Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight, Conservative)

I want to elicit further information from the Minister. I would like to know what an interim executive member of a governing body is, as distinct from an appointed member of a governing body. I particularly want to understand the use of the word ''executive'' in this instance. In most schools, executive responsibilities belong to the head teacher. I would have thought that such powers should rest with head teachers, in accordance with the new head teacher and governor code of practice.

Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest, Conservative)

In the interests of time, I have not asked any questions on the preceding four clauses. I am concerned that we should use the time to hold Ministers to account for the more contentious elements. Nevertheless, my hon. Friend has asked some important questions about the clause. By a clever process of osmosis between us without looking at each other, most of his questions pre-empted mine. For the sake of brevity I shall not repeat them, so as to leave time for the Minister to answer those questions, and to explain further some of the later clauses that we must rush through.

Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough, Liberal Democrat)

I am sorry if I ask this at the wrong time, but it is important that the Minister responds. Under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, the Secretary of State had powers to intervene if schools were recommended for special measures. The Bill will allow her to intervene if schools show signs that give

cause for concern. I would be grateful if the Minister would explain why those additional powers are necessary. What evidence does he have that they are needed, and what proportion of schools give serious cause for concern? Will the Minister clarify his views on that? I apologise to him for not raising the issue through a formal amendment.

Mr Stephen Timms (Minister of State (School Standards), Department for Education and Skills; East Ham, Labour)

Clauses 51 to 54 have two basic objectives—to allow more rapid intervention by overcoming delays in the original mechanism and, as mentioned by the hon. Member for Harrogate and Knaresborough, to increase the focus on schools with serious weaknesses. Local education authorities could intervene previously, but under these powers the Secretary of State will be able to intervene if schools have serious weaknesses and special measures are required.

The number of schools needing such measures has significantly fallen: 303 at the end of last year compared with 515 in 1997. The process of turning a school round is also faster now than when we first started, so we can focus more attention on the next tier of schools—those with difficulties but are not actually failing. That is the rationale behind the proposed changes. The hon. Gentleman asked about the number of problem schools. About 500 schools have serious weaknesses, so they fall within the scope of the Bill.

Mr Phil Willis (Harrogate & Knaresborough, Liberal Democrat)

The Minister is right, and the whole Committee is delighted that fewer schools now attract special measures, and that the speed at which schools can be turned round has improved. However, the reality is that local authorities are turning round 97 per cent. of those schools. What evidence does the Minister have that local authorities are not doing a good job, and why are these extra powers needed?

Mr Stephen Timms (Minister of State (School Standards), Department for Education and Skills; East Ham, Labour)

The hon. Gentleman is right that local education authorities are doing a good job. I expect the bulk of the work envisaged in the Bill to continue to be carried out by local education authorities. The issue is acutely highlighted by the clause, which deals with appointing an interim executive board, which the hon. Member for Isle of Wight asked about. The difference between that and what came before is that in the past an LEA could appoint additional governors, whereas clause 54 allows us to replace the governing body altogether if necessary—hence the interim executive board.

I expect it to be rare for an LEA to take this step--I expect perhaps only one or two interim boards to be set up in a year--but I expect it to be even more unusual for the Secretary of State to exercise the power given her under clause 55. I hope that that explains the position to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight. Clause 54 provides for the appointment of the relevant people by the LEA.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 54 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 55 and 56 ordered to stand part of the Bill.