Lord Beamish
Main Page: Lord Beamish (Labour - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Beamish's debates with the Department for Education
(15 years, 3 months ago)
Commons Chamber Michael Gove
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Michael Gove 
        
    
        
    
        I believe that Sheffield is one of the local authorities that has reached financial close, so I think that the King Edward VII school is unaffected.
 Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham) (Lab)
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham) (Lab) 
        
    
        
    
        The right hon. Gentleman knows that I quite like him, but may I say that the way in which he has presented his statement today has been nothing but a disgrace? In so doing, he has treated the House and individuals in it with contempt. He said in his statement that the poorest communities will not be affected, but what will be gained in Stanley in my constituency—one of the poorest areas in this country—by reviewing an academy that has the support of the local community and will put in great work to change the lives of thousands of children in the years to come?
 Michael Gove
        
    
    
    
    
    
        
        
        
            Michael Gove 
        
    
        
    
        I appreciate the hon. Gentleman’s kind words at the beginning. I have stressed that academy projects are those that, as we both appreciate, were designed to help children in the most difficult circumstances. If he would like to write to me, we will make sure that we do everything possible to help to support that academy project.