Education: Return in January

Felicity Buchan Excerpts

Wednesday 5th January 2022 Commons Chamber

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I thank the headteachers, teachers and support staff in the hon. Lady’s constituency for their work. Teachers have gone above and beyond. Some 99.9% of schools were open at the end of last term and we are seeing similar numbers now that are determined to stay open and be a place of enrichment for young people.

I will not repeat myself, but we have roughly 24,300-plus schools and we have sent out 350,000 CO₂ monitors. The feedback from the majority has been that they do not need air purifiers. When we did the modelling, we thought that they would need roughly 8,000, which is what we have. The first ones go out next week. That is the right, proportionate and cost-effective way to deal with it.

By the way, the 350,000 CO₂ monitors cost £25 million of taxpayers’ money. We are stewards of taxpayers’ money; we have to be responsible in how we support schools to remain open and do what they do brilliantly, which is educate young people.

[Felicity Buchan (Kensington) (Con)]

My constituents, old and young alike, believe that it is of paramount importance to keep schools going, no matter the circumstances. I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement and its clarity, which is in big contrast to what the Opposition have done during the pandemic, which is to sow confusion with their flip-flopping about whether schools should be open.

[Nadhim Zahawi]

I hope that the shadow Front-Bench team will continue to think about their position and change their mind.