Clause 4 - applications for orders under section 2
[Part I]Education Bill
6:30 pm
Mr Stephen Timms (Minister of State (School Standards), Department for Education and Skills; East Ham, Labour)
We have had some discussion about the first two subsections, which require schools or other qualifying bodies who propose to use the power to innovate to consult appropriate bodies. That is one of the checks and balances to ensure that all parties affected by the proposal have been consulted. We expect details and outcomes of consultation arrangements to be included in applications to the Secretary of State. Subsection (3) gives the Secretary of
State or the National Assembly of Wales, with the consent of the applicant, the flexibility to make different provision in a section 2 order from the provision originally requested. Consultation must be part of the proposals for innovative change. People have the right to have their views heard, and I hope that the Committee will agree that the clause should stand part of the Bill.
The discussions today have been useful, although we have made limited progress. We amended the programme motion to allow for possible discussion beyond 7 pm, and it may be in the Committee's interests to reconvene at 8 pm. I seek your guidance, Mrs. Adams.