§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what action he is taking to reduce the number of children suspended or expelled from schools in(a) Humberside and (b) England.
§ Mr. ForthHead teachers are responsible for securing discipline in their schools and for exercising the power of exclusion. The Department has recently issued guidance to all schools aimed at promoting consistent practice in the use of exclusion and ensuring that permanent exclusion is used as a last resort. Changes in the law governing exclusions have been made in the Education Act 1993, which abolishes the category of indefinite exclusion; places a limit of 15 school days in any one term on fixed-term exclusions; and enables the Secretary of State to place time limits on the operation of exclusion procedures,586W to reduce to a minimum the time spent by an excluded pupil out of school. These provisions are intended to come into effect on 1 September.