Asked by: Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure that schools have the resources to adjust to planned stage lighting regulations arising from the EU Ecodesign Directive.
Answered by Nick Gibb
My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has not specifically discussed the proposed EU Ecodesign Directive with my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Officials from the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy have discussed the issue with the EU as part of its consultation process and have subsequently made representations to the European Commission (EC). Industry representatives have also engaged with the EC and submitted a proposed exemption for their consideration. Since then, the EC has shared the most recent draft of the regulation which includes a technical exemption for stage lighting.
A final decision on the draft regulation is likely to be made towards the end of this year and is not expected to come into force until September 2020. The Government will continue to engage with industry, other Member States and the EC in the meantime. The Department will keep this under review to assess whether there will be any impact on schools in England and if any advice or further action is required.
Schools, and those responsible for maintaining school buildings, receive annual capital funding to invest in their buildings, including complying with relevant legislation. The Department already specifies energy efficient LED lighting for theatre lighting installations in new school buildings that are funded through its central capital programmes.
Asked by: Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what measures have been put in place for schools to deal with racist incidents.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Racism has no place in our schools and any incident is unacceptable.
In July 2017 the Department updated its anti-bullying guidance. This guidance makes it clear that where a school thinks an incident might constitute an offence, they should seek assistance from the police. All schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy which sets expectations of behaviour and outlines measures to prevent all forms of bullying, including racist bullying. Schools have the freedom to develop their own anti-bullying strategies appropriate to their environment but are held to account by Ofsted. The anti-bullying guidance refers schools to sources of support on preventing and tackling bullying based on race, religion and nationality.
This guidance can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preventing-and-tackling-bullying.
The Department funds and supports anti-bullying organisations that help schools prevent and tackle bullying. This includes the Free to Be project led by the Anne Frank Trust, which provides a structured approach for young people to discuss the importance of tackling prejudice, discrimination and bullying.
Asked by: Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to ensure that schools are adequately funded to deliver the Nisai learning programme.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
It is for schools and local authorities (for children in alternative provision or with education, health and care plans) to decide what support will best meet the needs of pupils, taking account of their individual needs.
We have provided an additional £140 million in high needs funding in 2018-19 and will provide an additional £120 million in 2019-20. Previously underfunded local authorities will see increases in 2019-20 of up to 6% compared to what they planned to spend in 2017-18.
In Cheshire East, the local authority will receive £34.1 million in high needs funding in 2018-19, 2% more than in 2017-18. Figures for each local authority can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2018-to-2019.
We are also monitoring the impact of our national funding formula for high needs on local authority spending decisions, and are keeping the overall amount of funding for high needs under review.
Asked by: Laura Smith (Labour - Crewe and Nantwich)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to bring forward legislation requiring academies to have an asbestos management plan that is audited annually; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department takes the issue of asbestos in schools seriously and is committed to supporting schools, local authorities and academy trusts to fulfil their duty to manage asbestos safely.
It is the responsibility of the duty holder to ensure that any asbestos in their schools is safely managed in compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. For maintained schools, the duty holder is typically a governing body or local authority. For academies, the duty holder is typically an academy trust. Duty holders are already required to have an asbestos management plan in place where asbestos is present or is likely to be present. Management plans must be reviewed and revised at regular intervals, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the relevant regulator.
The Department launched the Asbestos Management Assurance Process on 1 March 2018. This process will enable Responsible Bodies to provide an assurance declaration that their schools are complying with the regulations. The process was developed to help the Department to improve its understanding of asbestos management in schools. Through working with the HSE, the Department can help local authorities, governing bodies and academy trusts to manage asbestos-related issues effectively.