HC Deb 15 July 1998 vol 316 cc485-6

Lords amendment: No. 85, in page 51, line 35, leave out ("to be provided at the school") and insert (", or may be, required to be provided at the school in accordance with Schedule 19 (or, as the case may be, each such religion or religious denomination)")

Ms Estelle Morris

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this, it will be convenient to discuss Lords amendments Nos. 86, 87, 154, 155, 157, 159, 162, 169 and 282 to 284.

Ms Morris

The Bill makes no substantive changes to the law on religious education and collective worship. By and large, the Bill is worded in such a way that it will be in order to apply the provisions of the existing law to the new school framework. Many of the amendments in the group are minor Government amendments.

I draw the attention of the House to what is probably the most significant amendment in the group, amendment No. 284. It was introduced in response to concern expressed by the Church of England, and I believe it to be non-contentious. It clarifies the statutory position on the nature of collective worship in foundation and voluntary schools with a religious character. The amendment confirms that worship in such schools, and in voluntary schools without a religious character, should be in accordance with any provisions in the trust deed, as is widely accepted and the current position.

However, the amendment then specifies that, for schools with a religious character which have no provision in their trust deed, the worship should be in accordance with the tenets and practices of the school's designated religion or denomination, as set out in the order required by clause 66. That brings the treatment of collective worship in schools into line with the treatment of religious education. I commend the amendments to the House.

Lords amendment agreed to.

Lords amendments Nos. 86 and 87 agreed to.

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