Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Government's consultation on the guidance on home education for parents and local authorities is planned to begin; how long that consultation is planned to last; and what the timetable is for the Government to respond to that consultation.

We aim to start the consultation process within the next few weeks, once the necessary documentation has been prepared. The consultation period will be proportionate, as required by the consultation principles document published by the Cabinet Office. That document also sets out that a response to consultation will normally be made within 12 weeks; but in any event, it is planned that the final version of revised guidance will be issued as soon as responses received during the consultation period have been considered fully.