Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

John Bercow Excerpts
Monday 12th July 2010

(14 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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None Portrait Several hon. Members
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rose

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. Both the Secretary of State and the shadow Secretary of State have had their say, and I know that we will now want to return to Ilkley and Bingley.

Ed Balls Portrait Ed Balls
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The right hon. Gentleman cannot give a straight answer to a straight question. The people of Bingley and Ilkley will not be satisfied by that answer, and nor are we. Interestingly, his letter today says very clearly that his fifth list has been validated by local authorities—presumably a clear admission that the information should have been validated before the list was published in the first place, including by Bradford authority, in which the schools of Bingley and Ilkley are situated.

Let me ask the right hon. Gentleman another straight question. Is it not the case that he was advised of the risk of legal challenge from private contractors, but that he personally decided to ignore that advice and take that risk with taxpayers’ money? That is a very simple question. We all know that he is on shaky ground, and that he is fast losing the confidence of pupils, parents and teachers. If he had any sense, he would end this shambles, withdraw these error-strewn lists, and let our communities have new schools.

None Portrait Several hon. Members
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rose

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. I want to help the House. I appreciate the enormous interest in the subject of BSF in Ilkley and Bingley—conceivably also elsewhere—and there will be opportunities, if Members look, to raise these matters later.

Julian Smith Portrait Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con)
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3. How many expressions of interest in academy status have been received from schools in (a) Skipton and Ripon constituency and (b) North Yorkshire.

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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. May I gently say to Members that Stoke-on-Trent and Chesterfield are a considerable distance from Skipton and Ripon and, more widely, North Yorkshire? This is what we call a closed question, I am afraid.

Esther McVey Portrait Esther McVey (Wirral West) (Con)
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4. What steps his Department is taking through the education system to assist children from poor families.

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Barry Sheerman Portrait Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op)
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14. What steps he is taking to ensure availability of continuing professional development for teachers.

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Minister—any Minister.

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. I do not need to be advised by the Government Whip on the Front Bench. The hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge) should remain quiet. We are on Question 14 and we have a Minister at the Box; I require no advice from the hon. Gentleman whatever.

Tim Loughton Portrait Tim Loughton
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. I was expecting some interest in Hexham from the Opposition, but clearly there is none.

I agree with the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr Sheerman) that the quality of teachers and professional development is important. International evidence shows that teachers learn from observing good teachers, and this happens best in schools. That is why the Government are committed to encouraging schools to demonstrate a strong culture of continuing professional development, with teachers leading their own development and that of others, and sharing effective practice within and between schools. That is why we are currently reviewing our policies and existing activities to ensure that they focus on that vision.

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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. It is always a pleasure to hear the hon. Lady, but I must observe in passing that Hampstead and Kilburn are some considerable distance from St Austell and Newquay.

Hywel Williams Portrait Hywel Williams (Arfon) (PC)
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16. What recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on teachers’ pay in Wales.

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John Pugh Portrait Dr John Pugh (Southport) (LD)
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I have here a press cutting in which a local head teacher in my constituency complains about his school appearing on the Department’s database as “interested in academy status”, when all that he had actually done was to ask for details of a sketchy scheme. He now says that the chances of his school wanting academy status are minimal and that people are “playing politics” with this. How could such things happen? Could it be that the demand for academy status is being overstated? Also, will the Secretary of State correct the database?

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. One question will probably suffice; one answer certainly will.

Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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I have consistently made it clear that all those who have expressed interest have only ever expressed interest. I am delighted that so many have done so, but as I am sure my hon. Friend knows, our legislation is permissive, and it will be for schools to decide, rather than Ministers or bureaucrats. That will be a welcome change from the dirigiste methods that so scarred education under the right hon. Member for Morley and Outwood.

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None Portrait Several hon. Members
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rose

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. I am grateful to the Secretary of State for that pithy reply, but I am afraid that demand has exceeded supply and we must now move on to the statement.