Clause 18 - Governing bodies
Education Bill
8:00 pm
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale West, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 240, in page 11, line 36, after 'regulations' insert
'which shall be approved under the affirmative resolution procedure'.
I am beginning to feel that I could move an amendment to this effect in my sleep. [Interruption.] At least one Labour Member is awake or there would not have been that sedentary intervention.
The purpose of the amendment is to highlight the Government's regrettable reluctance to allow any proper parliamentary control or scrutiny and to attempt to put it right. Once again I must impress upon the Minister and hon. Members on both sides of the Committee that only by ensuring that these regulations are determined by means of an affirmative resolution can we have some ongoing democratic accountability that will be carried out in a proper and structured way in the House, with a debate if the terms that the Government envisage for the regulations are to be changed.
At least Ministers say that the governing bodies will be constituted in accordance with regulations. In all too many parts of the Bill, they have not offered even that limited safeguard. To suggest that it be done by regulation, but without including the requirement that it should be under the affirmative resolution procedure, gives the House little protection. As the Minister well knows, unless it is under the affirmative resolution procedure, important changes could be made that will affect the composition of the governing bodies of maintained schools without reference to the House.
I have advanced that argument on other clauses, and some Labour Members may think that since it has already been made, it is unnecessary to continue making it. I hope that not only will I continue to make the argument for proper parliamentary scrutiny of the Bill and its subordinate legislation, but that when the Government find themselves on the Opposition Benches, they will continue to do so and will not have forgotten that there is a value and a purpose in Parliament and the House of Commons. I hope that they will have rediscovered a belief that there is a value in what we do here and that it is concerned with making better law and ensuring that there is genuine democratic accountability. It is an important point and it is one that I have made before. I hope that the Minister will accept the amendment.