HC Deb 21 February 1996 vol 272 cc207-8W
Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will publish a list of all the measures approved by Parliament since 1979 on standards of teaching and delivery of education in schools which were opposed by Her Majesty's Opposition(a) at Second or Third Reading, (b) in Committee and (c) on Report; and if she will make a statement; [13124]

(2) if she will publish a list of all the measures on parental choice, powers to school governors and parents on school management, which were approved by Parliament since 1979 but were opposed by Her Majesty's Opposition (a) on Second or Third Reading, (b) in Committee and (c) on Report; and if she will make a statement. [13125]

Mrs. Gillan

[holding answer 6 February 1996]: The list of measures which the Opposition have voted against on Second Reading includes: the Education Act 1980, which gave parents the right to express a preference for their choice of school, and the right of appeal against non-admission; required authorities to publish information on schools and admission arrangements; established the assisted places scheme; and created governors in primary schools; the Education (No 2) Act 1986, which reformed school governing bodies and made provision for governors' annual reports to parents and annual parents' meetings; the Education Reform Act 1988, which introduced the national curriculum, established grant-maintained schools; and introduced the provision of more open enrolment, which requires schools to admit up to their standard number; the Education (Schools) Act 1992, which made provision for the inspection of schools and for information about schools and their pupils; the Education Act 1993, which included a wide variety of provisions including the right of parents of children with statements to express a preference for a particular school; and provision to establish new grant-maintained schools; the Education Act 1994, which established the Teacher Training Agency and made provision for schools to provide courses of initial teacher training.

A full list of all the measures approved by Parliament since 1979 on education, and opposed on Second and Third Reading, in Committee or on Report by Her Majesty's Opposition, is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

The details of votes cast in parliamentary Divisions are a matter of public record, published in the Official Report.