Every parliamentary written question tabled by Damian Hinds this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 401–420 of 491 · this parliament
What her Department’s spending on breakfast club programmes was for (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) in total in 2023-24.
In 2023/2024, the department’s spending on the National School Breakfast Programme was a total of £7,819,102. Primary school total spending was £5,242,446 and secondary school total spending was £2,166,983. This is excluding special schools.
If she will make an estimate of the proportion of pupils in bands A-F of the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index that attend schools (a) eligible for and (b) participating in the national school breakfast club programme.
The National School Breakfast Programme (NSBP) currently supports up to 2,700 participating schools in disadvantaged areas. Around 80% of pupils living in Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) A to F areas attend a school eligible for the NSBP, with around 25% of pupils attending a school participating in the NSBP. There is no requirement for children attending a school participating in the NSBP to engage with the breakfast club.
Whether her planned spending on the expansion of school breakfast clubs is contingent on the amount of revenue raised from fiscal measures targeted on people with non-domiciled status.
Matters of taxation are for my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Chancellor has announced a Budget on 30 October to be followed by a multi-year Spending Review in the spring of next year. Decisions about future spending will be subject to those events.
What estimate she has made of the number of children who will be eligible for free school meals in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.
The department monitors free school meals take up, including through the annual publication of data, which is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics.The department does not regularly publish forecasts.
What estimate she has made of the total amount of public funding for free school meals in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2023-24.
Local authorities receive their core funding for schools through the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). Since 2018/19, the DSG allocations have been calculated based on the national funding formula (NFF). The schools NFF includes a ’free school meal (FSM) factor’ which is broadly intended to cover the cost of providing free meals for eligible pupils. In 2023/24, schools received £480 for each eligible primary and secondary pupil through this factor. A total of £842 million was distributed through the FSM factor in financial year 2023/24. In addition to the FSM factor in the NFF, the department also provides additional funding for free meals through the universal infant free school meal (UIFSM) grant. This grant enables all government funded schools to offer FSM to pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2. In the 2023/24 academic year, £626 million was allocated through the UIFSM. The equivalent figures are not available for 2009/10. Prior to the introduction of the NFF in 2018/19, the DSG was calculated in a different way, without a separate ‘FSM factor’. UIFSM was introduced in 2014.
Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of maintaining real-terms levels of funding for the Holiday Activities and Food programme in the (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26 financial years.
All 153 local authorities in England have been delivering the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme in the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays. The future of the HAF programme beyond 31 March 2025 is subject to the next government Spending Review taking place this autumn. The outcome of the review will be communicated in due course.
What estimate she has made of the number of people employed in independent schools (a) as teachers and (b) in other roles.
Information on the full-time equivalent (FTE) number of teachers in independent schools is published in the ‘Education and training statistics for the UK’ statistical publication, which is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.u...
What her planned timetable is for publishing results from the school census data collections of (a) 3 October 2024 and (b) 16 January 2025.
In accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics, statistics publications are pre-announced on the GOV.UK website and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&organisations%5B%5D=department-for-education&order=updated-newest. The scheduling ensures that statistics are released as soon as they are ready, while abiding by standards set by the Code of Practice for Statistics, in terms of trustworthiness, quality and value. The Code can be found here: https://code.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/.
Whether students at post 16 special colleges who have an Education, Health and Care plan will be exempt from VAT on college fees.
The removal of the VAT exemption for private school fees will not impact pupils with the most acute additional needs, where these can only be met in private schools. Local Authorities (LAs) fund pupils’ places in private schools where their needs can only be met in a private institution. In England, where attendance at that private institution is required by a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), LAs will be able to reclaim the VAT on the fees from HMRC. This includes at post-16 special colleges.Where a single fee is paid for students at special schools or colleges to cover all aspects of the service they provide (including health and social care), the VAT status of that fee will be determined by whether the predominant element of the supply is education. HMRC will publish further guidance to assist schools before the Budget. The Government will confirm the introduction of these tax policy changes at Budget, at which point the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will certify the Government’s costings for these measures. We expect the changes to raise significant amounts of revenue, securing additional funding to help deliver the Government’s commitments relating to education and young people.
Whether health and social care charges for students at special schools and colleges will be exempt from VAT.
The removal of the VAT exemption for private school fees will not impact pupils with the most acute additional needs, where these can only be met in private schools. Local Authorities (LAs) fund pupils’ places in private schools where their needs can only be met in a private institution. In England, where attendance at that private institution is required by a child’s Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), LAs will be able to reclaim the VAT on the fees from HMRC. This includes at post-16 special colleges.Where a single fee is paid for students at special schools or colleges to cover all aspects of the service they provide (including health and social care), the VAT status of that fee will be determined by whether the predominant element of the supply is education. HMRC will publish further guidance to assist schools before the Budget. The Government will confirm the introduction of these tax policy changes at Budget, at which point the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will certify the Government’s costings for these measures. We expect the changes to raise significant amounts of revenue, securing additional funding to help deliver the Government’s commitments relating to education and young people.
What her Department's projected spending is on breakfast club programmes for secondary schools in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.
The department will be spending up to £11 million on the National School Breakfast Programme in 2024/25.The government has already taken decisive action by announcing in the King’s Speech that, under the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, every state funded school with primary aged pupils will offer a free breakfast club. Legislating for breakfast club provision will give schools the certainty they need to plan for the future.Future spending commitments, including on the Breakfast Club programme, will be set out as part of the Spending Review process. The department is working closely with schools and sector experts to develop a programme that meets the needs of children, schools and parents.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2809 on Private Education: Taxation, whether the tax information and impact note will include an assessment of the potential impact of this policy on different religious faiths.
On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Any fees paid from 29 July 2024 relating to the term starting in January 2025 onwards will be subject to VAT. Furthermore, where a school in England has charitable status, the Government will legislate to remove their eligibility to business rates charitable rate relief. This is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary passage. This includes independent schools, part-funded by overseas governments, bi-lingual schools, and faith schools. The final policy design will be confirmed at the Budget. A technical note setting out the details, alongside draft VAT legislation, was published in July and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees-removing-the-charitable-rates-relief-for-private-schools. Business rates are administered by local government. Therefore, local authorities are responsible for determining eligibility for reliefs, including with respect to dual-use locations. Charitable rates relief is available to properties deemed to be ‘wholly or mainly’ used for charitable purposes. Certain properties are exempt from business rates including buildings that are places of public religious worship and buildings used for the training and/or welfare of disabled persons. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for determining whether a property meets the necessary legal requirements to be exempt. Details on final policy decisions regarding the removal of private schools’ eligibility for charitable rate relief will be set out at the Budget.The Government has carefully considered the impact that changes to the tax treatment of private schools will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, the Government will confirm its approach to these reforms at the Budget on 30 October, and set out its assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes in a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN). TIINs give a clear explanation of the policy objective, including details of the tax impact on the Exchequer, business, individuals and any equalities impacts.These changes will not affect the VAT status of FE Colleges. Maintained schools are funded by local authorities, who are able to recover their VAT through the s33 VAT refund scheme, which aims to ensure VAT is not a burden on local taxation. Academies can also recover their VAT under s33B, to ensure they are not disincentivised from leaving LA control. FE colleges do not meet the rationale for admission to either refund scheme.
Whether charged-for education provided in (a) church premises and (b) other dual-use locations that are charitably exempt will be liable for (i) VAT and (ii) business rates.
On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Any fees paid from 29 July 2024 relating to the term starting in January 2025 onwards will be subject to VAT. Furthermore, where a school in England has charitable status, the Government will legislate to remove their eligibility to business rates charitable rate relief. This is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary passage. This includes independent schools, part-funded by overseas governments, bi-lingual schools, and faith schools. The final policy design will be confirmed at the Budget. A technical note setting out the details, alongside draft VAT legislation, was published in July and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees-removing-the-charitable-rates-relief-for-private-schools. Business rates are administered by local government. Therefore, local authorities are responsible for determining eligibility for reliefs, including with respect to dual-use locations. Charitable rates relief is available to properties deemed to be ‘wholly or mainly’ used for charitable purposes. Certain properties are exempt from business rates including buildings that are places of public religious worship and buildings used for the training and/or welfare of disabled persons. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for determining whether a property meets the necessary legal requirements to be exempt. Details on final policy decisions regarding the removal of private schools’ eligibility for charitable rate relief will be set out at the Budget.The Government has carefully considered the impact that changes to the tax treatment of private schools will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, the Government will confirm its approach to these reforms at the Budget on 30 October, and set out its assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes in a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN). TIINs give a clear explanation of the policy objective, including details of the tax impact on the Exchequer, business, individuals and any equalities impacts.These changes will not affect the VAT status of FE Colleges. Maintained schools are funded by local authorities, who are able to recover their VAT through the s33 VAT refund scheme, which aims to ensure VAT is not a burden on local taxation. Academies can also recover their VAT under s33B, to ensure they are not disincentivised from leaving LA control. FE colleges do not meet the rationale for admission to either refund scheme.
What criteria her Department plans to use to classify schools as English language schools for the purposes of determining an exemption from VAT.
On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Any fees paid from 29 July 2024 relating to the term starting in January 2025 onwards will be subject to VAT. Furthermore, where a school in England has charitable status, the Government will legislate to remove their eligibility to business rates charitable rate relief. This is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary passage. This includes independent schools, part-funded by overseas governments, bi-lingual schools, and faith schools. The final policy design will be confirmed at the Budget. A technical note setting out the details, alongside draft VAT legislation, was published in July and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees-removing-the-charitable-rates-relief-for-private-schools. Business rates are administered by local government. Therefore, local authorities are responsible for determining eligibility for reliefs, including with respect to dual-use locations. Charitable rates relief is available to properties deemed to be ‘wholly or mainly’ used for charitable purposes. Certain properties are exempt from business rates including buildings that are places of public religious worship and buildings used for the training and/or welfare of disabled persons. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for determining whether a property meets the necessary legal requirements to be exempt. Details on final policy decisions regarding the removal of private schools’ eligibility for charitable rate relief will be set out at the Budget.The Government has carefully considered the impact that changes to the tax treatment of private schools will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, the Government will confirm its approach to these reforms at the Budget on 30 October, and set out its assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes in a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN). TIINs give a clear explanation of the policy objective, including details of the tax impact on the Exchequer, business, individuals and any equalities impacts.These changes will not affect the VAT status of FE Colleges. Maintained schools are funded by local authorities, who are able to recover their VAT through the s33 VAT refund scheme, which aims to ensure VAT is not a burden on local taxation. Academies can also recover their VAT under s33B, to ensure they are not disincentivised from leaving LA control. FE colleges do not meet the rationale for admission to either refund scheme.
Whether it is her policy that bi-lingual schools will be exempt for paying (a) VAT and (b) business rates.
On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Any fees paid from 29 July 2024 relating to the term starting in January 2025 onwards will be subject to VAT. Furthermore, where a school in England has charitable status, the Government will legislate to remove their eligibility to business rates charitable rate relief. This is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary passage. This includes independent schools, part-funded by overseas governments, bi-lingual schools, and faith schools. The final policy design will be confirmed at the Budget. A technical note setting out the details, alongside draft VAT legislation, was published in July and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees-removing-the-charitable-rates-relief-for-private-schools. Business rates are administered by local government. Therefore, local authorities are responsible for determining eligibility for reliefs, including with respect to dual-use locations. Charitable rates relief is available to properties deemed to be ‘wholly or mainly’ used for charitable purposes. Certain properties are exempt from business rates including buildings that are places of public religious worship and buildings used for the training and/or welfare of disabled persons. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for determining whether a property meets the necessary legal requirements to be exempt. Details on final policy decisions regarding the removal of private schools’ eligibility for charitable rate relief will be set out at the Budget.The Government has carefully considered the impact that changes to the tax treatment of private schools will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, the Government will confirm its approach to these reforms at the Budget on 30 October, and set out its assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes in a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN). TIINs give a clear explanation of the policy objective, including details of the tax impact on the Exchequer, business, individuals and any equalities impacts.These changes will not affect the VAT status of FE Colleges. Maintained schools are funded by local authorities, who are able to recover their VAT through the s33 VAT refund scheme, which aims to ensure VAT is not a burden on local taxation. Academies can also recover their VAT under s33B, to ensure they are not disincentivised from leaving LA control. FE colleges do not meet the rationale for admission to either refund scheme.
Whether it is her policy that independent schools part-funded by overseas governments will be exempt from paying VAT.
On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools. Any fees paid from 29 July 2024 relating to the term starting in January 2025 onwards will be subject to VAT. Furthermore, where a school in England has charitable status, the Government will legislate to remove their eligibility to business rates charitable rate relief. This is intended to take effect from April 2025, subject to Parliamentary passage. This includes independent schools, part-funded by overseas governments, bi-lingual schools, and faith schools. The final policy design will be confirmed at the Budget. A technical note setting out the details, alongside draft VAT legislation, was published in July and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees-removing-the-charitable-rates-relief-for-private-schools. Business rates are administered by local government. Therefore, local authorities are responsible for determining eligibility for reliefs, including with respect to dual-use locations. Charitable rates relief is available to properties deemed to be ‘wholly or mainly’ used for charitable purposes. Certain properties are exempt from business rates including buildings that are places of public religious worship and buildings used for the training and/or welfare of disabled persons. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for determining whether a property meets the necessary legal requirements to be exempt. Details on final policy decisions regarding the removal of private schools’ eligibility for charitable rate relief will be set out at the Budget.The Government has carefully considered the impact that changes to the tax treatment of private schools will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector, as well as the impact they will have on state and private schools. Following scrutiny of the Government’s costing by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, the Government will confirm its approach to these reforms at the Budget on 30 October, and set out its assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes in a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN). TIINs give a clear explanation of the policy objective, including details of the tax impact on the Exchequer, business, individuals and any equalities impacts.These changes will not affect the VAT status of FE Colleges. Maintained schools are funded by local authorities, who are able to recover their VAT through the s33 VAT refund scheme, which aims to ensure VAT is not a burden on local taxation. Academies can also recover their VAT under s33B, to ensure they are not disincentivised from leaving LA control. FE colleges do not meet the rationale for admission to either refund scheme.
What her policy is on funding support for breakfast clubs at special schools.
The government is committed to making quick progress to deliver on its commitment to offer breakfast clubs in every school with primary aged pupils. Departmental officials are working closely with schools and sector experts to develop a programme that meets the needs of all children, including children with special educational needs and disabilities, schools and parents. The government has already taken decisive action by announcing in the King’s Speech that, under the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, every state funded school with primary aged children will offer a free breakfast club. Legislating for breakfast club provision will give schools the certainty they need to plan for the future. The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs, to restore parents’ trust that their child will get the support they need.
What estimate she has made of the number of primary and secondary schools which (a) were offering a free breakfast club at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year and (b) are projected to be offering a free breakfast club at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year.
To date, the department has not regularly collected data on the total number of schools that operate breakfast clubs, and, as a result, the department is unable to project the anticipated numbers for this academic year.The National School Breakfast Club Programme currently supports up to 2,700 participating schools in disadvantaged areas, but this is not enough. The department understands the significant impact breakfast clubs can have in ensuring that children arrive at school ready to learn. Therefore, the department will be inviting 750 schools to participate in an early adopter scheme in April 2025, designed to test and identify effective strategies before a national rollout.The department is collaborating closely with the sector to ensure that appropriate support, including funding, guidance and resources, is established.
How many children of military service personnel are educated in independent schools under the Continuity of Education Allowance programme, by region.
The Ministry of Defence does not hold data on region or type of school for those Service personnel who claim Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA); however, I can confirm that 2,678 Service personnel claimed CEA for 4,021 Service children in Academic Year 2023-24.
How his plans for dedicated mental health professionals’ support for secondary schools relate to plans for mental health support teams for schools set out in the Green Paper for Transforming children and young people’s mental health, published in 2017.
The Department is working across the Government to deliver our commitment of a specialist mental health professional in every school. We need to ensure any support meets the needs of young people, teachers, parents, and carers which is why we are exploring a range of options. This includes existing programmes of support with evidence of a positive impact, such as Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges.