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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 28 Mar 2022
Schools White Paper

"I thank the Secretary of State for the focus on outcomes, which is so important for the children of South Ribble. Three of my constituency’s primary schools have joined with two primary schools in South Ribble borough to form the Axia Learning Alliance, a co-operative trust, which I confess to …..."
Katherine Fletcher - View Speech

View all Katherine Fletcher (Con - South Ribble) contributions to the debate on: Schools White Paper
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Mar 2022
School Rebuilding Programme

"It is a pleasure to serve, probably for the first time, under your chairmanship, Mrs Miller. I congratulate the hon. Member for City of Durham (Mary Kelly Foy) on securing this important debate, one that speaks to the value placed on education and the environment that surrounds pupils. I had …..."
Katherine Fletcher - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Feb 2022
Kinship Care for Babies

"I want to develop that point slightly. There are long-term, systemic issues that might arise for any new kinship carer, although there may just be a nasty shock. Does my hon. Friend agree that my right hon. Friend the Member for South Northamptonshire (Dame Andrea Leadsom)—whom I commend for securing …..."
Katherine Fletcher - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Fri 14 Jan 2022
Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill

"I have made newbie mistake No. 1,273 procedurally, so I am happy to accept the Bill as it stands and I look forward to speaking on Third Reading...."
Katherine Fletcher - View Speech

View all Katherine Fletcher (Con - South Ribble) contributions to the debate on: Education (Careers Guidance in Schools) Bill
Written Question
Individual Learning Accounts: Fraud
Monday 28th June 2021

Asked by: Katherine Fletcher (Conservative - South Ribble)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what final estimate his Department made of the amount of money lost to fraud during the Independent Learning Account scheme.

Answered by Gillian Keegan

The Individual Learning Account scheme ceased in 2001 and predates the Education and Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor the Learning and Skills Council. The National Audit Office reported in the Department for Education and Skills Resource Accounts in 2001/02 that the department estimated that £97 million had been subject to improper and fraudulent claims, out of a total scheme spend of £274 million. The cost of fraud and serious irregularities, based on estimates and extrapolations by the department, was estimated to be up to £67 million. In addition, the department estimated that it made irregular payments of £30 million. It is the £67 million and £30 million figures that make up the total estimate of £97 million.

The Department for Education and Skills Resource Accounts in 2001/02 is available to view here: https://dera.ioe.ac.uk/4556/6/HC 316 02.03.pdf.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 15 Jun 2021
Catch-up Premium

"I have not yet had an opportunity to pay full tribute to the teachers in schools in South Ribble, who did such a stunning job during the pandemic, including inspirational educational leaders such as the guys at the multi-academy Endeavour Learning Trust—my thanks to them.

In her opening remarks, the …..."
Katherine Fletcher - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 15 Jun 2021
Catch-up Premium

"Given that the hon. Lady has a multi-year plan, and that we need to give children more time in school, would she be willing to support an extension to the school day if properly costed and evaluated for effectiveness?..."
Katherine Fletcher - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 07 Jun 2021
Education Recovery

"I thank the Secretary of State and his colleagues for the recent £50 million investment in a new high school at Tarleton, which means we can get rid of dangerous and delipidated buildings. But levelling up also means that we must close the attainment gap between rich and affluent pupils …..."
Katherine Fletcher - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 01 Oct 2020
Lifetime Skills Guarantee and Post-16 Education

"My dad left school with a whole two O-levels and went to Bolton technical college’s night school to get his engineering qualifications while he was earning. That route to social mobility has been closed down gradually over the past 50 years. Will my right hon. Friend confirm for me and …..."
Katherine Fletcher - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Mon 09 Mar 2020
Free Childcare

"I spent some time with the Children’s Commissioner’s early years board in the last couple of weeks. The importance of making a great start and having a cohesive response, from a nursery or somewhere else, was heavily emphasised. I ask the Minister to understand the number of families with children …..."
Katherine Fletcher - View Speech

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