Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people held electronic purchasing cards that allowed them to make purchases against her Department's budget as of 31 March 2022.
Answered by Will Quince
As of 8 July 2022, 77 officials hold electronic purchasing cards that allow them to make purchases on behalf of the Department for Education. This number comprises 57 officials in the department and 20 officials in its executive agencies.
While the population of officials holding cards is largely static, it has not been possible to verify the exact number on 31 March 2022 in the time available to respond.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on how many occasions since 1 January 2022 he or his predecessor received requests from the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss the impact of increases in gas and electricity prices on (a) state funded nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools, (b) nurseries and playgroups run by registered childcare providers and (c) registered children's homes.
Answered by Brendan Clarke-Smith
Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Her Majesty’s Treasury on all matters relating to funding for education and children’s social care. This includes discussions on the cost pressures that the department knows schools, nurseries, playgroups, and children’s homes are facing as a result of increased energy prices.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what total cost to the public purse, inclusive of VAT, was incurred by his Department between May 2018 and May 2022 for media buying services provided under the Crown Commercial Service's media buying framework agreement reference RM6003.
Answered by Michelle Donelan
The Media Buying framework agreement (RM6003) started on 7 November 2018 and ended 21 May 2022. It has now expired.
The framework agreement was awarded to OMD Group Ltd (OmniGov) following a competitive tendering process in 2018. Customers used this framework agreement by putting in place a call off. The total spend inclusive of VAT incurred by the Department for Education in respect of Media buying services under Crown Commercial Services was £45,736,529 for this period.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the (a) procurement reference, (b) start date, (c) end date and (d) maximum value, inclusive of VAT, is of the contract that his Department has agreed with Manning Gottlieb OMD for the provision of strategic media activation services under the terms of the Crown Commercial Service's media services framework agreement reference RM6123.
Answered by Michelle Donelan
The Media Services (RM6123) framework agreement includes the provision of strategic media activation services (LOT1) and was put in place following a competitive tender in December 2021. Customers can use this framework agreement by putting in place a call off. Manning Gottlieb OMD is the supplier for strategic media activation services (LOT1).The framework commenced on 14 December 2021 and is due to end on 13 December 2025. The maximum value of the framework is £1,200,000,000 across all departments and public bodies, however, it should be noted this is the maximum value of spend that can go through the framework agreement and is not a committed spend.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what services the Government Legal Department’s Litigation Group has provided to his Department since 1 January 2021.
Answered by Michelle Donelan
Since 1 January 2021, Litigation Group has continued to provide litigation services to the majority of government departments, including the Department for Education, and executive agencies, as well as many non-departmental public bodies.
The Group’s work encompasses litigation in public and private law as well as supporting public inquiries and acting in inquests. This has involved, amongst other things, attending in a wide range of courts (including Coroners’ Courts), the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, the Royal Courts of Justice and the Supreme Court.
GLD’s Employment and Commercial Groups similarly provide litigation services to the majority of government departments and have done so in the period in question.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what methodology his Department uses to evaluate the contribution of higher education-related exports to the UK economy.
Answered by Michelle Donelan
The department publishes annual experimental statistics on UK revenue from education related exports and transnational education activity.
The latest release, published in December 2020, estimated total UK revenue from education related exports and transnational activity in 2018 to be £23.3 billion, of which £16 billion (69%) of the total value came from higher education activity.
The statistical release, along with the technical note detailing the methodology and data sources used can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-revenue-from-education-related-exports-and-transnational-education-activity-2018.
Through the government’s International Education Strategy, and the 2021 update to the Strategy, we have committed to providing a clearer picture of Education Exports data. The department continues to work closely with the Department for International Trade on this matter and as set out in the 2021 Update, a roadmap is being developed focusing on short/medium/long-term steps to improve data. The update can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-education-strategy-2021-update/international-education-strategy-2021-update-supporting-recovery-driving-growth.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Government last conducted an evaluation of international higher education students’ contribution to the UK economy.
Answered by Michelle Donelan
The department publishes annual experimental statistics on UK revenue from education related exports and transnational education activity.
The latest release, published in December 2020, estimated total UK revenue from education related exports and transnational activity in 2018 to be £23.3 billion, of which £16 billion (69%) of the total value came from higher education activity.
The statistical release, along with the technical note detailing the methodology and data sources used can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-revenue-from-education-related-exports-and-transnational-education-activity-2018.
Through the government’s International Education Strategy, and the 2021 update to the Strategy, we have committed to providing a clearer picture of Education Exports data. The department continues to work closely with the Department for International Trade on this matter and as set out in the 2021 Update, a roadmap is being developed focusing on short/medium/long-term steps to improve data. The update can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-education-strategy-2021-update/international-education-strategy-2021-update-supporting-recovery-driving-growth.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions have taken place between UK and EU representatives on the effect of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement on export opportunities for the UK EdTech sector in Europe.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement guarantees that UK investors and service suppliers will be able to access the EU’s markets and will not be subject to discriminatory barriers to trade. The agreement includes gold standard rules on services and investment liberalisation.
The Department is engaging with education exporters to help the sector understand and adapt to these new trading conditions, including those within the EdTech sector.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU with no deal on his Department’s ability to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 in the UK.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Leaving the EU, with or without a deal, will not affect the Department’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The UK’s first Voluntary National Review (VNR) will be published shortly. The VNR will review UK action both domestically and internationally in support of Goal 4.
The Government has been clear that it does not want or expect a ‘no deal’ scenario, but whatever the outcome of our future relationship we remain committed to supporting the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals, both domestically and internationally.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2015 to Question 15125, when she plans to publish draft proposals on eligibility requirements for free school meals within universal credit; when the consultation on those proposals will be launched; and when she plans to make a final decision on eligibility.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
We plan to launch a public consultation on eligibility for free school meals under Universal Credit later in 2016, with a view to having the necessary regulations in place for the end of the year, when the roll out of the full Universal Credit Service to a broader claimant base will be well under way.
While this work is on-going, any child whose parent or guardian is receiving Universal Credit will continue to be entitled to free school meals.