§ Mrs. Bridget PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will introduce guidelines governing the payment of child care expenses by governing bodies to school governors attending meetings. [2737]
§ Mr. Robin SquireNo. Being a school governor is a voluntary, unpaid activity. The Government applaud the 300,000 volunteers who give their time and energy to this important work. Governors may receive reimbursement for travel and subsistence costs, but the law does not currently allow payments beyond that, nor does the current pattern of governor recruitment suggest a need to change these arrangements.