I could give the hon. Gentleman a list if he wishes. I recommend that he go to Mossbourne academy in Hackney, for example, where 50 per cent. of the children qualify for free school meals and 40 per cent. speak English as a second language, and where he will see...

I could give the hon. Gentleman a list if he wishes. I recommend that he go to Mossbourne academy in Hackney, for example, where 50 per cent. of the children qualify for free school meals and 40 per cent. speak English as a second language, and where he will see...

I do not remember that. It was many months ago and I have forgotten. The amendment typifies the Labour Government's obsession with admissions. As my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) said on Report:"““Unfortunately, there is still an old Labour, socialist approach to the question of admissions…...

I do not remember that. It was many months ago and I have forgotten. The amendment typifies the Labour Government's obsession with admissions. As my hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) said on Report:"““Unfortunately, there is still an old Labour, socialist approach to the question of admissions…...

I welcome the Under-Secretary to her new position and to the Dispatch Box to discuss the final stages of the Bill. She missed many months of interesting debate—

I welcome the Under-Secretary to her new position and to the Dispatch Box to discuss the final stages of the Bill. She missed many months of interesting debate—

Does not the debate reveal that a coach and horses has been driven through the Minister's policy? The White Paper, ““Back on Track””, to which he referred, was published in May 2008. At that point, I understand that he had no idea that local authorities were using 1,100 private sector...

Does not the debate reveal that a coach and horses has been driven through the Minister's policy? The White Paper, ““Back on Track””, to which he referred, was published in May 2008. At that point, I understand that he had no idea that local authorities were using 1,100 private sector...

Am I wrong to be astonished that the Minister's Department did not know that 150 local authorities were using up to 1,100 private sector part-time providers to provide alternative education in their areas?

Am I wrong to be astonished that the Minister's Department did not know that 150 local authorities were using up to 1,100 private sector part-time providers to provide alternative education in their areas?

As the Minister said, the Lords amendments reverse the provisions in the Bill that transfer registration and regulation of independent schools from the Department for Children, Schools and Families to Ofsted. That is welcome. We argued against that transfer in Committee, and my noble Friend Lady Morris continued the battle...

As the Minister said, the Lords amendments reverse the provisions in the Bill that transfer registration and regulation of independent schools from the Department for Children, Schools and Families to Ofsted. That is welcome. We argued against that transfer in Committee, and my noble Friend Lady Morris continued the battle...

I am grateful for that response, which is on the record and will be helpful to those outside. Let me return to Lord Adonis's comments in his letter of 1 July. In that letter he said:"““the enforcement system against employers is not a criminal one, and would culminate in a...

I am grateful for that response, which is on the record and will be helpful to those outside. Let me return to Lord Adonis's comments in his letter of 1 July. In that letter he said:"““the enforcement system against employers is not a criminal one, and would culminate in a...

The Minister for Schools and Learners gave a disappointingly short introduction to the motion. I hope that he will have a chance to explain the motion to the House. It relates to the fee-charging provisions in what is now clause 97, which enables Ofsted to charge fees for inspections of...

The Minister for Schools and Learners gave a disappointingly short introduction to the motion. I hope that he will have a chance to explain the motion to the House. It relates to the fee-charging provisions in what is now clause 97, which enables Ofsted to charge fees for inspections of...

I am grateful to the Minister for that clear explanation of the group of Lords amendments. He cited the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution, but I do not believe that he mentioned the letter of 11 June from my noble Friend Lord Goodlad. Given that Lord Goodlad...

I am grateful to the Minister for that clear explanation of the group of Lords amendments. He cited the House of Lords Select Committee on the Constitution, but I do not believe that he mentioned the letter of 11 June from my noble Friend Lord Goodlad. Given that Lord Goodlad...

This is the point, is it not? Schools are probably already doing that, but what burdens heads and other teachers is the introduction of more statutory obligations to read and understand, and the requirement to assess whether their schools are fulfilling those obligations. That is the problem with putting requirements...

This is the point, is it not? Schools are probably already doing that, but what burdens heads and other teachers is the introduction of more statutory obligations to read and understand, and the requirement to assess whether their schools are fulfilling those obligations. That is the problem with putting requirements...

I will not. The hon. Gentleman will soon have his moment. As my noble Friend Lady Morris, who speaks for the Opposition in the other place, said in Committee:"““I sound a note of caution…. It may not be the best course of action to be too prescriptive. We think that...

I will not. The hon. Gentleman will soon have his moment. As my noble Friend Lady Morris, who speaks for the Opposition in the other place, said in Committee:"““I sound a note of caution…. It may not be the best course of action to be too prescriptive. We think that...

As the Minister has told us twice, the amendments were all tabled in another place by the Liberal Democrat peer Lady Walmsley. Few people, if any, would deny the advantages of a school giving pupils a voice in developing policies that affect the children at that school. That is increasingly...

As the Minister has told us twice, the amendments were all tabled in another place by the Liberal Democrat peer Lady Walmsley. Few people, if any, would deny the advantages of a school giving pupils a voice in developing policies that affect the children at that school. That is increasingly...

This particular amendment was introduced by the Liberal Democrats, but I will return to Lord Elton in a moment. There is a common concern about extending the existing statutory duty on schools to take into account pupils' opinions. The concern is the extent to which the duty will be taken...

This particular amendment was introduced by the Liberal Democrats, but I will return to Lord Elton in a moment. There is a common concern about extending the existing statutory duty on schools to take into account pupils' opinions. The concern is the extent to which the duty will be taken...

I have given the Minister the opinion of Lord Elton. This goes to the crux of our concern about these amendments.

I have given the Minister the opinion of Lord Elton. This goes to the crux of our concern about these amendments.

I will not give way again; the right hon. Gentleman will have another opportunity to speak when he concludes the debate. Anyone going through the Hansard record of any Bill passing through this House would see it littered with Liberal Democrat amendments, prescribing their particular hobby horses and policy imperatives....

I will not give way again; the right hon. Gentleman will have another opportunity to speak when he concludes the debate. Anyone going through the Hansard record of any Bill passing through this House would see it littered with Liberal Democrat amendments, prescribing their particular hobby horses and policy imperatives....

That is the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

That is the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

The existing code does need amending and simplifying. Although we certainly agree with the principle of having an admissions code, we believe that it should be much simpler and clearer and that it should not be revised every year. That just confuses schools and parents. Finally, I want to say...

The existing code does need amending and simplifying. Although we certainly agree with the principle of having an admissions code, we believe that it should be much simpler and clearer and that it should not be revised every year. That just confuses schools and parents. Finally, I want to say...

I am not going to start criticising schools in leafy suburbs, but there are many schools across the country which have few indicators of deprivation, but which are not achieving as well as Mossbourne academy in Hackney. The vast majority of comprehensive schools have between 10 and 21 per cent....

I am not going to start criticising schools in leafy suburbs, but there are many schools across the country which have few indicators of deprivation, but which are not achieving as well as Mossbourne academy in Hackney. The vast majority of comprehensive schools have between 10 and 21 per cent....