HC Deb 11 April 2000 vol 348 cc89-90W
Mr. Truswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many times his Department's officials have met headteachers in Leeds(a) since the publication of the Ofsted Inspection report on the local education authority and (b) since the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers as consultants on future structures. [118547]

Ms Estelle Morris

As part of its policy outreach function, DfEE's Standards and Effectiveness Unit (SEU) has an adviser with responsibility for maintaining contact with Leeds LEA. The Education Adviser meets headteachers in a range of circumstances, from one-to-one discussions to larger group meetings. In the period between the publication of Ofsted's report and the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers four such meetings took place, involving 12 headteachers. To date, since the appointment of PwC, 13 such meetings have taken place, involving 53 headteachers. In addition, following the publication of Ofsted's report, Professor Michael Barber, Head of SEU, and I met a larger group of Leeds heads—approximately 200 in number—to explain DfEE's objectives for Leeds and to hear their views. Subsequently, following PwC's appointment I met five heads on a school visit and Professor Barber has met a group of 45 heads—following up discussion at our earlier meeting.

Mr. Truswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many times his Department's officials met PricewaterhouseCoopers staff since their appointment as consultants following the publication of the Ofsted report on Leeds LEA; and for what purpose. [118546]

Ms Estelle Morris

DfEE officials meet on a regular basis with individuals and groups from PricewaterhouseCoopers—including those currently involved in various ways in the Leeds consultancy—and for a range of reasons. These include bidding for intervention consultancy; feedback on such bids; development of framework contracts for intervention work; the discussion of current consultancy loads; and availability for further work.

Mr. Truswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what monitoring procedures he will apply to ensure the objectivity of the work of the consultants appointed as a result of the Ofsted report on Leeds local education authority. [118545]

Ms Estelle Morris

PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) are working to a brief agreed jointly by Leeds LEA and DfEE. PwC report progress against that brief fortnightly to a project steering group. The project steering group comprises DfEE officials and Leeds LEA officers and is chaired in rotation.

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