(2) how many teachers working in (a) the Ribble Valley, (b) Lancashire and (c) England were subject to physical attack in the workplace in 2008.

(2) how many teachers working in (a) the Ribble Valley, (b) Lancashire and (c) England were subject to physical attack in the workplace in 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what estimate he has made of the number of physical attacks against people working in education in 2008;

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what estimate he has made of the number of physical attacks against people working in education in 2008;

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what his estimate is of the percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils who meet the standards outlined on swimming and water safety in the compulsory parts of the physical education curriculum;

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what his estimate is of the percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils who meet the standards outlined on swimming and water safety in the compulsory parts of the physical education curriculum;

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what advice his Department has given to school governing bodies on assistance for parents on low incomes to purchase school uniforms, with particular reference to the range of approved retailers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what advice his Department has given to school governing bodies on assistance for parents on low incomes to purchase school uniforms, with particular reference to the range of approved retailers.

(2) what guidance his Department provides to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority on who to consult ahead of changes made to standards in swimming under the curriculum.

(2) what guidance his Department provides to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority on who to consult ahead of changes made to standards in swimming under the curriculum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of children have a careers interview with an independent adviser before they leave school.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of children have a careers interview with an independent adviser before they leave school.

(2) how many secondary schools have no specialised careers service or careers adviser;

(2) how many secondary schools have no specialised careers service or careers adviser;

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many secondary schools have a specialist full-time careers adviser attached to their staff;

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many secondary schools have a specialist full-time careers adviser attached to their staff;

(8) what training in careers guidance and progression careers advisers in schools receive during their practice period.

(8) what training in careers guidance and progression careers advisers in schools receive during their practice period.

(7) what training in careers guidance and progression careers advisers in schools receive prior to starting their job;

(7) what training in careers guidance and progression careers advisers in schools receive prior to starting their job;

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the status of specialist careers guidance in secondary schools is; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the status of specialist careers guidance in secondary schools is; and if he will make a statement.

(4) how many secondary schools have a part-time careers adviser attached to their staff;

(4) how many secondary schools have a part-time careers adviser attached to their staff;

(3) how many secondary schools have staff employed to teach specific subjects and to act as a careers adviser;

(3) how many secondary schools have staff employed to teach specific subjects and to act as a careers adviser;

(6) how many hours teachers who provide careers advice must undergo to do so;

(6) how many hours teachers who provide careers advice must undergo to do so;

(5) how many teachers are employed in a dual role as a teacher and a careers adviser;

(5) how many teachers are employed in a dual role as a teacher and a careers adviser;

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his policy is on teachers acting as careers advisers; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his policy is on teachers acting as careers advisers; and if he will make a statement.

CAMHS review. Children and young people in mind: the final report of the National CAMHS Review. 118 p.

CAMHS review. Children and young people in mind: the final report of the National CAMHS Review. 118 p.

Letter dated 16/12/2008 from Ed Balls MP to Michael Martin MP regarding the Sutherland Inquiry into the National Curriculum Tests 2008. Incl. copies of correspondence dated between 12th and 16th December 2008 with Lord Sutherland of Houndwood, Kathleen Tattersall, (Chair of Ofqual) and Chris Trinick (Chair of QCA). 12 p.

Letter dated 16/12/2008 from Ed Balls MP to Michael Martin MP regarding the Sutherland Inquiry into the National Curriculum Tests 2008. Incl. copies of correspondence dated between 12th and 16th December 2008 with Lord Sutherland of Houndwood, Kathleen Tattersall, (Chair of Ofqual) and Chris Trinick (Chair of QCA). 12 p.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children have been injured while travelling on school buses which were not fitted with seat belts in the last 24 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many children have been injured while travelling on school buses which were not fitted with seat belts in the last 24 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps the Government has taken to promote sport in schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps the Government has taken to promote sport in schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what estimate he has made of the number of teachers working in (a) West Chelmsford constituency, (b) Essex and (c) England who were subject to physical attack in the workplace in 2008;

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what estimate he has made of the number of teachers working in (a) West Chelmsford constituency, (b) Essex and (c) England who were subject to physical attack in the workplace in 2008;

(2) what estimate he has made of the number of physical attacks against people working in education in West Chelmsford constituency in 2008.

(2) what estimate he has made of the number of physical attacks against people working in education in West Chelmsford constituency in 2008.

Statement on the Sutherland Inquiry into the delivery of National Curriculum tests in 2008.

Statement on the Sutherland Inquiry into the delivery of National Curriculum tests in 2008.

I can explain that to my hon. Friend. There was a body called the QCA. That single body was responsible for the procurement, management, delivery and regulation of tests and, clearly, it did not succeed. We have decided to have one organisation to procure, manage and deliver the tests, and...

I can explain that to my hon. Friend. There was a body called the QCA. That single body was responsible for the procurement, management, delivery and regulation of tests and, clearly, it did not succeed. We have decided to have one organisation to procure, manage and deliver the tests, and...

The QCA appears to have failed, and it seems that it is going to be transformed into two quangos. The Learning and Skills Council seems—to me and many others, and I think to the Government—also to have failed, and it is to be transformed into three quangos. One of them...

The QCA appears to have failed, and it seems that it is going to be transformed into two quangos. The Learning and Skills Council seems—to me and many others, and I think to the Government—also to have failed, and it is to be transformed into three quangos. One of them...

My hon. Friend is right to stress ““pupils, schools and markers””, because markers had a raw deal in the summer. The customer service to markers from ETS was frankly unacceptable and that must improve in the future. That is why we are returning to the tried and tested methods with...

My hon. Friend is right to stress ““pupils, schools and markers””, because markers had a raw deal in the summer. The customer service to markers from ETS was frankly unacceptable and that must improve in the future. That is why we are returning to the tried and tested methods with...

The Secretary of State said in his statement that Lord Sutherland concluded that the procurement procedure was sound, yet it is clear from the report that although the procedure underwent two OGC gateway reviews as well as the expensive involvement of PricewaterhouseCoopers, the procedure did not produce good value for...

The Secretary of State said in his statement that Lord Sutherland concluded that the procurement procedure was sound, yet it is clear from the report that although the procedure underwent two OGC gateway reviews as well as the expensive involvement of PricewaterhouseCoopers, the procedure did not produce good value for...

I thank the Secretary of State for his kindness in sending me prior notice of his statement and also in allowing me to read Lord Sutherland's report in his Department earlier this afternoon. The Sutherland report is an epic catalogue of incompetence, inefficiency and blinkered inactivity in the delivery of...

I thank the Secretary of State for his kindness in sending me prior notice of his statement and also in allowing me to read Lord Sutherland's report in his Department earlier this afternoon. The Sutherland report is an epic catalogue of incompetence, inefficiency and blinkered inactivity in the delivery of...

The delivery of this summer's national curriculum tests for 11 and 14-year-olds was a shambles. I want to say to all the teachers, pupils, parents and markers who have been affected how sorry I am for all their inconvenience, stress and frustration. What happened this year was completely unacceptable. It...

The delivery of this summer's national curriculum tests for 11 and 14-year-olds was a shambles. I want to say to all the teachers, pupils, parents and markers who have been affected how sorry I am for all their inconvenience, stress and frustration. What happened this year was completely unacceptable. It...

If hon. Members had taken time to read the report, they would have found that the answers are right here on the page. I am afraid that their questions betray the fact that they have not yet had time to study the report. We have asked the OGC to implement...

If hon. Members had taken time to read the report, they would have found that the answers are right here on the page. I am afraid that their questions betray the fact that they have not yet had time to study the report. We have asked the OGC to implement...

I, too, thank the Secretary of State for giving me early sight both of his statement and Lord Sutherland's report. On page 30 of the report, which was issued today, Lord Sutherland quotes the chairman of the QCA back in December 2006 rather optimistically suggesting that this contract might eventually...

I, too, thank the Secretary of State for giving me early sight both of his statement and Lord Sutherland's report. On page 30 of the report, which was issued today, Lord Sutherland quotes the chairman of the QCA back in December 2006 rather optimistically suggesting that this contract might eventually...

Let me answer the hon. Gentleman's questions first. I shall ensure that the expert group does a thorough job, and I will forward its conclusions on future testing to the House. We will need to make future decisions at that point, because as I have said, the regime is not...

Let me answer the hon. Gentleman's questions first. I shall ensure that the expert group does a thorough job, and I will forward its conclusions on future testing to the House. We will need to make future decisions at that point, because as I have said, the regime is not...

Well, I advise the hon. Gentleman to read the Sutherland inquiry. It says, in terms and as I quoted in my statement, that in practice it was only on 30 June that Ministers were informed by QCA that there would be delays in the tests. There was a meeting on...

Well, I advise the hon. Gentleman to read the Sutherland inquiry. It says, in terms and as I quoted in my statement, that in practice it was only on 30 June that Ministers were informed by QCA that there would be delays in the tests. There was a meeting on...

My right hon. Friend will know that the Children, Schools and Families Committee is undertaking an ongoing investigation into these matters, which also takes in the contract for education maintenance allowances. As part of that, we will take evidence from Ken Boston and Lord Sutherland in the new year. May...

My right hon. Friend will know that the Children, Schools and Families Committee is undertaking an ongoing investigation into these matters, which also takes in the contract for education maintenance allowances. As part of that, we will take evidence from Ken Boston and Lord Sutherland in the new year. May...

That issue is currently being looked at by the Select Committee, which is the right forum for that purpose. What has happened with the EMAs has been unacceptable, but it is clear why it happened and the Select Committee will consider the subject. I do not think that an independent...

That issue is currently being looked at by the Select Committee, which is the right forum for that purpose. What has happened with the EMAs has been unacceptable, but it is clear why it happened and the Select Committee will consider the subject. I do not think that an independent...

The Secretary of State is right to characterise this whole sorry episode as a complete failure that has let pupils down very badly. As the right hon. Gentleman is lending a great amount of weight to the recommendations in the report, will he look again at the EMA payments and...

The Secretary of State is right to characterise this whole sorry episode as a complete failure that has let pupils down very badly. As the right hon. Gentleman is lending a great amount of weight to the recommendations in the report, will he look again at the EMA payments and...

I shall definitely ensure that there is no ambiguity. We will use the processes that we are now going through with the expert group to ensure that what we do is not only cost-effective but effective in the way in which we test. That is our challenge. On my hon....

I shall definitely ensure that there is no ambiguity. We will use the processes that we are now going through with the expert group to ensure that what we do is not only cost-effective but effective in the way in which we test. That is our challenge. On my hon....

Given the difficulties this year, particularly those about the number of opinions and the changes to the borderlining practice, is there any point in publishing the key stage 3 results on a school by school basis? Should we not now simply put key stage 3 to bed and forget about...

Given the difficulties this year, particularly those about the number of opinions and the changes to the borderlining practice, is there any point in publishing the key stage 3 results on a school by school basis? Should we not now simply put key stage 3 to bed and forget about...

I have answered the question so many times—it is so trivial. I have searched my conscience. I asked for an independent report and I have responded to it. The implementation of the report's recommendations will ensure that such things will not happen again. The right way to proceed was to...

I have answered the question so many times—it is so trivial. I have searched my conscience. I asked for an independent report and I have responded to it. The implementation of the report's recommendations will ensure that such things will not happen again. The right way to proceed was to...

I searched my conscience, and I also asked Lord Sutherland to carry out an independent review. Not only did I search my conscience, but I read that review, which clearly states that the way in which we set up the arm's length relationship with QCA was right and normal practice...

I searched my conscience, and I also asked Lord Sutherland to carry out an independent review. Not only did I search my conscience, but I read that review, which clearly states that the way in which we set up the arm's length relationship with QCA was right and normal practice...

The Secretary of State will be aware that I previously served as a Minister in his Department. We had our share, too, of administrative difficulties of the kind that he has described today, although not on the same scale. Will he reflect first on the fact that non-departmental public bodies...

The Secretary of State will be aware that I previously served as a Minister in his Department. We had our share, too, of administrative difficulties of the kind that he has described today, although not on the same scale. Will he reflect first on the fact that non-departmental public bodies...

I am happy to put on the record my thanks to Ken Boston. I worked with him over the past year and a half and thought that he delivered the key stage 3 reforms, which have been widely welcomed in schools, extremely well. We never had a difficult word, but...

I am happy to put on the record my thanks to Ken Boston. I worked with him over the past year and a half and thought that he delivered the key stage 3 reforms, which have been widely welcomed in schools, extremely well. We never had a difficult word, but...

I just want to ask the Secretary of State whether he now regrets the advice that he was given to publish 90 per cent. of the tests immediately. Does he think that that would have solved the problem? Does he think that too many cooks spoiled the broth, because of...

I just want to ask the Secretary of State whether he now regrets the advice that he was given to publish 90 per cent. of the tests immediately. Does he think that that would have solved the problem? Does he think that too many cooks spoiled the broth, because of...

The position is clear: a school pays a financial penalty only if a review is unsuccessful. That is an important principle, as it means that it is not possible for there to be review after review. If there were no financial cost to a litigious review, everyone would appeal. We...

The position is clear: a school pays a financial penalty only if a review is unsuccessful. That is an important principle, as it means that it is not possible for there to be review after review. If there were no financial cost to a litigious review, everyone would appeal. We...

The number of papers with questionable results that have had to be returned this year has increased dramatically this year, and that has caused huge anxiety among pupils and imposed an administrative burden on schools. Will the Secretary of State ensure that his proposals will not also be a financial...

The number of papers with questionable results that have had to be returned this year has increased dramatically this year, and that has caused huge anxiety among pupils and imposed an administrative burden on schools. Will the Secretary of State ensure that his proposals will not also be a financial...

At paragraph 2.59 of his report, Lord Sutherland says that"““the procurement procedure followed by PricewaterhouseCoopers and NAA on behalf of QCA was sound. It used the most up-to-date technique, Competitive Dialogue, which enabled QCA to refine its requirements and suppliers to develop their proposals during the procurement exercise.””" That was...

At paragraph 2.59 of his report, Lord Sutherland says that"““the procurement procedure followed by PricewaterhouseCoopers and NAA on behalf of QCA was sound. It used the most up-to-date technique, Competitive Dialogue, which enabled QCA to refine its requirements and suppliers to develop their proposals during the procurement exercise.””" That was...

It is certainly true that faith among teachers, parents and families in national curriculum testing has been badly hit by what has happened. Further to what my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) said, it is hard to conclude that the procurement procedure was sound, when the reputation...

It is certainly true that faith among teachers, parents and families in national curriculum testing has been badly hit by what has happened. Further to what my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) said, it is hard to conclude that the procurement procedure was sound, when the reputation...

It was said by Ken Boston, who was suspended this afternoon by the QCA board on the basis of a report that said that Ministers were not properly informed. It also said that information was not provided properly by the NAA to the QCA executive, by the QCA executive to...

It was said by Ken Boston, who was suspended this afternoon by the QCA board on the basis of a report that said that Ministers were not properly informed. It also said that information was not provided properly by the NAA to the QCA executive, by the QCA executive to...

May I begin by congratulating the Secretary of State on saying sorry today? He was unable to bring himself to do that in October, and I am sure that his apology will be appreciated. The report comments on the responsibility of Ministers and, as both Opposition Front-Bench spokesmen have noted,...

May I begin by congratulating the Secretary of State on saying sorry today? He was unable to bring himself to do that in October, and I am sure that his apology will be appreciated. The report comments on the responsibility of Ministers and, as both Opposition Front-Bench spokesmen have noted,...

I completely agree with the hon. Gentleman that there was a clear failure, and that is why we commissioned an independent report. The report makes it clear that the primary failure was a failure by ETS, the supplier, but there was also a failure of the QCA to deliver on...

I completely agree with the hon. Gentleman that there was a clear failure, and that is why we commissioned an independent report. The report makes it clear that the primary failure was a failure by ETS, the supplier, but there was also a failure of the QCA to deliver on...

Answer the question.

Answer the question.

No, it wasn't!

No, it wasn't!

What a ridiculous thing to say. It is not a game.

What a ridiculous thing to say. It is not a game.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what representations he has received from teaching organisations on the potential risks arising from the use of wireless technology; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what representations he has received from teaching organisations on the potential risks arising from the use of wireless technology; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what resources his Department makes available to support school partnerships and collaborations; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what resources his Department makes available to support school partnerships and collaborations; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will bring forward the timetable for the rebuilding of Dartmouth Community College from 2011; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will bring forward the timetable for the rebuilding of Dartmouth Community College from 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Table showing number and percentage of pupils classified as being in care by school meal arrangements, 2004 to 2008.

Table showing number and percentage of pupils classified as being in care by school meal arrangements, 2004 to 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made towards achieving his Department's target set out in the 2004 White Paper, Choosing Health, of ensuring that there is at least one full-time, qualified school nurse working with each cluster or group of primary schools in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made towards achieving his Department's target set out in the 2004 White Paper, Choosing Health, of ensuring that there is at least one full-time, qualified school nurse working with each cluster or group of primary schools in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what discussions he has had with HM Treasury Ministers on the application of VAT to school uniforms in the light of the extension to 18 of participation in education, employment and training; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what discussions he has had with HM Treasury Ministers on the application of VAT to school uniforms in the light of the extension to 18 of participation in education, employment and training; and if he will make a statement.