“To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what steps the Commission has taken to enable more schools to visit the Palace of Westminster.”
Asked by
Dr Peter Prinsley
Answering Minister
the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission
Answer from Hansard
Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
The Commission has taken steps to widen access to schools in terms of both volume and geographic spread, and these changes have led to an increase in the number of schoolchildren able to visit. More than 71,000 are expected to visit this year—an increase of over 20% since 2022—and we expect the numbers to be even higher next year. In 2023, the Commission approved a change to the travel subsidy programme to increase direct funding for schools that are furthest from Westminster, and improvements to the bookings process for schools were also implemented. The Administration Committee recently agreed further proposed improvements to the travel subsidy scheme, and these will shortly be considered by the Commission.