Letter dated 15/12/2009 from Christine Gilbert, Chief Inspector, to Baroness Neville-Jones regarding training Ofsted inspectors. 1 p.

Letter dated 15/12/2009 from Christine Gilbert, Chief Inspector, to Baroness Neville-Jones regarding training Ofsted inspectors. 1 p.

Letter dated 15/12/2009 from Christine Gilbert, Chief Inspector, to Baroness Neville-Jones regarding schools and extremist groups. 1 p.

Letter dated 15/12/2009 from Christine Gilbert, Chief Inspector, to Baroness Neville-Jones regarding schools and extremist groups. 1 p.

This Bill provides ‘guarantees’ for pupils and parents in the school system, underpinned by new Home School Agreements, and makes provision for parental satisfaction surveys. It also makes changes to the powers of governing bodies of maintained schools; extends the remit of School Improvement Partners; provides greater powers for local authorities and the Secretary of State in relation to failing schools; paves the way for the introduction of School Report Cards; and makes provision to introduce a licence to practise for teachers. The Bill also seeks to implement the recommendations of several major reports. These changes affect the school curriculum; provide a registration system for home educators; and provide an additional right of appeal for parents of children with special educational needs. The Bill would also make changes to the reporting of information relating to family proceedings. Other provisions relate to Local Safeguarding Children Boards, Youth Offending Teams, the charitable status of academies, and the fees system for the inspection of independent schools.

This Bill provides ‘guarantees’ for pupils and parents in the school system, underpinned by new Home School Agreements, and makes provision for parental satisfaction surveys. It also makes changes to the powers of governing bodies of maintained schools; extends the remit of School Improvement Partners; provides greater powers for local...

If modern buildings and state-of-the-art facilities are the ingredients to make a school successful, then Bishops Park college at Clacton would have been the jewel in the crown of Essex county council. However, it lasted little more than five years before it was judged to be a failure, with some...

If modern buildings and state-of-the-art facilities are the ingredients to make a school successful, then Bishops Park college at Clacton would have been the jewel in the crown of Essex county council. However, it lasted little more than five years before it was judged to be a failure, with some...

I shall follow the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) in making a number of local points. That is the nature of these debates, which provide an opportunity to raise with the Minister some issues that constituents have brought to my attention. I start with an education issue: the...

I shall follow the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) in making a number of local points. That is the nature of these debates, which provide an opportunity to raise with the Minister some issues that constituents have brought to my attention. I start with an education issue: the...

I want to talk about several matters affecting my constituents on which there have been recent decisions, reviews or consultations. If I have time, I want to cover student funding, the outcome of the Walker review on water metering and charging, and capital funding for schools and housing. Before I...

I want to talk about several matters affecting my constituents on which there have been recent decisions, reviews or consultations. If I have time, I want to cover student funding, the outcome of the Walker review on water metering and charging, and capital funding for schools and housing. Before I...

May I begin by adding my tribute to those who have been killed or wounded on active service in Afghanistan? My thoughts and sympathies are especially with the families who for the first time this Christmas will miss their loved ones. I think in particular of the family of Lance...

May I begin by adding my tribute to those who have been killed or wounded on active service in Afghanistan? My thoughts and sympathies are especially with the families who for the first time this Christmas will miss their loved ones. I think in particular of the family of Lance...

I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. Any major change, particularly one affecting the morale of teaching staff and of other children, can have a disastrous effect. The college is being paired with a school in a village in another part of Worcestershire. I cannot see that the staff...

I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. Any major change, particularly one affecting the morale of teaching staff and of other children, can have a disastrous effect. The college is being paired with a school in a village in another part of Worcestershire. I cannot see that the staff...

I. Letter dated 16/12/2009 from Ed Balls MP to Barry Sheerman MP regarding the Lamb inquiry into parental confidence in the special educational needs system. 1 p. II. Letter dated 16/12/2009 from Ed Balls MP to Brian Lamb regarding response to the final inquiry into the special educational needs system. 5 p. III. Special educational needs and parental confidence. 102 p.

I. Letter dated 16/12/2009 from Ed Balls MP to Barry Sheerman MP regarding the Lamb inquiry into parental confidence in the special educational needs system. 1 p. II. Letter dated 16/12/2009 from Ed Balls MP to Brian Lamb regarding response to the final inquiry into the special educational needs system....

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department issues to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools on educating pupils on tolerance of homosexuality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department issues to (a) primary and (b) secondary schools on educating pupils on tolerance of homosexuality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what advice and assistance his Department provides to schools to enable them to reduce their energy use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what advice and assistance his Department provides to schools to enable them to reduce their energy use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what (a) grants and (b) other assistance have been provided to schools in Leeds West to help them reduce their energy bills; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what (a) grants and (b) other assistance have been provided to schools in Leeds West to help them reduce their energy bills; and if he will make a statement.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place regarding testing school buildings for the presence of asbestos.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place regarding testing school buildings for the presence of asbestos.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in East Lancashire 80 per cent. or more pupils are from visible ethnic minorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in East Lancashire 80 per cent. or more pupils are from visible ethnic minorities.

(2) how many teaching assistants there are in (a) Leeds West constituency and (b) West Yorkshire.

(2) how many teaching assistants there are in (a) Leeds West constituency and (b) West Yorkshire.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place regarding the removal of asbestos in school buildings.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are in place regarding the removal of asbestos in school buildings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many (a) teachers, (b) teaching assistants and (c) support staff were employed in Leeds local education authority schools in each year since 1997;

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many (a) teachers, (b) teaching assistants and (c) support staff were employed in Leeds local education authority schools in each year since 1997;

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what plans he has to rebuild and refurbish (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Leeds West constituency, (ii) Leeds City and (iii) West Yorkshire;

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what plans he has to rebuild and refurbish (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Leeds West constituency, (ii) Leeds City and (iii) West Yorkshire;

(2) how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Leeds West constituency and (ii) West Yorkshire have been rebuilt or refurbished since 1997.

(2) how many (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) Leeds West constituency and (ii) West Yorkshire have been rebuilt or refurbished since 1997.

I. Dear colleague letters dated 06/01/2010 from Baroness Royall to regarding the second reading debate on the Equality Bill. 41 p. II. Letter dated 07/01/2010 from Baroness Royall to Baroness O'Cathain regarding the second reading debate on the Equality Bill and faith based adoption agencies and care homes. 2 p.

I. Dear colleague letters dated 06/01/2010 from Baroness Royall to regarding the second reading debate on the Equality Bill. 41 p. II. Letter dated 07/01/2010 from Baroness Royall to Baroness O'Cathain regarding the second reading debate on the Equality Bill and faith based adoption agencies and care homes. 2 p.

Further to the point that the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire (Lembit Öpik) made, flood alleviation programmes work well upstream in places such as Milton Keynes and Bedford, but create major problems in constituencies such as mine. In effect, a different value is placed on the life of people who live...

Further to the point that the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire (Lembit Öpik) made, flood alleviation programmes work well upstream in places such as Milton Keynes and Bedford, but create major problems in constituencies such as mine. In effect, a different value is placed on the life of people who live...

Equality Bill. Lords second reading debate. Agreed to on question and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

Equality Bill. Lords second reading debate. Agreed to on question and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

My Lords, what a pleasure it is to stand up today and welcome this Bill to your Lordships’ House. On a personal level, it is a privilege to be leading these Benches, supported on the Front Bench by the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Bolton, and the noble Lord, Lord...

My Lords, what a pleasure it is to stand up today and welcome this Bill to your Lordships’ House. On a personal level, it is a privilege to be leading these Benches, supported on the Front Bench by the noble Baroness, Lady Morris of Bolton, and the noble Lord, Lord...

Moved By That the Bill be read a second time.

Moved By That the Bill be read a second time.

My Lords, I am deeply proud and privileged to introduce the Equality Bill to this House. A standard accusation against Governments who have been in office for some time, of whatever political persuasion, is that they have run out of ideas, run out of proposals and run out of steam....

My Lords, I am deeply proud and privileged to introduce the Equality Bill to this House. A standard accusation against Governments who have been in office for some time, of whatever political persuasion, is that they have run out of ideas, run out of proposals and run out of steam....

My Lords, let me be clear: it is a fundamental principle of the Christian religion that all human beings are of equal and infinite worth in the sight of God. This Bill seeks to address the many occasions when that fundamental principle is violated. That is an objective which I...

My Lords, let me be clear: it is a fundamental principle of the Christian religion that all human beings are of equal and infinite worth in the sight of God. This Bill seeks to address the many occasions when that fundamental principle is violated. That is an objective which I...

My Lords, I welcome and support the introduction of this Bill, which not only harmonises all the current pieces of legislation but also provides new principles further to progress equality across all strands, as disadvantage and inequalities still exist. I congratulate all those who have had the responsibility for pulling...

My Lords, I welcome and support the introduction of this Bill, which not only harmonises all the current pieces of legislation but also provides new principles further to progress equality across all strands, as disadvantage and inequalities still exist. I congratulate all those who have had the responsibility for pulling...

My Lords, I apologise. I mistook the timing and I am sorry. I declare in interest as a commissioner on the Equality and Human Rights Commission. This Bill is extremely important. It merits the all-party support which has been demonstrated very clearly. It is part of a journey towards ensuring...

My Lords, I apologise. I mistook the timing and I am sorry. I declare in interest as a commissioner on the Equality and Human Rights Commission. This Bill is extremely important. It merits the all-party support which has been demonstrated very clearly. It is part of a journey towards ensuring...

I think that I invented the Civil Partnership Bill in my own Bill. As I understand it, the noble Lord is not saying that we should call it marriage; he is saying something less than that. Is that right?

I think that I invented the Civil Partnership Bill in my own Bill. As I understand it, the noble Lord is not saying that we should call it marriage; he is saying something less than that. Is that right?

My Lords, it is a privilege to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Campbell of Surbiton. I welcome this Bill, which presents us with the opportunity to tidy up and consolidate and put equality legislation on a safer footing. The past 11 years that I have spent in your Lordships' House...

My Lords, it is a privilege to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Campbell of Surbiton. I welcome this Bill, which presents us with the opportunity to tidy up and consolidate and put equality legislation on a safer footing. The past 11 years that I have spent in your Lordships' House...

My Lords, the need for stronger, clearer, more comprehensive and more easily enforceable equality legislation is pressing. Without it, we cannot address the equality gaps that hold so many people back. I warmly welcome this Bill. I think it could genuinely transform opportunities over time. I look forward to working...

My Lords, the need for stronger, clearer, more comprehensive and more easily enforceable equality legislation is pressing. Without it, we cannot address the equality gaps that hold so many people back. I warmly welcome this Bill. I think it could genuinely transform opportunities over time. I look forward to working...

I do not mind what we call it. I have heard marriage described in many ways in itself. The second issue that I wanted to raise relates to one class of people who are not protected from employment discrimination because of their sexuality. I also welcome the refinement of the...

I do not mind what we call it. I have heard marriage described in many ways in itself. The second issue that I wanted to raise relates to one class of people who are not protected from employment discrimination because of their sexuality. I also welcome the refinement of the...

There are many issues in this Bill, but I intend to concentrate on two: religious freedom and the process of scrutiny of the Bill. The noble Lord, Lord Lester, stated that faith is not an immutable characteristic. This is untrue, particularly in my case. I know that I could never...

There are many issues in this Bill, but I intend to concentrate on two: religious freedom and the process of scrutiny of the Bill. The noble Lord, Lord Lester, stated that faith is not an immutable characteristic. This is untrue, particularly in my case. I know that I could never...

I must say to the noble Baroness the Leader of the House that I have nothing but admiration for her. The way it was reported to me was: not to put down amendments which might be not tangential to the Bill. Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding. I shall go...

I must say to the noble Baroness the Leader of the House that I have nothing but admiration for her. The way it was reported to me was: not to put down amendments which might be not tangential to the Bill. Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding. I shall go...

Noble Lords will forgive me if I set the record straight. Every meeting I have in this House is open and transparent. I would not do anything of which I was ashamed. We are not trying to ram this Bill through. There is no hidden agenda. I have had a...

Noble Lords will forgive me if I set the record straight. Every meeting I have in this House is open and transparent. I would not do anything of which I was ashamed. We are not trying to ram this Bill through. There is no hidden agenda. I have had a...

May I continue? I shall write to the noble Baroness. Apparently the Government have been advised by the Whips that a Bill of this size should require eight or nine Committee days, but they want to cut it down to four or five. I believe that that is totally unacceptable....

May I continue? I shall write to the noble Baroness. Apparently the Government have been advised by the Whips that a Bill of this size should require eight or nine Committee days, but they want to cut it down to four or five. I believe that that is totally unacceptable....

That is not so.

That is not so.

My Lords, we are very grateful to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for her full explanation in her important and impressive speech. As I made clear in the debate on the humble Address, we warmly welcome the Bill. It is a long-standing and core objective of the Liberal...

My Lords, we are very grateful to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for her full explanation in her important and impressive speech. As I made clear in the debate on the humble Address, we warmly welcome the Bill. It is a long-standing and core objective of the Liberal...

My noble friend is quite right. As I said, the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, asked a Question in the House yesterday on the same point, but I was rather disappointed at the dismissive way in which the Minister responded. He said that, ""the Government are not aware of any great...

My noble friend is quite right. As I said, the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, asked a Question in the House yesterday on the same point, but I was rather disappointed at the dismissive way in which the Minister responded. He said that, ""the Government are not aware of any great...

Stop digging.

Stop digging.

My Lords, the fundamental principles underlying the Bill cannot be challenged and, in general, I give the Bill my support. For me, the most pressing area of need in the Bill is the intent to ban age discrimination in the provision of goods and services. I note that there will...

My Lords, the fundamental principles underlying the Bill cannot be challenged and, in general, I give the Bill my support. For me, the most pressing area of need in the Bill is the intent to ban age discrimination in the provision of goods and services. I note that there will...

Well, my Lords, follow that! I rise to support this Bill and the Government’s commitment to equality. I also want to raise some concerns about aspects of the Bill’s approach. It seems sensible to consolidate existing discrimination law, which has been built up over 40 years, and alongside that to...

Well, my Lords, follow that! I rise to support this Bill and the Government’s commitment to equality. I also want to raise some concerns about aspects of the Bill’s approach. It seems sensible to consolidate existing discrimination law, which has been built up over 40 years, and alongside that to...

My Lords, like other noble Lords, and especially my noble friend Lady Warsi and the noble Lord, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, both of whom represent their—I am sorry, it is two years since I have taken part in a debate, although it does not seem that long, and all...

My Lords, like other noble Lords, and especially my noble friend Lady Warsi and the noble Lord, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, both of whom represent their—I am sorry, it is two years since I have taken part in a debate, although it does not seem that long, and all...

My Lords, I welcome the opportunity to debate this Bill at Second Reading. The Government are to be commended for introducing the Bill, which attempts to harmonise discrimination law and sets out key characteristics that are protected: age, disability, gender, maternity, sexual orientation, religion or belief. This is a massive...

My Lords, I welcome the opportunity to debate this Bill at Second Reading. The Government are to be commended for introducing the Bill, which attempts to harmonise discrimination law and sets out key characteristics that are protected: age, disability, gender, maternity, sexual orientation, religion or belief. This is a massive...

My Lords, before the noble Baroness, Lady Miller, goes, I want to start by congratulating her on her speech and saying how wonderful it is to have her back in the House being well after her accident. She is greatly loved in this House, and her speech reminded us all...

My Lords, before the noble Baroness, Lady Miller, goes, I want to start by congratulating her on her speech and saying how wonderful it is to have her back in the House being well after her accident. She is greatly loved in this House, and her speech reminded us all...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the wonderful speech made by the noble Baroness, Lady Kennedy. I believe that she is one of the great heroes of this Chamber, as indeed are many who have contributed tonight. I am astonished by the wealth of experience that Members...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the wonderful speech made by the noble Baroness, Lady Kennedy. I believe that she is one of the great heroes of this Chamber, as indeed are many who have contributed tonight. I am astonished by the wealth of experience that Members...