Clause 1 - Purpose and Interpretation of Chapter One
[Part I]Education Bill
4:30 pm
Mr Stephen Timms (Minister of State (School Standards), Department for Education and Skills; East Ham, Labour)
I am delighted that you are back to look after us again this afternoon, Mrs. Adams, and I welcome you. It is becoming apparent that we may need to sit this evening. I do not know whether you will be able to continue in the Chair if we do, but I am delighted that you are here for the afternoon.
I am slightly puzzled by our discussion of the amendment, because looking through the clauses, the word ''innovation'' appears only in the title of chapter 1. The word ''innovative'' appears once, but the lengthy contribution about the word ''innovation'' may be somewhat superfluous. My hon. Friend the
Member for Don Valley made an important point, which I shall develop. Amendment No. 3 would exclude proposals that are already being implemented but which have, if I can express this tactfully, a less than certain statutory basis. In other words, some things are happening that have an unclear statutory basis, but we want to encourage them with these measures. Under the amendment, they would not be defined as a ''change from existing practice'', and no hon. Members would wish to block them. I am also advised that the amendment would rule out several proposals that might not be directly related to classroom practice, as the word ''practice'' causes some problems. I urge the Committee not to accept the amendment.