Schools White Paper

James Berry Excerpts
Wednesday 13th April 2016

(8 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness Morgan of Cotes Portrait Nicky Morgan
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I assure the hon. Gentleman that my figures are absolutely not pie in the sky. We publish a huge amount of information and if he wants to write to me about how much it will cost to academise all the schools in his constituency, I will be happy to respond.

Baroness Morgan of Cotes Portrait Nicky Morgan
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I give way to my hon. Friend.

None Portrait Hon. Members
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Hear, hear!

James Berry Portrait James Berry
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I am glad that Members have been waiting for this. In Kingston, we have the best GCSE results in the country, bar the Isles of Scilly, and only one of the schools is not an academy. It is legitimate to have a debate about whether that model should be mandated throughout the country. Does my right hon. Friend agree, however, that whatever the hon. Member for Manchester Central (Lucy Powell) misrepresented, what she did not misrepresent—[Interruption.] I am saying that she did not misrepresent—

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)
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Order. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right: I know he wants to withdraw that immediately.

James Berry Portrait James Berry
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What she did not misrepresent was the guff about asset stripping, privatisation and profit that many of her colleagues have engaged in.

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)
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Order. Mr Berry, we are not being helpful to each other. You are withdrawing the comment about misrepresentation. I think you have got your question across. I am going to hear the Secretary of State. You have withdrawn the remark. That is great. Thank you.