§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn on 8 May 1991 at column469, how long the thorough internal review of the structure and role of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools will take; whether and when its conclusions will be published; and whether there will be a period of public consultation before decisions on the review are made.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe internal review got under way immediately following my reply of 8 May 1991 at column469 to the hon. Member. I have asked it to report at the beginning of July. I do not expect to publish the review itself which will take the form of confidential advice to Ministers. I shall wish to consider how to act on the conclusions of the review once I have received them.
§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will be inviting evidence from outside his Department in the course of the review of the structure and role of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools.
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe review team will not formally invite or receive evidence. However, the team is seeking views from a wide range of people and bodies within the education world and beyond it.
§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the names, grades and posts of those conducting the internal review of the structure and role of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe internal review is being conducted by a team consisting of three officials in the Department and a member of the inspectorate. Their grades are as follows:
- Assistant Secretary—DES-team leader
- Staff Inspector—HMI
- Higher Executive Officer (Development)—DES
- Personal Secretary—DES
Following normal practice, I do not intend to disclose the names of individual officials who are preparing advice for Ministers.
§ Mr. StrawTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn on 8 May 1991, at column469, whether, under any new arrangements for the inspection of the education service, it is his intention that the head of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools should continue to publish annual reports independent of, and unamended by, Ministers.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI would expect any inspectorate to be free to publish annual reports independent of and unamended by Ministers. I am looking to the review to offer advice on this and any other related matter if the team wishes but I have no complaints about the present arrangements for HMI so far as reporting is concerned.