New Schools

Nigel Evans Excerpts

Monday 10th October 2011 Commons Chamber

[Michael Gove]

I absolutely will. Of course, it is for the best of reasons that 14,000 service personnel are returning from Germany; thanks to the inspirational leadership of Baroness Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, we won the cold war and are able now to welcome back the servicemen of the British Army on the Rhine.

We need to make sure that those who have worn the Queen’s uniform enjoy the best possible education. The service premium and the additional changes that we are making to the admissions code are part of that. Of course, we have to work with the Ministry of Defence to do so, and I will be delighted to work—for many years to come, I hope—with my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), who is doing such a great job in championing service families and defending the armed forces covenant.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans)]

Last but not least, I call Dr John Pugh.

[John Pugh (Southport) (LD)]

To finish on a factual note, how many free school applications have been rejected or declined and what percentage is that of the total?