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Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 10 Dec 2025
Northern Ireland Troubles: Operation Kenova

"My Lords, my noble friend Lord Caine and others have referred to the uncomfortable reading in this report. Can the Minister confirm unequivocally that the regime for handling agents is today utterly different from that which obtained when most of the events covered by the report took place?..."
Lord Lexden - View Speech

View all Lord Lexden (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Troubles: Operation Kenova

Division Vote (Lords)
10 Dec 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Lexden (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 201 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 244 Noes - 220
Division Vote (Lords)
10 Dec 2025 - Employment Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Lexden (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 193 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 219 Noes - 223
Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 25 Nov 2025
Schools: Funding

"My Lords, how are the Government getting on with recruiting the 6,500 extra teachers for which their iniquitous, unprecedented education tax is designed to pay? Is it not the case that the total number of teachers is going down, not up?..."
Lord Lexden - View Speech

View all Lord Lexden (Con - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Schools: Funding

Written Question
Private Education: Finance
Friday 7th November 2025

Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many pupils at independent schools which are inspected by Ofsted have places that are fully funded by local authorities.

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

According to the register of independent schools, there are around 30,000 pupils with identified special educational needs either with or without an education health and care plan attending independent schools inspected by Ofsted, out of a total school population of 9,032,426. This data is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2024-25.

The matter of fully funded placements in independent schools is governed by contractual agreements between the individual independent schools and the commissioning local authorities. As such, the department does not collect or hold data on the number of places in independent schools that are fully funded by local authorities.


Written Question
Private Education: Finance
Friday 7th November 2025

Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total number of pupils with special needs who are being educated at independent schools which are inspected by Ofsted.

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

According to the register of independent schools, there are around 30,000 pupils with identified special educational needs either with or without an education health and care plan attending independent schools inspected by Ofsted, out of a total school population of 9,032,426. This data is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2024-25.

The matter of fully funded placements in independent schools is governed by contractual agreements between the individual independent schools and the commissioning local authorities. As such, the department does not collect or hold data on the number of places in independent schools that are fully funded by local authorities.


Written Question
Private Education: Special Educational Needs
Friday 7th November 2025

Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many of the independent schools inspected by Ofsted educate children with special needs.

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

According to the register of independent schools, there are around 30,000 pupils with identified special educational needs either with or without an education health and care plan attending independent schools inspected by Ofsted, out of a total school population of 9,032,426. This data is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2024-25.

The matter of fully funded placements in independent schools is governed by contractual agreements between the individual independent schools and the commissioning local authorities. As such, the department does not collect or hold data on the number of places in independent schools that are fully funded by local authorities.


Written Question
Independent Schools Inspectorate
Friday 7th November 2025

Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans to change the role or functions of the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

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

There are currently no plans to change the role or functions of the Independent Schools Inspectorate.


Written Question
Private Education: Fees and Charges
Friday 7th November 2025

Asked by: Lord Lexden (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total sum raised so far by the introduction of VAT on independent school fees, and how many extra teachers have been recruited as a result.

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

HM Treasury published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) on applying VAT to independent school fees.

The TIIN estimates that, accounting for the spending implications of any pupil movement into the state sector, the policy is expected to raise £1.7 billion per annum by 2029/30.


Division Vote (Lords)
21 Oct 2025 - Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Lexden (Con) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 167 Conservative Aye votes vs 0 Conservative No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 270 Noes - 160