---

Academies Bill [Lords]

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his question. If I may quote, I believe:"““The best local authorities already increasingly see their primary role as championing parents and pupils rather than being a direct provider of education. We need to see every local authority moving from provider to commissioner, so that the system acquires a local dynamism responsive to the needs of their communities and open to change and new forms of school provision. This will liberate local authorities from too often feeling the need to defend the status quo, so that instead they become the champions of innovation and diversity, and the partner of local parents in driving continuous improvement.””" That was Tony Blair in October 2005—once again, an unimprovable argument.