Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 11 Mar 2019
Oral Answers to Questions
"The 15,000 young people who protested about climate change last month in the Youth Strike 4 Climate were passionate and committed. Instead of condemning them or branding their actions as truancy, as some would do, would it not be better for the Government to review the curriculum to ensure that …..."Jo Swinson - View Speech
View all Jo Swinson (LD - East Dunbartonshire) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Monday 12th November 2018
Asked by:
Jo Swinson (Liberal Democrat - East Dunbartonshire)
Question
to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress has been made in producing a unified framework of employability skills as agreed to in the Government’s response to the Taylor review of modern working practices.
Answered by Anne Milton
We have developed guidance for T level panels, including an employability skills framework, to ensure a consistent approach to integrating employability skills in T levels. As part of the government response to the Taylor review, we have committed to publish the guidance in due course. Through this, a framework will be made openly available for other organisations (such as employers and higher education providers, where successful frameworks are already in use) to use if they wish.
Written Question
Thursday 19th April 2018
Asked by:
Jo Swinson (Liberal Democrat - East Dunbartonshire)
Question
to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of students whose classes have been cancelled as a result of the recent strikes by university staff.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
Universities are autonomous institutions and it is for them to consider the number of their students whose classes have been affected by strike action. No assessment has been made by the Department for Education, but we remain concerned about any impact of the strikes on students and are pleased that the action has been suspended.
We note that the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, which represents UK higher education organisations as employers, polled the 56 universities that were the focus of strikes on 22 and 23 February 2018. Results of this polling indicated that the overall impact in four out of five institutions was between ‘none’ and ‘low-medium’.
The new regulator for higher education in England, the Office for Students (OfS), has recently issued guidance to students stating that it expects universities to take all reasonable steps to reduce the impact of any future strike action on teaching, learning and assessment, and to communicate clearly to students the impact of any industrial action. Universities should make clear to students how they intend to avoid or mitigate the impact of the disruption caused by strike action.
The OfS will also have the power to request information from registered higher education providers.
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 14 Mar 2018
Allergy Awareness in Schools
"I beg to move,
That this House has considered allergy awareness in schools.
It is a great pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Christopher, as we discuss the issue of allergy awareness. It is a serious issue, and I look forward to discussing it and hearing from the Minister …..."Jo Swinson - View Speech
View all Jo Swinson (LD - East Dunbartonshire) contributions to the debate on: Allergy Awareness in Schools
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 14 Mar 2018
Allergy Awareness in Schools
"Absolutely. As I can attest, having an allergy is a condition that can be managed and need not prevent someone from having a full life and taking part in school and all the educational opportunities, but that relies on a wider awareness of allergy. Indeed, living with allergy as an …..."Jo Swinson - View Speech
View all Jo Swinson (LD - East Dunbartonshire) contributions to the debate on: Allergy Awareness in Schools
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 14 Mar 2018
Allergy Awareness in Schools
"I certainly will. I praise the change to the regulations, which is a positive thing. It would be great if schools had some help with the cost of the injectors, because they go out of date; they typically last from a year to 18 months before they have to be …..."Jo Swinson - View Speech
View all Jo Swinson (LD - East Dunbartonshire) contributions to the debate on: Allergy Awareness in Schools
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 14 Mar 2018
Allergy Awareness in Schools
"I absolutely concur. That is why this wider awareness is important. Of course individuals need to have the information to manage their own condition, but particularly in those teenage years it can be more difficult for people. They feel a bit more awkward when they are eating out, because they …..."Jo Swinson - View Speech
View all Jo Swinson (LD - East Dunbartonshire) contributions to the debate on: Allergy Awareness in Schools
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 14 Mar 2018
Allergy Awareness in Schools
"I absolutely concur with the hon. Gentleman. I would argue that this is a public health issue that needs to involve all Government Departments. I thank him for the important work he does with the all-party parliamentary group on allergy. Perhaps I will spy in the Chamber a few hon. …..."Jo Swinson - View Speech
View all Jo Swinson (LD - East Dunbartonshire) contributions to the debate on: Allergy Awareness in Schools
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 14 Mar 2018
Allergy Awareness in Schools
"I quite agree with the hon. Lady. Indeed, my sister has had type 1 diabetes from a very young age. The ability of schools to incorporate children with a range of conditions and ensure there is wider awareness, so that those children can play a full part in the life …..."Jo Swinson - View Speech
View all Jo Swinson (LD - East Dunbartonshire) contributions to the debate on: Allergy Awareness in Schools
Written Question
Wednesday 7th March 2018
Asked by:
Jo Swinson (Liberal Democrat - East Dunbartonshire)
Question
to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect on students of the loss of teaching hours as a result of the university lecturers’ pension strike.
Answered by Sam Gyimah
Universities are autonomous institutions and it is for them to assess the impact of the strike action on their provision. While the Department for Education has not made its own assessment, we remain concerned about any impact of the strikes on students and expect universities to put in place measures to maintain the quality of education that students should receive.
We note that the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, which represents UK higher education organisations as employers, polled the 56 universities, which were the focus of strikes on 22 and 23 February 2018. Results of this polling indicate that the overall impact in four out of five institutions was between ‘none’ and ‘low-medium’.