HL Deb 26 February 1988 vol 493 c1419

11.12 a.m.

Baroness David

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to start the process of consolidating the Education Acts, and how long they think that this process will take.

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, the process of consolidation is under discussion with the Law Commission but would not in any event begin until after the enactment of the Education Reform Bill currently before Parliament. The length of time taken to consolidate major legislation of this nature varies, and is difficult to predict until the Commission has looked at the task in more detail.

Baroness David

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Does the fact that implementation of the consolidation will occur only after the Education Reform Bill becomes an Act not mean that we shall have a succession of education Bills almost every year, one being brought forward before the last has been fully implemented? It will be interesting to know the answer to that question. What consultations will there be about consolidation when the process begins?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, it is too early to comment upon consultation. As regards any future legislation on education, I should like to point out to the noble Baroness that if the Government were to introduce major education legislation in the next session of Parliament it would naturally be taken into account in considering the timing of the consolidation. However, such matters would be discussed with the Law Commission before a decision was taken.

Lord Peston

My Lords, will the Minister ask his right honourable friend the Secretary of State whether it is possible for a document to be produced later in the year explaining and clarifying the law as it will then stand, bearing in mind the large number of lay people, notably parents, who will be involved in the education decision-making process as governors and in other ways and who will have great difficulty in understanding the complexity of the law as it applies to them?

The Earl of Arran

My Lords, I shall take into account the comments of the noble Lord.