Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith and Chiswick)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his Department’s policy is on creating new (a) schools and (b) nurseries in (i) air quality management areas and (ii) within 150 metres of roads that have levels of nitrogen dioxide which are illegal under the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Outdoor air quality is the responsibility of each local authority who should ensure measures are in place to reduce emissions to meet national targets. The relevant local planning authority will determine the suitability of the proposed location for a new school. In addition, school building proposals may contain a range of measures to ensure that air quality is of a suitable or appropriate standard.
Departmental guidance on indoor air quality in schools is included in the Building Bulletin 101. This promotes best practice and sets standards for levels of pollutants in classrooms. All new schools should comply with these standards.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith and Chiswick)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to support existing programmes aimed at helping to ensure that the views of disadvantaged children in (a) London and (b) other parts of England are taken into consideration by decision-making organisations.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
My department is committed to hearing the views of service users, which includes disadvantaged children.
Recently, we have developed a number of ways for young people to be involved in shaping the Opportunity Areas programme.
In Norwich, for example, a youth board challenges the programme strategy. The youth board has also developed interventions for the area. It is hosting a celebration event in September to share their experiences of living in Norwich and to discuss what social mobility means to them.
We also fund a number of research projects, in London and elsewhere, that involve disadvantaged children. These include our pilots on free holiday activities and meals for disadvantaged families.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith and Chiswick)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to respond to concerns raised by young people during the Greater London Authority’s second London Children’s Rights Inquiry held in November 2017.
Answered by Anne Milton
The department welcomes the Greater London Authority’s (GLAs) commitment during this event to listen to its young people and bring together different organisations to discuss the important issues of jobs, apprenticeships and training.
We have already put in place a number of policies to improve young peoples’ participation in post-16 education and training. Since 2013, all young people have been required to participate in education or training until they are 18. Local authorities have to track young peoples’ activity to identify those who are not participating in education or training and to encourage and support them to do so.
Additionally, apprenticeships are accessible to people from all backgrounds and we are encouraging take up in a range of ways, including a new partnership with five major cities in England to drive up apprenticeships among underrepresented groups. GLA is one of these cities.
We have also introduced traineeships, which support social mobility by providing quality training for young people who need to develop their skills and experience in order to enter the labour market.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith and Chiswick)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2017 to Question 873, what discussions she has had with (a) hon. Members representing for London constituencies, (b) councillors from London local authorities and (c) Greater London Assembly members on school funding since 1 January 2017.
Answered by Nick Gibb
My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has met with members from across the House to discuss the national funding formula and funding for schools. This includes a meeting on 1 Feburary 2017 with MPs from London, and a DCLG Councillors meeting on 15 March 2017, which was attended by local councillors from across the country, including London.
In addition, as Minister for School Standards, I have had meetings with a number of members who represent London constituencies, and local councillors from London Councils. I also took part in a Westminster Hall Debate on School Funding in London in March, with contributions from members from a number of constituencies in London.
Through the national funding formula consultation, we have listened to views from all parts of the country. My Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced a total increase of £1.3 billion new money over the next two years. As a result of this additional investment , the formula will provide at least a 0.5% per pupil cash increase for every school in 2018-19, and 1% by 2019-20, comparied to its baseline. We will say more about our formula when we publish the full details later in September.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith and Chiswick)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with hon. Members for London constituencies, councillors from London local authorities and Greater London Assembly members on school funding since 1 January 2017.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Ministers and officials from the Department have met with a range of stakeholders from across the country to discuss school funding since 1 January 2017, as part of our consultation on schools and high needs national formulae.
I have met hon. Members from across the House, including those who represent London constituencies, and have taken part in meetings with representatives from London Councils, and from London individual local authorities.
I also responded to a Westminster Hall Debate on School Funding in London in March, with contributions from hon. Members from several London constituencies.
We received over 25,000 responses to the consultation, which we are analysing in detail and will publish the response to the consultation in due course.