Engagements

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 15 March 2006.

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Photo of Tony Blair Tony Blair Prime Minister 11:30, 15 March 2006

Of course I agree that it is important that schools have the freedom to manage their own budgets, staff, buildings and so on, but on this side, we do not agree that selection between schools is the answer. If the right hon. Gentleman is so keen on supporting the education legislation tonight, why has he only got a two-line Whip for his Members, and why is he trying to delay the Bill by voting against the programme motion? On 14 December, he asked me to "speed up" the Education and Inspections Bill; on 25 January, he said to me, "Why don't you get on with it?"; in February, he asked for an undertaking that there would be no delay; and this evening, he is going to vote to delay the Bill by voting against the programme motion.