Speeches by Phillipson.

“We are going through a process at the moment in the Department of looking at all areas of spend. That is very challenging even with the prioritisation of the Chancellor as part of that Budget process, but I recognise the enormous value that the programme has provided and the difference that it has made to children’s li…”

“We are working through it as quickly as we can. We know that councils want clarity on this. We will set it out as quickly as we can at the earliest opportunity. I am alive to the challenge that you present and the need for certainty in this area.”

“We are working as quickly as we can on this because I do recognise the challenge at the moment around support for children’s mental health, around wellbeing and the levels of unhappiness that so many of our children experience, where we are internationally not in good shape if we want to look at what that means for our…”

“I think all parents worry about access to social media around technology. I will respond to the very precise point that you ask. Some of the wider responsibilities across government are not simply mine alone, but there is a question particularly around technology and young people about how we equip them for the world t…”

“I know that the right hon. Gentleman is probably used to his party engaging in these discussions on quite difficult and sensitive issues in a rather reckless and irresponsible way, but we on these Benches take our time to do this seriously and properly to make sure that we get it right, because this is such an importan…”

“My hon. Friend, through his background in higher education, knows all too well how essential it is that young people and students from a range of different backgrounds are exposed to views that they might not previously have heard or that they might find difficult or challenging. That is what a university education is …”

“I am grateful to the former Secretary of State for his question. He will appreciate that this will be an independent regulator, and that there is a limit to what I can set out on their behalf. On the key issue of the tort, there will be consequences, even following the removal of the tort, for those providers who do no…”

“It is important that any legislation in this area is fair, proportionate and workable, and that is what we have sought to achieve through the wider engagement and consultation that has taken place since July, when I paused commencement. It is vital that we get it right. It is incredibly important, and today we have giv…”

“I am afraid I did not quite catch the very last part of the right hon. Gentleman’s questions, but I will happily look in Hansard and return to him on that point.”

“I am afraid I am not going to do that without having reviewed exactly what the right hon. Gentleman said, Madam Deputy Speaker. I know him quite well. The Department for Education and the Home Office are looking jointly at some of these areas, and I want to be clear that national security is our No. 1 priority as a Gov…”

“I think we can all learn from Frank Field, who brought wisdom to a range of areas. We can all reflect on the need to keep our views under constant review to ensure that we challenge ourselves. The chance to be educated, whether at school, college or university, is a crucial part of challenging ourselves and understandi…”

“Yes. One of the many brilliant aspects of our country’s higher education sector is its diversity—smaller institutions, larger ones and those that bring a wealth of difference, having evolved and changed in different ways. We will continue to listen to and work with providers and institutions of all shapes and sizes acr…”

“My hon. Friend is absolutely right that freedom of speech cuts both ways, and Conservative Members would sometimes do well to reflect on that, too. Sometimes, students can be exposed to views they find challenging or difficult, especially younger students who are newly away from home, and it is right that we put in pla…”

“I will ensure that my hon. Friend’s point is taken up. Many have raised very serious concerns about antisemitism on campus and its impact on Jewish students, and I can see no good reason why any university would invite a Holocaust denier on to campus to deny the overwhelming evidence. Holocaust denial is an appalling f…”

“I give my hon. Friend that assurance. That is also why, as one of the measures that I intend to return to, we must look again at the board and executive appointments to the Office for Students. It is right that concerns have been raised that there could be the suspicion of political interference given that, rather unus…”

“Yes, that is crucial. We know that the chance to study at university is life changing for so many students. That is of course the case for younger students—those who have what might be considered the more traditional experience of going to university at 18—but it is also about having the chance throughout life to retur…”

“As part of the changes that we set out with Treasury in the Budget and Treasury leading on the change where it comes to taxation changes, there was a full impact assessment. We did consider the needs of children with SEND. It is why as a part of that process where pupils require places arising out of an EHCP where that…”

“There are areas where primary legislation is required and I think an area where we do need to take action is around issues on admissions, which will help in this space as well. What you are describing—and I agree that there needs to be more support for children with SEND—does not require primary legislation. That is wh…”

“We are rolling out NELI across primary schools, but I would say much of what you just said there I recognise. I would probably direct you to ask previous Ministers why they did not do enough in this space, because they did not.”

“I completely recognise the challenge and the urgency. We are working across government. This is not something that we alone can do. It is an across government consideration, but the inheritance that we have is one where councils face incredible financial difficulties. I understand that. Across government there are sign…”