Clause 18 - Governing bodies
Education Bill
8:00 pm
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight, Conservative)
The process is topsy-turvy, is it not? I am concerned that as recently as 1998, in schedule 9 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, the Government legislated on the composition of school governing bodies. Three years later, the Government have a new policy on the issue, which they propose to announce before the Bill is enacted. The Minister thinks that it is adequate to wave through unamended clauses. What if he changes his mind again in three, four or five years? Opinions change, and it is the duty of the House to protect minorities caught up in the change process as well as to accommodate those who may be pushing for change.