Schools: Academies

Debate between Lord Nash and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Monday 27th October 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

I am confident of that. Since this Government came into power we have halved the cost of running the Department for Education, halved the cost of building schools, and reduced by more than one-third the cost of opening sponsored academies.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

My Lords, since we have time, could the Minister now try to answer the question posed by my noble friend Baroness Jones?

[Lord Nash]

I believe I did answer that question.

Education: Black British Students

Debate between Lord Nash and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Tuesday 8th April 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

As I say, I would like to think that this was a thing of the past. However, in order to improve teaching leaders—

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

Reading!

[Lord Nash]

One could say that was a fair cop, but I think I am entitled to. The Teach First programme, which we have quadrupled, the Teaching Leaders scheme and the Future Leaders scheme, along with the Talented Leaders programme that we are shortly to introduce, should all ensure that we raise the standard of teaching and that any prejudice in this regard is a thing of the past.

Education: Academy Chains

Debate between Lord Nash and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Wednesday 15th January 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

I entirely share my noble friend’s sentiment. We should be praising philanthropists like my noble friend Lord Harris and encouraging more of them into the academies programme, as we are attempting to do. In 2013 the Audit Commission carried out a survey of annual detected fraud and corruption within local authorities and reported 191 cases of fraud in schools. My department is considering what we can do about improving procedures in local authorities in relation to this.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

My Lords, what are the arrangements for the trustees and directors of these companies declaring their interests?

[Lord Nash]

My Lords, it is absolutely clear that both trustees and directors of these companies must declare their interests in the accounts.

Schools: Expenditure Per Pupil

Debate between Lord Nash and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock

Wednesday 4th December 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Nash]

There is no doubt that our grammar schools provide an extremely good education. It is an interesting fact that, whereas 7% of the population get 50% of the top jobs, the grammar schools, which educate about 4.5% of the population, get more than 20% of the top jobs. This means that 90% of the population are getting into under 30% of the top jobs. It is that kind of inequality, particularly for poorer pupils, that this Government are particularly determined to improve.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

In view of the huge fees at Eton College, does the Minister agree that Stanley Johnson should ask for his money back?

[Lord Nash]

I do not.