We're now closing our live coverage of Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Thanks for joining us.

• Our news story on today's programme is here. If you would like to read more about the latest on the concrete crisis affecting schools, you can do so here. And the BBC's list of which schools have been impacted is being compiled here
• The UK economy was also discussed by the chancellor - you can have a look here at new figures showing that the economy made a stronger recovery during Covid at the end of 2021 than previously estimated

Today's coverage was edited by Alex Therrien and written by Emily Atkinson, Marita Moloney and Sam Francis. Have a great Sunday.

Sam Francis
Political reporter

Earlier we asked the government if Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's statement that "we will spend what it takes to make sure that children can go to school safely" pledge came with any extra money.

We have been told there is no new money being announced.

The government's position is there is already enough funding available to help schools remove and replace unsafe concrete.

Some school repairs may be funded through the government's existing School Rebuilding Programme, external.

There are still 100 out of 500 schools that have not been allocated for rebuilding through this scheme.

The BBC understands some of the 400 that have been allocated already had RAAC that needed to be replaced.

Some school repairs may also be funded through the School Capital Funding, external programme - money allocated every year by the Department for Education for capital investment to maintain and improve the condition of school estates.

As we've just reported, the education secretary will be making a statement in the House of Commons this week updating upon how the government will support the education sector in remedying RAAC.

Image source, PA Media

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan will give a statement to the Commons this week about the steps her department is taking to support schools responding to the risk of the lightweight concrete RAAC.

As we've been reporting, more than 100 schools in England have been told to close buildings where reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) is present due to the risk of dangerous collapses.

Writing in the Sun on Sunday newspaper, external, Keegan said that closing schools did not mark a "return to the dark days of school lockdowns."

Let's return briefly to one of the exchanges between Jeremy Hunt and Laura Kuenssberg that discussed a key question about the concrete crisis in educational settings: Could more schools be affected?

What we know so far: 156 school buildings in England were identified as having risky reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). Of these, 52 were at risk of sudden collapse and action was taken immediately to make them safe. The other 104 are currently scrambling to put safety measures in place to stay open.

Kuenssberg said to Hunt: "There are suggestions this morning in some parts of the press there could be as many as 7,000 schools affected."

The chancellor responded: "Well, where we see information that there might be other schools affected, then we take action. That's what we did originally. That's what we continue to do. Safety, getting kids to school. We will spend what it takes to make that happen."

Kuenssberg followed up: "Something like 7,000, is that realistic that you could see that kind of number of schools?"

Hunt replied: "I don't want to speculate on these numbers, but I think that might scare people unnecessarily. As you'll see from the way the government's acted, however difficult it is we will do absolutely what it takes to make sure that kids are safe."

Earlier we heard from Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson, who vowed to improve the "fractured" relationship between schools and families.

In this short clip she told Laura Kuenssberg about her concerns over pupil absences from schools following the Covid pandemic.

Alex Therrien
Live reporter

Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg returned today after the summer parliamentary break, and just days after the concrete crisis in schools emerged. Here's what we heard this morning:

• The issue of schools being told to shut buildings that contain unsafe concrete was the main focal point for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Labour’s shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson
• Both were pressed about whether, and how, their parties would deal with the problem
• "We will spend what it takes," Hunt said. Though as my colleague Sam Francis notes, it remains unclear whether Hunt was committing the government to funding all costs schools may face - such as arranging temporary accommodation - or purely rebuilding, or "capital", costs
• Phillipson linked the crisis to the Coalition government cancelling the schools rebuilding programme in 2010, saying "the chickens are coming home to roost"
• But she refused to commit to a Labour government paying for the rebuilding programme if it was elected at the next election, insisting the UK's economic outlook was much worse now than in 2010
• On the concrete crisis in schools, England's children's commissioner Rachel de Souza said she was "frustrated" by what she said was the government's lack of planning for dealing with the problem
• De Souza also said there was a "real problem" post-pandemic with school attendance, with as many as 1.8 million children, of 8 million pupils, frequently missing school
• The chancellor was also asked about the economy. He said families would start to feel better off when inflation comes down and interest rates start to fall

Earlier in the show, panellist Piers Morgan, a former editor of the Daily Mirror, said he "never listened to a voicemail without seeking consent of one of the participants".

This is in reference to a privacy trial brought by Prince Harry and others into allegations of phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers journalists. Morgan has not been called to the witness box.

You can read more about the case here.

In the meantime, here's a clip of him facing questions about the trial from Laura Kuenssberg:

Sam Francis
Political reporter

Yesterday, the official line from the government was that it would stump up cash for "capital-funded" works in schools built with unsafe concrete - meaning it would cover costs related to repairs and emergency temporary buildings.

Reimbursing schools for rental costs on emergency or temporary accommodation and other possible costs, such as transporting pupils to other schools if theirs were closed, will be decided on a "case-by-case basis".

But this morning on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the man in charge of the government's purse strings, Jeremy Hunt, said he will "spend what it takes to make sure that children can go to school safely".

Does that mean the government will foot the bill for all costs associated with this growing crisis? The BBC has asked the Treasury for clarification on what Hunt's comments mean in cash terms.

But it looks like there has at least been a change in tone from the government.

Finally, today's episode of Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg is rounded off with a performance from cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who is due to appear as one of the soloists at the Last Night of the Proms.

The young British instrumentalist turned international sensation plays the show out with the Irish ballad The Star of the County Down.

Stay with us for a recap of what we learned, as well as reaction and analysis.

We're hearing from the rest of the panel for one last time as the end of show approaches.

On whether the welfare of the younger generations is being looked after properly by the current government, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall says he agrees with Rachel de Souza that the welfare of children is not being looked after adequately by the government.

"One thing we need to do for the young people today is protect them from the devastating effects of the climate crisis," he says.

He calls for a ban on onshore wind to be lifted, as this would provide more energy security, cheaper electricity bills and help fight the climate crisis, "which is absolutely at the heart of this".

"It's not just about the energy in the moment. It's about the future of our young people," he says.

Piers Morgan is asked what the upcoming political season will look like.

"I think as a country, as a people, we've got to get back on the front foot," he says.

"We've got to start believing in ourselves. We've got to start punching the air a bit and getting more aggressive and getting more exciting. And returning this country back into the Great Britain we want it to be."

Image source, PA Media

We return for a quick whip-around of remarks from the panel.

Rachel de Souza is asked whether she thinks the welfare of the children is being looked after by the current political establishment.

"No, absolutely not," she replies.

She talks to the ambitions of young people, but adds that the government must "put the support in for children".

"They're crying out for it," she adds, noting especially how "tough" it is for 14 to 21-year-olds getting through the exam cycle in schools and universities.

Actor Timothy Spall is up now to talk about his new film Bolan's Shoes - a reference to the T. Rex lead singer, who died in 1977.

He says the music throughout the film is "very much Mark Bolan's," a pioneer of glam rock.

Spall describes his own character as "lost" and a "drifter" and the language of the film is "sharp and witty".

The film is in cinemas from 18 September.

Phillipson is next asked about school uniforms, saying Labour wants to limit the number of branded items parents have to buy for their children to three in order to help them save costs.

"The pressures that families are under at the moment are really significant. It's a straightforward way that at a stroke I would cut the cost that parents are facing," she says.

"The cost of branded items are going up and I just don't think there needs to be so many. Schools still have flexibility but let's make it easier for parents."

Phillipson says it is "all very good and well" that Jeremy Hunt is offering financial support for mitigations in schools - but she calls this the "bare bones".

She says the Conservatives cancelling building schools for the future program had a "big impact - the chickens are coming home to roost".

She goes on to call for the government to publish a full list of all of the schools affected by RAAC.

She says if the government won't do this Labour will attempt to force them through a Commons vote next week.

Phillipson says that one of the first acts of the Tory government was to cancel Labour's school rebuilding programme in 2010.

But asked if Labour would commit today to pay for a full rebuilding programme, Phillipson declines to do so, adding: "I can't wave a magic wand and right 13 years of Tory failure."

And now the programme moves to Labour’s shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson.

She says she's really concerned about young people's futures and offers some solutions to make sure children go to school.

These include breakfast clubs and more mental health support for young people, especially following the pandemic.

Increasing truancy fines for parents who don't ensure their children go to school is not the answer, Phillipson adds.

She adds that if she was education secretary her priority would be to improve the "fractured" relationship between schools and families, but also between government and education.

England's children's commissioner Rachel de Souza says there is a "real problem" post-pandemic with school attendance

She speaks to research that finds 1.8 million children, of 8 million pupils, are frequently missing school.

De Souza says that, first of all, we have to accept that the effect of the pandemic is still present.

She says there are three types of pupils who are missing school on a regular basis.

"There is a group of children that are anxious," she says, adding that she is working with mental health support and hospitals to encourage better attendeace.

De Souza also notes that children with special educational needs also find it easier at home.

And the third instance is that some children are playing truant and not coming into school, she adds.

The panel is now sharing their thoughts on Jeremy Hunt's interview a few minutes ago.

TV presenter Piers Morgan says Hunt and PM Rishi Sunak deserve credit "for taking the job seriously" and bringing "decorum" to No 10 and No 11. "I want to see leadership from the top from the government," he says.

England’s children’s commissioner Rachel de Souza says she's happy to hear that schools affected by RAAC issues will receive funding, "but we shouldn't even be in this situation".

Chef and campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall discusses Hunt's comments on the government's environmental commitments. He mentions the Just Stop Oil protests and says every movement for change in the past has needed radical action.

Not long ago, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt pledged the government would spend "what it takes" to make schools with RAAC safe.

Watch the clip above.

Finally, Hunt is asked about the death of his brother, Charlie Hunt.

He died in August, three years after being diagnosed with cancer.

The 53-year-old was diagnosed in 2020 with sarcoma, a rare and aggressive type of cancer that typically begins in the bones or soft tissue.

Asked about whether his brother's experiences changed his perspective on the NHS, Hunt says: "When you lose a brother, it does change the way you think."

Hunt says in his brother's last days that he hoped more people would understand the dangers of sarcoma.

Hunt also urged people to check for common symptoms.

The chancellor says the government's plan "is working" and that people want politicians to make the right decisions, not the easy ones.

The best way to put money in people's pockets is to meet Rishi Sunak's goal of halving inflation, he says.

Asked about the government's environment and climate change policies - amid criticism they are backtracking on pledges - he says "we are incredibly proud of the fact that we have reduced emissions by more in this country than any other major country and we are legally committed to net zero".

He says the UK has become Europe's largest producer of offshore wind energy.

"Our renewables now account for 40% of our total electricity. So we're absolutely committed to do it in a way that recognises that ordinary families are feeling the pinch," he says.