Written question asked by David Laws (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 13 November 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 15 November 2007. It was answered by Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour) on Monday, 19 November 2007 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Academies

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) which Minister is leading his Department's review of the academies programme; on what date the review was commissioned; which officials in his Department are carrying out the review; what the involvement in the review is of the No. 10 Downing Street Policy Unit; and if he will make a statement;

Answer: The review of the academies programme was agreed on 12 September 2007 at a routine meeting between the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit (PMDU) chaired by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State asked PMDU officials to work with Treasury and DCSF officials in the Academies Group of the Department on the review, which will be completed before the end of the year.The seminar on 1 November was attended by a number of officials and a range of stakeholders in the academies programme. The Department considers release of the names and organisations of those taking part in the seminar would have an inhibiting effect on the free and frank discussions required in policy reviews and would disrupt our ability to meet our wider objectives.PMDU reviews are confidential advice to Ministers; we do not disclose the recommendations or publish the report.

Secondary information