Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP: written questions

Written questions

• Extended Services: BerkshireDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14417More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the affordability of wraparound childcare in (a) Slough and (b) Berkshire.

  Answer: We want families to access the childcare support they need and get help with the cost of childcare, so that parents can work and children have the best start in life. We are rolling out free breakfast clubs across the country to support families with work...

  Answered 8 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record
• PE and School Sport Partnerships NetworkDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14416More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with specialist sport providers for schools regarding the potential impact of the introduction of the PE and School Sport Partnerships Network on their services.

  Answer: The department conducted sessions with major sector stakeholders including specialist sport providers in the summer 2025, and we have engaged with Sport England and National Governing Bodies of Sport to support policy development. We have also held market...

  Answered 14 Aug 2026

  Original Parliament record
• PE and School Sport Partnerships NetworkDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14415More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether further guidance will be published on the PE and School Sport Partnerships Network for schools.

  Answer: The department is currently procuring a National Delivery Partner to establish and manage the new PE and School Sport Partnership network.Once this procurement process has concluded, we will be sharing further detail on how this new model will work. The N...

  Answered 8 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record
• PE and Sport PremiumDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14414More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with headteachers on the potential impact of changes to the Primary PE and Sport Premium on schools.

  Answer: On the 21 May, my right Hon. Friend, the former Secretary of State for Education, wrote to all head teachers to inform them of the transition to the PE and Sports Partnerships.We engage regularly with school leadership organisations on the changes to PE a...

  Answered 14 Aug 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Special Educational Needs: Speech and Language DisordersDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13536More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with speech and language (a) organisations and (b) specialists on their views on (i) SEND reforms and (ii) the support available to children with speech and language challeng

  Answer: The government consultation, special educational needs and disabilities reform: putting children and young people first, revealed the critical role that speech and language therapy plays in supporting children with speech, language and communication needs...

  Answered 7 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Children: Speech and Language TherapyDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13535More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the availability of speech and language therapy for children in Slough.

  Answer: The government consultation, special educational needs and disabilities reform: putting children and young people first, revealed the critical role that speech and language therapy plays in supporting children with speech, language and communication needs...

  Answered 7 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Extracurricular ActivitiesDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 13533More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with British DanceSport Association on the adequacy of safeguarding legislation in protecting children who attend extracurricular activities.

  Answer: The department is committed to safeguarding all children from harm, including those attending extracurricular activities. ​Last year, we launched a Call for Evidence on Safeguarding in Out-of-School Settings to better understand current practice and invit...

  Answered 6 Jul 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Extracurricular Activities: VettingDepartment for EducationTabled 19 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 11439More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of the definition of regulated activity with children in protecting (a) children and (b) vulnerable adults within the extracurricular sector.

  Answer: The government is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults, including those attending extracurricular activities. In most cases, those who deliver such activities, particularly those regularly undertaking unsupervised teaching, trainin...

  Answered 29 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• PE and Sport PremiumDepartment for EducationTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3393More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to announce future funding arrangements for the Primary PE and Sport Premium.

  Answer: The government has confirmed an investment over £1 billion in school sport over the next three years, including more than £580 million to fund the new Partnerships Network, improve school sports facilities and support primary schools as we move to the new...

  Answered 1 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Primary Education: Physical Education and SportsDepartment for EducationTabled 20 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3392More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent progress has been made on how Primary PE and Sport will be funded in the 2026–27 academic year.

  Answer: The government has confirmed an investment over £1 billion in school sport over the next three years, including more than £580 million to fund the new Partnerships Network, improve school sports facilities and support primary schools as we move to the new...

  Answered 1 Jun 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Department for Education: Iron and SteelDepartment for EducationTabled 14 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 127143More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps they are taking to increase the amount of UK made steel used in procurement contracts overseen by their Department.

  Answer: The department strongly supports the UK’s Industrial Strategy, fostering a resilient economy that supports British businesses and creates good jobs in communities across the country. UK-produced steel has a significant role to play in construction and edu...

  Answered 29 Apr 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Department for Education: National SecurityDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119411More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 88 of the policy paper entitled UK Government Resilience Action Plan, published on 14 July 2025, how many meetings have been attended by civil servants within their Department in rel

  Answer: The Resilience Action Plan sets out the government’s strategic approach to how we will strengthen our domestic resilience and invest to protect the nation. Officials from the department regularly attend meetings to discuss the implementation of the Resili...

  Answered 8 Apr 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Department for Education: DefenceDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117839More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 92 of the Strategic Defence Review, how many meetings officials from their Department have attended on the national conversation on defence and security; which directorate in their Depart

  Answer: Officials from the department regularly attend meetings to discuss matters of national security, defence and resilience as well as the associated public communications required to deliver these lines of efforts. The conversation on national defence was a ...

  Answered 24 Mar 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Department for Education: National SecurityDepartment for EducationTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 116870More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers in their Department have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

  Answer: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience.The Home Defence Programme was establi...

  Answered 24 Mar 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Department for Education: DefenceDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115935More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 92 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, how many (a) public engagements and (b) private meetings Ministers in their Department have undertaken related to the nationa

  Answer: Ministers in the Department for Education have regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience, and associated public communications. As set out in t...

  Answered 2 Mar 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Teachers: PayDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113395More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of teachers' pay in real terms.

  Answer: Despite the challenging fiscal context, this government is taking action to restore teaching as the highly valued profession it should be. This includes prioritising pay with above inflation increases of almost 10% over two years.Our latest pay proposal o...

  Answered 26 Feb 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Teachers: RecruitmentDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113394More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent progress has been made in recruiting 6,500 teachers.

  Answer: We are making progress towards our pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers. The latest School Workforce Census reported 2,346 more secondary and special school teachers (FTE) in 2024/25 compared to 2023/24.The same publication also reported one of the...

  Answered 26 Feb 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Teachers: Mental Health ServicesDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113392More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment has been made of the (a) availability and (b) adequacy of workplace mental health support available to (i) teachers and (ii) school staff.

  Answer: The department takes the wellbeing and mental health of teachers and school staff very seriously.We have worked with the sector to develop the Education Staff Wellbeing Charter which can be used to inform a whole school or college approach to wellbeing. O...

  Answered 26 Feb 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Children: Social ServicesDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112894More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment has been made of whether children’s social care practice adequately supports parents who are experiencing post-separation abuse.

  Answer: The Children’s Social Care National Framework (2023) statutory guidance sets the direction for children’s social care practice. It describes expectations for practitioners working sensitively with whole families, including to identify and address the impa...

  Answered 23 Feb 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Students: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112458More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment has she made of the adequacy of financial support available to university students.

  Answer: The government needs to ensure that the student funding system is financially sustainable, and funding arrangements are reviewed each year.We are increasing loans for living costs each year in line with forecast inflation with students from the lowest inc...

  Answered 18 Feb 2026

  Original Parliament record
• School Meals: NutritionDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111790More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the nutritional guidance for school dinners.

  Answer: The School Food Standards regulate the food and drink provided at both lunchtime and at other times of the school day. We are revising the School Food Standards and engaging with stakeholders to ensure they support our work to create the healthiest genera...

  Answered 23 Feb 2026

  Original Parliament record
• Schools: KnivesDepartment for EducationTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110456More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has been made of the adequacy of national guidance for schools regarding (a) incidents and (b) reports of knife possession on school grounds.

  Answer: It is essential that schools are equipped to act decisively to safeguard all pupils and staff. The department regularly keeps guidance under review and we are actively considering how we can further support schools to understand the expectations set out i...

  Answered 9 Feb 2026

  Original Parliament record
• School MilkDepartment for EducationTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97162More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consideration her Department has given to including milk in government-funded breakfast clubs without reducing funding for existing milk provision schemes.

  Answer: The department funds schools taking part in the free breakfast clubs programme to buy breakfast foods and drinks, as well as to cover staffing and delivery costs. Schools are required to provide a breakfast adhering to the school food standards, which cou...

  Answered 16 Dec 2025

  Original Parliament record
• School MilkDepartment for EducationTabled 18 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 92169More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve awareness of milk entitlement schemes among schools.

  Answer: Milk is an excellent food for children’s growth and development. To help schools understand the milk entitlement schemes available to them, departmental advice is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standards-for-school-food-in-engl...

  Answered 25 Nov 2025

  Original Parliament record
• Pupils: AbsenteeismDepartment for EducationTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 91052More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps her Department has taken alongside local authorities to help tackle persistent absence in schools in Slough constituency.

  Answer: Tackling absence is at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. Thanks to the efforts of schools, absence is moving in the right direction, with children attending over 5.31 million more days this year compared to last....

  Answered 5 Dec 2025

  Original Parliament record