To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much the Young Apprenticeship Scheme (a) cost in 2004-05 and (b) is expected to cost in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2007-08; how many people dropped out of the scheme in 2004-05; whether schools will be able to use grades...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how much the Young Apprenticeship Scheme (a) cost in 2004-05 and (b) is expected to cost in (i) 2005-06 and (ii) 2007-08; how many people dropped out of the scheme in 2004-05; whether schools will be able to use grades...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to ensure that special educational needs co-ordinators have appropriate training for the role they undertake.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to ensure that special educational needs co-ordinators have appropriate training for the role they undertake.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research she has commissioned on academic achievements of deaf and hard of hearing pupils in (a) mainstream schools and (b) special schools and units in Hertfordshire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research she has commissioned on academic achievements of deaf and hard of hearing pupils in (a) mainstream schools and (b) special schools and units in Hertfordshire.

: I agree with the hon. Gentleman that the advantages that were given to some schools in the early 1990s worked to the detriment of many inner-city schools and areas of deprivation. I shall come to the very point that he raises in a minute or two, if he will...

: I agree with the hon. Gentleman that the advantages that were given to some schools in the early 1990s worked to the detriment of many inner-city schools and areas of deprivation. I shall come to the very point that he raises in a minute or two, if he will...

Many, many state school pupils go on to have successful university careers and many students who start off by doing dual science end up doing separate science at A-level. The hon. Lady's blanket criticism is unnecessary.

Many, many state school pupils go on to have successful university careers and many students who start off by doing dual science end up doing separate science at A-level. The hon. Lady's blanket criticism is unnecessary.

: Unfortunately, the figures do not back up the hon. Lady's statement. The overwhelming majority of children who go on to university to study science come from the independent sector, not the state sector. To bear that out, only two of the 27 new academies offer science as a single...

: Unfortunately, the figures do not back up the hon. Lady's statement. The overwhelming majority of children who go on to university to study science come from the independent sector, not the state sector. To bear that out, only two of the 27 new academies offer science as a single...

On the face of it, the White Paper talks the talk. Unfortunately, it does not live up to its promises, and on close scrutiny it does not take long to find some of its flaws. It talks about trust schools being created with new freedoms and powers; however, that provision...

On the face of it, the White Paper talks the talk. Unfortunately, it does not live up to its promises, and on close scrutiny it does not take long to find some of its flaws. It talks about trust schools being created with new freedoms and powers; however, that provision...

: My hon. Friend indicated that it is clear that some LEAs are better than others. Does he agree that an underlying problem with the White Paper is the stigmatisation of all LEAs as failing to provide incentives for parental involvement, innovation, success and so on, which many of us...

: My hon. Friend indicated that it is clear that some LEAs are better than others. Does he agree that an underlying problem with the White Paper is the stigmatisation of all LEAs as failing to provide incentives for parental involvement, innovation, success and so on, which many of us...

: I did not think that what I said was that controversial.

: I did not think that what I said was that controversial.

: I do not think that the White Paper stigmatises all LEAs. There are examples of good practice in LEAs. Some are delivering many of the items contained in the White Paper. Such models encourage us to believe that some aspects of the White Paper can be achieved, as they...

: I do not think that the White Paper stigmatises all LEAs. There are examples of good practice in LEAs. Some are delivering many of the items contained in the White Paper. Such models encourage us to believe that some aspects of the White Paper can be achieved, as they...

: Clearly, if we take the most extreme example of one child with a particular specialism, there is no way that the state can cope with providing the perfect education for that child. There will clearly be a compromise, but it is a matter of what is in the best...

: Clearly, if we take the most extreme example of one child with a particular specialism, there is no way that the state can cope with providing the perfect education for that child. There will clearly be a compromise, but it is a matter of what is in the best...

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the White Paper would stop parents, acting together, making a new school into a community school? Does the removal of the community school choice extend or narrow parental choice?

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the White Paper would stop parents, acting together, making a new school into a community school? Does the removal of the community school choice extend or narrow parental choice?

: That is an intriguing question, in that it relates to one controversial aspect of the White Paper. If a new school is to be set up, the White Paper envisages it as being of an independent trust nature; it cannot be a community school. It will be a foundation...

: That is an intriguing question, in that it relates to one controversial aspect of the White Paper. If a new school is to be set up, the White Paper envisages it as being of an independent trust nature; it cannot be a community school. It will be a foundation...

: Does my hon. Friend think that the White Paper is right in marginalising the influence of county hall but strengthening the influence of Whitehall on education?

: Does my hon. Friend think that the White Paper is right in marginalising the influence of county hall but strengthening the influence of Whitehall on education?

: I am not certain that that is what the White Paper does. I know from discussions with my hon. Friend that he views his LEA highly, but my experience with my LEA is not the same. We come at this from slightly different directions. I said earlier that no...

: I am not certain that that is what the White Paper does. I know from discussions with my hon. Friend that he views his LEA highly, but my experience with my LEA is not the same. We come at this from slightly different directions. I said earlier that no...

: The hon. Gentleman has answered my question, ““How much choice?”” by saying that choice will always be limited by capacity; but the state can decide that capacity, so it has to make a prior decision as to how much choice it will offer. He has not really addressed that...

: The hon. Gentleman has answered my question, ““How much choice?”” by saying that choice will always be limited by capacity; but the state can decide that capacity, so it has to make a prior decision as to how much choice it will offer. He has not really addressed that...

: The hon. Gentleman poses an interesting question. Choice should be made available to parents. Clearly, it will be limited by the capacity of a school to deliver the options that parents want for their child. The system may not have the capacity to deliver a choice for a child...

: The hon. Gentleman poses an interesting question. Choice should be made available to parents. Clearly, it will be limited by the capacity of a school to deliver the options that parents want for their child. The system may not have the capacity to deliver a choice for a child...

The hon. Gentleman has indicated that a lot of people exercise choice in a variety of ways and that some people will go to great lengths to exercise their choices. Is he suggesting that the state should facilitate every conceivable choice—for example, the provision of grammar schools if people want...

The hon. Gentleman has indicated that a lot of people exercise choice in a variety of ways and that some people will go to great lengths to exercise their choices. Is he suggesting that the state should facilitate every conceivable choice—for example, the provision of grammar schools if people want...