Speeches by Paffey.

“Forgive me, just to press you on that, does that mean that essentially Treasury has spoken and you and MHCLG simply must solve this with what you have, or are there specific conversations going on that recognise that this is a crisis and that it is going to take cross-governmental and departmental strategy and rolling …”

“On that point, then, can you offer reassurance to this Committee that the conversations are happening between the DFE, the Treasury and MHCLG on a long-term sustainable funding solution for SEND? Is that work happening yet?”

“In that case, what would be in your discussions with MHCLG, especially as it has announced a consultation at the same time as the override has been renewed? Catherine McKinnell: The conversations are constantly ongoing with local authorities. I was looking at the list of local authorities and their most recent inspecti…”

“As someone who used to be the budget holder on council for SEND, I know that the extension of the statutory override will be welcomed by councils across the country. However, is this just kicking the can down the road or is there a set of concrete actions that the Government are going to be working with councils on to …”

“The responsibility should not just lie with SENCOs. This is about building a culture of inclusion in all schools. Will you at least commit to considering making that mandatory and ensure that schools carry out regular audits, as has been suggested by a leading head teacher, on this issue to make sure that we are moving…”

“Minister, in your opening statement you talked about achieving inclusivity by building expertise, as you put it. Of course, we know that continuous professional development on SEND is still optional. There is lots of evidence out there to show that training is crucial for effective support to help children, so do you a…”

“I speak as a signatory to the reasoned amendment tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney South and Shoreditch (Dame Meg Hillier), because I recognised, as many across the House did, that there were serious problems with the original version of the Bill. Welfare reform, which we all believe in, has to be fair, c…”

“Most of the answer to that question is obviously a matter for the Minister, but I do not want to delay the uplift in universal credit, so I am willing to vote that through today. We understand the catastrophic financial mess that we inherited, but we have to underscore the fact that abstract OBR dogma means nothing to …”

“I am coming to a conclusion. Let us build a system that is sustainable, but that is, above all, just and fair.”

“My hon. Friend makes an important point that I hope the Minister will confirm. There are other assurances that many of us would like to hear from the Dispatch Box today, including a defined timetable for the report. In wrapping up the debate, will the Minister confirm that November 2026 is now no longer a relevant date…”

“I thank my right hon. Friend for her work on this issue and for making the statement today, although I share hon. Members’ concerns that making changes before a review is putting the cart before the horse. I must just press her on this. While I welcome the changes that bring immediate security and protection for existi…”

“As I understand it, the Department does not collect specific data on the post-16 qualifications levels and courses that are taken by care leavers. Do you have any intention to change that? That could be helpful in targeting support.”

“What will happen to change that? You mentioned making sure that councils are properly letting care leavers know about the support that is available and getting them access to that. Is that something that the DFE will enact? Are you in negotiation with MHCLG to make sure that the message is going out to councils about t…”

“Further education has often been described as a second chance for care leavers yet, as we all well know, outcomes are not good, and care leavers are three times more likely to not be in education, employment or training. What are the Government doing to address that problem?”

“I appreciate the wider need to be in control of migration numbers, and you raised the issue of contribution. Do you think this is sending the right message on contribution to international students and to higher education providers whose success quite often comes from the contribution that brains from around the world …”

“In the Immigration White Paper in May the Home Office announced that it was planning to explore introducing a levy on the income that higher education institutions get from international students. I am a former HE lecturer and I am intrigued by what the rationale for this is. I see why in some areas it might be good to…”

“It will be producing its own annual report with all those kinds of measures in it?”

“One of the reasons given for setting it up as an executive agency was the need to act urgently, which is completely understandable for the Government with this as their priority. How do you plan to monitor and review Skills England’s operational effectiveness?”

“Are you content that it can do all the things you want it to do but also be innovative in the sense of there being space in its terms of reference to be able to challenge current policy?”

“You have raised Skills England and mentioned what you see as the strengths of the overview it will have. One of the concerns that has been raised is that it will, as an executive agency, in some ways have less operational independence than its predecessor body. What steps have you taken to ensure that Skills England is…”