Contributions
1,336 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Tenth sitting)It was the Prime Minister’s words, not mine.04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Tenth sitting)I am afraid that the Minister is the one making the prediction. It is her consultation document that says that the Government expect that twice as many schools will go through…04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Tenth sitting)We have been on quite a journey on this clause. At the Education Committee on 15 January, the Secretary of State said that critics of the Bill were confused. She said: “It has…04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Tenth sitting)I am keen to press the amendment. Question put, That the amendment be made.04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Tenth sitting)It is generous of the Minister to give way. To address the point that I raised in my speech, does she agree that the principle of a floor but no ceiling should apply to school…04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Tenth sitting)I am keen to get a piece of information that the Government have not properly put into the public domain. They clearly know how many schools they expect to go through…04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Tenth sitting)rose —04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Tenth sitting)Sir Christopher, you are a superb Chairman. You are also a very kind and thoughtful one for those of us who are not quick enough on the draw. I will not make detailed comments…04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Ninth sitting)To be clear, it will be illegal to employ them if they do not have QTS. People can turn up, but they cannot be employed. I do not know whether the hon. Lady is deliberately trying…04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Ninth sitting)I wish to press the amendment to a vote. The Minister has confirmed that the provision applies to academy schools. It is not proportionate—to use the Minister’s term—to require…04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Ninth sitting)Section 102 of the 2008 Act requires the proprietor of an academy to make an application to the Secretary of State for the approval of a material change, as defined in section 101…04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Ninth sitting)I beg to move amendment 73, in clause 40, page 99, line 23, at end insert— “(1A) In section 133 (requirement to be qualified), after subsection (1) insert— ‘(1A) The requirement…04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Ninth sitting)The Minister keeps saying “private schools”, but we are talking about independent educational institutions. As I understand it, that includes academy schools, which are state…04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Tenth sitting)I will be quite brief. Clauses 47 to 50 are all of a piece, though it is the last of them, clause 50, that we have the greatest concerns about. In the interest of time, I will…04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Ninth sitting)The Minister talks about maintaining or continuing with various things but, to be clear, the clause will introduce a new exemption. This is not just about later phases of…04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Ninth sitting)I beg to move amendment 71, in clause 33, page 86, line 12, leave out lines 12 and 13.04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Ninth sitting)The hon. Lady has completely missed the point. This clause means that academy schools will no longer be able to employ people without QTS to do exactly the kind of inspiring…04 Feb 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Seventh sitting)That is a very helpful intervention, because it lets me say what I was about to say next. We obviously want to reduce the cost of school uniform, but really, we want to reduce the…30 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Seventh sitting)I find myself in great agreement with much of what the hon. Member for Twickenham said about the danger that this provision will turn into a piece of backfiring micromanagement.…30 Jan 2025HANSARDChildren's Wellbeing and Schools Bill (Eighth sitting)We will withdraw our amendment today, but overall, we are still not persuaded that the objectives that we all share for this Bill could not be met in a more proportionate and less…30 Jan 2025