Ben Spencer MP: written questions
4 Jul 2024–3 Jul 2025
How these years work
Our reporting years run from 4 July to 3 July, starting with the 2024 general election. They are not official parliamentary sessions. Office costs keep IPSA’s April–March financial years. Records may cover only part of a year; a missing record does not mean no work was done.
Read what this MP said, asked and contributed in Parliament.
18 published records · newest first.
Written questions
GCE A-level and GCSE: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the prevalence of the use of large language models in the preparation of (a) GCSE and (b) A-Level course work; and whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of coursewor
Answer: Ofqual is the independent regulator of qualifications and assessments for England and is responsible for setting relevant rules and guidance, including in relation to malpractice. Ofqual published its approach to regulating the use of artificial intellige...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversities: ApplicationsDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60230More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of (a) the prevalence of the use of large language models in the preparation of UCAS personal statements and (b) the potential impact of the use of large language models in UCAS per
Answer: The personal statement is an opportunity for applicants to showcase their ambitions, skills and experiences. As such, it is important that students use their own words to accurately reflect their unique qualifications and suitability for the chosen course...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunication Skills: TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 7 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44565More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to improve (a) training provisions and (b) support for speech and language development professionals.
Answer: The department is continuing to improve access to speech and language therapy by funding the Early Language and Support for Every Child pathfinder project, in partnership with NHS England. This programme aims to improve capacity and knowledge in the workf...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: InspectionsDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31643More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment with the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology of the adequacy of the accessibility of the consultation entitled Improving the way Ofsted inspects education, p
Answer: This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge directly and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: AccountabilityDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31641More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility to people who are digitally excluded of the consultation entitled School accountability reform.
Answer: Consultation documents set out, within the first few pages, alternative ways that respondents can obtain copies in alternative formats, and how to respond through methods other than the online system.The department can be contacted by post or email to req...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Restraint TechniquesDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31530More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility to people who are digitally excluded of the consultation on the Use of reasonable force and other restrictive interventions guidance: proposed
Answer: Consultation documents set out, within the first few pages, alternative ways that respondents can obtain copies in alternative formats, and how to respond through methods other than the online system.The department can be contacted by post or email to req...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHigher Education: FranchisesDepartment for EducationTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29638More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the accessibility to people who are digitally excluded of the consultation on Franchising in higher education.
Answer: The department’s consultation on franchising in higher education (HE) offers different alternatives to respond in order to meet the range of accessibility needs.There is an option to respond via post by using a printed copy of the consultation document, f...
Answered 20 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordCurriculum: ReformDepartment for EducationTabled 29 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 27443More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) schools and (b) educators are adequately (i) informed and (ii) prepared for national curriculum reform.
Answer: The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review is being undertaken in close consultation with education professionals, and will pay attention to the practicalities of implementation and the avoidance of unintended consequences and additional workload fo...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Employers' ContributionsDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26397More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 2.40 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions o
Answer: Home-to-school travel is an integral part of the school system. It provides a valuable service on which many families rely. The department is grateful to the many transport operators for the crucial role they play in ensuring that children receive the edu...
Answered 29 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordPupils: HealthDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11897More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with school leaders on the effectiveness of individual healthcare plans in schools for children with (a) epilepsy, (b) asthma, (c) a history of anaphylaxis, (d) severe allegories an
Answer: Statutory guidance, ‘Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions’, recommends the use of individual healthcare plans as good practice. They can help schools support pupils with medical conditions, providing clarity about what needs to be done, whe...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPupils: HealthDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 11896More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will review the statutory guidance on Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 regarding individual healthcare plans in schools.
Answer: Statutory guidance, ‘Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions’, recommends the use of individual healthcare plans as good practice. They can help schools support pupils with medical conditions, providing clarity about what needs to be done, whe...
Answered 5 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordSchools: SurreyDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10775More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) motorway noise and (b) air pollution from the M25 on schools in (i) Addlestone, (ii) Chertsey, (iii) Downside, (iv) Egham, (v) New Haw and (vi)
Answer: Local outdoor air quality is the responsibility of local authorities who should prepare local air quality strategies to ensure that air quality in their area is improved.The department takes the health, safety, and wellbeing of school users very seriously...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordEducational Psychology: Labour Turnover and RecruitmentDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9783More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to (a) train, (b) recruit and (c) retain educational psychologists.
Answer: Educational psychologists play a critical role in the support available to children and young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). However, the department knows that current workforce shortages are a barrier to d...
Answered 25 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9573More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which schools are participating in the Nuffield Early Language Intervention programme; and how much funding is provided to each school as part of the Early Language and Support for Every Child in Surrey.
Answer: There are 11,100 schools registered for the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme currently, following the continuation of the programme for an additional academic year, which was announced in July 2024. The full list of schools registered...
Answered 21 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSchools: Adrenaline Auto-injectorsDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) staff training and (b) equipment for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis in schools.
Answer: Section 100 of the Children and Families Act 2014 places a duty on maintained schools, Academies and Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) to make arrangements to support pupils with medical conditions.The accompanying statutory guidance, entitled Supporting Pupils...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordMagna Carta SchoolDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8890More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will rebuild the Magna Carta School in Egham.
Answer: Magna Carta was announced as part of the school rebuilding programme in February 2024. The department remains committed to rebuild or refurbish all schools within the programme and we can confirm that early planning work for Magna Carta has started.
Answered 22 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Speech and Language DisordersDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8231More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the (a) adequacy of and (b) geographical inequalities in access to Speech and Language Screening in educational and early years settings.
Answer: The department is aware that the most prevalent type of primary need identified among pupils with special educational needs (SEN) is ‘speech, language and communication needs’ (SLCN). Our vision for children and young people with SLCN is the same as it is...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSchools: AdmissionsDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 4863More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the total number of (a) children whose parents or guardians have applied for them from independent to state sector schools and (b) independent schools that (i) closed and (ii) ha
Answer: The department does not hold data on the total number of children whose parents or guardians have applied for them to move from independent to state sector schools. The Get Information about Schools website shows that five private schools across four cons...
Answered 19 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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4 Jul 2024–3 Jul 2025. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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