Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Mann Excerpts
Monday 6th January 2014

(10 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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To facilitate expansion, we have made sure that all local authority schools receive additional support through the targeted basic need and basic need funding, which the Government have made available in more generous terms than any previous Government. We have also seen 174 new free schools open, giving parents a choice of new, high-quality schools to ensure that their children have the best possible start in life.

Lord Mann Portrait John Mann (Bassetlaw) (Lab)
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When a primary academy in a village goes belly up and all the parents start moving their kids, who will step in to bail out that school and ensure that the village retains a school for the future?

Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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Without knowing the specifics of the case to which the hon. Gentleman alludes, I am cautious about venturing into too much detail. Whenever any school enters difficulties, whether it is run by an academy chain or a local authority, the Department for Education is always ready to ensure that an appropriate sponsor is in place to rescue that school.