红桃影视

The Department for Education (DfE) has been criticised for its 鈥渓ack of engagement鈥� with a Parliamentary inquiry into the importance of outdoor space for children.

Clive Betts, chair of the levelling-up committee, said it was 鈥渄eeply disappointing鈥� that the DfE had 鈥渞efused to engage constructively with the committee鈥檚 inquiry in this important area鈥�.

One major criticism is that children and families minister David Johnston did not attend an inquiry hearing when invited. Betts said this was “especially regrettable”.

But in a , DfE permanent secretary Susan Acland-Hood said that while her department had an 鈥渋nterest鈥� in the inquiry, it 鈥渄oes not hold formal joint responsibility for the policy areas in the inquiry鈥檚 terms of reference鈥�.

She also said the department offered Baroness Barran, the academies minister, to attend as her portfolio includes school buildings, but the offer was not taken up.

According to the committee鈥檚 website, the inquiry is looking at 鈥渉ow better planning and building and urban design in England could enhance the health and well-being of children and young people, while also benefitting the population as a whole鈥�.

Its terms of reference specifically refer to the question of “how easily can children and young people travel to outdoor spaces and schools? How has this changed over the years?”

Cross-department approach ‘important’

Betts, the Labour MP for Sheffield South East, said it was 鈥渃rucially important for the government to take a cross-department approach to ensuring children and young people have access to outdoor spaces to protect their mental and physical health鈥�.

鈥淭he fundamental lack of cross-government action risks children and young being forgotten.鈥�

He said it was 鈥渁larming that the Department for Education feels it has very little to contribute to government policy in this area. I hope the government will be more receptive to the Committee鈥檚 recommendations when we publish our report.鈥�

In her response, Acland-Hood said officials from the DfE had discussed the inquiry with those from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, but 鈥渁greed that the DfE is one of many Departments with an interest, but that we do not hold formal joint responsibility for the inquiry鈥�.

鈥淒LUHC colleagues agreed to communicate this to the committee clerks, and subsequently confirmed to the DfE that this conversation has taken place.鈥�

Barran offer ‘not taken up’

In response to the criticism of Johnston鈥檚 non-attendance, Acland-Hood said there were 鈥渟ome areas of his portfolio which are somewhat related to the policy areas raised within your inquiry鈥�.

鈥淔or example, his portfolio includes children and young people鈥檚 mental health within education settings. As the remit of the inquiry is so broad, it is unsurprising that there are connections to many ministers鈥� portfolios.鈥�

She said the invitation to attend on March 25 was extended on March 13, though in his letter Betts said the initial approach to the DfE about a minister attending was made on February 27.

鈥淎fter a further phone conversation with the committee staff, it was confirmed that the committee were looking to hear from the minister with joint responsibility,” said Acland-Hood.

鈥淎s he does not hold formal joint responsibility for the areas under discussion, he did not rearrange other commitments at short notice to attend. We did, however, originally offer the attendance of Baroness Barran, who was available, and whose portfolio includes school buildings; this offer was not taken up.鈥�