Speeches by Sewards.

“I have one final question to wrap up this section on availability. What reforms to the current system would you prioritise to improve the availability of early years provision?”

“Finally from me on the 30 hours, specifically for parents who are receiving it, we have just heard from Sarah about where the shortfalls are. Do you have any more data or specific stories that you can share with the Committee about parents who are accessing it but are still facing significant shortfalls between that an…”

“Are there any further comments on that one?”

“You have talked about the £9.5 billion and whether this is the best way to spend it. Are there any costs that are least visible to us all that we are not discussing, specifically deposits, late fees and term-time gaps, and what should we do to address them?”

“Although the debate is about road safety in the west midlands, many of the lessons that the hon. Lady talks about will apply nationwide, including in Leeds South West and Morley. Does she share my frustration that some councils rely on mean average speed data to determine whether to make adjustments on certain roads? A…”

“Do you know if those quotes come from people entitled to 30 hours?”

“Thank you so much. Any further comments?”

“The crisis resilience fund, which, as I am sure you know, merges the household support fund and discretionary housing payments, launched in April. How effective do you think the CRF will be as a mechanism to reduce child poverty? Do you think that any changes should be made? Beatrice, I will start with you because Trus…”

“That comprehensively answers my point about what changes you might want to see to the new CRF. My second question is pretty simple: how can local authorities be best supported to use the crisis and resilience fund to reduce child poverty, and how should they measure the impact? If you want to come in, Beatrice, that is…”

“It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard). I commend my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (David Taylor) on his speech; I will touch on some of the same themes. I am only really going to refer to the tackling state threats Bill today. This new legislation honours Labour’s…”

“Very good. That is three down; here are the next two questions from me. We are talking about the National Year of Reading as well, which we know aims to address the long-term decline in reading and enjoyment of it, as I am sure you have heard. What is your view of its effectiveness so far and what needs to be done to m…”

“That is helpful; thank you. Any further thoughts on how schools are working with the organisations I listed before?”

“Buying them in bulk from a wholesaler.”

“The Booksellers Association, in its evidence to us, has said that schools should buy books from local bookshops. What is your assessment of the cost of that possibility?”

“Do you measure them in any way?”

“Understood; thank you. What is the impact of school visits? What can change? What can help?”

“Very good. That is three down; here are the next two questions from me. We are talking about the National Year of Reading as well, which we know aims to address the long-term decline in reading and enjoyment of it, as I am sure you have heard. What is your view of its effectiveness so far and what needs to be done to m…”

“That is helpful; thank you. Any further thoughts on how schools are working with the organisations I listed before?”

“Buying them in bulk from a wholesaler.”

“The Booksellers Association, in its evidence to us, has said that schools should buy books from local bookshops. What is your assessment of the cost of that possibility?”