Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete in Education Settings

Emma Hardy Excerpts

Monday 4th September 2023 Commons Chamber

[Gillian Keegan]

Absolutely not, and I would just like to point out to the hon. Gentleman that the Priority School Building programme schools were one third cheaper per square metre than those built under Building Schools for the Future, and that is a fact from the National Audit Office in 2017.

[Emma Hardy (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle) (Lab)]

A new and much-needed special educational needs and disability free school for the East Riding was announced in March 2023. Can the Secretary of State confirm that there will be no delay in the building of this free school, and that she will not be following the advice of the former Department for Education permanent secretary who said that free school programmes should be “second to safety” and therefore at risk?

[Gillian Keegan]

I will look at the hon. Lady’s free special school, but we announced seven new free special schools in the summer holidays. This is very much part of our building of more places for special educational needs, which we know are badly needed in many constituencies.