School Census: Pupils’ Nationality Debate

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Department: Department for Education

School Census: Pupils’ Nationality

Lord Harris of Haringey Excerpts
Wednesday 12th October 2016

(8 years, 2 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Viscount Younger of Leckie Portrait Viscount Younger of Leckie
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I can reassure the noble Lord that the information is not given to the Home Office. There has been some mischief in the press about this, but I reassure the House that the information is kept within the Department for Education and is not passed on to the Home Office.

Lord Harris of Haringey Portrait Lord Harris of Haringey (Lab)
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My Lords, can the Minister give an absolute assurance that it is not obligatory for a school to fill in this question, and that no sanction will be applied to a school which fails to do so, or to a parent who does not answer?

Viscount Younger of Leckie Portrait Viscount Younger of Leckie
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That is absolutely correct. The guidance is very clear on that. If, for example, a school wishes to send information to the DfE and parents do not agree for that particular child, it does not get sent.