Asked by: Mary Creagh (Labour - Coventry East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the oral contribution of the hon. Member for Walthamstow of 25 September 2019, Official report, column 786, for what reasons schools received images on their digital noticeboards on the Prime Minister and Brexit; and what steps he is taking to prevent money from the public purse being spent on such material.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The images in question originated from a private company that supplies digital services to schools. They were not funded by the Government or part of any Government campaign.
Asked by: Mary Creagh (Labour - Coventry East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2019 to Question 280190, how much does he expect to pay Deloitte for services in relation to Wakefield City Academies Trust.
Answered by Nick Gibb
I refer the hon. Member for Wakefield to the answer I gave on 31 July 2019 to 280190.
Asked by: Mary Creagh (Labour - Coventry East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what amount his Department has spent on the Getting Ready for Brexit campaign since 23 July 2019; which companies have been awarded contracts by his Department as part of the Getting Ready for Brexit campaign; whether (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants including special advisers declared any interests in relation to those contracts; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the civil service code values of transparency and impartiality are maintained through the effective governance of communications on the UK's departure from the EU.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department has not spent any money on the Getting Ready for Brexit campaign since 23 July 2019. No contracts have been awarded by the Department as a part of this campaign.
The Department is providing its own guidance to the education sectors that it serves via published information on GOV.UK, support through existing networks, and otherwise through the normal conduct of the day-to-day business of the Government, for which officials are aware of the need to uphold the values of the civil service code. All Departmental communications are subject to rigorous clearance processes.
Asked by: Mary Creagh (Labour - Coventry East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions his Department has had on publishing guidance on safe temperature in schools and replacing school uniform policy in hot weather.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their staff and others present in the workplace (including schools) meaning they should seek to protect against excessive working temperatures.
Similarly, Regulation 7 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 requires employers to ensure that temperatures in workplaces should be reasonable.
The Department published updated guidance for new school buildings in 2018 that covers indoor temperatures and measures to reduce overheating. This can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ventilation-thermal-comfort-and-indoor-air-quality-in-schools. The Department is also working with wider industry to develop good practice in response to climate change to ensure we have a sustainable school estate.
Guidance for schools during a heat wave is widely available for both indoor and outdoor activities including practical advice that includes relaxation of uniform policy. It is for the governing body of a school (or in the case of academies, the academy trust) to decide rules relating to appearance, including whether there should be a school uniform.
Public Health England guidance for teachers and schools for early years provision during heatwaves is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/428850/Looking_After_Children_Heat_PHE_AC_AB_Publications_MP_JRM_FINAL.PDF.
Asked by: Mary Creagh (Labour - Coventry East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2019 to Question 275165 on Wakefield City Academies Trust: Deloitte and Touche, how much he expects his Department will pay in total to Deloitte in relation to Wakefield City Academies Trust.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) expects to pay £198,570 to Deloitte for services in relation to Wakefield City Academies Trust to undertake a financial review of all 21 schools, provide assurance on the Trust’s financial position and advise on options to support the closure of the Trust.
The contract between ESFA and Deloitte LLP, which includes the full scope of the services, is published on Contracts Finder. https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d85bc16e-739c-4191-80ba-60fbee8d56ae?p=@FQxUlRRPT0=NjJNT08=U.
Asked by: Mary Creagh (Labour - Coventry East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2019 to Question 272217 on Wakefield City Academies Trust: Deloitte and Touche, how much the Education and Skills Funding Agency spent on services provided by Deloitte in relation to Wakefield City Academies Trust from 1 June 2019 to 30 June 2019.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The Education & Skills Funding Agency has not paid Deloitte for services in relation to Wakefield City Academies Trust in the period 1 June 2019 to 30 June 2019.
Asked by: Mary Creagh (Labour - Coventry East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2019 to Question 262315 and to the Answer on 1 July 2019 to Question 269696 on Wakefield City Academies Trust: Deloitte and Touche, how much Wakefield City Academies Trust spent on services provided by Deloitte from 1 June 2019 to 30 June 2019.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Wakefield City Academies Trust has not paid Deloitte for services in the period 1 June 2019 to 30 June 2019.
Asked by: Mary Creagh (Labour - Coventry East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2019 to Question 262315 on Wakefield City Academies Trust: Deloitte and Touche, what services were provided by Deloitte LLP under its contract in relation to the closure of Wakefield City Academies Trust.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The department has worked closely with the Wakefield City Academies Trust board to ensure all 21 schools transferred smoothly to the new trusts, to minimise disruption for pupils. This included securing additional specialist capacity from Deloitte LLP to undertake a financial review of all 21 schools, provide assurance on the Trust’s financial position, and advise on options to support the closure of the Trust.
The contract between the Education and Skills Funding Agency and Deloitte LLP, which includes the full scope of the services, is published on Contracts Finder, which is available at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d85bc16e-739c-4191-80ba-60fbee8d56ae?p=@FQxUlRRPT0=NjJNT08=U.
Asked by: Mary Creagh (Labour - Coventry East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much Wakefield City Academies Trust spent on services provided by Deloitte from 1 September 2017 to 31 May 2019.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Wakefield City Academies Trust (WCAT) has not paid Deloitte for services. From 1 September 2017 to 31 May 2019, the Education and Skills Funding Agency has paid £183,121 (excluding VAT) to Deloitte LLP under their contract for services in respect of WCAT’s closure.
Asked by: Mary Creagh (Labour - Coventry East)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time staff were employed by Wakefield City Academies Trust; and what the cost was of those staff, in each financial year from 1 September 2017 to 31 May 2019.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
The information requested is not held centrally. The number of part‑time and full‑time staff employed by Wakefield City Academies Trust (WCAT) and the cost of those staff are a matter for the Trust. Financial statements from the Trust are in the public domain.
The value of the WCAT pension deficit is also a matter for the Trust.