Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how long the transitionary relief will last under the forthcoming increase in employer’s contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme; and whether that relief will apply to all institutions that employ staff in that scheme.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department recently published its response to the public consultation on increases to teachers’ pensions employer contributions. All representations made by stakeholders have been considered, alongside all evidence relevant to the issues involved. The Department has decided to maintain its original proposal, to fund schools which receive public funding and Further Education providers for 2019-20, and not to fund Higher Education Institutions or Independent Schools. Funding beyond 2019-20 is a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.
The full response can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/funding-increases-to-teachers-pensions-employer-contributions.
In addition, it is worth noting that all registered Higher Education providers are required to meet the Expectations of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, which sets a high baseline for quality and standards.
Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has made an assessment on the effect of the increase to the employer’s contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme on the quality of education provided by Higher Education Institutions after the transitional protection has passed.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department recently published its response to the public consultation on increases to teachers’ pensions employer contributions. All representations made by stakeholders have been considered, alongside all evidence relevant to the issues involved. The Department has decided to maintain its original proposal, to fund schools which receive public funding and Further Education providers for 2019-20, and not to fund Higher Education Institutions or Independent Schools. Funding beyond 2019-20 is a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.
The full response can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/funding-increases-to-teachers-pensions-employer-contributions.
In addition, it is worth noting that all registered Higher Education providers are required to meet the Expectations of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education, which sets a high baseline for quality and standards.
Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether non-UK EU students starting courses in September 2019 will be eligible for student loans.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
As announced in July 2018, EU nationals who start a course in England in the 2019/20 academic year or before will continue to be eligible for ‘home fee’ status and student finance support from Student Finance England for the duration of their course, provided they meet the residency requirement. On 28 May 2019, at the EU Competitiveness Council, it was also announced that EU nationals who will start a course in England in the 2020/21 academic year will also continue to be eligible for ‘home fee’ status with student finance support for the duration of their course.
Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the number of (a) looked after children, (b) child protection plans and (c) children in need.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Department for Education data shows that since 2013, the number of children in need, children on child protection plans and looked-after children at 31 March have risen by 7.1%, 24.5% and 10.7% respectively. The most common factors that present themselves in children’s social care assessments are domestic abuse and mental health. These have been consistently the top two factors for the years during which we have collected this data. Data on this is available in table C3 of statistical release ‘Characteristics of children in need 2017 to 2018’ at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/characteristics-of-children-in-need-2017-to-2018.
Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the link between deprivation and demand for children’s services.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Demand for children’s services is associated with a number of factors including deprivation. The most deprived local authorities have more looked-after children (per 10,000 nought to 17-year-olds), and these rates have grown faster, than the least deprived local authorities.
In preparation for the Spending Review, to help ensure decisions are based on the best available evidence, the government is working with the sector to develop a sharper and more granular picture of demand for children’s services.
We are also working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as part of the government’s fair funding review of relative needs and resources, where new, up-to-date formulas are being developed to ensure funding distribution to councils is based on the best available evidence.
We welcome the contributions from the sector in this area including Newton Europe’s ‘Making Sense’ (2018) report and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services continuing research reports, ‘Safeguarding Pressures’ (2018).
Asked by: Stephen Lloyd (Liberal Democrat - Eastbourne)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with directors of children’s services on their ability to deliver their statutory duties to children and families.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Ministers and officials regularly meet key stakeholders, including Directors of Children’s Services (DCSs), to discuss policy issues relating to the department’s agenda. For example, I recently met with DCSs and Local Authority Chief Executives at the National Children and Adult Services Conference, held roundtables in the department with groups of both DCSs and Chief Executives, and have attended induction events for new DCSs, the last one being in October 2019. In addition, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of the State and I have very recently met with a number of children in care to hear their views and experiences. The department recognises how important it is to speak directly with those who are on the front line, delivering services for children and families.