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2009-10
Type
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Answering member
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Is there any correlation between truancy figures and those schools that have home-school outreach workers? What will the Government do to ensure that every school can afford at least one of these officers, who can work not just with the school and parents, but also with other agencies such as the Youth Justice Board?
Is there any correlation between truancy figures and those schools that have home-school outreach workers? What will the Government do to ensure that every school can afford at least one of these officers, who can work not just with the school and parents, but also with other agencies such as the Youth Justice Board?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
6 April 2010
My Lords, the noble Baroness is right to point to the importance of the role of school support staff in tackling problems of attendance. We are particularly concerned that schools work together to share expertise and advice in promoting high and improving attendance; so it is particularly worrying that the choice in this general election is between the Government and an opposition party that would reduce the numbers of support staff below the increase of 200,000 that we have achieved, which would undermine the achievement of this Government in driving up attendance.
Subjects
Pupils; Schools; Truancy
Date
6 April 2010
Reference
718 c1358
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the target to halve the rate of teenage pregnancies is not on course to be met.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the target to halve the rate of teenage pregnancies is not on course to be met.
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Morgan of Drefelin
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
25 March 2010
Answered on
25 March 2010
My Lords, our target is to halve the 1998 rate of teenage conceptions by 2010. Data for 2010 will not be available until February 2012. While we accept that we are currently behind the trajectory needed to achieve the target, real progress has been made in tackling our historically high teenage pregnancy rates. Between 1998 and 2008, the under-18 conception rate fell by 13.3 per cent to its lowest level in over 20 years.
Subjects
Teenage pregnancy
Date
25 March 2010
Reference
718 c1059
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
I thank the Minister for that reply. Teenage pregnancy is indeed a complex social issue, on which the independent advisory board has made a lot of sensible recommendations. I would like to ask her about two of them. The first is for early identification of risk, followed by early intervention. Can she say how much money the Government have spent on that programme, and what are their plans for the long-term evaluation of its benefits? The second is for statutory sex and relationship lessons in school. Will she join me in urging parents to engage with schools so that they can satisfy themselves that this very sensitive subject is being taught appropriately and therefore refrain from withdrawing their children?
I thank the Minister for that reply. Teenage pregnancy is indeed a complex social issue, on which the independent advisory board has made a lot of sensible recommendations. I would like to ask her about two of them. The first is for early identification of risk, followed by early intervention. Can she say how much money the Government have spent on that programme, and what are their plans for the long-term evaluation of its benefits? The second is for statutory sex and relationship lessons in school. Will she join me in urging parents to engage with schools so that they can satisfy themselves that this very sensitive subject is being taught appropriately and therefore refrain from withdrawing their children?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 March 2010
My Lords, I apologise to the noble Baroness; I shall have to write to her on her first question because I do not have that information with me today. However, I agree that early intervention is vital. That is why the teenage pregnancy prevention strategy the Government have been promoting for the past 10 years has worked to ensure that there are co-ordinated services and that PCTs are working with the education sector and so on. Since we relaunched our strategy, that has been very important.
On the question of parental involvement in schools, the noble Baroness is absolutely right. We must ensure that all schools have policies around sex and relationship education and that parents are consulted and involved. And, yes, while parents can at present withdraw children up to the age of 19 from sex and relationship education, we would like to see that limit lowered to 15. That is why the Children, Schools and Families Bill is so important.
Subjects
Schools; Teenage pregnancy; Relationships and sex education
Date
25 March 2010
Reference
718 c1060
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, in those YOIs that do not have a social worker what arrangements are being made for young people who were formerly in care regarding where they should be resettled and the level of support they should receive when they leave custody? These children are one of the main focuses that the social workers are supposed to have, as is working in partnership with other professionals.
My Lords, in those YOIs that do not have a social worker what arrangements are being made for young people who were formerly in care regarding where they should be resettled and the level of support they should receive when they leave custody? These children are one of the main focuses that the social workers are supposed to have, as is working in partnership with other professionals.
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
11 March 2010
I want to be absolutely clear. This is a very important issue and it is absolutely right and proper that young people in YOIs get proper support—particularly children who were in care or who are just leaving care. Their home local authority has a duty to ensure that their needs are met even when they are in detention, and this includes visiting them when they are in detention. The responsibilities are very clear. The Local Government Association is very much opposed to top-slicing for this kind of provision. We are doing what we can to work with the association of children’s directors and others to ensure that this provision is properly met.
Subjects
Vacancies; Social workers; Young offender institutions
Date
11 March 2010
Reference
718 c338
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Does the Minister agree that it is important that children have somebody in school in whom they have the confidence to be able to disclose that they have either directly been subjected to domestic violence or seen their mother subjected to domestic violence? Will she endorse the work of the charity Place2Be and other voluntary organisations that work in schools? What are the Government doing to support schools financially so that they can take on those therapists?
Does the Minister agree that it is important that children have somebody in school in whom they have the confidence to be able to disclose that they have either directly been subjected to domestic violence or seen their mother subjected to domestic violence? Will she endorse the work of the charity Place2Be and other voluntary organisations that work in schools? What are the Government doing to support schools financially so that they can take on those therapists?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
8 March 2010
I am happy to support the noble Baroness in recognising the work of the charity Place2Be. It is right that we should equip all school staff, through dedicated training as part of the initial teacher training and then through professional development, with the confidence that, where there is a disclosure, they know how to support the child. That is what this review has been all about; it is about looking at what work DCSF should be doing. We accept all the recommendations and we are absolutely committed to getting the funding in the right place and to making sure that schools are confident.
Subjects
Curriculum; Crimes of violence; Women; Domestic abuse; Personal, social, health and economic education; Schools
Date
8 March 2010
Reference
718 c2-3
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
In view of the announcements today about secondary school choices, can the Minister say what percentage of toddlers got their first choice of Sure Start centre? Does she agree that parents vote with their feet when it comes to evaluating Sure Start centres and that the best centres are very oversubscribed by the middle classes? What are the Government doing to ensure that the most vulnerable people get those places?
In view of the announcements today about secondary school choices, can the Minister say what percentage of toddlers got their first choice of Sure Start centre? Does she agree that parents vote with their feet when it comes to evaluating Sure Start centres and that the best centres are very oversubscribed by the middle classes? What are the Government doing to ensure that the most vulnerable people get those places?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
1 March 2010
My Lords, my view is that 100 per cent of parents have been able to achieve their choice of Sure Start centre in their community with this Government’s vision because we are committed to ensuring that there is a Sure Start children’s centre in every community. That is a commitment to a universal service, which was achieved when we created a statutory footing for Sure Start centres in the ASCL Bill. We must ensure that we really drive through our commitment to Sure Start centres by ensuring that there is outreach to disadvantaged communities; we learnt at the start that many of the Sure Start centres in the disadvantaged communities were very conscious of excluding parents who were on their borders. That is not necessary. We also know that Sure Start centres in more advantaged areas are used by children from disadvantaged areas, and that is why it is so important that we have a universal service.
Subjects
Sure Start programme; Children's centres
Date
1 March 2010
Reference
717 c1190
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many girls under 16 years old became pregnant in each year since 2005; in how many cases the father was also under 16 years old; and in how many cases the pregnancy was terminated.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many girls under 16 years old became pregnant in each year since 2005; in how many cases the father was also under 16 years old; and in how many cases the pregnancy was terminated.
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
22 February 2010
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Subjects
Abortion; Teenage pregnancy
Date
22 February 2010
Reference
1916; 717 c259-60WA
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty's Government (a) what research and analysis they have conducted, and (b) what research and analysis by other organisations they are aware of, in regard to the effects on children of television product placement of (1) gambling products, (2) alcohol, (3) tobacco, and (4) foods high in...
To ask Her Majesty's Government (a) what research and analysis they have conducted, and (b) what research and analysis by other organisations they are aware of, in regard to the effects on children of television product placement of (1) gambling products, (2) alcohol, (3) tobacco, and (4) foods high in...
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Davies of Oldham
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 February 2010
The Government have not conducted any research or analysis into the effects of television product placement on children. So far as the Government are aware, such independent research as there is on the effects of product placement contains little information about its potential impact on children.
UK television broadcasters are not currently allowed to include product placement in programmes they have made or had had made for them. This has been the position since commercial television began in the UK in the mid-1950s.
In 2008, the Government commissioned Professor David Buckingham to lead an assessment of the impact of the commercial world on children's well-being. That assessment—the report of which was published in December 2009—found that there is little conclusive evidence one way or the other about the impact of commercial messages on children.
Subjects
Children; Alcoholic drinks; Advertising; Gambling; Food; Research; Television; Tobacco
Date
9 February 2010
Reference
1766; 717 c105-6WA
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I suspected that the answer would be a big fat zero and I have not been disappointed. Is the Minister aware that none of the youth groups with which I have talked knows anything at all about this, and that the Big Lottery Fund, which will distribute the money eventually, has not even had its policy direction from the Government? Will the Minister ensure that when the policy direction is sent, it is as flexible as possible so that the Big Lottery Fund can respond to what young people really want rather than to what Whitehall prescribes?
My Lords, I suspected that the answer would be a big fat zero and I have not been disappointed. Is the Minister aware that none of the youth groups with which I have talked knows anything at all about this, and that the Big Lottery Fund, which will distribute the money eventually, has not even had its policy direction from the Government? Will the Minister ensure that when the policy direction is sent, it is as flexible as possible so that the Big Lottery Fund can respond to what young people really want rather than to what Whitehall prescribes?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
2 February 2010
The direction to the Big Lottery Fund lies within the authority of the Department for Children, Schools and Families, after consultation with DCMS and HMT. That direction will be given in due course, but, first, we must follow the procedures decreed by Parliament to establish and authorise the reclaim fund. Once that has been done, the mechanisms will be set in place to address the priorities which have been very clearly delineated in the 2009 PBR.
Subjects
Bank services; Finance; Youth services; Big Lottery Fund; Dormant assets scheme
Date
2 February 2010
Reference
717 c112
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much money from dormant bank accounts has reached front-line youth services to date.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much money from dormant bank accounts has reached front-line youth services to date.
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Lord Myners
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
2 February 2010
Answered on
2 February 2010
Although no money from the dormant account scheme has yet been released to any of the spending priorities, the 2009 PBR announced that the Co-operative Financial Services Group intends to submit an application to the FSA for authorisation to establish and administer the reclaim fund. If the work on this proceeds as planned, it is expected to be operational by mid-2010, which will enable funds to flow to the Big Lottery Fund and to spending priorities from that date.
Subjects
Bank services; Finance; Youth services; Dormant assets scheme
Date
2 February 2010
Reference
717 c112
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does the Minister accept that foreign exchange trips are really helpful to young people who are learning languages? Yet a lot of schools are very reluctant to carry them out; indeed, the survey says that only 40 per cent of schools have them. What are the Government doing to help schools overcome the practical difficulties, and the anxieties of parents about the safeguarding of their children and the vetting procedures in the foreign countries concerned?
My Lords, does the Minister accept that foreign exchange trips are really helpful to young people who are learning languages? Yet a lot of schools are very reluctant to carry them out; indeed, the survey says that only 40 per cent of schools have them. What are the Government doing to help schools overcome the practical difficulties, and the anxieties of parents about the safeguarding of their children and the vetting procedures in the foreign countries concerned?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
28 January 2010
I will have to get back to the noble Baroness about the safeguarding; I have no comment on that. However, there are other ways to achieve the same benefits. For example, there is a good project, Connecting Classrooms, which uses the internet as a way of achieving contact between schools from different countries. The British Council is involved in a number of those projects. I am not denying the importance of foreign trips. I am just saying that we ought to use the technology in imaginative ways to encourage young people to stay with language learning.
Subjects
Languages; Secondary education
Date
28 January 2010
Reference
716 c1521-2
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty's Government when Ofqual will be established; and what was the legal authority for making the Chief Regulator of Qualifications and Examinations Order 2009 (SI 2009/3208).
To ask Her Majesty's Government when Ofqual will be established; and what was the legal authority for making the Chief Regulator of Qualifications and Examinations Order 2009 (SI 2009/3208).
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Morgan of Drefelin
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
25 January 2010
Our intention is to commence the provisions in the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 which establishes Ofqual on 1 April 2010.
Her Majesty the Queen, on the advice of the Privy Council, has by order appointed Kathleen Tattersall OBE as the first Chief Regulator of Qualifications and Examinations from that date. The order, dated 9 December 2009, was made under paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 9 to the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009. Section 13 of the Interpretation Act 1978 allows statutory powers of appointment to be exercised before the commencement of the provision under which the appointment is made.
Legislation
Chief Regulator of Qualifications and Examinations Order 2009
Subjects
Public appointments; Ofqual
Date
25 January 2010
Reference
1289; 716 c300WA
House
House of Lords
Will the Minister join me in regretting the decision by the YJB to appeal the decision by the Information Commissioner that the restraint manual should be published? Parents at the very least, if not the wider public, should certainly know what is happening to their young people. Will the Government go further and follow the model of the Australian department of corrections, which involves parents in planning the management of young people following serious incidents?
Will the Minister join me in regretting the decision by the YJB to appeal the decision by the Information Commissioner that the restraint manual should be published? Parents at the very least, if not the wider public, should certainly know what is happening to their young people. Will the Government go further and follow the model of the Australian department of corrections, which involves parents in planning the management of young people following serious incidents?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
13 January 2010
I am afraid that I do not agree with the noble Baroness on that. The general part of the manual is already in the Library of the House. The part that has not been disclosed is the detailed description of the specific techniques. We believe that a detailed knowledge of the techniques, as applied, would allow those being restrained to take countermeasures that would reduce the effectiveness of the techniques and put trainees, staff and other persons in the secure establishment at risk. As the noble Baroness says, the Information Commissioner’s decision on this is being appealed, and we will just have to await the result.
Subjects
Body searches; Pain; Young offenders; Restraint techniques; Youth custody; European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Date
13 January 2010
Reference
716 c502
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Why does it take so long for the LSC to process capital funding applications? It took nearly 12 months for the NSA Creative & Cultural Skills application to be processed. It then required the money to be spent within just over a year. Then, apart from two directors, the majority of the staff of the LSC got bonuses.
Why does it take so long for the LSC to process capital funding applications? It took nearly 12 months for the NSA Creative & Cultural Skills application to be processed. It then required the money to be spent within just over a year. Then, apart from two directors, the majority of the staff of the LSC got bonuses.
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
13 January 2010
Right. Perhaps I should deal with the second issue first before we get carried away in imagining that LSC staff are receiving bankers’ bonuses, of which I am sure some noble Lords on the other side are so fond. LSC staff improved on the number of people who were successfully in learning, so they met a number of their targets.
In relation to the noble Baroness’s first point on the National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural Skills, we are supportive of that project. There was some delay, but we always made it clear to Creative & Cultural Skills that the money was budgeted for and had to be spent by the end of March 2011. We should not forget that the Government are providing a £5 million investment. We regret the delay in the first instance and we make it clear that we urge the National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural Skills to work with the LSC to discuss how these issues can be resolved to mutual benefit.
Subjects
Capital investment; Further education; Learning and Skills Council for England
Date
13 January 2010
Reference
716 c504
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
The Minister said that the LSC met its targets. Is 12 months to process a capital application within the normal targets for that organisation?
The Minister said that the LSC met its targets. Is 12 months to process a capital application within the normal targets for that organisation?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
13 January 2010
In referring to the targets in relation to bonuses, I was referring to the targets of the number of learners who have been taken successfully through the learning programmes. I have already made it clear that there were some problems with that budgetary allocation, but surely the main point, which I would have thought the noble Baroness would be pleased with, is that there is a guaranteed £5 million of government investment towards this project. The main objective ought to be, I am sure she will agree, that it ought to work with the LSC in ensuring that it can resolve this issue.
Subjects
Capital investment; Further education; Learning and Skills Council for England
Date
13 January 2010
Reference
716 c504-5
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty's Government with reference to press notice 2009/0184 issued by the Department for Children, Schools and Families on 12 October 2009, when they will announce which (a) schools, and (b) colleges, will receive funding for additional places provided to 16 year olds.
To ask Her Majesty's Government with reference to press notice 2009/0184 issued by the Department for Children, Schools and Families on 12 October 2009, when they will announce which (a) schools, and (b) colleges, will receive funding for additional places provided to 16 year olds.
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Morgan of Drefelin
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
12 January 2010
We are investing a total of over £7.8 billion in post-16 learning in 2009-10 to provide more than 1.5 million young people, the highest number on record, with a place in learning and the support they need. The £11 million top-up payment announced in October will fund 518 providers to part-fund a further 20,260 learners in 2009-10—on top of the additional 55,000 places in schools and colleges and 17,500 apprenticeship places already fully funded in 2009-10 under September Guarantee. The LSC will be informing all providers of how this additional funding will be allocated shortly.
Subjects
Finance; Further education; Sixth form education
Date
12 January 2010
Reference
464; 716 c140-1WA
House
House of Lords
Does the Minister agree that speech and language therapists have an important role to play in the performance of spoken English? Given that the posts of these therapists in schools are funded by the NHS through the local PCT and that their professional training is the responsibility of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what are the Government doing to ensure that there is co-operation between the two departments so that there are sufficient funded posts and properly trained people to fill them?
Does the Minister agree that speech and language therapists have an important role to play in the performance of spoken English? Given that the posts of these therapists in schools are funded by the NHS through the local PCT and that their professional training is the responsibility of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what are the Government doing to ensure that there is co-operation between the two departments so that there are sufficient funded posts and properly trained people to fill them?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
11 January 2010
My Lords, I shall have to think about whether or not my answer was adequate for the noble Baroness, because the important thing is to point to the very strong partnership that exists between the DCSF and the DoH. In response to the Rose review, which looked at the primary curriculum, we have launched the communication, language and literacy development programme, which is very much about the two departments working in partnership. However, I am prepared to look more closely at her question and come back to her in writing.
Subjects
Education; English language; Literacy
Date
11 January 2010
Reference
716 c280
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Does the Minister not accept that a wide range of options for education and training for young people, which are not only of high quality as the noble Lord just mentioned but are relevant to both their needs and the job opportunities available to them, will do a lot more to engage young people than any compulsion that the Government may introduce in 2013 and 2015?
Does the Minister not accept that a wide range of options for education and training for young people, which are not only of high quality as the noble Lord just mentioned but are relevant to both their needs and the job opportunities available to them, will do a lot more to engage young people than any compulsion that the Government may introduce in 2013 and 2015?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
5 January 2010
No, I do not. We spent a great deal of time debating this during the passage of the Education and Skills Bill when we looked at the question of compulsion. I know that the noble Baroness’s party is very much opposed to compulsion, but even when we have done absolutely everything—ensured that we had the most engaging curricula, a flexible approach personalised to meet the needs of all young people, however challenging their experiences or upbringing might be, ensured that the financial support is there and that we have the EMAs, courses and funding that this party has put in place—we will end up with young people who will still not engage. That is where the compulsion element becomes so important. We thought that it was right to make education compulsory to 16 and it is now right for it to be compulsory for young people up to the age of 18 to be involved in education, training or an apprenticeship, which I know that this House is particularly interested in.
Subjects
Education; Young people
Date
5 January 2010
Reference
716 c7-8
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families did not consult Parliament about the appointment of the first chair of Ofqual.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families did not consult Parliament about the appointment of the first chair of Ofqual.
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Morgan of Drefelin
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Procedure
Topical questions (HL)
For answer on
5 January 2010
Answered on
5 January 2010
My Lords, following an open competition, Kathleen Tattersall was appointed in April 2008 to chair interim Ofqual. We made it clear that she would be the first chief regulator following the passage of the relevant legislation and have repeatedly said that since. In June 2008, the Government announced that appointments of new candidates to various posts, including that of chief regulator, should be subject to pre-appointment hearings and that existing appointments, such as that of Kathleen Tattersall, would fall outside those arrangements.
Subjects
Public appointments; Parliamentary scrutiny; Ofqual
Date
5 January 2010
Reference
716 c8-9
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I am quite aware that the Secretary of State was not obliged to consult the Select Committee, but that is not the point. Does the Minister not recall how many times during the passage of the apprenticeships Bill only a few weeks ago she tried to reassure me of the Government’s commitment to a really independent Ofqual? In the light of that, would it not have been consistent and demonstrated that commitment, let alone been wise and uncharacteristically gracious, if the Secretary of State had consulted the Select Committee before finally appointing the chair of Ofqual?
My Lords, I am quite aware that the Secretary of State was not obliged to consult the Select Committee, but that is not the point. Does the Minister not recall how many times during the passage of the apprenticeships Bill only a few weeks ago she tried to reassure me of the Government’s commitment to a really independent Ofqual? In the light of that, would it not have been consistent and demonstrated that commitment, let alone been wise and uncharacteristically gracious, if the Secretary of State had consulted the Select Committee before finally appointing the chair of Ofqual?
Asked by
Baroness Walmsley
(Liberal Democrat)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
5 January 2010
My Lords, I am not quite sure where to start with that question, but I will do my best. I would say that my Secretary of State, the right honourable Ed Balls, is incredibly gracious and characteristically so...
My Lords, I wanted to cover that point as a starter. I say seriously on the point that the noble Baroness makes that I have looked carefully at this and asked officials to go through it in some detail to make sure that this is the case. Through the passage of the ASCL Bill, we were absolutely clear about the process for the appointment of the chief regulator and the chief executive of Ofqual. I am slightly bemused over how there could be such a misunderstanding about how the appointment of the chief regulator should be made. We made it clear when the interim chair was advertised, through the advertisement and the candidates' packs, as well as in quotes in the media, that once appointed as the interim chair the successful candidate-Kathleen Tattersall-would go on to become the chief regulator subject to the passing of the Bill. Also, the right honourable Jim Knight wrote to the chairman of the education Select Committee setting out how the process would work. I am slightly bemused as to how the misunderstanding has arisen, because we have been very clear.
Subjects
Public appointments; Parliamentary scrutiny; Ofqual
Date
5 January 2010
Reference
716 c9
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords