Paul Waugh, the Labour and Co-operative MP for Rochdale and Minister for Early Education, has answered questions at the despatch box in the House of Commons for the first time — the first time a Rochdale MP has spoken from the Government despatch box since the constituency was created in 1832.
Waugh was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Early Education on 22 July 2026 by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, serving under Education Secretary Lucy Powell. He is the first MP for Rochdale to hold a departmental ministerial post in the constituency’s history.
Born in Wardle and brought up on a council estate in Spotland, he attended Meanwood Primary School, Redbrook Middle School and Oulder Hill Community School in Rochdale before university and a career in journalism.
Education questions on 14 September
During Education oral questions on Monday 14 September, Waugh set out the Government’s plans for technical education, including new V-levels and T-levels and pathways for 14 to 19-year-olds. He also answered questions on apprenticeships, home-to-school transport and support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
School food standards
The same day brought one of his first significant announcements as a minister, as the Government published its response to a consultation on stronger school food standards in England.
Speaking at the despatch box on school food, Waugh said:
“The updated standards that we have announced today will ensure that school food is delicious, nutritious and practical for schools. I was proud to see Bite Back and a range of sector leaders welcome our standards, and I thank them all for the hard work they do to help schools achieve what we want.”
Apprenticeship starts up 8.7%
On apprenticeships and technical education, he said:
“The Prime Minister rightly says that we should be focusing on problem solving rather than point scoring. Given that the right hon. Gentleman mentioned apprenticeship starts, it would be remiss of me not to point out that they have gone up by 8.7% under this Government, whereas apprenticeship starts collapsed under the last Government since 2020.”
The exchanges took place during Education oral questions and topical questions in the House of Commons on Monday 14 September 2026. The Government’s response to the consultation on School Food Standards in England was published the same day as a written ministerial statement.
