Contributions
1,336 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)The Minister talks about schools expanding “beyond what is needed”. How will she determine whether a school’s expansion is “beyond what is needed”? Is it the presence of any…06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)I beg to move amendment 90, in clause 48, page 108, line 24, at end insert— “(3) Within six months of the passing of this Act, the Secretary of State must issue statutory guidance…06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)I can see that very easily.06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)To be clear, is it the case that under the clause the schools adjudicator will have the power to set the published admission number to zero—in other words, to close a school?06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)Will the Minister give way?06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)I am not suggesting that they cannot be adjudicated. I am pointing out to the Minister that for them to be adjudicated in a completely new way will mean something very different…06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)rose—06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)It is not theoretical.06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)What share of “surplus places” is too high in the eyes of the Minister? Will she set out in guidance what “too high” looks like? What is her view on too high—is it 1%, 2% or 3%…06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Twelfth sitting)Harborough, Oadby and Wigston. “Harborough” is fine.06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)Of course it is not. This is stupid. It affects the entire country.06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)No!06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)I am extremely grateful to the Minister for her offer to write on this point. To avoid disturbing her flow any further, can I ask her to explain something? If a school is not…06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)Of course it is a new power.06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)If I can put it in my words, there is nothing in the Bill to stop the local authority applying to the adjudicator to stop the first year PAN of a new school. If I say, “I want to…06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)The Minister says that the Secretary of State can shut schools in other ways. The schools authority, under this law, will have the power to set a PAN to zero. I did not hear the…06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eleventh sitting)This is a substantive point. I am grateful to the Minister for giving way; we are doing the proper business of a Committee here. Let us be clear: the whole point of the clause is…06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Twelfth sitting)I rise to speak only to clause 56, which is a big old Henry VIII power. I am sure that their lordships will want to explore it in detail. In the interests of time, I have not…06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Twelfth sitting)I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendment proposed : 48, in clause 51, page 112, line 4, at end insert— “(5) After section 7A…06 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Ninth sitting)To finish the point, sometimes there are reasons. Sometimes people want to give back; but by making it harder for them to go to state schools, it is state schools that will miss…04 Feb 2025