HC Deb 18 March 1999 vol 327 c755W
29. Mr. Ruffley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received regarding administrative burdens on schools; and if he will make a statement. [75604]

Mr. Charles Clarke

We have met a wide range of teachers and organisations representing teachers over the past two years, and administrative burdens on schools were discussed at several of those meetings. We also answer many letters on the subject.

In all of these meetings and correspondence, we have made it clear that we recognise the need to keep unnecessary burdens on teachers to a minimum to enable them to focus on raising standards. We have been working vigorously to do so and set out much of the detail of that work during the Opposition day debate on the subject on 2 March.