Speeches by Paffey.

“Good morning to the panel. I think it goes without saying that we talk about strategies, we talk about targets, but what we are after is not just moving money around, it is making a material difference so that children’s life chances are better. Could we dig into a bit more detail on what we know works? What has proven…”

“Yes. I was really after what is most effective.”

“Sorry, are you saying that those are policy interventions that you have made in this case in Northern Ireland that are not yet there in the UK?”

“I thank the Minister for his statement. As schools and early years providers start the new term across Southampton this week, we have two new nurseries—at St Mary’s Church of England primary school and at Valentine primary school—which will add to that provision thanks to the investment of this Labour Government. That …”

“I really welcome this pivotal Bill. When I was deputy leader of Southampton city council, I saw at first hand how local decisions made by local people were transformative for the community, but I also saw over 14 long years of Conservative government how we were held back by a broken system that turned councils into su…”

“I thank my hon. Friend and near neighbour for making that point. Absolutely, boundary changes must be looked at sympathetically by Ministers. I hope to get that reassurance in their comments, because what we stand to gain in the short term from a quick and easy decision, we will lose in the long term if councils find t…”

“There have been a number of Government measures, such as attendance mentors and attendance hubs. We are interested in what impact those have had in changing anything. My specific question to Julie is around the Attendance Action Alliance, which was set up previously but has not met more recently. What is your view on h…”

“There have been a number of Government measures, such as attendance mentors and attendance hubs. We are interested in what impact those have had in changing anything. My specific question to Julie is around the Attendance Action Alliance, which was set up previously but has not met more recently. What is your view on h…”

“In terms of effectiveness, would you say that the measures of the alliance actually moved the dial overall, or could have done with more time?”

“Do you think the alliance should be reinstated?”

“A previous incarnation of this Committee made a recommendation that local authority support from councils should be audited—particularly things like education welfare officers—and that any funding to meet the guidance on that should be ringfenced. In your view, does that recommendation remain valid?”

“You will have heard me ask this question of the last panel, so it will be no surprise. I am interested in your assessment of existing Government measures like the attendance hubs and attendance mentors. What impact do you believe they have had?”

“This is a related question, because the last Committee had evidence around these cost-related barriers. I am interested in things like school trips, uniforms, equipment—those kinds of things. There are measures, such as what is in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, around the cost of uniforms, and so on. Is the…”

“A previous incarnation of this Committee made a recommendation that local authority support from councils should be audited—particularly things like education welfare officers—and that any funding to meet the guidance on that should be ringfenced. In your view, does that recommendation remain valid?”

“In terms of effectiveness, would you say that the measures of the alliance actually moved the dial overall, or could have done with more time?”

“Do you think the alliance should be reinstated?”

“You will have heard me ask this question of the last panel, so it will be no surprise. I am interested in your assessment of existing Government measures like the attendance hubs and attendance mentors. What impact do you believe they have had?”

“This is a related question, because the last Committee had evidence around these cost-related barriers. I am interested in things like school trips, uniforms, equipment—those kinds of things. There are measures, such as what is in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, around the cost of uniforms, and so on. Is the…”

“I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention and I wish him every success in his constituency with the pilot breakfast clubs. We have all welcomed in the last week a restoring—let us be honest—of Sure Start-style family hubs which will provide wraparound support for parents. From the hubs I have seen in my constituency …”

“It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central (Gareth Snell), although I feel I am breaking a run of excellent speeches from the Staffordshire massive. I very much welcome this debate on giving every child the best start in life. I think one thing we can agree on across all the Benches…”