Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of people aged 18 and over who have speech, language and communication needs.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England does not hold a dataset that would support an estimate of the number of people aged 18 years old and over who have speech, language, and communication needs to this degree.

The Government recognises the important role that speech and language therapy services play in supporting people to overcome health and social barriers and enhancing overall quality of life.

All NHS services, including speech and language therapy, should operate in accordance with the best available evidence-based practices. Where sufficient evidence exists, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) publishes formal guidance. Frontline services, including those delivering speech and language therapy, are expected to adhere to NICE guidance wherever it is available and applicable.

The Department continues to work with NHS England and other partners to improve understanding of speech, language and communication needs for people of all ages.

It is the ambition of this Government that, through its commitment to deliver a single patient record, people who have speech, language and communication needs will receive more co-ordinated, personalised and predictive care across the system.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, following their response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report, to ensure that young people who are not in education, employment, or training, including those who have not reached the required standard in literacy and numeracy, are covered by the post-sixteen provisions.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Progress in English and maths at level 2 is vital for 16–19-year-olds to access opportunities in education, work, and life.

The Post-16 Skills and Education Strategy White Paper sets out reforms to qualifications at levels 3 and 2. At level 3, a new vocational pathway, V Levels, will sit alongside A levels and T Levels. At level 2, two pathways will be introduced: Further Study (progression to level 3) and Occupational (skilled employment). Students can combine these with English and maths qualifications.

Local authorities must support young people to participate in education or training, as per the Education and Skills Act 2008. Through the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, the department has committed to help schools, further education providers and local authorities track and share data to prevent young people from becoming not in education, employment or training.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to implement the recommendation of the Curriculum and Assessment Review that rights and responsibilities, and the concepts of fairness and equity, should form part of the curriculum for law and rights.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

On 5 November, the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review published its final report, which includes recommendations for a refreshed curriculum and assessment system in England.

As part of the response to the Review’s report the government has made a commitment to make citizenship compulsory in key stages 1 and 2,so that primary aged children are introduced to key content on media literacy, law and rights, democracy and government education. Covering these issues in citizenship will ensure we continue to focus on schools’ role in developing fundamental British values, including mutual tolerance and respect. These principles will be extended to the secondary core content to reflect the age range of pupils and will focus on more complex content.

The department will engage with sector experts and young people in working out how best to reflect this in the updated curriculum. There will be public consultation on the updated curriculum Programmes of Study, to seek views on the content before they are finalised.

Found: Baroness Whitaker: I was going to ask about those. The Chair: Okay, excellent.

Found: Director, The Water Retail Company Limited Lord Trees No relevant interests declared Baroness Whitaker

Found: Q19 Baroness Whitaker: Thank you very much for coming in. Your role is very much appreciated.

Found: Lord Krebs; Lord Layard; Lord Lennie; Lord Mancroft; Lord Rooker; Earl Russell; Lord Trees; Baroness Whitaker