Parliamentary Activity - Bridget Phillipson

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

I am afraid that I am concluding now. We are bringing together the system’s many parts into a collaborative, coherent whole with children at its heart. Our ambition to support children does...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

I agree with my hon. Friend. I recognise the challenge that she faces in her constituency and that we see right across our country. We have seen a big increase in the number of children being...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

That is a total misunderstanding of the Bill. The hon. Gentleman should not seek to speak for others in this regard. We are restoring academies to their core intended purpose of driving up...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

I will give way a final time and then conclude.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

I agree with my hon. Friend that we need to ensure that local authorities are working with schools, health services and other partners in their areas. Through the last Budget, we were able to...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

We are looking carefully at all the schools in the pipeline, but we need to ensure that in every case there is a strong case for the need for the school and good value for the taxpayer. We have...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

My hon. Friend brings a wealth of experience as a teacher to the House. I know that teachers will want to hear what this will mean for their pay, so I reiterate that the measures in the Bill and...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

I share the hon. Lady’s concern about the mental health challenges that many of our young people are experiencing, and we are committed to rolling out mental health support right across our...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

No; I invite the right hon. Lady to look carefully at the measures in the Bill. We will not hesitate to intervene in failing schools—indeed, we will intervene a lot sooner than the...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

That is just not the case. I invite him to read the Bill, and I will come on to further measures that we are proposing. If we believe that every child deserves the best, that every classroom...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

I agree with my hon. Friend. We have been led by the evidence on this, which is clear: this measure provides real support to parents at the start of the school day, but also delivers benefits for...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

I welcome the hon. Lady’s interest in this area, because I share her concern about the growing number of children in our country who are deeply unhappy, and the growing challenge of mental...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

A number of provisions in the Bill deal precisely with that challenge. We recognise that in London—but shortly this will be the case right across our country—there are challenges that...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

Absolutely. The Bill will put hundreds of pounds back into family finances and back into parents’ pockets by cutting the cost of school uniform, and by introducing breakfast clubs in every...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

We will of course always keep further action under review. Through the child poverty taskforce, which I co-chair the Work and Pensions Secretary, we are considering what further action is...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. In my time with her on the Public Accounts Committee, I learned all too well the importance of those principles. The previous Government had work under way on...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

I will come on to the wider point of collaboration later in my speech. Collaboration across the school system is crucial, but my hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the really important...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

That is simply a mischaracterisation, and the right hon. Gentleman knows it. I will come on to the wider schools measures in this Bill later in my speech, but I note that he had nothing to say in...

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill

Commons debates

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. In the week in which we return to this House and our children return to school, I am proud to be the Secretary of State for Education in a...

Topical Questions

Women and Equalities

Bridget Phillipson made a speech in the House of Commons

The Government will of course always keep such issues under review, and I will ensure that the Minister in the relevant Department speaks with the right hon. Lady on this topic.