Key Stage 2 Exam Results
Debate between Lord Hunt of Kings Heath and Baroness Blake of Leeds
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the failure of Pearson to deliver Key Stage 2 exam results on time.
Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Blake of Leeds) (Lab)
My Lords, Pearson has fully apologised for its failure to return the key stage 2 results on time and for the impact on schools, pupils and parents. The delay was unacceptable, but I can confirm that results have been returned successfully today. The Government will use all contractual provisions to ensure that Pearson is held to account for its failings, and there will be a full independent review into how such serious failings could have occurred.
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)
My Lords, I welcome the review. The Minister will know that the SATs exams at the end of year 6 are very important in the life of children and their parents. With results coming nine days late, some schools have already broken up, having broken up last week, and most schools break up tomorrow, so schools have one day to go through the results, identify any errors or anomalies, communicate with parents and be prepared to support children who did not reach the required standard. Will my noble friend the Minister explain to the House just what sanctions are available against Pearson? Does she not think it calls into question the wholesale outsourcing of important services like this? There are shades of the Capita issue in relation to Civil Service pensions.
NHS England: Staff Costs
Debate between Lord Hunt of Kings Heath and Baroness Blake of Leeds
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
The point that the noble Baroness raises is not a new one. As anyone from the local government sphere will know, there are always ongoing conversations about the estate, where it lies, its ownership and how we can move it into the future, and I do not think anything has changed. What we know is that, through these changes, the alignment of public services is going to be fundamental. The use of buildings is a vexed issue across the public sector and will need to be on the table.
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)
My Lords, to come back to the Question from the noble Lord, Lord Scriven, about an impact assessment, does the Minister think it might be a good idea to do an impact assessment of NHS England itself, which both the parties opposite forced through in 2011, at a cost of £3.5 billion? As a result, waiting times increased, staff disenchantment increased and patient satisfaction went down. Should we not have an impact assessment on that?
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
My Lords, the evidence for that is becoming only too clear. That is why the Government have taken the action that they have to move at pace towards dealing with the situation. Too much money is going into bureaucracy and therefore not enough into front-line services. That needs to change, and this has been welcomed from all sides of the House.