Employer National Insurance Contributions: School Redundancies

Part of Education – in the House of Commons at on 16 June 2025.

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Photo of Catherine McKinnell Catherine McKinnell Minister of State (Education)

I think the hon. Gentleman’s maths need a bit of work. He will know as well as anybody that pupil numbers in primary are down and keep on falling, yet recruiting and retaining expert teachers is crucial to this Government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity. That is why we have committed to recruiting 6,500 additional expert teachers, and we are targeting them at the sectors in which they are most needed. It is not the Government’s fault that those on the Opposition front bench do not seem to be able to add up or pay proper attention.

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The first bench on either side of the House of Commons, reserved for ministers and leaders of the principal political parties.

Opposition

The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".