§ Huw Irranca-DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make it his policy to permit schools in England and Wales to receive(a) financial and (b) legal support from their local education authority in dealing with legal action taken against the school by outside parties in respect of fixed-term exclusions. [133359]
§ Mr. MilibandThere is existing provision with the regulations governing school funding for schools to receive contingency financial assistance from their local education authority if the costs of legal action, or amounts awarded by a court, cannot be met from a school's budget share without damaging pupils' education. Legal support may be purchased by a school either from the authority under a service level agreement or from an independent source.