My Lords, I welcome this debate and congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Teverson. Given that I will focus on education throughout much of my speech, I remind the Committee of my education interests in the register, particularly relating to my work with Purpose on climate education.

I also welcome yesterday’s government...

My Lords, I welcome this debate and congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Teverson. Given that I will focus on education throughout much of my speech, I remind the Committee of my education interests in the register, particularly relating to my work with Purpose on climate education.

I also welcome yesterday’s government...

In respect of information for parents, can the Minister clarify Clause 39(4)? It refers to charging schools for inspection. If parents have triggered an inspection using their current powers, is there any charge for that and, if not, how do we guard against Ofsted having a disincentive to inspect if,...

In respect of information for parents, can the Minister clarify Clause 39(4)? It refers to charging schools for inspection. If parents have triggered an inspection using their current powers, is there any charge for that and, if not, how do we guard against Ofsted having a disincentive to inspect if,...

My Lords, I support the position of the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, in particular. Like him, I would take some persuading to support exempting schools. I can understand the Government’s probable motivation: they believe that schools should be freed up from unnecessary burdens of inspection. The trend over the past...

My Lords, I support the position of the noble Lord, Lord Sutherland, in particular. Like him, I would take some persuading to support exempting schools. I can understand the Government’s probable motivation: they believe that schools should be freed up from unnecessary burdens of inspection. The trend over the past...

My Lords, I wanted to speak to this group of amendments but not because I oppose any of them. In many ways, I can see the benefits in appropriate circumstances of parish councils being represented. Indeed, when I was the mayor of Frome, which was technically a parish council, we...

My Lords, I wanted to speak to this group of amendments but not because I oppose any of them. In many ways, I can see the benefits in appropriate circumstances of parish councils being represented. Indeed, when I was the mayor of Frome, which was technically a parish council, we...

When the Minister writes, will he also clarify how, if it is difficult to pin it down in primary legislation, it would be possible in secondary legislation? Secondary legislation is still law, so you would still need a definition in law of what an outstanding school is.

When the Minister writes, will he also clarify how, if it is difficult to pin it down in primary legislation, it would be possible in secondary legislation? Secondary legislation is still law, so you would still need a definition in law of what an outstanding school is.

My Lords, I start by congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Edmiston, on his fine maiden speech. He should be as proud of it as he is of the Grace academies. When I was schools Minister, I was very pleased to visit the Grace academy in Coventry, which I remember well...

My Lords, I start by congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Edmiston, on his fine maiden speech. He should be as proud of it as he is of the Grace academies. When I was schools Minister, I was very pleased to visit the Grace academy in Coventry, which I remember well...

My Lords, I want, briefly, to reinforce the comments made by the noble Lord, Lord Best. I do so as a former patron of the national fire sprinkler campaign and former chair of the Fire Safety Council. That was some years ago now and I do not currently have any...

My Lords, I want, briefly, to reinforce the comments made by the noble Lord, Lord Best. I do so as a former patron of the national fire sprinkler campaign and former chair of the Fire Safety Council. That was some years ago now and I do not currently have any...

My Lords, I support my noble friend Lady Royall. I state my very clear position that I am not in favour of any expansion of selection by the front or the back door—the back door route enables the expansion of admissions by existing selective schools that may become academies. I...

My Lords, I support my noble friend Lady Royall. I state my very clear position that I am not in favour of any expansion of selection by the front or the back door—the back door route enables the expansion of admissions by existing selective schools that may become academies. I...

My Lords, I want to comment on this only briefly because much of what I wanted to say about the importance of personal, social, health and economic education has already been made clear by my noble friends Lady Massey and Lady Gould, as well as by the other contributors. But...

My Lords, I want to comment on this only briefly because much of what I wanted to say about the importance of personal, social, health and economic education has already been made clear by my noble friends Lady Massey and Lady Gould, as well as by the other contributors. But...

I am most grateful to the Minister for giving way and I shall be very brief. Will he ensure that the expertise within Partnerships for Schools is used by this review? Contrary to what the Secretary of State said in his Statement on Monday, Partnerships for Schools has met every...

I am most grateful to the Minister for giving way and I shall be very brief. Will he ensure that the expertise within Partnerships for Schools is used by this review? Contrary to what the Secretary of State said in his Statement on Monday, Partnerships for Schools has met every...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) area and (b) estimated value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and (B) rented by her Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) area and (b) estimated value is of (i) vacant and (ii) occupied office space (A) owned and (B) rented by her Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job centres are located in buildings which are not owned by the Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many job centres are located in buildings which are not owned by the Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much Jobcentre Plus has spent on (a) acquiring office space, (b) extending existing office space and (c) converting existing office space as a result of an increased level of demand for its services in the most recent period for...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much Jobcentre Plus has spent on (a) acquiring office space, (b) extending existing office space and (c) converting existing office space as a result of an increased level of demand for its services in the most recent period for...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Maidenhead of 13 July 2009, Official Report, columns 63-4W, on Jobcentre Plus, what the locations are of (a) the 18 buildings that have already been modified and (b) the 151 buildings...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Maidenhead of 13 July 2009, Official Report, columns 63-4W, on Jobcentre Plus, what the locations are of (a) the 18 buildings that have already been modified and (b) the 151 buildings...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2009, Official Report, column 65W, on Jobcentre Plus, how much her Department has spent on converting or extending existing Jobcentre Plus offices where necessary; and what the total expected cost is of making...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2009, Official Report, column 65W, on Jobcentre Plus, how much her Department has spent on converting or extending existing Jobcentre Plus offices where necessary; and what the total expected cost is of making...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2009, Official Report, column 65W, on Jobcentre Plus, which Jobcentre Plus offices were identified as facing capacity pressures;

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2009, Official Report, column 65W, on Jobcentre Plus, which Jobcentre Plus offices were identified as facing capacity pressures;

(2) pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2009, Official Report, column 65W, which 18 Jobcentre Plus buildings have already had estates work undertaken to increase capacity; and 151 Jobcentre Plus offices have estates works planned.

(2) pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2009, Official Report, column 65W, which 18 Jobcentre Plus buildings have already had estates work undertaken to increase capacity; and 151 Jobcentre Plus offices have estates works planned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps Jobcentre Plus has taken to adapt its office space to accommodate increases in demand on its services arising from higher benefit caseloads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps Jobcentre Plus has taken to adapt its office space to accommodate increases in demand on its services arising from higher benefit caseloads.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether her Department consulted disability organisations on the most recent programme of refurbishment to Jobcentre Plus offices;

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether her Department consulted disability organisations on the most recent programme of refurbishment to Jobcentre Plus offices;

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department has spent on projects to refurbish Jobcentre Plus offices since 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department has spent on projects to refurbish Jobcentre Plus offices since 2001.