Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Walney and David Laws(10 years, 1 month ago)
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Mr Laws
We will certainly remain engaged in that debate, and I am delighted to congratulate my hon. Friend on the leadership that he has given to this campaign over a sustained period. That has led to our recent announcement, which has sought to resolve the issue in those parts of the country that have traditionally been very badly funded.
John Woodcock (Barrow and Furness) (Lab/Co-op)
10. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of primary school places.
Gavin Shuker (Luton South) (Lab/Co-op)
12. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of primary school places.
The Minister for Schools (Mr David Laws)
We have more than doubled the allocation of money for basic need to more than £5 billion in this Parliament, and 260,000 additional places were created between May 2010 and May 2013, including 212,000 primary places.
John Woodcock
May I declare my interest as a student working towards a level 3 teaching assistant qualification? I am currently undertaking placements in Victoria junior school in Barrow, and Oasis Academy Johanna in Lambeth. Barrow is one of the few areas of the country that has a surplus of places as a result of population decline in recent years, yet too many pupils are still being denied their first choice of school. If the Government were serious about making the education system work for pupils, and not for the convenience of producers, would they not give parents the right to send their child to the school of their choice, and place a duty on that institution to expand?
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Lord Walney and David Laws(10 years, 3 months ago)
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Mr Laws
The first thing staff and others should do in those circumstances is to raise their concerns with the governing body. If they are not satisfied with that, they should not hesitate to raise concerns with either the EFA or our Department. We always take such matters extremely seriously. If my hon. Friend has any concerns about any cases in his constituency, he should feel free to raise them with me or other Ministers.
John Woodcock (Barrow and Furness) (Lab/Co-op)
22. Will the Minister assure the House that when a school that is currently under local authority control has more than one option for moving to academy status, that school and the community will have a genuine choice about which option to take?