Education Secretary Gavin Williamson Speaks to G&T on the Reopening of Schools and More

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has told Times Radio the steps being taken to get children back into schools should never be reversed.

Speaking to Gloria De Piero and Tom Newton Dunn on G&T on Sunday, he said:

The steps we're taking are to make sure that when schools go back that they stay back and children are able to benefit from being in the classroom.

The reason we're taking this cautious approach is so that the steps that we take are steps that will never be reversed, that people will remain in the classroom.

On teachers' pay:

We're confident that we're able to deliver the £30,000 starting salary for newly qualified teachers by the end of this parliament. Last year we saw the largest pay increase for teachers since 2005 and we're very committed to delivering on the £30,000 starting salary.

GDP: Will you make incremental steps towards that this year?

GW: This year there is a public sector pay freeze for all areas with the exception of the NHS...this coming year it will be frozen like the rest of the public sector.

And on the row between Buckingham Palace and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex head of tonight's airing of the Oprah Winfrey interview:

The whole nation stands up for the Queen. The whole nation holds the Queen in the absolute highest regard. Government doesn't comment on matters within the royal family. That's a long established convention and one that we need to uphold.

TND: Do you not feel any sympathy for the Queen?

GW: The whole nation is looking forward, very much, to her jubilee that's so rapidly heading our way and this will be a real, important moment for the whole nation, to come out in terms of celebrating an amazing reign that the Queen has had.