§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to require all schools to keep a statutory record of punishments imposed on pupils and for these records to be available for inspection by parents and statutory authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he intends to take following the recent report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate that children have often been suspended from schools for refusing to accept corporal punishment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DunnI have had no report from Her Majesty's Inspectorate that schools in general are suspending pupils who refuse to accept corporal punishment. A report on a Knowsley school, published on 9 September, referred inter alia to suspensions in such circumstances and, in accordance with normal practice, the authority and the school governors have been asked to say within three months what action they have taken or propose to take in the light of the report.