Improving Schools Programme

Part of Prayers – in the House of Commons at 10:14 am on 1 November 1996.

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Photo of Don Foster Don Foster Shadow Spokesperson (Work and Pensions) 10:14, 1 November 1996

The hon. Gentleman was unfortunately unable to attend the recent meeting of the Select Committee on Education and Employment, when we took evidence from the Pre-School Learning Alliance. He rightly talks about the importance of partnership as distinct from the competitive approach developed by the Conservative party. Is he aware that the Pre-School Learning Alliance told the Select Committee that a number of its member schools had had to close because of the introduction of the voucher scheme? It also made it very clear that the competition element of the voucher scheme was damaging.