To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of the effect of the Employment Rights Act on the (a) costs of providing adult social care and (b) associated effect on local authority finances and council tax.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of the effect of the Employment Rights Act on the (a) costs of providing adult social care and (b) associated effect on local authority finances and council tax.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 44224 on Employment Rights Bill: Local Government Services, if he will consult each (a) local authority and (b)town and parish council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 44224 on Employment Rights Bill: Local Government Services, if he will consult each (a) local authority and (b)town and parish council.

Report stage second day. Government new clause 17 (Establishment of new schools: data protection), discussed with new clause 1 (Free school meals: automatic enrolment of eligible children), new clause 6 (Establishment of national school food monitoring scheme), new clause 7 (Registration of children for free school meals), new clause 9 (Duty of school governing bodies regarding mental health provision), new clause 10 (Establishment of a National Body for SEND), new clause 11 (National Tutoring Guarantee), new clause 12 (VAT zero-rating for certain items of school uniform), new clause 16 (Spiritual, moral, social and cultural education in assemblies), new clause 23 (Provision of relationships and sex education and PSHE to persons who have not attained the age of 18 at further education providers), new clause 24 (Cap on new faith schools’ admissions), new clause 31 (Guidance on the admission of summer-born children with EHC plans), new clause 32 (Collection and publication of data relating to summer-born children), new clause 34 (Provision of free school lunches to all primary school children), new clause 38 (Power to prescribe pay and conditions for teachers), new clause 39 (Approved free schools and university training colleges in pre-opening), new clause 40 (Duty for schools to report acts of violence against staff to the police), new clause 41 (Right to review school curriculum material), new clause 48 (Review of Impact on Home Educators and Reduction of Unnecessary Reporting), new clause 49 (Provision of free meals and activities during school holidays), new clause 51 (Flexibility to take into account local circumstances when following the National Curriculum), new clause 52 (Parliamentary approval of revisions of the National Curriculum), new clause 53 (Arrangements for national examinations for children not in school), new clause 54 (Review of Free School Meal eligibility and Pupil Premium registration), new clause 2 (Review of the Act), amendments and Government amendments. Government new clause 17 agreed to. New clause 7 negatived on division (77 votes to 313). New clause 34 negatived on division (77 votes to 315). Government amendments to clauses 23 to 29, 31, 32, 34, 37, 39, 44, 59, 60, and schedule 1 agreed to. Amendment to clause 45 negatived on division (107 votes to 324). Amendment to clause 51 negatived on division (167 votes to 324). Third reading agreed to on division (382 votes to 104). Bill passed.

Report stage second day. Government new clause 17 (Establishment of new schools: data protection), discussed with new clause 1 (Free school meals: automatic enrolment of eligible children), new clause 6 (Establishment of national school food monitoring scheme), new clause 7 (Registration of children for free school meals), new clause 9...

At several points today, we have been transported by Conservative Members to the educational nirvana that supposedly existed under the Tory Government. That is not the memory I have, or the memory that many parents and children have. They, I think, remember the real-terms funding cuts that happened for much...

At several points today, we have been transported by Conservative Members to the educational nirvana that supposedly existed under the Tory Government. That is not the memory I have, or the memory that many parents and children have. They, I think, remember the real-terms funding cuts that happened for much...

I thank my hon. Friend for painting a better picture than the one painted by Conservative Members.

Shortly after the election, in August, I met a couple of former teacher colleagues who were still in the profession, and they just looked broken. It was really difficult to see, because they have...

I thank my hon. Friend for painting a better picture than the one painted by Conservative Members.

Shortly after the election, in August, I met a couple of former teacher colleagues who were still in the profession, and they just looked broken. It was really difficult to see, because they have...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I will not.

I will briefly mention Government amendments 166 and 167, which talk about data protection never getting in the way of safeguarding. One of my most difficult days as a teacher—the House will be pleased to know that it has nothing to do with the Conservative Government—was when a...

I will not.

I will briefly mention Government amendments 166 and 167, which talk about data protection never getting in the way of safeguarding. One of my most difficult days as a teacher—the House will be pleased to know that it has nothing to do with the Conservative Government—was when a...

I thank the hon. Member for Harlow (Chris Vince) for schooling me in maths—I am not very good at that.

I begin by expressing my strong support for the Bill, particularly its efforts to enhance child protection and ensure better collaboration between professionals involved in children’s care. I welcome the measures...

I thank the hon. Member for Harlow (Chris Vince) for schooling me in maths—I am not very good at that.

I begin by expressing my strong support for the Bill, particularly its efforts to enhance child protection and ensure better collaboration between professionals involved in children’s care. I welcome the measures...

I had hoped that, during the Commons stages of the Bill, the Government would listen to the vast number of respected voices from the education sector who have warned repeatedly that this ill thought through Bill is nothing short of a disaster for education standards in this country. Unfortunately, the...

I had hoped that, during the Commons stages of the Bill, the Government would listen to the vast number of respected voices from the education sector who have warned repeatedly that this ill thought through Bill is nothing short of a disaster for education standards in this country. Unfortunately, the...

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

In Committee, the Minister said that a cost cap, rather than an item cap, would be too complex and risked reducing choice for parents by increasing schools’ reliance on specific suppliers. She also suggested that there would be regional variation in uniform pricing. Again, having tabled...

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

In Committee, the Minister said that a cost cap, rather than an item cap, would be too complex and risked reducing choice for parents by increasing schools’ reliance on specific suppliers. She also suggested that there would be regional variation in uniform pricing. Again, having tabled...

On home education, does the hon. Lady agree that not only is it a case of getting the balance right between privacy and the right to educate at home, but it is important that home educators do not feel stigmatised by the ability of the state to enter private property...

On home education, does the hon. Lady agree that not only is it a case of getting the balance right between privacy and the right to educate at home, but it is important that home educators do not feel stigmatised by the ability of the state to enter private property...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.

This is legislation that belongs to children. The clue is in the name—the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. It is for them. It is because this Government are for them. We are on a mission to break down...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.

This is legislation that belongs to children. The clue is in the name—the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. It is for them. It is because this Government are for them. We are on a mission to break down...

I rise in support of the Bill and in support of the amendments that seek to increase access to free school meals, a policy that would make a world of difference to the one in two children living in poverty in my constituency, the most deprived in the country. I...

I rise in support of the Bill and in support of the amendments that seek to increase access to free school meals, a policy that would make a world of difference to the one in two children living in poverty in my constituency, the most deprived in the country. I...

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his kind words and his assumption of my honesty. The fact is that one in three children starting school is not school ready. More than a third of children leave primary school without a firm foundation in reading, writing and maths. The disadvantage...

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his kind words and his assumption of my honesty. The fact is that one in three children starting school is not school ready. More than a third of children leave primary school without a firm foundation in reading, writing and maths. The disadvantage...

We have a limited number of things that we can press to a vote, but I hope, as we go to the debate in the other place, that we are in complete agreement on the excessive nature of some of the requirements being made of home schoolers, who we must...

We have a limited number of things that we can press to a vote, but I hope, as we go to the debate in the other place, that we are in complete agreement on the excessive nature of some of the requirements being made of home schoolers, who we must...

Try as the Opposition might to make their straw man argument, this Labour Government will demand high and rising standards for all our children. Recent polls of the profession show that, despite all the scaremongering, trust chief executive officers agree that there is nothing to fear from our sensible, pragmatic...

Try as the Opposition might to make their straw man argument, this Labour Government will demand high and rising standards for all our children. Recent polls of the profession show that, despite all the scaremongering, trust chief executive officers agree that there is nothing to fear from our sensible, pragmatic...

Does the Minister not understand that freedom and flexibility can come from allowing a school flexibility over its curriculum?

Does the Minister not understand that freedom and flexibility can come from allowing a school flexibility over its curriculum?

The intention is not the thing; it is the actual impact that counts. Let us take the example of someone who has taken their child out of school for the reasons that the hon. Lady has mentioned. Perhaps they have an autistic child who is miserable every day, and after...

The intention is not the thing; it is the actual impact that counts. Let us take the example of someone who has taken their child out of school for the reasons that the hon. Lady has mentioned. Perhaps they have an autistic child who is miserable every day, and after...