Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Julian Lewis Excerpts
Monday 20th October 2025

(1 day, 23 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Josh MacAlister Portrait Josh MacAlister
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I thank my hon. Friend for his advocacy for his constituents and for the school concerned. A number of schemes are available that may be able to support the school with the situation it faces, and I would be happy to speak to him further about that.

Julian Lewis Portrait Sir Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con)
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The Arts and Humanities Research Council receives £70 million in public money to fund postgraduate research. What mechanism and powers does the Secretary of State have to check that such substantial funds are not squandered on politically tendentious projects, such as those exposed by Laurence Sleator on page 27 of The Times on Saturday? Will she perhaps take a look at the article and write to me?

Josh MacAlister Portrait Josh MacAlister
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I am sure that we would be happy to look at the article, but the last thing that people outside this building want is politicians deciding what research should be done, in the same way as we do not want judges being appointed by politicians in this House either.