To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps they are taking to help ensure that their Department (a) gives sufficient attention to long term strategic challenges, (b) does not allow current events to slow down work on long term strategic issues and (c) consistently undertakes horizon scanning.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which Minister in their Department is responsible for overseeing work on long-term strategic challenges; and how many officials in their Department (a) undertake horizon scanning work and (b) focus on delivering long-term priorities.

The Liaison Committee recently launched an inquiry into select committee scrutiny of strategic thinking across Whitehall. The Government will be providing written evidence to this in due course.

The Department for Education is committed to delivering long term reforms such as those outlined in: the 2022 Schools White Paper, ‘Opportunity for All’; the 2023 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan; the 2023 publication ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’; and the 2021 ‘Skills for Jobs’ White Paper.

Under Rishi Sunak, this Conservative Government will always look to make the right long-term decisions for the country.