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Education and Inspections Bill

I am delighted that my hon. Friend thinks that I have made a good start. Should Ministers want to hold discussions behind the Speaker’s Chair about how to improve these proposals, I would be delighted. Now, however, I want to address the Opposition’s argument against ballots. It is in the finest traditions of the Conservative party over 300 years to try to think of arguments against democracy. It said that we have made a mistake. In the ballots that it held under the Education Reform Act 1988, however, it was interesting how many people voted. On average, in the first two years, 67.5 per cent. voted, and by 1995, 84 per cent. voted. I understand that about 2,000 ballots took place, and more of those rejected the proposals, but a substantial number supported the creation of grant- maintained schools. I think it a little tortuous to suggest that local left-wing elements would take over our democracy. It would be equally ridiculous for Conservative Front-Benchers to suggest that there should not be union ballots for that reason.