Speeches by Paffey.

“There is a disparity in how FE colleges are able to claim VAT based on how they are branded or categorised. A sixth-form academy in the west of my city can reclaim VAT costs, as can sixth forms that are part of schools, but an FE college and a stand-alone sixth form in the east of my city cannot reclaim their VAT costs…”

“You are right that it is a big step, but it will not eradicate child poverty, obviously. What is the second biggest or most effective step that can be taken? What further measures are high up on your priority list in order to really shift the dial on child poverty?”

“Turning to the curriculum and assessment review, a number of recommendations were made by Professor Francis, some of which have been taken and some of which have not. One recommendation was that both English and maths be assessed in year 8; you have decided to assess English but not maths. Can you please explain your t…”

“The Committee recommended that that disparity be addressed, and the Department has chosen not to accept that recommendation. Can you explain why?”

“Minister, you have spoken quite supportively in this session about those universities that are seeking to do things such as share backroom services as a way of reducing their costs. What we have heard is that when they look at doing so the imposition of VAT on those separate organisations then becomes a barrier. Would …”

“Will your monitoring lead you, if necessary, to challenge the potential emergence of those cold spots? As a Government with a mission to break down barriers to opportunity, if that barrier becomes that someone who cannot afford to live away for university now cannot even commute to do the course that they want, that be…”

“Would you be willing to raise this if, as we heard from a number of institutions, they were to make their case for that? I appreciate that it is very last minute for this round, but we are talking about long-term sustainability and if they are going to be looking at that over the coming years and that becomes a barrier…”

“A final question if I may. I am starting to hear about a return of some universities to using quite a lot of unconditional offers, not post-qualification but using it—we know why they are using them. They want bums on seats. They want money in the bank. That is why the DfE took action to ban them before. Would you agre…”

“Other providers have provided evidence too.”

“You mentioned extra funding there for high-cost subjects. One of the suggestions that has come from Universities UK is that you reinstate the strategic priorities grant for vulnerable subjects. Is that something that you are willing to consider?”

“One of the potential risks of any institutions going insolvent or even in the case of some mergers is that you will see cold spots in particular subjects emerging across the country. Minister, you have already ruled out a return to student number controls, but you have started mapping out those potential cold spots. Co…”

“Q4. This is Care Leavers Month, when we remember the resilience and brilliance of our young people who have grown up in care, and I was delighted to welcome a group of Southampton’s care leavers to share their views with the Under-Secretary of State for Education, my hon. Friend the Member for Whitehaven and Workington…”

“Evidence suggests that the staff in baby rooms are generally less qualified than staff in the rest of the early years sector. Would the package of recommendations you have just outlined deal with qualifications for those working with under two-year-olds? Or are there specific different things you would recommend? Is th…”

“How can the DfE improve both the coherence and the evidence base of qualifications in the early years sector?”

“My next question is just to Sarah Tillotson. You have stated in evidence that the stronger practice hubs vary in expertise. Do you have any brief thoughts on how we can get all stronger practice hubs brought up to the level of the best ones? What is the best strategy for achieving that?”

“Thank you, Chair. Thinking about the quality of childcare settings, what is clear is that the Government want to expand largely by relying on the private sector and the market to provide the majority of places, but we know that there are international examples where rapid expansion has led to a diminishing of quality, …”

“I am also a member of Unison.”

“I will listen to the experts before I listen to the Front Bench any day—the Opposition Front Bench. [Laughter.] If the right hon. Member listens, she will hear that. Will the Secretary of State please look at the overall load throughout school, not just in GCSE year, and comment on how she sees the introduction of an a…”

“I welcome a curriculum review that will break down barriers. It opens up so much of the digital and financial literacy that the Conservatives seem to think is unimportant to all, but which we know will raise aspirations by equipping young people from all backgrounds. I have two questions that I would like to ask the Se…”

“On the issue of shoplifting, does my hon. Friend agree that the Tories are having a bad day with their memory? Not only have they forgotten that next to my seat of Southampton Itchen is Madam Deputy Speaker’s equally fine seat of Romsey and Southampton North, where twice I failed to persuade the people to vote for me; …”