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Education and Inspections Bill

My Lords, I find the Minister’s response incredibly depressing. As I have said twice this evening, this enabling power would give the Government the opportunity to give teachers the right to anonymity should the guidance prove insufficient. It is merely a safeguard, but it would be there for teachers if only the Minister would accept it tonight. I find it incredible that it is deemed okay for terrorists to have anonymity but not for teachers. The Minister said that we would have to wait for the results of the consultation next year, but he consulted on faith schools in one week. I accept that the noble Lord is working towards having allegations dealt with as quickly as possible, but it takes no time at all to ruin a person’s life once information gets into the hands of the newspapers. And will the newspapers take any notice of the guidance? Of course they won’t. The Minister said that the police may need to waive the right to anonymity. We have worked hard at this amendment to allow for that possibility, so that in certain circumstances the police can waive the right to anonymity. I feel extremely strongly about this. It is right that we should stand up for teachers; they matter an awful lot more than the terrorists in this country. I wish to test the opinion of the House. On Question, Whether the said amendment(No. 14) shall be agreed to? Their Lordships divided: Contents, 28; Not-Contents, 76. Clause 92 [Power of members of staff to use force]: