Speeches by Voaden.

“The entitlements of children and young people with SEND are explicit in the Children and Families Act 2024. A question to Kate and Phil: why do you think local authorities continue to allow cases to escalate to the SEND tribunal despite the financial and reputational costs and what role can early intervention and dispu…”

“You have already referred to it, Phil, but we know there is disparity in how much funding schools get under the high needs block, depending on the national funding formula. How can the current allocation and distribution of high needs funding be improved to ensure that it effectively meets the current and future needs …”

“If you had a magic wand?”

“But surely the cost of repeatedly going to tribunal is not helping county council budgets either.”

“In November 2024, research by Riverford Organic Farmers, based in my constituency of South Devon, showed that 61% of farmers are concerned that they will not be operating within the next year but only 25% of them believe the claims that the big six grocers support British farmers. Would my hon. Friend agree that the bi…”

“In response to what the hon. Lady has just said, I would like to congratulate the Liberal Democrat-led South Hams district council, which has just contributed £623,000 to support a community housing project that will offer 39 new energy-efficient, 100% social rented homes for people with a local connection, including a…”

“Luke, do you have any great ideas?”

“It is an honour to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Stringer. I pay tribute to Kim and the other petitioners for bringing the petition to the House. In the Government’s response to the petition, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology referred to “a systematic review by the UK Chief Medical Officers in 2…”

“I would like to talk to you a little bit about school and/or college. Could you tell us a little bit about what you think schools and colleges could do to make sure that children who are in care are supported to thrive and to do well and to make the most of school? Is there anything you think schools should not do, sho…”

“It sounds like it is a lack of understanding of your circumstances and what your life was like, expecting you to be the same as every other child.”

“Your foster mum sounds like an amazing woman.”

“Louise, do you want to tell us about school? What worked for you? What could school have done better?”

“The question was just about school. What do you think supported you when you were at school and what do you think school could have done better?”

“I have got a supplementary question for Sam on family group decision-making. The Bill says that children may be involved in the family group decision-making process. What are your views on that, and do you think that language of the Bill should be strengthened to say that children should, wherever possible, be part of …”

“The question was just about school. What do you think supported you when you were at school and what do you think school could have done better?”

“Louise, do you want to tell us about school? What worked for you? What could school have done better?”

“Your foster mum sounds like an amazing woman.”

“It sounds like it is a lack of understanding of your circumstances and what your life was like, expecting you to be the same as every other child.”

“Sam, what are your views on the measures in the Bill requiring local authorities to publish a kinship offer and extending the role of virtual school heads? I do not know whether you could answer this, but do you think virtual school heads should also be extended to include adopted children who do not feature in the Bil…”

“I would like to talk to you a little bit about school and/or college. Could you tell us a little bit about what you think schools and colleges could do to make sure that children who are in care are supported to thrive and to do well and to make the most of school? Is there anything you think schools should not do, sho…”