people across the country.

I would urge her in bringing forward reforms on SEND to work very closely with parents because of the heart of successful reform of the system is the rebuilding of the trust and confidence of parents. And in that vein, the education Select Committee will be robust in our scrutiny of the government and we will continue to do that. I say gently to the benches opposite that the parents that they are attacking the government for not solving within a year are the legacy of the 14 years in power, and as we talk about trust and confidence, as we talk about trust and confidence in the system, trust and confidence in this place would be built if there were slightly more honest reflection and humble and thoughtfulness.

Humility and thoughtfulness on this point. I close by thanking the Backbench Business Committee for allocating time for this important debate. I look forward to scrutinising the

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work of the government further. On the standing orders quick number four, disposing of the number four, disposing of the proposal motion stands over until 7 PM tomorrow. We now come to the

16:27

Paulette Hamilton MP (Birmingham Erdington, Labour)

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16:44

Gregory Stafford MP (Farnham and Bordon, Conservative)

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this estimates day debate. We learned this week that instead of venturing funding reaches the frontline, spending on staff at the Department of Health and Social Care and seven other arm's-length bodies has increased by more than 10% since Labour came to power, while GPs, social care providers and hospices are full studio more with less. The situation has further compounded by rising financial pressures and despite repeated promises that additional funding will improve patient care, the NHS England chief financial officer confirmed to the Select Committee that all the extra money allocated to the NHS will be swallowed up by National Insurance increases, inflation and pay settlements.

Meaning none of it will go towards real improvement in frontline care. The rise in National Insurance contributions was supposed to bolster the NHS and social care, in reality, it has landed like an extra tax on providers themselves, GP services, care homes, hospices and community services are all grappling with these additional payroll costs, just as they struggle with surging to mind and chronic workforce shortages. The Institute of general practice management estimates average GP practice now pays an extra £20,000 a year in National Insurance alone.

Across the nearly 6 1/2 thousand practices, this adds up to around £125 million a year. Money that could otherwise pay for more than 2 million GP appointments at a time when patients are struggling to be seen. And on social care, providers face an equally stark reality. The Nuffield Trust projects employers will shoulder nearly £940 million in extra National Insurance costs in this financial year, that is on top of the 1.85 billion required to cover the rise of the national living wage.

Local councils already face a £665 million shortfall just to deliver their legal social care duties. The Government has promised a 3% real terms rise in NHS revenue spending each year to 20-29, reaching 232 billion by the end of the year. Despite these headline increases, capital investment is being held flat in real terms. NHS leaders have made clear that this will not be enough to rebuild or modernise our hospitals, nor to fund the facilities required to support The recent enquiry has drawn attention to the enormous human and economic toll of the government's failure to reform the care sector.

From the burden of unpaid carers to the economic impact of people leaving the workforce due to unmet care needs, the system is under sustainable strain, but rather than tackling this issue, this government has kicked social care into the long grass, waiting for a report from Baroness Casey that probably will not report until the very end of the session. Not least the fact that the cross-party talks which this government promised have been scrapped. So although the spending review includes £4 billion in additional adult social care funding and an increase in the minimum contribution for better care fund, there remains little clarity on how the government will fund its commitment to deliver a fair pay agreement for care workers.

It is also far from clear that the better care fund is currently structured to meet the real needs of the care sector, rather than simply alleviating pressures and primary care. These are not abstract pressures but relate to long waits in elderly patients, overstretched carers and staff driven to exhaustion, so questions to the Minister, in light of this, can the Minister confirm exactly how much funding the government will allocate next year to tackle the social care workforce emergency, reducing waiting lists for assessments and services to ensure that councils can meet their statutory obligations.

What concrete measures will be put in place to attract and retain carers, nurses and support workers in this vital sector, and how much new capital investment will be provided to help us modernise facilities and expand capacity to meet the needs of our growing population? When will the cross- party talks the government promised on social care happen? They must happen otherwise all the efforts on all sides of the house on this issue will be lost. Finally, with social care vacancies entrenched in NHS productivity still trailing pre- pandemic levels, will the Minister set out what credible workforce and capital investment plans will be included in the forthcoming NHS 10 year plan to address these challenges once and for all? I want to pay tribute to all the health and social care workers whether employed or voluntary across this country.

This government has a real opportunity to make real changes. It must start doing so now and do so

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quickly. I welcome the estimate and the

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I welcome the estimate and the settlement from the government, record settlement from the Department of Health and the NHS. Given the time, I will focus on three key points, financial three key points, financial management and underlying demand and the prioritisation of spending the prioritisation of spending within the estimates. I know we focus rightly on the headline focus rightly on the headline settlements and estimates such as these, but a point that we don't talk about enough is the importance

16:49

Lewis Atkinson MP (Sunderland Central, Labour)

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of good public ministration within the department and I have seen in a 19 years I was in the NHS before coming into this place how the previous government not just had a sticking plaster approach to politics but a sticking plaster approach to administration. Budgets confirmed at the last minute, planning guidance outlined at the very last moment. Meaning if NHS leaders and health leaders, there was no opportunity to appropriately plan for this resource spending. And I welcome the emphasis that the Secretary of State for health is putting on restoring accountability for the trust model and the multi- year settlements that the NHS would like more.

They spend decisions over that time. Secondly, members have queried why it is that the NHS continues to require increases. I would draw the houses attention to the Nuffield trust which is not about health inflation but about underlying health demand. And the trust estimates that as a result of population changes, mainly the ageing population, there is a 1.1% increase in demand every year. As in addition to that, and fasten some technology at a further 1.8% demand, so you can see there is a 2.9% increase in underlying demand before inflation, and that emphasises while the emphasis on reform to a company investment so absolutely critical.

So I finished then on order to deliver that reform. The investment that is going and has to be very carefully targeted and the evidence-based is clear that investment in primary care, we are fortunate to have a world leading gatekeeper system of healthcare through general practice which represents the best return on investment of health spent, worked in the consideration which confirms this, and in mental-health services and public health, I would say that those create the best chances to live within these estimates and meet these expectations going forward.

Thank you.

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Thank you. There are very limited concerns and rumoured plans to merge concerns and rumoured plans to merge integrated homes across the country. The price of unified oversight gives way to a bureaucratic structure that way to a bureaucratic structure that prioritises large-scale efficiency over the nuanced understanding of over the nuanced understanding of local communities. Each locality and its environment have their unique

16:52

Rachel Gilmour MP (Tiverton and Minehead, Liberal Democrat)

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its environment have their unique challenges. Variable demographics and socio-economic disparities and distinctive health issues that demand targeted solutions. Imagine ACB risks offering one size fits all strategies that overlook the finer details of local care. Result and responsiveness not only alienates patients but stifles innovative local approaches to prove successful in community specific challenges while attempts at driving efficiency are certainly laudable, we risk sacrificing the local approach for local needs. In my constituency, we have community hospitals which are anchored in institutions providing essential care for my constituents.

In rural areas, communities simply can't afford to lose them. These facilities are often the only nearby resource of medical attention which are absolutely critical when timely treatment can mean the difference between life-and-death. The family and friends of patients are given the opportunity to visit this contact is so often a crucial part of a patient's journey to recovery. It is also certainly true in Tiverton and lime head that community hospitals improve disparities in rural settings compared to urban centres.

Without them, residents in more remote areas would simply not have access to the same level of healthcare as those in more built-up areas. That is why, where possible, we must resist where possible, we must resist administrative reforms with local distinctiveness while the same time investing robustly in the community pharmacy network and community hospitals. Thank you.

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Much appreciated. I am grateful to my honourable friend, and I just to my honourable friend, and I just fair excellent speech but forgetting

16:55

Ben Coleman MP (Chelsea and Fulham, Labour)

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fair excellent speech but forgetting this debate in the first place. I am quite excited about Saturday week, not just because it is going to be my birthday on 5 July, thank you, but because the National Health Service is going to be 77. Yes, it survived that long, and despite the years of cuts and the chaos, years of cuts and chaos have left the NHS broken but it is not beaten, and we are rebuilding it. There is a huge amount to do, but we are making progress, and after the record funding that we saw in the first budget, I am delighted that the spending review has put the health of our nation first.

And equally, this is been touched on by colleagues and I'm delighted that the government is to turn to reform how the NHS works to get a bigger bang for our buck and better outcomes for patients because we outcomes for patients because we need that. And we know we have got masses to do, and my honourable friend set out many of the splendid things that we have done so far, including getting waiting lists down to their lowest for two years. Which is quite an achievement after only 11 months of this government.

On a more personal level, I am delighted that my constituency of Chelsea and Fulham is also benefiting directly from having a Labour government. Charing Cross Hospital has been given millions of pounds extra to upgrade its vital infrastructure, including MRI scanners, modernised operating theatres, better energy security, a big refurbishment of first floors all under this government, and I hugely welcome it. The GPs in my Apache getting new investment. Asheville surgery, the surgery and Fulham, the Chelsea practice, they have all been earmarked for new funding under this government to improve facilities and help provide better care.

And finally, I'm excited by the possibilities of the new neighbourhood health service which we are looking forward to, and looking forward to bringing my part to all the local health and social care practitioners so that my residents get the better healthcare they have been waiting for for so long and that they deserve. And while I do this, I will be looking also to ensure that we confront health inequalities, that we end the situation we have now, where people get less good access to health, less good treatment, less good outcomes, simply because of their colour or because of what we earn other disabilities.

We have to end that. The spending review continues the work we have begun of improving the health system which has been left bruised and battered, down but not out, and combined with the 10 year plan, we will be putting the nations on the better path for the future and creating the change that people so vigorously voted for. Thank you. so vigorously voted for. Thank you.

16:58

Steff Aquarone MP (North Norfolk, Liberal Democrat)

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In the limited time available, I want to press the government on a very urgent issue which is the establishment of a dental school. Currently, there is no dental school in the entire east of England. The government accepts that Norfolk is the Sahara of dental deserts. My constituents were excited by the prospect that we could see Norfolk training its own dentists foot up just last week, the general dentistry Council gave its approval for the new school and work is already underway to create the facilities for this training.

Things ground to a halt however when the government said they will not be willing to allocate funding to ensure these places were available in time for UCAS deadlines for 2026 saying we all needed to wait for the spending review. Frustrating delay and perhaps a last year, but we reluctantly accepted a need to wait to receive this good news. The spending review came and it went. We heard nothing. Total radio silence from the government on this much- needed dental school. I tabled a written letters, and they have refused to answer anything for the silences causing worries to increase a clear link between the lack of training opportunities in the East and massive oral health inequalities which we are facing.

If we don't training Norfolk, we can't retain and Norfolk. People love our area when they study here, many stay for this will be just the same with dentists. And we needed to be because, in Norfolk and Waverly, we have so few dentists that each new one will be required to serve 3000 people based on the current ratios. It is not puffed maths to realise that, with the number of days in the year, people will go a long time without seeing a dentist if they get on an NHS list at all.

These are not just numbers and stats. These are real people, people in my community, and I welcome anyone moving money around in the Department of Health to come and explain this dithering delay to their faces, some of which have no longer been able to muster a smile. The situation is untenable but we have the opportunity for real improvement. We have cross-party support, across MPs from all parties. I also know the Minister responsible gets it. He has had the stories and I truly believe that he cares, so I hope that he can now deliver on the concern and warm words which we welcomed and deliver

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14 years of Conservative

17:00

Mr Connor Rand MP (Altrincham and Sale West, Labour)

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14 years of Conservative government left our National Health Service on its knees, waiting lists at record highs, patient satisfaction at record lows, satisfaction at record lows, millions living in pain and in fear, suffering without the treatment they need. Turning this around is a mammoth challenge but thanks to this Government, the green shoots of recovery are there. And in my local NHS Trust, waiting list all in now for four months in a row. We promised an extra 2 million appointments in our first year and we have delivered 3.6 million.

We have hired an extra 1,700 GPs over the last year and provided much- needed extra investment, including four village serve very -- village surgery in my constituency. There is still so much further to go. The Spending Review and the settlement it gives the Department is a recognition of this, in delivering a 29 billion increase in annual NHS day-to-day spending over the next four years, the Chancellor has acknowledged the mountain there still is to climb. To ensure our health service is there for us when we need it.

But accepting the scale of the challenge and putting forward the money needed to meet its separate this Government from the opposition parties, who either want to abandon our National Health Service entirely or forget their record and wish away its problems. The difficult decisions that this government has taken have given us the space for record investment and I am pleased the Government also acknowledges that must come with much-needed reform. We have seen it with the scrapping of NHS England and the efficiency savings that will generate and we have seen with the £10 billion investment in NHS technology over the next four years.

And as part of this, may I suggest that following my conversations with the Secretary of State on this topic, the future of the hospital in my constituency is considered very carefully. We lost our minor injuries unit due to conservative failure on NHS staffing and the temporary skin cancer diagnostics hub that occupies that space must be turned into a permanent diagnostics centre. But to conclude, we finally have a Spending Review settlement that recognises the scale of the challenges facing our National Health Service.

We finally have a Government that is serious about fixing the problems facing our National Health Service and residents across Altrincham and sale West are already feeling the benefit of that with more to come. We have saved the National Health Service before and thanks to this Government, we are going to do it all over again.

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Thank you very much... My hearing

17:03

Andrew George MP (St Ives, Liberal Democrat)

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Thank you very much... My hearing seems to have gone, like the honourable member for Chelsea and Fulham, it is an honour to follow the honourable gentlemen. Yes, of the honourable gentlemen. Yes, of course, this debate has to reflect on the fact that the Government inherited an NHS in its very worst estate, as the honourable member for Fulham and Chelsea describes, the 77 year history. And it has to pick up the NHS and to try and restore it back to the state which we would all like it.

I approve of the three shifts that Government is proposing. No one can argue against prevention rather than ill-health et cetera. So obviously we want to see advances in prevention technology and delivery of services into the community, better integration and improvement in the workforce plan. But with that, I would like to see the Government advance the case for safe staffing stop when I was last in this place, we were part of a campaign that was seeking, for example, on acute wards to achieve a ratio of never more than seven, seven acutely ill patients to every registered nurse.

On acute wards. We should be aiming to try and support staff on the frontline, rather than the pressures they are under, where they are seriously understaffed. There are incredible pressures within the service itself. Over the weekend... The emergency department, for example, over 100 patients were waiting there and very often, ambulances waiting outside. Our ambulance service is currently proposing to cut correspondents from some of our rural areas, where fire service staff support the ambulance service. And that is a matter of great concern.

And of course the hospital trust is also facing a £50 million cost improvement issue, many other trusts on the frontline are actually facing similar pressures. I would also think that the government needs to look at the capacity of the nursing home sector. There are often a lot of unused beds within nursing home sector. We talk about difficulty of discharging patients from our hospital, there is also the risk on the other hand the independent sector cherry picking the proper debates of the NHS and we need to back our NHS above all.

And as my honourable friend, the chair of the Select Committee sort -- pointed out, social care is vital. One in four of every social care workers are actually leaving that sector every year. We know we have a serious crisis. And the Casey Review cannot come soon enough. Thank you.

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I would just like to draw attention to my registered interest, I am a trustee of the charity help I am a trustee of the charity help force, member of the Public Accounts

17:06

Anna Dixon MP (Shipley, Labour)

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force, member of the Public Accounts Committee and an officer of APPG patient safety. It was a Labour government that founded the NHS on the principal that it would be there for us when we need it. Patients in my constituency of Shipley lost that confidence under the Tory government, when they rang for a GP in the morning, they would find it be three weeks until they saw someone. They would ring 999 and not be confident that ambulance would arrive. They will be referred the test and waiting months, rather than weeks.

These estimates show that this Labour government believes in the NHS, believes in its future and can turn the NHS around, so that it is again there when we needed. The Spending Review gives both the uplift in day-to-day spending, as well as a huge uplift in capital budgets. And it is those capital budgets that will enable the security to get going with the rebuilding of Airedale Hospital, which has been plagued by RAAC and is vital to my constituents. I have also seen first-hand the difference that good quality primary care facilities can make, with the completion of the extension of Grange Park surgery.

And I know that this government, with this settlement, will also want to see further investment in primary care and I hope the Minister will confirm that. It is imperative that this extra spending helps deliver the shifts from treatment to prevention, hospital to community and analogue to digital. As a member of the Public Accounts Committee, we challenged officials at the Department of Health and NHS England as to why despite commitments over many years, to community prevention, that the money had never followed under the Tories.

And I hope that with Labour's NHS tenure plan we are going to make it clear how in future, the money will be there for community services and for prevention. -- 10 year plan. I'm very pleased the Chancellor has put a stop to the raiding of capital budgets to fund everyday expenditure. But these estimates rely on very ambitious productivity savings. At the heart of that is our workforce. And the heart of that is whether they are well and too many workers are still sick and absent.

Volunteers can make a huge difference to retaining staff by increasing staff well-being. They can also be a Ruto people to try out a career in healthcare group volunteering. -- Route to people. I would urge the Minister to support these initiatives that will support volunteers. I will not give way because we are under a time limit but thank you. In conclusion, I am confident that this funding settlement will help get the NHS contract and make it fit for the

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track. I rise to set the record straight in Scotland when it comes to the in Scotland when it comes to the much vaulted but false largess of this in doctrine Labour Government. After the Autumn Statement, Government spent much time and Government spent much time and energy telling Scotland how generous they were, the larger settlement in devolution they said. What they did not tell the people of Scotland is

17:09

Seamus Logan MP (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, Scottish National Party)

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not tell the people of Scotland is that when inflationary policies were taken into account, driven by their eye-watering borrowing and you consider pay in rising prices and employ National Insurance creases, it looked big, but in real terms it was not. If only Scottish Labour Party members opposite would spend as much time dealing with the things that they were elected to, rather than attacking the Holyrood government. It might actually locate the spine of some of their Back Benchers into a van recently in regards to the welfare bill.

Let's turn to the estimates. Under the Barnett Formula, scholars taxpayers depend on the generosity of the Westminster Treasury. Even though this is our money. Don't give me the usual nonsense about how per capita spend, if the Treasury did its sums correctly to include all of our produce and if rates were properly calculator by geographic side and will compare by a population and tomography accountable, these numbers would be very different. Under the Spending Review and these estimates, the results are not good. The UK government spin on the Spending Review were so misleading that the independent and well respected Fraser of Ireland Institute said, "We have seen Labour MPs and MSPs describing the Spending Review event as increasing the ground by 9.1 billion over the period but this is a figure that is neither transparent nor...

$$join " Not my words but there's. The Institute conclusion that the fiscal commission's forecast is that the Spending Review, rather than representing this 9.1 billion uplift, actually brought in a £700 million cut to Scotland's funding against the estimate. Our health service depends not only on our excellent NHS workers but on our infrastructure. That is why it is so disappointing that at the Spending Review, the UK government imposed a real terms cut in Scotland's capital spending. In the latter half of the Spending Review period.

In effect, Scotland has been shortchanged by more than £1 billion, despite Labour's continuing austerity in Scotland, the Scottish government is investing heavily in our health service. Over the last year there has been significant falls in some of the longest waits, increase GP appointments and surgical procedures, for example, 50% increase in need... The SNP will continue to fight for our NHS against successive Westminster governments that do not have Scotland's interests at heart.

17:12

Rebecca Smith MP (South West Devon, Conservative)

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Thank you. We know that a key part of primary care is community pharmacy. It was recognised by the Darzi report is one of the great strengths of the health service in England has been the accessibility of community pharmacy, this was committed to by the previous government, with the introduction of Pharmacy First. Darzi report also highlighted how 1,200 pharmacies have shut their doors since 2017. That is now an impact on the increased medicine cost and the rising National Insurance cost are

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not helping on this. I thank my honourable friend for giving way, they should also recognise it is not just community recognise it is not just community by Mrs Hamer said -- community pharmacies hammered in the sector pharmacies hammered in the sector but also hospices, who are facing rises in National Insurance cost? That she also agree with me that it That she also agree with me that it is with Ministers putting this cost onto pharmacies who cannot get them back and also onto charities? That

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back and also onto charities? That this is absolutely killing community infrastructure in the health service sector. I entirely agree with my

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I entirely agree with my colleague and Saint Luke's Hospice in my constituency will be facing exactly the same issues. At risk of closure is a pharmacy in my constituency. I have raised in this constituency. I have raised in this place before. Pharmacies have help Bayern active community, they delivered a petition near Parliament delivered a petition near Parliament and provide essential services to the two rural villages. But they are still seeking action by the government to secure their future. While the estimate may highlight a While the estimate may highlight a commitment to delivering care closer to home, according to community pharmacy England, there is still no clear path to the sustainable clear path to the sustainable funding and operational model that is required by community pharmacy.

It is needed by community pharmacies like the one in my constituency, it is needed by community pharmacists and it is needed by the whole country to be able to deliver community pharmacy, Pharmacy First and ultimately relieve pressure on primary care. I would urge the Minister as I close to provide this substantial funding for community pharmacy and to ensure that work that I know the honourable lady also agrees is incredibly important, to actually bring that to the four as quickly as possible to ensure we can see her future for community pharmacy across the country.

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Due to time constraints I have to now come to the Front Benchers.

17:14

Helen Morgan MP (North Shropshire, Liberal Democrat)

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now come to the Front Benchers. Thank you. Can I congratulate the acting vice chair of the Select Committee... Acting chair of the Select Committee on securing this important debate and her excellent opening speech on the risks inherent in the spending settlement. The Conservatives left our NHS in a disgraceful state that impact every single one of our constituents. No watch, people with life-threatening emergencies were left waiting hours ambulances, hospitals were left to crumble and accessing a GP became a huge challenge.

The collapse of NHS dentistry has left some people pulling out their own teeth at home. It is essential the New Labour government is bold and ambitious in turning the NHS and care sectors around. Liberal Democrat support the principles of the Secretary of State's three shed and have stated on many occasions the alternative means to -- to raise necessary funds. Today's debate is on how the money will be spent. I was pleased to see the statement of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury last week, Incorporated because we may, not least on our last opposition day debate in April, for a ring faced fund the maintenance to deal with the huge repair backlog in NHS estate.

I must reiterate the need to go faster with the New Hospital Programme. Conservative plans are underfunded but this capital spend must be brought forward and is currently hospitals in places like Torbay, Watford, St Helier and stepping Hill rebuilt as soon as possible because spending billions on maintaining buildings that face demolition in the next 20 years is not a wise use of taxpayers money. Liberal Democrat also believe the crisis in NHS and particularly in accident and emergency cannot be solved without transforming social care. We have long argued that investment in the NHS will be spending good money after bad if hospitals cannot discharge patients because there are no co-workers for helping them to recover.

The Fair Pay Agreement for co-workers is a start but it will not touch the sides of the yawning abyss of current vacancies in the care sector. At a bare minimum we need a high minimum wage CoSTAR to stop the sector haemorrhaging workers. -- For care staff. The cross-party tax -- talks must be reinstated. The terms of the Casey Review must be a fundamental restructuring of the care sector are not ambitious enough. It needs to be this year, so meaningful change is not put off while our population ages.

Lord Darzi's review outlines like terms the fact it is not given clarity on health service, taken up 20% of caseload and only 10% of the funds, proper investment in mental health is essential to the shift from treatment to prevention. It was disappointing to see the Government banner mental health waiting list targets, reduce the overall proportion of money spent and at the same time proclaim it was meeting the investment standard because ICB level having a fractional increase. I urge the Minister to ensure mental health is given parity and prevention through early adventure The secretary of state announced a new investigation.

I was disappointed that no oral was stated. There have been maternity failings in Telford, Kent, Nottingham and potentially others as well. Those voices deserve to be heard in government and that was denied. I welcome the enquiry but remain dismayed at the slow progress and the shocking support into the hospital trust in the spring of 2022. She recommended 15 immediate and essential actions for national implantation. Three years later, that has not happened and the government has removed the ring fence for staffing levels.

Her findings were consistent with other maternity scandals and the government accepted her recommendations. It is vital that this enquiry moves the situation forward and is not used as a distraction tactic in lieu of real action for before concluding, I would like to raise the issue of the fundamental reorganisation of the NHS which is being undertaken without any meaningful scrutiny. NHS England announced decision to/ICB costs by 50% by the end of this year with detailed plans to be submitted by the end of last month.

No impact assessment was undertaken by the Department, and as far as I can see, there is no funding from the Treasury costs and no confirmed scheme. ICBs will be expected to have other trusts without any form going on. This is been hastily prepared. If ICB money can be more efficiently spent, the Secretary of State has our support, but such radical change requires scrutiny, particularly wet wasn't in the Labour manifesto and has been no White Paper, no consultation, no legislation and not even a shortlist aerial statement on the subject for something we would all appreciate the opportunity to better understand how this process will improve outcomes for our constituents, so in conclusion, the new Labour government faces an enormous challenge in turning around in NHS letter breaking point by the Conservatives.

Our job is to out the new government to go further and faster in tackling access to deep easing dentists and ending the appalling scandal of corridor care and dangerous ambulance waiting times and bringing urgency to waiting lists and the crisis in social care.

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Thank you. I would like to congratulate the acting chair of the Select Committee on securing this Select Committee on securing this important debate today. It is almost one year since this Labour

17:19

Dr Caroline Johnson MP (Sleaford and North Hykeham, Conservative)

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one year since this Labour government took office. They came to power promising they had a plan to improve our NHS. But what they actually had was a plan to get a plan. I launching a consultation to ask professionals and the public for some ideas. The consultation was launched in October last year and I understand of a 220,000 people have contributed. Despite being promised for spring, there is still no sign of their plan. Will the Minister commit to publishing the plan before the summer recess? While the secretary state considers what the plan should say, over a number 11, the Chancellor followed the usual playbook, higher spending, higher borrowing and higher taxes.

There will be more funding for the NHS which is the chief executive who said that the NHS budget is now equal to the GDP of Portugal. It is around 50% of public spending. It is said that 18th-century pressure was an army of 20 century written is at risk of becoming a country, health service of the country attached to it. This is not the government's money. This is taxpayers hard earned cash. They provide no clarity on how these vast sums will be used.

No meaningful detail, no credible plan. In the autumn budget, an additional 10.6 extra funding was promised for 2526, but Julian Kelly said that most of it will be consumed by pay settlements. The national insurance hikes and nonpaying inflation. Today, 64% of NHS funding goes towards personal wages and pensions. For higher than other comparable systems, yet the NHS still faces agency costs. Can the Minister confirm how much of the overall funding will go to salary increases? How much will be diverted into following the national insurance increases for hospitals, social care, pharmacy, NHS and care providers? As we see in this, we are balloting to industrial action.

Strikes will only add to the disruption in delay for care for sick and vulnerable people. Does the government have a plan to minimise the impact of strikes if they should occur? Let's look at one proposal government have announced, the scrapping of NHS England. This government by press release announced abolition without adequate planning. Ministers have dodged basic questions about costs, staffing changes in structural reform. There is, once again, no plan. The details that we do know about you not inspire confidence.

NHS England has asked the ICB to reduce the cost of up to 50% October 2025. ICBs will have to cluster together with the number expected to fall from 42 with the number expected to fall from 4247 in two years for many have warned things will be cut. Redundancy payments could reach 1 billion in 2526. As the Minister costed this within the settlement. The government promised to restore the hospital waiting time within this parliament but their own modelling shows in 80% of parliaments may meet this standard in operations, so will the Minister confirm that they will follow up with this profit? Capital spending says that we will continue the new hospital in program and we would have done and acknowledge that capital budgets remain flat in real terms.

The Chief Executive of the Confederation said this leads a major shortfall in capital funding. The Nuffield trust said it will be difficult for facility updates. Will the Minister explain how they will prioritise this and how it will be delivered? Is it wants to shift from hospitals to primary care. Can the Minister confirm that the NHS 10 year plan will delay the planned increase in spending on primer community care until 2035 instead of 2029 which was originally promised. A key part of community care is social care.

And yet, as Daniel Ackles the Chief Executive of NHS providers noted, social care has not been given the focus it needs which is a significant blocker on the NHS. Cross-party talks have been abandoned in favour of this, but this is not due to be completed until 2028. Yet again, we see headline grabbing announcements from this government with no delivery plan, no real reform, leaving patients, staff and family the care that they desperately need. The government aims to deliver 13.8 billion in efficiency savings by 28/29, expecting to come.

Where will these savings be found and what

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