§ Charlotte AtkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what advice has been issued to local education authorities on involving(a) parents and (b) governors in decision making on local education services, and giving them representation on (i) local education authority education committees and (ii) children's panels. [75565]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 9 March 1999]: We are keen to encourage parents and governors to become involved in decision making on education 321W services. The Department has not issued general guidance to local education authorities on how to achieve this, although guidance to authorities on specific functions has included appropriate advice, for example the guidance on Education Development Plans issued in September 1998. The Department is due to consult on draft regulations on parent governor representatives on local authority committees dealing with education in the next few weeks, and to issue the final regulations and guidance in the summer. I believe that the reference to children's panels relates to Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships which are covered in a reply given today by the Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Ms Hodge), at column 320.