Clause 20
Education and Inspections Bill
1:00 pm
John Hayes (Shadow Minister (Vocational Education), Education; South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative)
I was about to start speaking when we had our break for Education and Skills questions, which we all enjoyed. I imagine that the Under-Secretary has just returned from researching the answer to the question that I asked him, because he wants to reply to me in writing in more detail.
The amendments proposed by the hon. Member for Brent, East (Sarah Teather) would make it more difficult for a school’s governing body to determine its own foundation proposals. That would contradict the principle behind the Bill. I understand the hon. Lady’s argument. She spoke of consistency: the way in which things are organised in other bodies and the desire to apply similar practice to the Bill. She believes in her case, which has some merit, but she must know that in practice the amendments would make it more difficult to realise the Bill’s aim.
Why should a proposal require a two-thirds majority? We do not make such stipulations in respect of other important matters. How would it be, for example, if we suggested that a two-thirds majority were needed for a vote on the euro? I have not heard the Liberals call for that. What if we had suggested that a two-thirds majority was required in respect of the devolution proposals passed by the House when my hon. Friend the Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) and I were new Members? We did not hear the Liberal Democrats make that case either. I think that the amendment is a cover for the intention that I am sure lies deep in the breast of the Liberal Democrats to see the proposals in the Bill falter, if not fail. The tradition in this country, as you know, Mr. Cook, is for votes to be carried by a majority. It should be up to schools’ governing bodies to determine their own procedures.
Why is it necessary to stipulate in the Bill that before making proposals secondary schools need to consult feeder primary schools? I qualify my remarks by saying that of course I understand that if a school acquires a trust it will have an impact on the wider community. I do not underestimate the significance of that, but there is a danger that such a consultation process might once again delay and frustrate, or even deter or prevent a school from going down the road that is the purpose of the Bill.
It is right that we press and probe the Government on these matters and I imagine that that is the purpose of the amendments, but I am not confident that such consultation would not be less helpful than it was justified. For that reason, I urge my hon. Friends, should the Liberals press the amendments to a vote, to resist them.