Education: Academy Chains

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Wednesday 15th January 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

I entirely share my noble friend’s sentiment. We should be praising philanthropists like my noble friend Lord Harris and encouraging more of them into the academies programme, as we are attempting to do. In 2013 the Audit Commission carried out a survey of annual detected fraud and corruption within local authorities and reported 191 cases of fraud in schools. My department is considering what we can do about improving procedures in local authorities in relation to this.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

My Lords, what are the arrangements for the trustees and directors of these companies declaring their interests?

[Lord Nash]

My Lords, it is absolutely clear that both trustees and directors of these companies must declare their interests in the accounts.