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Education and Skills Bill

I had not intended that my amendment should draw us into the murky water of appeals; I share my noble friend’s reservations about that. It is a wider subject than I wished to broach tonight. I was enormously encouraged by the Minister’s comments on the level of full-time education provision for children excluded from school. I hope that he will be kind enough to drop me a line to amplify what he said about that exceedingly important provision. The Minister referred to occasions when it is not possible for a head teacher to parlay with a knife-bearing child. I once had a knife drawn on me in a class, but the situation was resolved amicably after a few moments of cold, concealed anxiety on my part. I accept that there will have to be exceptions to the rule. However, I hope that the rule itself is not without its merits. I do not suppose that the Minister is going to a beach for his holidays, but if he is, I hope that he enjoys it very much. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 139 agreed to. [Amendments Nos. 229 and 230 had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.] [Amendments Nos. 230A and 230B not moved.]