Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will bring forward proposals regulate teaching supply agencies and cap costs charged for the provision of supply teachers.

The Department is aware of concerns raised regarding the behaviour of some agencies when dealing with schools as well as the level of costs charged. Whilst there are no immediate plans to legislate in this area, the Department is working with Crown Commercial Service to develop a new commercial framework for schools aimed at bringing consistency and transparency of cost to this area.

The new arrangement will address inconsistent practices of some agencies and the levels of mark-up charged as well as the level of fees charged. It is anticipated that the new commercial deal will be available for use by schools from September 2018.