English Language Learning

Debate between Lord Tebbit and Baroness Hanham

Thursday 24th March 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hanham]

My Lords, as far as I am aware, the education of children is not affected. Children are taught English in schools and will continue to be so taught despite this measure. The Department for Education, of course, is responsible for that.

[Lord Tebbit]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Tebbit]

My Lords, does my noble friend not agree that the expression “English as a foreign language” is not quite correct? English is not a foreign language in this country.

[Baroness Hanham]

Yes, my Lords.

Audit Commission

Debate between Lord Tebbit and Baroness Hanham

Thursday 14th October 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hanham]

My Lords, clearly there will be savings. At the moment, the estimate is about £50 million, but I expect that may vary either up or down. The Audit Commission has appointed Gareth Davies to see how the commission is taken into the private sector, which is an excellent move forward. I look forward to seeing how that goes and the Audit Commission’s proposals for the future.

[Lord Tebbit]

My Lords, without regard to the merit of this particular decision, does my noble friend agree that we should look rather closely at the record of the major accountancy and audit firms in this country? After all not one of them detected anything wrong with any of the bank accounts which they audited.