Speeches by Voaden.

“We are here to look forward to the UK-EU summit next week and not to relive the past; although, listening to today’s debate, I feel like I have gone back about 10 years. As we look forward, it is important that we all, in this place, do what we can to make the lives of people across the UK better. That is our job. Even…”

“The hon. Member talks about people losing their trust in politics. Does he agree that the promise of £350 million a week to go to the NHS, which was broadcast on the side of a big red bus during the referendum, might have somewhat reduced trust in his party?”

“On that point, it is possibly worth noting that the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage) attended only one of 42 European Parliament Fisheries Committee meetings that he could have attended, thereby never speaking up for British interests, and that is potentially why the common fisheries policy was not to our benefit…”

“I would like to focus on new clause 21. We can all see that the asylum system is broken and expensive, and the horror of people arriving in a desperate state on small boats is causing division and anger across our country. However, turning to a populist party that throws out soundbites that appeal to many but fall apar…”

“Will the Minister provide reassurance that Members of this House will be given the opportunity to fully scrutinise and vote on the new trade deal with the United States?”

“The Secretary of State says that free trade is essential for growth. What a shame that the trade across the UK is still so badly affected by us not being part of the customs union. When Labour was in opposition, he called for “a proper role for Parliament in how trade deals are ratified”, and argued that there needed t…”

“My constituents are extremely concerned about changes to the PIP assessment system, and particularly how they will affect people with mental health issues and fluctuating long-term conditions. Those people may not be able to show the required evidence of how their ability to function is impacted, since their experience…”

“I rise to speak to new clauses 1 and 11, and briefly to new clause 2. The Liberal Democrats believe that the Government have missed a trick by not including in this Bill stronger provisions on children’s online safety. It is time for us to start treating the mental health issues arising from social media use and phone …”

“Unlike many others in the House, I cannot say that my area—Totnes—has film studios, or that a major movie has been made in my constituency, but we do have a lot of creatives living in our community, from writers to musicians and producers. We also have a costume maker, who happens to be my daughter. I am very proud of …”

“I will start with Tom and then maybe widen the question out. The ASCL has called for a clearer vision from the Government on the purpose of school education. Should other goals be set than those relating to qualifications, for example, wellbeing, communication skills, employability skills, health and happiness?”

“My question is to Alex and Robert. According to research comparing England against other OECD countries, it shows that England’s 15 to 16-year-olds have below average levels of socioemotional skills, things like co-operation, emotional control and persistence and the greatest inequality among English 15 and 16-year-old…”

“The question was not entirely about accountability. It was about the purpose of education. What are we trying to do? Are we trying to produce 16-year-olds who are healthy, happy, confident, ready to move on in the world, be employed and have successful, contented lives, or is the whole purpose of education just to get …”

“The National Foundation for Education Research has said that the essential employment skills of the future are not specialist skills, but social and cognitive skills, such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving and creativity. Do you think that these skills are adequately taken account of in the current natio…”

“Does anyone else want to come in on that?”

“My question is to Alex and Robert. According to research comparing England against other OECD countries, it shows that England’s 15 to 16-year-olds have below average levels of socioemotional skills, things like co-operation, emotional control and persistence and the greatest inequality among English 15 and 16-year-old…”

“This question is to Charlynne. What lessons can the curriculum review apply from Sheffield University’s International Review of Generic Skills in their 14 to 19 curriculum? I am sure you could say a lot on this.”

“The review comments that many students are likely to be receiving informal support for generic skills because of the freedom for academies to depart from the national curriculum, as you said. Will the removal of that freedom through the Children’s Wellbeing in Schools Bill make that more difficult, in your view?”

“Do you see any discrepancy between private schools and state schools with what they are exposed to: speech days, visitors and people coming or is that evening out now? Because I know a lot of work has been done in the state sector about bringing more people into school to talk about careers.”

“Does anyone else want to come in on that?”

“As a Committee, we recently visited Ontario to look at schools and how they work with pupils with special educational needs. They had programmes for students with varying levels of need and the focus was heavily on the preparation for adult life, travel training, food and nutrition. A wide range of vocational courses w…”