School Census: Pupils’ Nationality

Lord Singh of Wimbledon Excerpts

Wednesday 12th October 2016 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I believe that I have answered that question to the extent that all pupils are taken account of and the schools of course have their own management information system to be able to monitor pupils from wherever they come—from within this country or abroad.

[Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Lab)]

My Lords—

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Evans of Bowes Park) (Con)]

My Lords, it is the turn of the Cross Benches, and if we have time, Labour.

[Lord Singh of Wimbledon]

My Lords, I can understand that such information may possibly be of use educationally, but can the Minister explain why and for what purpose that same information is given to the Home Office?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I can reassure the noble Lord that the information is not given to the Home Office. There has been some mischief in the press about this, but I reassure the House that the information is kept within the Department for Education and is not passed on to the Home Office.