Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to publish guidance for schools on supporting trans pupils.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department recognises that issues relating to sex and gender can be complex and sensitive for schools to navigate, which is why the Department is working with the Minister for Women and Equalities to develop guidance to support schools and colleges in relation to children who are questioning their gender.
It is vital that the guidance published gives clarity for schools and colleges, and reassurance for parents. The Department is taking the necessary time to ensure that it reflects the best possible advice before publishing the draft.
It is important that the Department is able to consider a wide range of views in order to get the guidance right. The Department has, therefore, committed to holding a public consultation on the draft guidance prior to publication.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on supporting narrow gauge railway tourism in Wales.
Answered by James Davies
Narrow gauge railways, like Rhyl Miniature Railway, are an important aspect of our tourism sector and it is vital they are supported. Although tourism is devolved in Wales, the UK Government invested approximately £18 million in funding during COVID to over 60 heritage steam organisations through the Culture Recovery Fund.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has a mechanism by which to review magistrates' decisions following arrests by the police.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office does not have any jurisdiction over the decision making of the independent judiciary. However, if my Hon Friend wishes to raise any points of law that may lead to an appeal, the Minister of State for Courts and Justice is happy to work with him on how this may be taken up with the Attorney General.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether any schools in Lichfield constituency have been identified as containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Answered by Nick Gibb
Departments have been asked to report on the current picture of suspected and confirmed RAAC in their estates as soon as possible. This will be updated on a regular basis as new buildings are identified and surveying and remediation are carried out.
The Government published lists of education settings confirmed as having RAAC on Wednesday 6 September, and committed to providing further updates.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the magistrate's reasons for the acquittal of Iola Davies and Jasmine Murphy for obstructing the entrance to UAV Engines Ltd in Shenstone on 9 September 2022.
Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
It would be inappropriate to comment on individual cases and decisions made by the independent judiciary, which are fact specific and made on a case-by-case basis. This particular judgement does not relate to an area of Ministry of Justice policy but as is normal practice, the Crown Prosecution Service can appeal rulings in the magistrates’ court.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will introduce legislation to enable Ministers to make one-off changes to (a) pubs and (b) other licensed premises' opening hours for special events.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Licensing Act 2003 already allows the Home Secretary to make legislation for blanket relaxations of licensing hours for “an occasion of exceptional international, national, or local significance”.
The Government continues to keep the Licensing Act 2003 under review and works closely with licensing practitioners to ensure the regime remains fit for purpose and meets emerging challenges.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to provide schools with funding to cover the full cost of (a) repairing and (b) replacing autoclave aerated concrete.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The safety of pupils and teachers is paramount. The Department has allocated over £15 billion since 2015 for keeping school buildings safe and in good working order, including £1.8 billion committed for 2023/24. In addition, the School Rebuilding Programme will transform buildings at 500 schools, prioritising poor condition and potential safety issues.
The Department have asked all responsible bodies, such as Local Authorities, academy trusts and voluntary aided school bodies, to inform the Department of the possible presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in their buildings and how they are managing it. The Department continues to urge all responsible bodies to contact us immediately if they have any serious concerns about their school buildings.
The Department is commissioning assessments of cases of suspected RAAC to confirm whether it is present and ensure appropriate and rapid action is taken to address any immediate risk, based on the advice of structural engineers. This can include funding support for capital works to remove any immediate risk and, where absolutely necessary, the provision of temporary buildings.
Longer term remediation of RAAC is supported by annual capital funding provided to the sector and the Department’s rebuilding programme. The Department provides additional support on a case by case basis where there is a serious safety issue with a school building that cannot be managed independently by Local Authorities, academy trusts, and voluntary aided school bodies.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will hold discussions with teacher and school leader unions on teachers pay.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government and the education trade unions, the ASCL, NAHT, NASUWT and NEU, took part in a period of intensive talks between 17 March and 23 March 2023, with over 200 hours of Ministers’ and officials’ time spent on these talks, after which an in principle offer was made by the Government. This offer comprised a package of pay and non-pay related measures. Unfortunately, the four trade unions rejected this fair and funded offer.
Following the unions’ rejection of the Government’s March pay offer, teacher pay for next year will go through an independent pay review process as usual. The School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) makes recommendations on the pay of teachers in England and reports to the Secretary of State for Education and the Prime Minister.
As part of the normal process, the STRB has now submitted its recommendations to the Government on teacher pay for 2023/24. The Department will be considering the recommendations and will publish its response in the usual way.
The Department will continue to engage regularly with teaching and leadership unions on policy developments as usual.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the war in Ukraine.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The UK Government is dedicated to supporting Ukraine defend its sovereignty in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion. A key element of our response is being agile in our support as the conflict changes and strands of work such as training or equipment donation are constantly assessed to deliver this goal. We continue to enable and adapt support from across the world to meet Ukraine’s current and future requirements.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to provide funding to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to enable Levelling Up Fund Round 3.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
As confirmed at Spring Budget, round 3 of the Levelling Up Fund will proceed as planned with a further £1 billion to invest in places. Funding will be released from HM Treasury to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Department for Transport after the places and projects receiving funding are confirmed. Work is underway to design round 3, and further detail will be provided in due course.