Fire Safety: Schools

Debate between Lord Naseby and Lord Nash

Monday 3rd July 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

We would expect all schools to follow that guidance, but I certainly will look at the point the noble Baroness makes.

[Lord Naseby (Con)]

I, too, am a member of the all-party fire group. Is it not right that Members of this House and others who comment from outside should now take a deep breath and hold back a little and allow those who are competent in this world to tell us what action is needed? These actions should flow from proper, deep investigation—and hopefully we as a House will be told as soon as possible what changes are to be made.

[Lord Nash]

My noble friend makes an extremely sensible suggestion. We will have to wait on this, but the DCLG has set up an independent expert advisory panel to advise the Government on any immediate measures needed to make buildings safe. That panel met for a full day last Thursday.

Schools

Debate between Lord Naseby and Lord Nash

Monday 12th September 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

The noble Baroness is absolutely right. London has been a great success story. It started under the Labour Government with the London Challenge and their academies programme, which we have sought to continue. Of course, there are quite a few schools in London that are selective in one way or another. It is also fair to say that it is much easier to attract teachers in London than in many of the areas of the country where we see these underperforming schools. Although there are many lessons to be learned from London, there are still many coastal towns and former mining villages in this country that seem to have struggled, partly because of intergenerational unemployment and partly because they struggle to attract really good teachers. It is those kinds of issues that we are really keen to focus on.

[Lord Naseby (Con)]

Does my noble friend recognise—

Schools: Academies

Debate between Lord Naseby and Lord Nash

Tuesday 3rd March 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

The noble Lord is right that this is a difficult issue and it is one that we have been looking at. I assure him that we will continue to look at it.

[Lord Naseby (Con)]

Is it not enormously sensible for the governors of our academies to hold reserves at the end of a Parliament, when they have no idea what the policy may be in the future? We also have low inflation at this time, and I imagine that a fair number of them are preparing for capital works based on their reserves.

[Lord Nash]

I agree entirely with my noble friend, who makes the point admirably.

Ofsted: Academy Chains

Debate between Lord Naseby and Lord Nash

Monday 26th January 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

The Secretary of State’s letter in relation to chains talks about it not being necessary to introduce a new inspection framework. There is a clear framework for inspecting all schools in this country.

[Lord Naseby (Con)]

Is my noble friend aware that he is surely right? Local authority inspections are one thing but, in addition, there are a whole host of charitable foundations that have Ofsted inspections—but that is, again, in a different framework.