Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the number of maintained schools that are at risk of flooding.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department does not hold figures for the number of maintained schools at risk of flooding. The Climate Change Committee has advised that 10,710 schools across England are at risk of some form of flooding once every 75 years, but this could mean anything from a few inches to a few feet of water. Because of this uncertainty, the Department is conducting a more detailed flood risk assessment as part of the wider climate risk assessment, which will be published by the end of 2023, in line with the commitment in the Department’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of extending eligibility for free school meals on (a) the economy, (b) health and (c) education.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Since 2010, the number of pupils receiving a free school meal (FSM) has increased by more than two million. This increase in provision is due to the introduction of Universal Infant Free School Meals and protections put in place as benefit recipients move across to Universal Credit. Over a third of pupils in England now receive FSM, compared with one in six in 2010.
The Department believes that the current eligibility threshold level, which enables pupils in low income households to benefit from FSM while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one. The Department does not have plans to change the current eligibility conditions for FSM. The Department continues to keep eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. The Department also continues to monitor the consequences of the rising cost of living and is working with other Government Departments to provide support to disadvantaged families.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment on the adequacy of her Department’s free school meals policy across England.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Since 2010, the number of pupils receiving a free school meal (FSM) has increased by more than two million. This increase in provision is due to the introduction of Universal Infant Free School Meals and protections put in place as benefit recipients move across to Universal Credit. Over a third of pupils in England now receive FSM, compared with one in six in 2010.
The Department believes that the current eligibility threshold level, which enables pupils in low income households to benefit from FSM while remaining affordable and deliverable for schools, is the right one. The Department does not have plans to change the current eligibility conditions for FSM. The Department continues to keep eligibility under review to ensure that these meals are supporting those who most need them. The Department also continues to monitor the consequences of the rising cost of living and is working with other Government Departments to provide support to disadvantaged families.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils are eligible for the Pupil Premium in Hendon constituency.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government provides additional funding through the Pupil Premium to support disadvantaged pupils. The Pupil Premium rates have increased by 5% for 2023/24, taking total Pupil Premium funding nationally to almost £2.9 billion.
As of June 2023, 5931pupils were eligible for Pupil Premium in Hendon constituency this year, equating to £7,566,158 in funding. The Department publishes Pupil Premium allocations, including at constituency level, here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2023-to-2024.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the number of looked after children who live in unregulated accommodation in England.
Answered by David Johnston
Information on children looked after in England, including the number of children in unregulated accommodation (independent living or placements in semi-independent accommodation) is published in the annual ‘Children looked after including adoptions’ national statistic: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of local authority maintained schools that have installed smart meters.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The education sector in the UK will play a critical role in positively responding to climate change and inspiring action on an international stage. The Department’s vision is for the UK education sector to be a world leader in sustainability and climate change by 2030. The Department is helping to create a sustainable future through education, developing the skills needed for a green economy, and supporting all sectors to reach net zero targets. That is why well maintained, safe and energy efficient school buildings are a priority for the Department.
Over £15 billion has been allocated for improving the condition of schools since 2015, including £1.8 billion committed this financial year. The school rebuilding programme will also transform buildings at 500 schools over the next decade, prioritising schools in poor condition and delivering new buildings which are net carbon zero in operation. To date, 400 schools have been announced, including 239 in December 2022. In 2022/23 the department announced an additional £500 million in funding to improve buildings at schools and colleges, prioritising energy efficiency. Up to £635 million over the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25 has been made available through the public sector decarbonisation scheme for installing low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures in public buildings, with a minimum of 30% going to education settings.
It is the responsibility of those who run schools, whether academy trusts, Local Authorities, or voluntary-aided school bodies, to invest in and manage the maintenance of their school estates. The department does not hold an up-to-date assessment of the capacity schools have in solar panels, heat pumps, smart meters and wind turbines. The Department’s ongoing condition survey, Condition Data Collection 2, will give us a better understanding once it is complete in 2026.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of local authority maintained schools that have installed heat pumps.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The education sector in the UK will play a critical role in positively responding to climate change and inspiring action on an international stage. The Department’s vision is for the UK education sector to be a world leader in sustainability and climate change by 2030. The Department is helping to create a sustainable future through education, developing the skills needed for a green economy, and supporting all sectors to reach net zero targets. That is why well maintained, safe and energy efficient school buildings are a priority for the Department.
Over £15 billion has been allocated for improving the condition of schools since 2015, including £1.8 billion committed this financial year. The school rebuilding programme will also transform buildings at 500 schools over the next decade, prioritising schools in poor condition and delivering new buildings which are net carbon zero in operation. To date, 400 schools have been announced, including 239 in December 2022. In 2022/23 the department announced an additional £500 million in funding to improve buildings at schools and colleges, prioritising energy efficiency. Up to £635 million over the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25 has been made available through the public sector decarbonisation scheme for installing low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures in public buildings, with a minimum of 30% going to education settings.
It is the responsibility of those who run schools, whether academy trusts, Local Authorities, or voluntary-aided school bodies, to invest in and manage the maintenance of their school estates. The department does not hold an up-to-date assessment of the capacity schools have in solar panels, heat pumps, smart meters and wind turbines. The Department’s ongoing condition survey, Condition Data Collection 2, will give us a better understanding once it is complete in 2026.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of local authority maintained schools that have installed solar panels.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The education sector in the UK will play a critical role in positively responding to climate change and inspiring action on an international stage. The Department’s vision is for the UK education sector to be a world leader in sustainability and climate change by 2030. The Department is helping to create a sustainable future through education, developing the skills needed for a green economy, and supporting all sectors to reach net zero targets. That is why well maintained, safe and energy efficient school buildings are a priority for the Department.
Over £15 billion has been allocated for improving the condition of schools since 2015, including £1.8 billion committed this financial year. The school rebuilding programme will also transform buildings at 500 schools over the next decade, prioritising schools in poor condition and delivering new buildings which are net carbon zero in operation. To date, 400 schools have been announced, including 239 in December 2022. In 2022/23 the department announced an additional £500 million in funding to improve buildings at schools and colleges, prioritising energy efficiency. Up to £635 million over the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25 has been made available through the public sector decarbonisation scheme for installing low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures in public buildings, with a minimum of 30% going to education settings.
It is the responsibility of those who run schools, whether academy trusts, Local Authorities, or voluntary-aided school bodies, to invest in and manage the maintenance of their school estates. The department does not hold an up-to-date assessment of the capacity schools have in solar panels, heat pumps, smart meters and wind turbines. The Department’s ongoing condition survey, Condition Data Collection 2, will give us a better understanding once it is complete in 2026.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of local authority maintained schools that have installed wind turbines.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The education sector in the UK will play a critical role in positively responding to climate change and inspiring action on an international stage. The Department’s vision is for the UK education sector to be a world leader in sustainability and climate change by 2030. The Department is helping to create a sustainable future through education, developing the skills needed for a green economy, and supporting all sectors to reach net zero targets. That is why well maintained, safe and energy efficient school buildings are a priority for the Department.
Over £15 billion has been allocated for improving the condition of schools since 2015, including £1.8 billion committed this financial year. The school rebuilding programme will also transform buildings at 500 schools over the next decade, prioritising schools in poor condition and delivering new buildings which are net carbon zero in operation. To date, 400 schools have been announced, including 239 in December 2022. In 2022/23 the department announced an additional £500 million in funding to improve buildings at schools and colleges, prioritising energy efficiency. Up to £635 million over the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25 has been made available through the public sector decarbonisation scheme for installing low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures in public buildings, with a minimum of 30% going to education settings.
It is the responsibility of those who run schools, whether academy trusts, Local Authorities, or voluntary-aided school bodies, to invest in and manage the maintenance of their school estates. The department does not hold an up-to-date assessment of the capacity schools have in solar panels, heat pumps, smart meters and wind turbines. The Department’s ongoing condition survey, Condition Data Collection 2, will give us a better understanding once it is complete in 2026.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department have made on implementing Procurement Policy Note 06/21.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department has implemented and embedded the policy requirements within Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21, taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major Government contracts within its commercial activity. The Department has applied the provisions of this PPN to relevant procurements advertised on or after 30 September 2021. Awareness sessions were delivered to commercial staff prior to the policy going live, and annually thereafter. Tender documents contain the required supplier appraisal questions and commercial guidance is available to support this process.
Quarterly compliance monitoring is undertaken, and action is taken to ensure all in scope procurements are compliant with this policy.