Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of children who have had access to a musical instrument in schools in England in each of the last five years.

The Department does not record estimates of the number of children who have had access to a musical instrument in schools in England.

As part of the National Plan for Music Education published in 2022, the Government announced a £25 million capital fund for musical instruments which will be distributed across all Music Hubs from September 2024.

Since their inception in 2012, Music Hubs have offered support to all local schools within their area, to ensure all pupils have access to musical instruments, as well as access to a high quality music education and to develop their musical interests and potential.