Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Damian Hinds and Fiona Bruce

Monday 17th December 2018 Commons Chamber

[Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)]

22. What steps his Department is taking to improve social mobility.

[The Secretary of State for Education (Damian Hinds)]

Social mobility is one of our top priorities, and we have seen the attainment gap for disadvantaged pupils narrow at all levels, from pre-school to university entrance.

--- Later in debate ---

[Damian Hinds]

I welcome the IFS report. We want a country with maximum opportunity for everybody, regardless of their background. The IFS report identifies how reforms since 2010 have increased funding in favour of pupils from poorer backgrounds. That is part of starting to redress the balance and ensure that there are no limits on any child’s potential.

[Fiona Bruce]

Does the Secretary of State agree that one of the best ways to give children a good start in life is for them to be brought up in a stable and loving home? What is the Department doing to strengthen family relationships in this country?

[Damian Hinds]

I agree with my hon. Friend that strong families can help social mobility and so much else. Our reform programme, “Putting children first”, aims to ensure that vulnerable children and families receive high-quality support as soon as need is identified.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Damian Hinds and Fiona Bruce

Monday 29th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Damian Hinds]

We have a system of higher education finance in this country that means unprecedented levels of disadvantaged people can go to university and our universities are properly funded. In October, the Prime Minister said that we would be taking quick action, raising the threshold for repayment and freezing the top fees for the next academic year. It is also right that we have a full review, looking at all aspects of value for money for young people and others going to university, and at the alternatives to university, such as taking a degree apprenticeship, as we discussed earlier.

[Fiona Bruce (Congleton) (Con)]

T5. What consideration are Ministers giving to implementing the Government’s commitment to ending the faith-based admissions caps for free schools?

[Damian Hinds]

I thank my hon. Friend for that important question. I value greatly the contribution that Church and faith schools make to our education system; they are consistently generally high-performing and popular schools. Every child deserves a good school place, which is why the “Schools that work for everyone” consultation set out proposals to enable a wider group of providers, including the Catholic Church, for example, to set up new schools. I am carefully considering the proposals.