Jim Knight (Minister of State, Department for Education and Skills; South Dorset, Labour)

May I say what a pleasure it will be to serve under your chairmanship, Mr. Cook? I shall briefly respond to the kind words that have been said. I emphasise “briefly” because I am mindful that we are discussing programming and the need to get on with things.

This is my first opportunity as the new Minister for Schools to say how pleased and honoured I am to take on the role. At the heart of it is the aim to raise standards in our schools and ensure that we personalise and individualise the service to make it better for every child, building on this Government’s excellent record.

It is a pleasure to follow my right hon. Friend the Member for Redditch. As everyone has said, she is a tough act to follow. She has done an excellent job. We are yet to debate the clauses on discipline, but I am sure that her understanding of the matter will be used well in her new role. I look forward to working with my doubles partner, the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Skills, my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope), and to serving on a Committee with such a wealth of expertise. My reading over the weekend, to which the hon. Member for Brent, East (Sarah Teather), referred, taught me that there was such experience and expertise, which is daunting.

This is the third Standing Committee on which I have been the Minister during this Parliament. I hope that my experience of rights of way and, most recently, common land law, will be used to the full. In the Commons Bill we are repealing legislation that goes back to 1285. I do not think that we go back quite so far in this case, but I will be mindful of the historic nature of the Bill and the difference that it will make to every child in this country.

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